MEMBER PROFILE:

Name: Ken Martin

Age: Younger than some people, older than others

Occupation: Hourly Payroll Coordinator for a construction company

Mini Owner Since: 1972

VMC Member Since: 1973 or 4 maybe 75, I think

Mini(s) Currently Owned: A new MINI Cooper 'S'

How did you become interested in Minis? My cousin in Scotland had a Riley Elf. Actually, I went into a dealership, in town, to look at a used Datsun 510. It was going to be my first car. The salesman called me "sonny" and told me to come back with my dad before he would talk me about the car. I told him to stick his head up the north end of a south bound horse and walked across the street to the British Leyland dealer. There I bought a brand new 1972 red Mini. I paid $2,069.85 for it, taxes included. That's less than the snotty salesman wanted for the Datsun.

First Mini Experience: Driving with my cousin in Scotland in his Riley Elf. It had Cooper S running gear and was far from stock. It had 6" wheels and flares. I'd never gone so fast in my life. When we got back to my cousin's house I made the mistake of telling my parents what we had done. I was told by my mom that I could never drive with cousin Bob again. To this day I have paid attention to my mom's wishes and have not driven cousin Bob.

Dumbest Mini Experience: Driving with my cousin in Scotland in his Riley Elf. The man is truly the best maniac driver I've ever seen. (even better than Rob)

Most Memorable Mini Experience: Driving with my cousin in Scotland in his Riley Elf.

Most Forgettable Mini Experience: I can't remember. Oh yes, driving to the first Denver Mini Meet in the copper Mini with an exhaust that seemed to exit into the car. Darn near gassed myself to death. I had such headaches from the fumes I did virtually nothing the whole meet. Every time I sense exhaust fumes in a car these memories and the headaches flash back to me.

Best Mini Event: Mini Meet 1977 in San Francisco. It was my first Mini Meet and the first time I really taken the Mini for a long., long drive. We went with no tools and no other Minis just sleeping bags and a tent. What do they say, ignorance is bliss. I also won a trophy for something.

Most Exhilarating Mini Moment: Driving with my cousin in Scotland in his Riley Elf. Actually, it was driving Gary Blackman's vintage race Mini and being passed by a Grand Sport Corvette on the front straight at Portland. It went by so fast I thought the Mini had come to a stop.

Farthest Distance Driven by Mini: Denver Mini Meet. Oh no, I feel a headache coming on.

Dream Car : 1) My Scottish cousin's Riley Elf. To bad he launched it into a tree coming home from a pub a number of years ago. 2)1970 hemi Cuda convertible 3) My 1972 Mini, bought the car new, owned it for 18 years, changed or modified almost everything on the car, wish I'd never sold it.

Other Interests & Hobbies: I enjoy taking pictures, going to car races, taking pictures of car races, driving with the top down in the Triumph and many other things, some not car related.