7,996 miles - The Wave
Do you own a Jeep Wrangler? How about a Harley? Well, if you answered yes to any of these questions, then you would know that owners of these vehicles wave to each other. A sign of solidarity? Yes. You and I belong to a club; the Jeep Wrangler club, or Harley Owners Group (HOG for short).
MINI owners also wave to each other. Some owners flash their high-beams or honk their horns. Really enthusiastic owners will employ a combination of any or all of these methods to get the other MINI driver to wave back. When I first got my MINI, I too waved at other MINIs. It was fun getting other MINI drivers to wave back, and it was super-sweet when a MINI owner initiated the wave. I am not sure of the 'MINI wave' origin, but I am guessing that back in the day when MINI sightings were rare, encountering another MINI on the road brought instant kinship between the two drivers. And when you are both speeding passed each other at cruising speed, what better way to announce this immediate connection than with a wave?
But as more MINIs arrive to the US (roughly 50,000 crossed the pond last year alone) and leased MINIs return back to the market, non MINI-enthusiasts are snapping up these little cars. Sadly, they see the MINI as just another car. Not interested in waving at other MINIs (or subscribing to any number of things that would make one a MINI-enthusiast), these drivers irk hard-core MINI-maniacs like you wouldn't believe! Message boards are littered with MINI-owners 'outing' non-wavers (some even post pictures of these drivers online!) while legions of MINI-maniacs religiously post (and re-post and re-post...) their oath to 'always wave'.
As for me, I still wave, however I try to establish eye contact first before I wave. It is quite embarrassing waving and smiling at a total stranger who just stares back at you with a questioned look on his face. But once eye contact has been made, a wave is certain to occur. For me, eye contact is key!
So if you find yourself waving at a 2005 hyper-blue MINI convertible with NJ plates and motoring ID WHOA000, you will definitely have the wave reciprocated! Besides, I do not want my picture posted on the 'net and be 'outed' as a non-waver!
Motor on everybody!
Do you own a Jeep Wrangler? How about a Harley? Well, if you answered yes to any of these questions, then you would know that owners of these vehicles wave to each other. A sign of solidarity? Yes. You and I belong to a club; the Jeep Wrangler club, or Harley Owners Group (HOG for short).
MINI owners also wave to each other. Some owners flash their high-beams or honk their horns. Really enthusiastic owners will employ a combination of any or all of these methods to get the other MINI driver to wave back. When I first got my MINI, I too waved at other MINIs. It was fun getting other MINI drivers to wave back, and it was super-sweet when a MINI owner initiated the wave. I am not sure of the 'MINI wave' origin, but I am guessing that back in the day when MINI sightings were rare, encountering another MINI on the road brought instant kinship between the two drivers. And when you are both speeding passed each other at cruising speed, what better way to announce this immediate connection than with a wave?
But as more MINIs arrive to the US (roughly 50,000 crossed the pond last year alone) and leased MINIs return back to the market, non MINI-enthusiasts are snapping up these little cars. Sadly, they see the MINI as just another car. Not interested in waving at other MINIs (or subscribing to any number of things that would make one a MINI-enthusiast), these drivers irk hard-core MINI-maniacs like you wouldn't believe! Message boards are littered with MINI-owners 'outing' non-wavers (some even post pictures of these drivers online!) while legions of MINI-maniacs religiously post (and re-post and re-post...) their oath to 'always wave'.
As for me, I still wave, however I try to establish eye contact first before I wave. It is quite embarrassing waving and smiling at a total stranger who just stares back at you with a questioned look on his face. But once eye contact has been made, a wave is certain to occur. For me, eye contact is key!
So if you find yourself waving at a 2005 hyper-blue MINI convertible with NJ plates and motoring ID WHOA000, you will definitely have the wave reciprocated! Besides, I do not want my picture posted on the 'net and be 'outed' as a non-waver!
Motor on everybody!
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