E-mail this article to a friend | Printer friendly format | Submit A Comment

Lavida Nash was one of numerous Mini-Cooper owners who traveled to Las Vegas last weekend.

Photo by: For The Madera Tribune

By Angela Sykes

The Madera Tribune

Lavida Nash of Madera drove her red Mini Cooper northbound on state Route 99 to join other Mini Cooper enthusiasts in Las Vegas. Sounds of Billy Idol's "Eyes Without a Face," pulsated from the upgraded sound system, which consumes most of her mini-trunk.

"Its not a car. It's a mini," Nash said. She purchased her Mini Cooper in February 2005 and belongs to both the MidCal Mini Club and SoCal Mini Club. "I joined for a sense of camaraderie, excitement, and just plain fun," she said. "We go all over California and sometimes Nevada and Arizona too. I have seen many places in my travels and met a lot of new people and made numerous new friends. Priceless."

The mini convention in Las Vegas was her second Vegas trip. "I lost money to the one-armed bandit (slot machines) both times," she said.

Her club memberships have led her such places as Monterey, Morro Bay and Pismo Beach in California and Oatman in Arizona, where she "roamed with the burros on the streets" and identified with the donkey physique and tastes. "We both liked to eat the sweet carrots that were offered to us by friendly strangers," Nash said.

Not all of the clubs' activities are far off. "(We've visited) even local places such as the old fashioned ice cream parlor located in Hanford, and the new CrawDaddy's Restaurant in Visalia," she said. "We have had barbecues at various members' houses located throughout the Central Valley. The club members generally meet at least once a month to discuss our next run."

According to Nash, the Mini Cooper motto is "Come motor with us," and she invites others to do so.

"We eat, drink, and we're merry. The sense of camaraderie is ever-present," she said. "Generally speaking, we are a professional group of individuals looking to have a good time."