WHAT: SAMOA January Meeting at Dayton Garage WHEN: Tuesday, January 20th, 7:30pm – SAMOA member’s meeting (6:30 Social Hour) See ‘2026 EVENTS CALENDAR’ for details.
The 2026 White Elephant is on the way!!!
2026 SAMOA WHITE ELEPHANT SALE and In-person Member’s Meeting coming to Griot’s Garage, February 7
February 7 will be here before you know it – time for the WHITE ELEPHANT AUCTION and February Member’s Meeting. JOLLY-GOOD FUN (!) and SAMOA’s one and only fund raiser for the year. There will be a potluck lunch. Bring something to share be it a side, salad, desert, appetizer or desert. hot or cold, you name it. SAMOA will provide brats on the barbie with all the fixin’s and soft drinks.Please, no alcoholic beverages at this event. For more details go to NEXT EVENTS in above menu. Directions will be coming to members via email. Call, text or email if you don’t get them, you don’t have to be a member.
Saturday August 2nd, Arrive 10am-11am – Vashon Island Mini tour –Minis meet at the Roasterie, 19529 Vashon Highway SW, for coffee and donuts, Grand Tour of the island at 11:30 then a return to The Rock Island Pizza,17322 Vashon Highway SW, for lunch. When you come to the island be sure your Mini has a full tank! See the 2025 Events Calendar for more information!
SCHEDULE
11:30am – Set up for event.
12 noon – Potluck Lunch. Bring something to share be it a side, salad, desert, appetizer or desert. Hot or cold
12 PM Silent Auction opens
12:30 PM Live Auction starts
1:15 PM Break
1:20 PM Member meeting; at end of meeting the 5 minute “last call” for Silent Auction announced
~1:35 PM Silent Auction closes
~1:35 PM Live Auction resumes
~2:30 PM Live Auction ends; payment – Cash or cheques are accepted; we are unable to process other payment methods. Facility clean up begins.
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It’s hard to imagine it was 60 years ago that a handful of Mini owners started getting together to work on their Minis and soon started thinking of a name for themselves. One result of their garage meetings.
Ted Atkins invites SAMOA to Cars & Coffee at his old shop just South of the Ballard Bridge ( Interbay, Lower Magnolia? ). It’s on September 21st and runs from 9am to 11am. The address is 3431 16th Ave W Seattle 98119. There should be at least one very special car there.
Greenwood Car Show June 28, 2025
Minis should arrive at the Greenwood Fred Meyer at before 7:00am (6:30am for the social half-hour). We will be leaving the lot a few minutes after 7:00am. If you haven’t registered, do so as soon as possible and consider making an additional donation to this worthy cause. Register at- https://www.greenwoodcarshow.com
Ted Atkins reports that there will be a Cars & Coffee event at his old shop just South of the Ballard Bridge ( Interbay, Lower Magnolia? ). It’s on October 6th and runs from 9am to 11am. The address is 3431 16th Ave W Seattle 98119. There should be at least one very special car there.
SAMOA Lighthouse Tour
SAMOA Lighthouse Tour on the Kitsap Peninsula and Jefferson County Enjoy Daily activities or all of the Tour September 21 – 23, 2024 We will be touring two lighthouses, Point No Point and Point Wilson. We also have the opportunity of staying overnight at Point Wilson in the vacation rentals provided by the United States Lighthouse Society (USLHS). Look at Next Events above for details.
Vashon Bash (Bash on Vashon)
Sat 9:30-11am – SAMOA BASH ON VASHON, Island Mini tour – Minis meet at the Roasterie for coffee and donuts, Grand Tour of the island at 11:30 then a return to The Rock and pizza for lunch. When you come to the island be sure your Mini has a full tank! Check the 2024 Calendar for details.
The Greenwood Car Show is starting and ending an hour later this year. Minis should arrive at the Greenwood Fred Meyer at 6:30am for the social half-hour. We will be leaving the lot a few minutes before 7:00am. If you haven’t registered, do so as soon as possible and consider making an additional donation to this worthy cause. Register at: https://www.greenwoodcarshow.com/
Griot’s Garage Grand Day Out!
