Hi all

Well after 2 months I went down to the Haynes Motor Museum in sparkford sommerset to see Merlin on display in their Mini 50 display. It was the final day of the display so I was able to bring him home with me - oh how I have missed my car.

All I can say is that if you ever get the chance to go to this museum then grab the opportunity with both hands - I felt as if I had died and gone to Motoring heaven. They have about 9 halls full of cars with everything from Jaguar XJ220, Lamborghini Countach LP400, a genuine original AC Cobra through to Austin A35, Morris Minor and Tiger sunbeam. In other directions they have everything from corvette MK1 & 2 & Stingray, 66 Mustang cabrio, 69 challenger, Camaro, 55 chevy, lincoln continental through to numerous historic to moddern Rolls royce and bentley.

As for Merlin - when I go to a show many of you will know it usually takes me a whole morning just to wash and dry Merlin - not because I am slow but because of the number of people stopping me to ask about the car or chat about it. The Museum was even more extreme along these lines, every time I came near my car people would be passing positive comments even before they knew the car was mine. At a classic mini show it is sometimes the case that people walk past us New minis to have a look at some classic minis - at the museum alot of people were walking past the classic minis to come and look at Merlin - how can I be so sure? Merlin was the ONLY new mini on display.

I have to say that sunday was a very special day in my life - it has affected me greatly and will be a memory I will keep with me for a very long time.

The cherry on top of the cake was when I asked the guest star of the day - TV's Chris Barrie (Red Dwarf, Greatest British Machines etc) if he would have his photo taken with me in front of Merlin - to which he agreed.

I would like to thank Maquis for driving me down to pick up Merlin and spend the day down at the museum and of course to Mike Penn for requesting Merlin for the display. Thanks also to Chris Barrie for the photo opp

__________________

That's excellent...

__________________
Seat Leon FR 2.0FSI Turbo
BMW Mini Cooper S
Black and blue all over

Sounds like it all went well. Congratulations!

Great news, sounds like a very positive result for the MINI!

__________________

just seen this video on youtube - the voice is Mike Penn the director of the museum -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLRdupt7z80

see if you can spot the brief glimpse of Merlin

and a couple of photos others have loaded onto Flickr -

__________________