Minis to descend on Birdwood this weekend

All Mini owners are invited to enter their vehicle at the gate from 10am on the day. Vehicle entry to the event is $15 and includes entry to the National Motor Museum.

The event will feature a Mini Show and Shine with trophies across numerous categories. Visitors can vote for the People's Choice award where the most popular Mini owner will win a prize. Visitors can also take part in a 'PushKhana' where three people push a Mini through an obstacle course.

The Museum's own Mini LS - the last ever made by Leyland in Enfield, Sydney in 1978 - will also be on show. Remarkably it has only 1km on the clock!

After making its debut in the UK in 1959, Australian Mini production started in 1961 with the now legendary Morris 850 at BMC's Zetland plant in Sydney. Classic features included sliding windows, tiller gear sticks, an English length number plate mount (ie. not to Aussie number plate dimensions) and the famous floor mounted starter button.

In 1965 the updated Mini Deluxe was released with a larger engine, wind up windows, remote gear stick, hydrolastic suspension and rear number plate mount. This model proved the most popular and formed the base for future facelifts including the Mk1 and Mk2 Cooper 'S' series and was uniquely Australian. Peter Manton's Australian success and an outright win in the 1966 Gallaher 500 at Bathurst elevated the Mini to icon status.

Leyland's takeover in 1971 resulted in the removal of the Morris name, with Coopers becoming GTs and the bluff 'Clubman' front end replacing the original appearance. Australian production ceased in 1978 at the Enfield plant, by which time nearly 200,000 Minis were built.

So, if you want to see a huge gaggle of Minis, make sure you make your way to the National Motor Museum this Sunday!

What: Minis at the Mill
When: Sunday 13 November 2011, from 10am
Where: National Motor Museum, Birdwood, SA
Cost: $15 per car, which includes entry to the National Motor Museum

For more information on 'Minis at the Mill' 50th birthday event at the National Motor Museum, contact Nathan Koch on 0418 831 580.