And June Member’s Meeting. Griot’s garage in Tacoma will host SAMOA on June 1st at Noon in their “Diner Room”. The regular Griot’s Caffiene and Gasoline will occur in the parking lot from 8 to 10am.
April Lighthouse Tour Postponed
The Lighthouse Tour will be postponed until September due to unforseen circumstances. Dave will let us know when the new arrangements have been made.
White Elephant Sale 2024!
The 2024 White Elephant Sale was a great time for all!
The day started with a potluck lunch followed by George T finessing his auctioneering skills for all. Thanks to the generosity of the pledges of SAMOA members attending the White Elephant, SAMOA cut a cheque to Footloose Disabled Sailing for $660, exceeding Rowly’s sponsorship request of SAMOA by $160. Overall, between the pledges for Footloose Disabled Sailing, membership renewals, regalia and general White Elephant fun, SAMOA raised $3326.
See the complete report by Mark Hurston in ‘RECENT EVENTS’
2023 Events
A Mini for their marriage
Ben and Maryam were married at the Wayfarer Whidbey on August 26th on Whidbey Island. More photos and details in MENU at top of page, in RECENT EVENTS. (7/26/23)
(7/22/23) SAMOA PICNIC ON THE GRASS/member’s meeting at Steve and Kim Gay’s house, Woodinville – As always, a great day for Minis and a wonderful BBQ with a surprise or two thrown in for good measure. Attendance was down but the weather was perfect. Everyone else going to Taylor Swift perhaps. Those in attendance were treated to the maiden voyage of the Downton Mini, it’s first time on the road since 1973. See details in above MENU/MEETING MINUTES.
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Greenwood Car Show
(6/24/23) There was Elvis and there were Elves (one impersonator and two Rileys), there were micro cars and a TVR (the very cars that the Mini was designed to replace and “a monster” British sports car powered by a Cobra engine), all gathered along with 13 original Minis in one block of the 31st Greenwood Car Show. For details and lots of photos go to RECENT EVENTS in the above menu.
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MINIS AT VANCOUVER “Eh?”BFM
(5/20/23) A beautiful weekend with good attendance and many locals who’d never been to a British Car Show before, taking in the beautiful lines and shiny paint. It was great to see many long-time friends and to do so in such a beautiful garden setting. For details go to RECENT EVENTS in the above menu.
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WHITE ELEPHANT AUCTION
(2/7/2023) The White Elephant Auction is history and a brief summary can be found in RECENT EVENTS. You will also find the minutes from the February member’s meeting which was held at the auction.
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NEW SAMOA BUSINESS CARDS
For all SAMOA members – Have you ever noticed a Mini that you don’t recognize parked on the street or in a lot and wanted to leave a note about SAMOA? Or have you ever been approached by someone who is fascinated by your Mini and wants to know more? SAMOA now has business cards for all paid members to keep in their car(s) for just such occasions. Send an email or text to me and I’ll see that you get a small quantity of cards. -Ed Sauer, secretary, 1/20/2022
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WE’RE UP AND RUNNIN’, MEMBERSHIP WISE
It soon will be time to renew your dues. This is done by all on or around the first of the year. This club doesn’t just run on its good looks you know. If you don’t understand or if you aren’t sure if you do or don’t, you probably will. Call me, my number is listed below. It’s as painless as a covid shot. -Toby May, president, membership maven
I met Merlin when I was in high school (1977-8) and attended some Explorer Post meetings that were about exposing young people to classic cars. I went with my school friend Sean Tennis and Merlin was there with Shelly. I recall looking at slides of old cars, trying to identify them by their design characteristics and being around SS 100 sports cars, which the organisers owned. Already being a Mini fan, I was thrilled to ride with Merlin in his daily driver Mini 850, in which he had installed an 1100 engine. He purchased the car new 9/16/61 and owned it the rest of his life. The build date was 6/20/60, 10 days before Shelly was born.
