On a rainy spring day, Mike Roberts crosses the track at Gateway International Raceway, past rows of Porsches and BMWs, to park his black 2007 MINI Cooper S in a garage near several other cars with a similar, bulldog-like build. Although the crowd of mostly middle-aged men tends to opt for ritzier rides on this track day (hosted by Porsche Club of America), a passionate few—members of the St. Louis MINI Club—proudly zip around the track in their little European-style cars.
It’s a strange juxtaposition: In America, a land of SUVs and sports cars, an auto club celebrates the compact and retro. “The MINI is a unique car to begin with,” explains Brian Woerndle, the club’s president. “It’s not just about transportation for us—we get into all the little details of the car.” Though the group exists largely for social purposes, with drivers already apt to wave at other MINI owners, members also get acquainted via modification and maintenance events. This month, for instance, the group plans to attend a regional rally in Peoria, Ill., June 20 to 21. Roberts says there’s a certain camaraderie among the 117 local members, ranging from car buffs to newcomers. “We have an incredibly diverse group of people,” says Woerndle. “The MINI just begs you to get excited about it.”
