One of the largest Mini meets in the motoring calendar is expected to feature even more new MINIs this year, as organiser the British Mini Club is trying to gather the biggest selection of John Cooper Works GP Specials. At time of writing, the BMC's Himley Hall Mini Day on Sunday 11 May had over 30 GPs signed up to be at the event, and assisting those efforts is GP owner Mick Walsh, who helped bring together a similar selection at Bingley Hall at the start of the year (pictured above). But it's not all about GPs - it is also hoped that many new MINIs will venture to the picturesque grounds of Himley Hall in Dudley to put on a proud display alongside the classics. There will also be an area to sell your Mini, so there might even be a chance to pick up a bargain. The Sunday also features a Premiership Concours competition, with prizes for modern MINIs. There was a strong display of show and shiners at Bingley this year, while the modern metal also did us proud at Sandon Hall and the Great Mini Showdown at Shakespeare County Raceway last summer. Aside from that, there are over 20 clubs signed up, and each of them is bound to put on a wacky and imaginative display, with an eclectic mix of Minis to inspire you. And of course we'll be there so you can peruse some back issues you may be missing, sign up for a subscription or simply come and talk to us about your car and give us feedback on the magazine - it'll be great to see you there. There is no advanced ticket purchase, but prices are competitive, at just £6 per person on the day, with a reduction of £2 for BMC members - we think that's excellent value for a day out. Himley Hall is in Himley Park in Dudley, just off the A449 between Kidderminster and Wolverhampton. Punch DY3 4DF into your sat nav and we'll see you there! If you have a GP and want to form part of the display, call the BMC on 01384 897779 or Mick Walsh on 07773 180980, and for further details, visit www.britishminiclub.co.uk.

The brand appears to be going from strength to strength here in the UK, with MINI boasting year on year increases and achieving its best ever full month of sales in March. With 12,338 cars shifted so far in 2008, MINI also achieved 8,858 registrations in March alone, beating the previous best in September 2007 and representing a 12 per cent improvement over March 2007. In addition to strong sales performance, the company also scooped numerous media awards at the start of the year. BusinessCar awarded the brand 'Best Supermini', while Top Gear gave its 'Best Small Car' prize for the second year in a row. The Cooper S scooped What Car?'s 'Best Hot Hatch' gong and, finally, Parker's presented the accolade of 'Britain's Slowest Depreciating Car', a title MINI won previously in 2005.

MM reader, Kal Heer, got in touch to inform us of some lowlife who's nicked his glorious Hartge Cooper S. Kal bought the MINI for his wife's 30th birthday last year and it features a Hartge remap, 18-inch alloys, Eibach lowering springs, Janspeed cat back exhaust and Pipercross air filter. It was stolen from Birmingham at the end of March. If anyone has any details on the whereabouts of this beautiful MINI, call Rose Rd Police Station on 0845 113 5000.