Over the years , he helped me source parts when it wasn’t so easy to get them, and offered his advice when asked. Once, I couldn’t find a rear wheel bearing before a race weekend and he provided a complete rear hub at no cost. He contributed to the tech tips in the club newsletter. He taught school and some of his students called his Mini “The Staatzillac”. Not a swashbuckling auto crosser, he was a humble WW2 veteran and a Christian man. I think anyone who met him appreciated his demeanor and wisdom.
Ted Atkins Photo by Shelly; Merlin passed away at the age of 99 earlier this year.
Thank You Note from Ed Sauer
I’m sure I am not the only Mini owner who can’t remember how many times I’ve been to the Greenwood Car Show but this year seemed to be the best. Maybe not as many Minis as usual but the variety this year was hard to beat from early production to very late and there were sedans, estates (one from South Africa), woodies, a cabriolet and a Riley Elf.
What really impressed me was the camaraderie of the SAMOA members on hand.
A week before the show, the verto clutch on my Mini started acting up. It was hard to impossible getting it into gear. Not enough time for repair before the show so I babied it early Saturday morning from home in Everett to Greenwood.
George was waiting as usual on 79th with our entry packets and his first words were, “How’s it going?” My response was, “Well, I could use some clutch fluid.” George said he would call Kelley who was moving his Minis from Fred Meyer into the show. He’d ask Kelley to pickup some fluid while he was there.
I knew I didn’t have the stamina to last an entire day so I asked Andrew and he volunteered to hitch a ride to the show from the always ready Christina around noon. Andrew would be the afternoon tour guide for Red.
As the show wound down, Andrew and Aaron added fluid to the clutch and bled the system. Andrew then drove Red to Bruno at Don’s Dayton Garage a few blocks away. I had intended to take the Mini there the next day but was afraid the clutch fluid wouldn’t last on the trip home and back so I contacted Bruno and he waited for Andrew to deliver the Mini straight from the show to the garage. Turns out it was a bad clutch slave cylinder and worn linkage. Parts should be here soon and Bruno will have it back on the road in no time. Whew.
The Mini is iconic, SAMOA historic and its members once again proved invaluable. Thank you one and all for your help. -Ed
Ballard Seafood Fest Car Show July 12th
The Ballard Seafood Fest has invited SAMOA to their Car Show. If you would like to attend or want more information contact Will Cadra at Will@BallardAlliance or call 206-784-9705 x102 . Hours are 11am to 5pm and there may be a free salmon dinner in it for you.
Recovered 5/4/2025
The car was spotted by 2 club members and a friend from Canada at the Shell station at 25th Ave NE and NE 75th Street. It was full of new children’s stuffed toys and couch cushions and painted black. Other than that, a few bumps and bruises and a damaged ignition switch it’s salvageable and should be on the road again soon.
In these trying times keep in mind there’s no better mood enhancer than a drive in your Mini. Next time you hit the road, snap a selfie, writeup a brief description of your trip and send it to the blog editor so your fellow SAMOAns get to share in your experience.
Bert Lobberegt Jr. 1941 – 2025
Sadly we have been informed that Bert Lobberegt Jr., at the age of 83, passed away on Sunday, January 26, after a lengthy illness. He had been admitted to Hospice and his wife Nancy was by his side.
He will be remembered as an expert Mini restorer and all-around craftsman who joined SAMOA in the clubs first year of 1967. Bert was often found in his shop, working on his latest project, be it Mini-based or an improvement for he and Nancy’s home.
He must have inherited his talent and great curiosity from his father, Bert Sr., who created a museum for the Packard automobiles he collected and who built his own house (including a pipe organ) on the Sammamish Plateau.
Intense yet laid back with a sly sense of humor, for all who knew him, Bert will be fondly remembered and unquestionably missed.
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HALLOWEEN HIGH JINKS AND A TURKEY TROT
(10/31/2023) It’s the end of October and we’ve been blessed with multiple days of dry weather but what’s in the forecast? Multiple days of rain of course. So what’s a poor boy to do but get in his Mini and take it for a spin….around some twisty rural roads…..with a good Mini friend.
