What date is it taking place?
The IMM 2017 Ireland is taking place from Thursday May 25th – Monday May 29th 2017.

Venue :

The camping and show will be held in Westport House, Westport, Co. Mayo.

What is an IMM?
For many Mini drivers an “International Mini Meeting”, or IMM, is a well known phenomenon, but for some it’s not clear what it’s all about. IMM is short for International Mini Meeting. It originated in 1978 in Germany when it started as a small 3 day camp event at Whitsun weekend. After several years its popularity had grown, even over the German borders and this resulted in an International event which takes place every year in a different country. Every 5 years we celebrate the Mini in England where the IMM takes place around the Minis birthday in August.

An IMM is a 3 day event for young and old. Besides the classic Mini, all derivatives and yes…even New Mini’s are welcome! The event starts on Friday afternoon when most of the participants arrive. After signing in, they find a good spot or go to the appointed place of their Mini club. The latter can vary at each event. The best thing to do is to place the Mini in such a way that everybody can have a good look at it. The tent is just a minor detail. On Friday evening the event is officially opened. Different activities will be organized for Mini drivers and Mini Clubs during the rest of the weekend. Recurring features are the Concourse d’Elegance, boot sale, traders area, dinner on Saturday, party on Saturday night, breakfast on Sunday and a closing party on Sunday night.

Even the Club competitions are a recurring feature. A new activity for the last few years is the Mini Parade. Lots of Minis queuing on local roads, sometimes causing a traffic jam, but always escorted by the police. Basically an IMM is all about socialising, meeting lots of other enthusiasts, relaxing and just having fun. After you’ve met and spoken with lots of others, bought all the parts your precious vehicle needs to become even more beautiful and had some fun, the IMM closes with a ceremony on Sunday night. During this event the awards are presented and the IMM key is handed over to the club which organises the event the following year. Of course you can leave your tent up for another night because you can stay until Monday morning. Then the event is really over and everybody leaves for home, dreaming of the next IMM!

For more information call Caroline or Aisling on 052-7441122

Looks set to be a very nice addition to the F56 family.

Some photos below courtesy of Oliver Mc Carthy show a great event.
Nice to see new members attending too 

The MINI Clubvan Concept proves that style can also be practical, and that practicality can be attractive. The MINI Clubman-based concept car combines all of the driving fun and distinctive design for which MINI is renowned, with an increased load-carrying capability. The Clubvan concept opens the door to a completely new market for MINI, premium small businesses who want to combine sharp driving dynamics with low cost of ownership, while also making a style statement with their company van.

The ability to adapt goes back to the heart of MINI’s heritage. Calls for maximising the load capacity of the classic Mini began as early as 1960, just a year after the car’s birth, and so the Morris Mini Van was born. With its 10-centimetre-longer wheelbase, separate load compartment and split rear doors, it was perfectly equipped for commercial use. It also provided the basis for the fully glazed, four-seat Morris Mini Traveller, one of the precursors of today’s successful MINI Clubman. And so, more than 50 years on, the MINI Clubvan Concept sees history repeating itself.

Two seats, five doors, endless usage potential.
Limiting the car to two seats creates the capacity needed by business owners on a day-to-day basis, as well as opening up a whole new world of customisation potential. The same principle used in the classic Mini is applied in the MINI Clubvan – to provide the maximum amount of interior space on the smallest possible footprint.

The flat load area which reaches from the split rear doors right up to a partition grille behind the two seats makes full use of the interior’s depth. Six attachment loops recessed into the load floor use elasticated straps to hold cargo in place. The fixed partition grille, made from solid aluminium in the lower part and a stainless steel honeycombe grating, ensures items stowed in the rear won’t fall into the front cabin. The side walls, floor and roof lining of the load area in the Concept are trimmed in high-quality anthracite-coloured cloth.

Just like the MINI Clubman, the Clubvan Concept is a five-door car with a twist. Two front doors for the driver and front passenger, two side-hinged rear doors and the rear-hinged Clubdoor on the right-hand side all create useful access. The Clubdoor gives owners the option of loading smaller items from the side of the car as well as the rear.

The generous levels of space on board the concept car can be customised to suit the needs of the customer, for example, tools and goods can be stored neatly and securely in made-to-measure drawers or shelving units. 12-volt plug sockets in the load compartment also provide additional practicality.

Exterior design cuts a distinctive figure.
The MINI Clubvan Concept shares the same exterior dimensions as the MINI Clubman. The exterior of the car marks it out immediately as a MINI, offering customers the opportunity to combine their need for a practical, compact and easy-to-run to run van with the appeal of individual style and distinctive design, synonymous with the MINI brand.

The MINI Clubvan Concept is finished in British Racing Green paintwork, which extends to the roof, C-pillars and exterior mirror caps. The rear side windows are opaque with polycarbonate sections and are painted in the car’s body colour. The rear doors feature heavily tinted glass making it difficult to see into the load compartment.

This ultra-versatile MINI can carry both its cargo and its business’s promotional message in a uniquely stylish way. The unbroken paintwork along the car’s flanks offers extensive scope for individualisation and the use of larger graphics.
The company featured on the MINI Clubvan Concept shown at Geneva ‘Hugh Buckingham Signwriter’ is a UK company, based in Southport which creates similar vehicle graphics for its customers. The Concept showcases how these might look on a MINI Clubvan.

Our next event is the St. Patrick’s day run, so why not get yourself signed up and put your Mini in the parade!