The Independent American Magazine for all Mini Owners
Issue link: http://mc2.epubxp.com/i/33538
The Collectors W hen it was first decided to do this story, everyone we came across said, “You should talk with Hrach Chekijian. He has a huge collection of everything Mini.” Well, even though I didn’t know Hrach, I had heard of him and knew where to contact him: I called him at MINI of Peabody where he worked as a MINI Motoring Advisor and initial arrangements were made to do a story on his memorabilia collection. Unfortunately, before our story could come to fruition, Hrach was felled by a stroke at work, passing away last October 31st. Consequently, our memorabilia story was put on hold until such time as we could find another collection to write about. In fact, I almost forgot about it entirely when a friend asked me when the story on Hrach would appear. I explained that Hrach had passed away in October and that I was looking for a new collection(s) to write about. My friend expressed shock at this news and told me that he had met Hrach a couple of times, and that he was a load of fun and very passionate about Minis. He suggested I get in contact with Cesar Chekijian, Hrach’s brother, who might have some photos. Cesar graciously sent me some photos of Hrach that included bits of his collection. He also included a link to a BBC feature on his brother, plus he included a number of pages of condolences from well-wishers at Hrach’s funeral. The funeral, memorial and wake for the fallen Mini enthusiast had almost 800 people in attendance, many of whom had driven hundreds of miles in their Minis to say their final farewells. (How many of us, I wonder, will garner that level of respect when we pass away?) In this article, MC2 focuses on three collectors of Mini/MINI memorabilia who have set the standard very high, indeed, for budding Mini Memorabilia collectors. The late Hrach Chekijian was probably the premier collector of Mini Memorabilia in the world, but our own Chuck Heleker and Mini Enthusiast, Andy Vanko are pretty serious collectors in their own right. Out of respect, Hrach’s story will come first and because of his untimely passing, it will be more about the man than the collection – not that you could ever separate the two! by Peter D. DuPre photos courtesy Cesar Chekijian, Andy Vanko, Jay Elliott and the author Hrach Chekijian “Nobody is more passionate about Minis than me,” Hrach used to say and truer words were never spoken. Born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1949 from Armenian parents, Hrach moved to Baghdad with his family at age seven, where his family was in the jewelry business. It was here, at the age of about 14 that the young teen noticed an Austin Mini driving down the street and being intrigued with the unusual machine, he set off after it on his bicycle to have a closer look. As his brother, Cesar says. “It was love at first sight and the beginning of a lifelong affair pursuing 24 www.mc2magazine.com Minis around the world that lasted almost half a century.” Being too young to actually own a Mini, the young Hrach contented himself with collecting Mini publications, brochures, posters, models and other memorabilia related to ground breaking little car. He finished high school in Iraq and then apprenticed in Lebanon as a gemologist before coming back to Iraq to join the family business. During this time, even though he was busy at work, Hrach always found time to write to Cesar, who was attending college in London, asking him to send anything Mini related. When he turned 21, the family emigrated from Iraq to Ae c t u lmd w k o a r s y f ot e o o v er pm r o y Mt in ti oy hih t s e s wi t w, bue r e t tor hah n ir c s s a f o mn el e ms – a e i w mo lec t r o be ll i e d i os aa h! and d nd br ou ocs c nd h ua r e ls l n f i