The Independent American Magazine for all Mini Owners
Issue link: http://mc2.epubxp.com/i/33538
+UDFK PRGLÀHG KLV ÀUVW 0LQL ZLWK 0HUFHGHV headlamps. the car was sent to him from England by his brother Cesar. Model cars, toys, puzzles became so numerous that the roofs of his real Minis became display surfaces for Hrach’s memorabilia collection. 800 people showed up for the funeral and memorial. A long line of Minis was part of the funereal procession. (YHU\ VTXDUH LQFK RI ZDOO DQG ÁRRU VSDFH LQ WKH EDVHPHQW JDUDJH ZDV XVHG WR KRXVH +UDFK·V models, toys, posters, photos, signs, T-shirts, hats, books, DVDs, and a collection of real Minis. the US, settling in Watertown, Massachussetts and set up a jewelry business in Boston where Hrach worked. Around the same time, Cesar sent Hrach a real Mini from London. This really excited the young Mini enthusiast, who could now arrive at Mini events in proper style. One Mini became many Minis and in the family jewelry business display cases Hrach was busy placing Mini models and even displaying Mini jewelry that he made. After Hrach’s father passed away in 1990, Hrach continued on with the family business, but more and more of his time was taken up with traveling across the country and to Europe to attend Mini gatherings. The passion grew to the point where the young Armenian became known world wide as “Mr. Mini,” and when the new MINI was announced, the factory sought his advice on setting specifications for the new car. Once the new MINI debuted in the US, it wasn’t long before Hrach sold the family business and went to work at MINI of Peabody as a Motoring Advisor. He had made his hobby into his calling. Of course, his collecting of memorabilia continued the entire time. Hrach’s house was filled with everything from his own design Mini jewelry and books, to posters, framed photos, models, toys, videos, parts, and of course, full size Minis. In his bedroom he even had the front clip from classic Mini made into a bed, but it such a tight fit that Hrach said he had to lay in it with his feet sideways, so they would clear the bonnet! On the walls in the bedroom were literally dozens and dozens of Mini T-shirts – with plenty more just out side the door on the walls of the basement garage. As time went on Hrach’s collection of everything Mini grew until the dozen or so Minis in his garage were packed full of memorabilia and toy cars were displayed on the roofs. It is a collection for the ages – one that it is hoped will end up in a museum. Mr. Mini - Hrach Chekijian September 21, 1949 - October 31, 2010 However, as much stuff as Hrach collected, the biggest part of his collection wouldn’t fit in a hundred basements, let alone one. Hrach was passionate about Minis; everyone knows that. More importantly, he was passionate about life. No matter what was going on, when he walked into a room a party just naturally started. He was known, lovingly, as a crazy character that warmed the hearts of everyone he met, and he seemed at little crazy when you first saw him at a Mini meet. Dressed in his trademark yellow jumpsuit, wearing a hard hat and waving his arms as he greeted people, he looked somewhat like a loveable Benny Hill character. But real he was, and he made immediate and lasting friends of virtually everyone that he met, often by taking them on a hair-raising ride in his Moke or one of his other Minis. At the end of the day, what Hrach really collected was people and Minis and Mini memorabilia was just the excuse he used to add them to his collection.>> Issue 30 MC2 Magazine 25