Wilson Dos Santos

Birth date: 1969

Occupation: Advertising / Graphics Consultant

Mini Owner Since: 1984

VMC Member Since: 2006

Minis Currently Owned: 1978 Modified 1275 Mini

How Did You Become Interested In Minis: I became enamoured with them as a child. Dad had driven a Mini in Portugal as a young man in the 60's and then in 1979 he bought a '72. A year later traded it for a new 1980 -1000 model that I later bought at age 14 to be my first car! I adored that car!

Your First Mini Experience: Riding with family in a Mk 2 in Portugal as a child. Who knew that 3 adults, a child and enough luggage to outfit a family for 2 months can all fit in and on top of a Mini? MINI - a TRUE Motoring Marvel!

Your Dumbest Mini Experience: Thinking that being armed with a Hayne's manual I could perform my own engine overhaul (install 1100 head, performance cam, LCB header, twin SU's) at age 17. I got the whole thing back together, fired it up and yes that oil seal on the main crank that seals the bell housing off is something that requires the correct tool to install. I didn't have said tool and the engine leaked into the bell housing.... oh yeah and the carbs and timing were all whacked out too! I've never seen a header glow cherry red before! I'm lucky I didn't burn the car to the ground that day! My big brother came to the rescue and saved the day!

Most Memorable Mini Experience: Driving down the coast to Redding California and back up to Portland for the All-British Field Meet in 1988 after just having upgraded to a 1275 from an 1100. Wooohoo! 2nd Place memory could be the fishing trip to a mountain-top lake with a fishing boat strapped to the roof racks fishing gear pretty much everywhere else as well as a boat motor in the back seat! Dad scared me half to death that day driving the logging roads at speed... who knew that he might have been a good rally driver!

Least Memorable Mini Experience: If by least memorable you mean saddest, I would have to say the day I sold my first Mini to raise money to finish college. Otherwise mechanical failures would have to be up there.... worn out wheel flanges, that funny crunching sound that wheel bearings make when they're being crushed as the wheel rotates.... an engine fire caused as a result of a broken engine steady that eventually cracked the header and then melted a fuel line at the carbs resulting in well smoke, flames and me running to the nearest house to borrow a garden hose!

Your Dream Car: Too many to list.... okay, I'll try! The Mini that I currently own of course, an all original MK 1 Cooper S (totally stock) pretty much Larry & Ann Sutton's car, a Mini Pickup, a 2004-MC40 edition Mini with JCW upgrade, a 1955-59 Porsche Speedster convertible.... to name a few!

Best Mini Event: Mini Meet West 1991 at Whistler.

Most Exhilarating Mini Moment: Definitely driving in the slaloms at both meets in '88 & '91.

Farthest Distance Driven by Mini: Vancouver to Redding, California & back again.

Other Interests or Hobbies: Enjoying time with my beautiful wife & fantastic two children, travelling, cooking, music, art, aircraft, car racing, car restoration, home improvements, cycling, golf (although I'm awful), skiing, boating, motorcycle riding.... so much to do, so little time!