Mini Maniacs: California Meetup

Because%20of%20new%20Safety%20and%20Emissions%20Regulations%2C%20the%20Mini%20was%20withdrawn%20from%20the%20US%20market%20in%201968.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Brenda%20Plevyak%29

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Mini%20owners%20love%20to%20express%20their%20spirit%20and%20personality%20by%20customizing%20their%20vehicles.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20George%20Marsh%29

Built%20to%20combat%20the%201959%20Suez%20Canal%20Crisis%20fuel%20increases%2C%20Minis%20averaged%2050%20miles%20per%20gallon.%20%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20George%20Marsh%29

Over%20500%2C000%20Minis%20were%20built%20from%201959%20to%201962.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20George%20Marsh%29

In%201960%2C%20the%20cost%20of%20a%20new%20Mini%20sold%20in%20the%20USA%20was%20%241%2C295%20%28about%20%249%2C440%20in%202012%20dollars%29.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20George%20Marsh%29

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%26%238220%3BBasil%26%238221%3B%20is%20a%202008.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

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BMW%20bought%20Mini%20in%201994.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

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%26%238220%3BCasper%26%238221%3B%20is%20a%202011%20Clubman%20S.%20The%20Clubman%20has%20an%20extra%20side%20door%20and%20split%20rear%20barn%20doors%20for%20trunk%20access.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

%26%238220%3BFreebird%26%238221%3B%20sports%20the%20club%20license%20plate.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

%26%238220%3BBlue%20Demon%26%238221%3B%20is%20a%202006%20John%20Cooper%20Works%20GP%20made%20in%20Italy.%20Only%20400%20exist%20in%20the%20U.S.%20%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

With%20over%20300%20horsepower%2C%20a%20different%20engine%20head%20with%20large%20valves%2C%20bigger%20injections%2C%20free%20flowing%20headers%20and%20a%20larger%20catalytic%20converter%2C%20Blue%20Demon%20is%20the%20fastest%20Mini%20in%20the%20organization.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

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%26%238220%3BThe%20Villain%26%238221%3B%20is%20a%202005.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

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For%20those%20who%20can%26%238217%3Bt%20make%20it%20to%20Malibu%2C%20the%20meetups%20are%20in%20Long%20Beach%20on%20the%20second%20Saturday%20and%20in%20the%20Inland%20Empire%20on%20the%20third%20Saturday%20of%20every%20month.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

On%20the%20first%20Saturday%20of%20every%20month%2C%20SCMM%20has%20a%20meetup%20at%20Coogie%26%238217%3Bs%20in%20Malibu.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

Most%20Minis%20are%20built%20at%20the%20BMW%20Group%20Plant%20near%20Oxford%20in%20the%20U.K.%20The%20Countryman%20is%20built%20in%20Austria.%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29

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The%20Mini%20Cooper%20S%20is%20turbocharged%20and%20has%20181%20horsepower%20in%20comparison%20to%20121%20horsepower%20in%20the%20Mini%20Cooper.%20The%20S%20also%20has%20an%20air-intake%20bonnet%20scoop%2C%20larger%20wheels%20and%20a%20unique%20sport%20rear%20spoiler.%20%20%28photo%20credit%3A%20Michael%20Shen%29