Peter Larsen (left), in his ’72 Mini Minor Mk3 Innocenti, and Barth Sherwood, in “Graham,” the ’62 Austin Cooper, celebrated Halloween in the best of ways. A sweet trip around Vashon Island in their Minis!
“Well, we wanted to take advantage of maybe a last sunny day. Basically, the usual cruise round the wonderful twisty roads on, what for me is a perfect Mini island, Vashon. Just a 20 minute boat ride away. We encountered deer including a stunning buck looking for females. Even the ferry system worked well.” -Barth Sherwood
Barth and I got together Again for the MADRONA CARS AND COFFEE SHOW on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Just two minis ( the odd couple ) but Don Dixon came later. Always fun there. -Peter Larsen
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FORGETTING THE FERRY
(9/10/23) – Famous for ferries but also for it’s yearly car show, Lara Williamson took her Mini to Edmonds for the latter on a gorgeous early-fall day.
Lara wound up parked next to a Hillman Husky Estate, a regular participant at NW car shows.
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DISCOVERING ORCAS
Attending the Vancouver, BC ABFM was on my list of “mini to do’s” for this season and it was a fun experience. The weather was beautiful, the event very well attended by the car folks as well as a marked increase in walk-in visitors to the event. Several fellow SAMOANS were in attendance with their Minis as well. Just prior to the meet we decided to add an additional drive to extend the fun and made arrangements to visit Orcas Island for a few days on the way back home.
If you haven’t taken the opportunity to drive your mini on the delightful roads of Orcas Island during their “off season” you are missing out on a great adventure. All the roads are paved, low speed, two lanes, with twisties thrown in for fun. Some of the best driving roads I’ve seen in the state thus far. The drive up to the visitor’s center on Mt. Constitution in Moran State Park is a veritable hill climb and the crown jewel for fun driving. The ascent is 4.7 miles, with an elevation gain of 1,900 feet. The average gradient percentage is 7.71% and the maximum gradient is 12%; on top of that it has 7 hairpin turns. I drove it three times in 4 days; it’s hard not to when there is virtually no traffic because the tourist season hasn’t yet started. The beautiful thing about the drive is that it is equally enjoyable weather you drive it fast or you drive it slowly.
The overlooks are spectacular if you take the time to drop out of drive mode to stop and enjoy them.
The overlooks are spectacular if you take the time to drop out of drive mode to stop and enjoy them.
We departed the island on Friday just before the Memorial Day weekend which was fortunate as the line of bicycles, motorcycles and campers was long at the Anacortes ferry terminal awaiting their departure to visit the islands.
Also, the state ferry system wound up cancelling many ferries over the weekend which didn’t help things for those visiting. We left just in the nick of time, avoided any island issues and enjoyed the back roads driving back to Oz.
If you haven’t been, go; preferably before Memorial Day or after Labor Day and don’t forget to drive your mini. -(5/30/2023) text and photos by Dean Cook
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A stranger in a strange land Is an original Mini really that small or are present-day vehicles really that BIG!
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An historical transmission rebuild
“Met with Chris Miller today to work on the Downton Mini gearbox.” The latest from Ted Atkins on the restoration of the famous Downton Mini. See the HISTORY section of this blog for Del Gould’s account of this most-significant Mini. 4/16/2022– photo by Ted Atkins
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SAMOA’s 55th celebration slightly dampened
Considering the weather (it was raining when we got there and it was raining when we left) it was not a bad turnout at all as 11 Minis and several more Miniacs made the early trip to, of all places, The Super China Buffet (next door to The Central Market), to show off to an otherwise almost empty parking lot. SAMOA’s first club meeting took place on March 18, 1967.
Long-time SAMOA member, Bill Wecker, and daughter Jamie made the trek up from Ballard to join in the only slightly soggy merriment. -Mark Hurston photo
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Down on the dock
Me and Grumbleina with the Ballard Bridge as a backdrop. Must have been May 2021 because I hadn’t had a haircut during the pandemicwhen the photo was taken. From the end of the NW Dock at Fisherman’s Terminal.
