Passion comes in all forms. For some, it’s sports or books, but for Jim Cvelbar, it’s a deep love for his Mini Cooper vehicle. This love led him to drive more than 57,000 miles around the country to various Mini gatherings – and eventually start raising thousands of dollars for biomedical research at Van Andel Institute.
Cvelbar purchased his first Mini in 2015, and driving it instantly became one of his favorite hobbies. He found himself deeply fascinated by every aspect of the Mini, from its unique handling to the radical paint jobs many owners employ to customize their vehicles. He wanted to meet other drivers, see more cars and be a part of a community. While there was a “Mini Enthusiast” club, the members weren’t active, Cvelbar said, and he wanted a group that would do things, ideally using the passion for the vehicles for something greater.
“We have these cars that stand out and are a blast to drive,” Cvelbar said. “They’re designed to be fun, so we should be having fun with them.”
In 2016, Cvelbar co-founded the Northeast Ohio MINIacs, a group dedicated to building a passionate Mini community. It started small – ice cream meetups with five, maybe 10 Minis showing up to snap some photos and share a few stories. Since then, the group has grown to a community of more than 2,500 members, with some joining from far beyond the Northeast Ohio area.
As the NEO MINIacs traveled across the Midwest, Cvelbar started to notice larger, more organized events.
This was the first time he saw the MINIacs as something more than a group of passionate Mini owners, he said.
“We saw these events that weren’t just a ton of fun, but were using Minis to raise money for charity, support local businesses and do something for the communities they live in,” Cvelbar said.
The group began looking for bigger experiences, ideally ones that backed a worthwhile cause. In 2017, Celbar heard of MINI on the Mack, an event that gathers thousands of Minis at the Mackinac Bridge in an attempt to break the world record for the largest Mini parade, all while raising funds for the biomedical research initiatives taking place at VAI. The event is sponsored by MINI dealer and VAI supporter SHARPE, bringing an elevated level of expertise for those looking to learn more about Minis. The NEO MINIacs knew they had to be there, and Cvelbar led a group of 18 cars from Cleveland to Mackinaw City.
“We felt like celebrities,” Cvelbar said. “People everywhere were taking photos of our cars, and it was incredible to see so many other passionate drivers gathered for a good cause.”
Celbar found the gathering particularly emotional, as his mother is a cancer survivor. It was breathtaking to see thousands of people sharing in his interest, he said, all while knowing they’re here to support a better future.
Celbar and the NEO MINIacs returned to the Mackinac Bridge in August, where the event raised more than $31,000 for VAI.