Minor Matters

[Big-Al]

I personally think 'modifications' of any sort are acceptable providing:

They help keep a Morris Minor on the road and out of the scrap heap and...

the repairs/alterations are done to a very safe level.

I have seen work done on standard Minors that are judged to be in keeping with the 'original' concept but totally unsafe in their execution. I will not attempt any work on my modified flat bed pick-up until I have completed the Vehicle Restoration Course I am doing. My progress can be followed on this link: http://morrisminorowners.co.uk/about2308.html

I can't recommend strongly enough how important it is to make sure any mods are done correctly, but that is another story...

[John C]

He can be for or against modifications, I don't care. It's still this guy's superior and pompous tone that's got right up my nose; 'Look, I'm a professor, I've a standard car and I'm right, so you plebs with your modified Minors are just completely wrong, lacking in taste and really not very intelligent.'

I've been in this club since 1979 with standard, modified and, for a spell, no Minors (but other classics) and rarely has something irked me so much. Anyway, thick skin and all that, as someone else said here. My pick-up's disc brakes were tricky to bleed but are fine now and so ready for tomorrow's Barnsley branch rally. Maybe that Professor will be there...

[LouiseM]

As i said i just don't think minor matters should be publishing articles which will anger some people and create such a split opinion within the minor world

Has the article really "split opinion within the minor world"? It's resulted in a small number of people on here discussing the content and posting their own personal opinions on modifications and accessories. Some don’t agree with or like what the author has written, but others are of the view that it’s just a personal opinion which is entitled to be expressed. I’m not convinced that Club members worldwide are now having heated discussions about the merits of modifications and accessories versus keeping a Minor standard but if they are is that such a bad thing?

surely the articles selected to be published in minor matters reflect the views and opinions of the club.

The articles published in the magazine simply reflect the views and opinions of the person who wrote it. The same applies to the letters on the Mailbag page and the posts on here. The Club consists of a wide variety of people of different ages, living in different countries, with different types of Minors (or even no Minors at all). All will have different views and opinions about all sorts of things. Some will like standard Minors, some will like modified ones, some will like both and others won’t really have an opinion either way. How on earth would it be possible for every single article in the magazine to reflect the views and opinions of every single club member when they are all so different? I had an article published last year about how I enjoyed camping at the National but I’m sure that many who read it didn’t share the same views. Some might even have a deep seated hatred of tents and consider a B&B to be a much superior alternative. Should that article not have been published just because some members might not have agreed with me? Seems to me that the editor can’t win There have been complaints on here previously stating that the magazine is ‘boring’ but when an article is published which generates some lively debate she’s criticised for printing it! The magazine relies on members submitting articles so if you don’t like what other members have written why not submit your own?

I've been in this club since 1979 with standard, modified and, for a spell, no Minors (but other classics) and rarely has something irked me so much.

Really? You could always try a stint as a moderator to add a bit of perspective

[Alex'n'Ane]

Some don’t agree with or like what the author has written, but others are of the view that it’s just a personal opinion which is entitled to be expressed. I’m not convinced that Club members worldwide are now having heated discussions about the merits of modifications and accessories versus keeping a Minor standard but if they are is that such a bad thing?

Louise you seem to be missing the point which, as stated above, ITS MORE ABOUT THE TONE THE ARTICLE IS WRITTEN IN! (see point..) An article about someone taking off the modifications, and re-fitting period ones and or the original parts can be and is just as interesting as an article about someone fitting new mods to a standard car. The issue is, as has been pointed out above, the condescending tone in which the article is written and the 'seen the light attitude' of the writer.

[ben_minor_63]

Well i am gunna modify my car no matter what, LEAST IT AINT IN A SCRAP YARD. i will be putting some period modificationa and some new ones, when he was younger they never had the things like we do today.

[Rasputin]

Now I like standard Minors ,but I also like modified Minors,but which one is best.There`s only one way to find out...................................FIGHT !!!!!

[MarkyB]

Professors may have a high opinion of themselves but often lack common sense.
I've worked with them for years, and when they start with "do you know who I am, I'm professor whatever " I retort with you are in the queue of people with busted PCs, they need me a lot more than I need them .

[LouiseM]

Louise you seem to be missing the point which, as stated above, ITS MORE ABOUT THE TONE THE ARTICLE IS WRITTEN IN! (see point..)

No need to shout. The initial criticism in the original post, and supported by others, seemed to be with regards to the authors attitude towards modification rather than the ‘tone’ of his comments. You also made the comment that it ‘seems to be the minor matters attitude towards modding’. The author has been criticised for having ‘seen the light’ and been ‘born again’ seemingly on the basis that he used to own a modified Minor once but now prefers standard ones. Two people consider his tone to be pompous and rude but I’m sure that wasn’t the attention of the author. As can be seen by the various posts here, people express themselves in different ways and sometimes the written word appears, by some, to have a completely different subtext to what was actually intended by the author.

