The Opel and the MINIs

12/0/2010. Today we were invited to the MINI factory in Cowley for a Family Day. We were invited by Peanut's daughter Amelia and her husband Carl. The day gives the people who work there a chance to show their families and friends where they work and an idea of what they do there.

There was lots to see and do and the first thing we did was watch Russ Swift do his stuff in the MINIs. His two wheel driving and parallel parking never fail to impress and the experience is heightened when you see it live by the strong smell of burning rubber that his stunts generate.

Next stop was a look at the MINI Countryman which is being launched this week. This was the first time I had seen the car for real and I have to say I really liked it. I could definitely see us having one and with a good graphic job on it I think we could be smitten. Up to this point I had only seen pictures and I had not really been able to judge its real size. Yep it's a winner.

After seeing the Countryman we had a tour inside the factory and saw the MINIs on the track as they get built. Fascinating stuff and a must see for any MINI fan.

All in all a great day out made all the better by some lovely sunshine.