-text and selfie by Lara Williamson
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Orcastoberfest
Orcas Island Octoberfest, 2021 happened in the middle of November. So did a healthy storm.
Had it up to here with the Washington State Ferries cancelations so we made other arrangements.-Don Dixon photos
Quite a few islanders found their driveways out in the road that morning. Washouts, Mount Constitution Road closed, no electricity, Rosario Resort Bar closed, great fun! We still managed a spirited drive using boulders as autocross cones. One spectator was quite worried about our safety.
After her many gesticulations and a word or two we figured out we might have endangered her and her wee dogs by doing 17mph in a 25 zone with 20 feet between us. We’re so, so sorry. – Don and Marian
Turns out the upcoming year is one of some significance according to one of our club founders, Del Gould:
“As I remember, and as we age you know how that goes, the idea of a Mini club started sometime in the spring of 1964. That’s after I had bought my original 1962 Morris Mini Minor in which I installed an MG1100 engine/tranny and decided to try autocrossing.” -Del Gould
This means that in 2024, 60 years will have passed since SAMOA was first a glimmer in someones eye! Perhaps some sort of celebration is called for?
Other SAMOA plans for 2024 will soon be underway and this calendar will be updated on a regular basis. Also, more details will be available at upcoming monthly member’s meetings. -Ed Sauer, secretary
Go to HISTORY in the MENU at top of home page for details of the following and many other past events.
A few months ago SAMOA’s long-time leader and Historian, Chuck Heleker, let it be known he would be retiring from his Historian position. A tough act to follow but SAMOA got lucky when Kelley Mascher stepped forward and volunteered.
Boxes and boxes of archived material have made their way from Chuck’s to Kelley’s including a classic first-person account by Del Gould of how the iconic “Downton Mini” came to be. – March 5, 2022
For more regalia info click on MENU/REGALIAin the header at the top of thehome page.
SAMOA celebrates 55 years in existence in 2022. To help mark this occasion your Regalia department is advocating for a new item of SAMOA memorabilia. NEW DRIVERS HATS
Similar to the style worn by a famous Scottish racing driver who has not endorsed the use of his name so we won’t. These Fersten hats are 78% polyester, 20% cotton, 2% spandex and 100% the classic style for NW Mini drivers. With the legendary SAMOA emblem on the back these hats can be worn with the visor to the front or back, depending on the wind speed.
The following pictures show the correct orientation for slow speeds and/or light winds, high speeds and/or strong winds. and if you guess wrong.The hats are available in two sizes, S/M and L/XL. Color selection is limited to the brown shown. The price is only $30.00.
Details in MENU/REGALIA.
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SAMOA JACKETS NOW AVAILABLE
SAMOA members can now custom order an official SAMOA jacket of their very own! Go up to the menu and click on REGALIA for all the exciting details.
You’ll be saying, “Thank goodness for SAMOA,” the first time you are working on your Mini and you need “that special tool.” You know the one, and chances are it’s in the SAMOA Tool Library.
For more info, click on MENU/TOOL LIBRARY above.
Gas was $6.299 per gallon. Filled my tank. Came to $125.98 Drove off without paying. Court date is August 22. Fine is $70.
Savings is $55.98.
Stay tuned for more money saving tips
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Mechanicals
British expert offers course in Mini tuning
For details go to MENU/MECHANICALS above.
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Minis right at home on autox course
Autocrossing was huge in the 60s and 70s and, since the Mini is the best autocross car ever produced, SAMOA was formed back then as an “Autocross Club,” partaking in events all over the Northwest. You can continue the tradition.
The sport of Autocross is alive and well and you can join SAMOA member Dave Anderson and the Bremerton Sports Car Club for some great fun and excitement!!! For further information click on NEXT EVENTS on the above menu. – February, 2022
The SAMOAn - What's going on? 