Plenty of posts here have inadvertently resulted in some people taking offence at what was written, whilst other people have seen no problem with them, and some contributors might well seem rude or pompous at times to others. The article doesn’t appear to me to contain any rude comments or criticism of individuals who modify Minors, just someone expressing their views in a somewhat forthright manner. I wouldn’t personally describe an external sun visor as ‘monstrous’ but I don’t feel offended that someone else has. Some may think differently but people are quick to accuse the Club of limiting ‘free speech’ so what do you suggest? We wouldn’t remove posts here just because someone might think that the authors comments are pompous. The Minor Matters editor has a difficult job to do in trying to find a variety of articles that will appeal to a variety of members and is never going to be able to please all the people all the time.

An article about someone taking off the modifications, and re-fitting period ones and or the original parts can be and is just as interesting as an article about someone fitting new mods to a standard car.

I'm sure that if someone had actually written an article about taking modifications off and re-fitting period ones the editor would have considered publishing it. The magazine content is largely dependant on what members submit and you can't publish an article that nobody has written!

[chrisryder]

going slightly off topic...

We wouldn’t remove posts here just because someone might think that the authors comments are pompous

...but you'll edit them if they portray someones opinion of Practical Classics.

[Alex'n'Ane]

No need to shout.

OK you clearly missed or misinterpreted the (see point..) i was merely demonstrating that a different tone to the same statement would be taken in a different light...
And i feel there is a major difference between a single post on here and an article in minor matters especially in audience and proportionality. I therefor don't feel it is appropriate to compare the two louise. You seem to feel that it is your responsibility to defend the club and magazine and i respect that louise, however i feel this has become slightly too personal. If you would like to discuss it further please do pm rather than over this thread.

[LouiseM]

No, nothing personal. I don’t ‘feel that it is my responsibility to defend the club and the magazine’ but I don’t see why my comments on a topic should be any less valid than anyone else’s on here. The article has clearly resulted in people expressing different views about it and I can’t see anything wrong with that. The comparison between the magazine and the messageboard was purely used to demonstrate how comments can frequently be taken the wrong way without the author realising it.

[Grant Carter]

haha people people people...are you serious? Why does everyone have to get so bloomin angry and argumentative....what is this... a youth club?

[irmscher]

its a debate on freedom of speech i am not a number i am a free man

[rayofleamington]

I'm just glad that nobody mentioned the 'fox hunting ban' comment from previous edititor... oops

surely the articles selected to be published in minor matters reflect the views and opinions of the club.

they reflect what was written by one member. If you're in the club then your opinions are also 'opinions of the club' (the club IS the members... we get to choose/elect the person who edits the mag etc..).

I was happy to vote for the current editor and think she's doing the club a great service - although I've not opened this mag yet as mine only came on Friday
Friday I was collecting seatbelts, and today I was trying to fit the rears - although the rain didn't help, having 3 fronts and one rear wasn't quite what I expected. At least there's one for Luke now so he'll be at the web rally, and hopefully will stop calling ther car 'dangerous'

[mike.perry]

Perhaps Prof. Fawcett could help with getting 1948 Series MM 584 back to the exact spec that it left the factory?

[LouiseM]

its a debate on freedom of speech

Absolutely! The professor should be entitled to express his opinion, those who disagree with him should be entitled to express theirs, those who disagree with those who disagree should be entitled to express theirs, and anyone who agrees with the professor, or those who disagree with him, or those who disagree with those who disagree should be entitled to say so too

Perhaps Prof. Fawcett could help with getting 1948 Series MM 584 back to the exact spec that it left the factory?

It might be worth giving him a call Mike

Edit: Although having just read BMC's response in this thread I fear 'professor fawcett' may be a pseudonym http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=38734

[MarkyB]

I don't think Roy would condemn modifying Minors.
I expect that comment was based on xenophobic dislike of all things German .

[LouiseM]

I don't think Roy would condemn modifying Minors.

Well professor Fawcett didn't either - just anything that spoils the 'period charm' and aesthetics of the car

[faversham999]

Has anybody tried fitting a Morris minor body on a more moden car Like a ford escort .

[John C]

Faversham999 - a few years back one of the custom magazines had a feature about someone who'd grafted a two-door Minor shell onto the foorpan and mechanicals of a Ford Capri.

Couple of points to add to the thread above;
1. Prof Fawcett isn't a pseudonym, he was at the Barnsley Rally in orange corduroy trousers... I didn't introduce myself but now know he's aware of this thread.
2. Having seen a letter Fawcett sent to Minor Matters after my drag racing article appeared in it, I know he's being serious about modifications rather than tongue in cheek.
3. Barnsley rally today was lovely and the organisers very friendly - sun shone too.
4. Almost all Fawcett's hates; badge bars, tow bars, sun visors were on show.
5. Minor Matters - I believe the new editor is doing the job much better than her recent predecessors (don't mention fox hunting etc) but I remain surprised that Fawcett's article with such potentially divisive language wasn't moderated a bit in the interests of 'making the word go around'.

JC