Rollin' Mini C's...

February 20, 2012: Once you slide behind the wheel of a Mini Cooper, it appears your admittance into a secret club complete with their own gang signs is all but certain.

One could argue I picked the wrong winter to abandon a four wheel drive vehicle in favor of the small subcompact. In fact, not since I turned sixteen and found myself behind the wheel of a 1978 Ford Pinto (Hey..it had a Craig eight track player) have I driven such a small car. However the sheer enjoyment of driving the Mini Cooper has more than made up for getting stuck repeatedly in my driveway.

The first thing I realized while navigating the streets of Anchorage, in a vehicle that measures half the size of most SUVs and trucks I pull up next to at the stop light, is that I've become a member of a gang I didn't know existed. 

Soon after I began rolling my Mini C, I noticed that drivers in other Mini Cooper's were incredibly friendly and displayed a wide array of signals to let me know I was one of them.

There are three basic secret gang signs used by Mini Cooper owners to communicate with other Mini Cooper owners.

1.) The wave: A method used by the more excited Mini owners who simply want to let you know, "Hey, I got one to."

2.) The head nod: A cool way to communicate approval to other Mini drivers which says, "Looking good, looking real good."

3.) The index finger lift:  The coolest way to communicate to others who are piloting a Mini. This method is normally reserved for those who have a fully tricked out ride, lean to the middle while keeping one hand on the gear shift with the other hand on the steering wheel. The index finger lift off the steering wheel signifies "I like your car, can't wait to see it when it grows up."

Roll on brothers and sisters of the Mini revolution.