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Summer has finally arrived here in Blighty! As the mercury is soaring and the smell of tempting barbecues fills the air, I wonder whether this sudden burst of good weather will help boost MINI numbers at shows this season? Mini in the Park at Santa Pod is still to come, an event that traditionally has an awesome new MINI following, and just as we were going to press the show’s organisers announced that they will be launching a brand new indoor event for January 2014! Named Mini in the Dark, it’ll focus on giving visitors the wow factor with amazing light display effects and funky music. As soon as we know more, we’ll bring it to you. I’ve been continuing to prove that the GP is a practical everyday car by using it for a shopping trip to a DIY store for garden supplies (see photo above). It sure is a great load-lugger! Next stop will be for a full day’s trackday, hopefully along with a few other MINI fanatics, towards the end of the summer. I’ve only turned a wheel in anger briefly on the hallowed circuit of Brands Hatch during a few parade laps at last year’s Mini Festival, so a proper shakedown is well overdue. I attended a very interesting conference recently held by Kelsey Media, publisher of not only this very magazine, but also 42 other titles. It was to look to the future and encompass the digital age as print media takes a downward turn; social media is now the number one way people communicate, share and receive information. We’ve moved on a long way from the Commodore 64 era and mobile phones that resembled bricks! What would you like Modern MINI to offer digitally? I’d like to know your thoughts – you can email me at: mm.ed@kelseypb.co.uk – as well as what you think of our fresh redesign! Now moving on to our ‘Owner’s Special’ issue – what do we have in store?