8 years.  Seems like yesterday.

Just bringing this to the top, (from the other thread).

Lots of great memories here.

Those glasses are great! Hope someone has them!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ_EX7ob9SQ

Check it out-

 

BIG AL

I drove through Watertown this morning to sell a car and was thinking of Hrach, as I drove through his neighborhood. Turns out the guy I sold the car to knew Hrach and considered him his best friend. My dad considered him his best friend, and I know Hrach made everyone feel like his best friend with his generosity and amazing smile.

I remember when I was a kid he would drive us around in his London taxi or go 40mph in reverse up our winding hilly driveway in his mini. He also taught me how to cook, would take me to his shop and show me how to make jewelry, and it was rare that he would ever walk though our door with a box of lamejun. Yum!

Apparently there is a Rally for Hrach that has already been held twice. I hope it happens every year for a long time and that I get to go, I miss Hrach.

Even after 2 yrs it is still hard to believe he is gone.  Hrach was such a wonderful guy and friend to all that were in the Mini family...his extended family.  He rides with each and every one when we get behind the wheel of our Minis and give them a good "wringing out".  For anyone who ever rode with him you know that we probably never pushed our Minis to the limit that he did, (and had a ball doing so) nor enjoyed the cars quite the same as he did.  For those that never rode with him, all I can say is it was way beyond an "E Ticket" ride at Disney!  RIP HRACH, my Armenian brother!

Hard to know it's been two years now. Hrach will always be with us in spirit.

Hrach's Mini Van made it to seven car shows this past year representing both Hrach's memory and the British Transportation Museum. It was great sharing Hrach stories with enthusiasts that never had a chance to meet him.

Let us always remember Hrach.

Thanks, Charlie! Haven't seen that for a while!

Just found 4 of the classic Hrach Christmas cards - uploaded here for your enjoyment:

//www.flickr.com/photos/pbraun/

For those who never ventured to Hrach's shop or home or don't have a copy of Minis Across America:

//s35.photobucket.com/albums/d157/cwpollet/?action=view&current=Hrachscollection-1.mp4

 For some reason I’m always surprised when institutions pass away and Hrach was a Mini institution. He was one of the true characters I met when I first got into Minis back in the 80’s. In 1996 my wife bought her first Mini pick up and proudly talked to Hrach about her new toy later that year and two years later Hrach sent her a Mini truck pin that she stills has today. It’s people like him that make this hobby so enjoyable. I’m sorry to hear about his passing.

Doug

I have not seen Hrach for decades (1984, maybe) and am saddened to hear of his passing.  There seems to be too much of that going around.  I'll add several things to the rememberances that I don't think have been mentioned yet.

First was his practice of sticking his leg out of the Moke and pushing it along scooter-style, even at highway speeds.  Scared the crap out of me and I was in my own car!  He kind of demonstrated the scooter motion in the interview clip that COSMOWOG posted.

At the Atlanta meet around '76 or so he lost the motor in his car and I asked how he was going to get it home.  He stated, in a very matter of fact way, "You go to U-Haul, you hand them the plastic, and you don't whine."  A few years later I broke a piston about a thousand miles from home after a Mini Meet in Dayton, and when I went into the U-Haul store I reminded myself of Hrach's words.

Somehwere I have one of the gold Mini charms that Hrach gave me for my daughter when she was a few years old.  He did just because he heard I had a daughter and thought she might like it.  She's 28 now, so I guess I can trust her to not lose it and should give it to her now.

I can only say it in one language, so Godpseed, Hrach!

Nanu,Nanu is how Hrach would answer his phone at his little jewelry store he had with his father. This was from mork and mindy ,the tv show , mork being an alien from another planet. Hrach always felt he was an alien back then whether from another country or planet depending on the day or his mood. Back then he had a turbo cooper s that the cam shaft would enlarge it seatings every few months. He loved that car but Ralphy , his mechanic did not. eventually he got rid of the turbo. When I was in dental school and did not have any money he would give me parts for my mini so I could keep it going. I still have it 33 years later and it is undergoing a major rehab at this moment. He would spend christmas eve at my house and talk philosophy and the meaning of life. He would sing with his beautiful voice . I will miss you old friend!! 

Hrach was indeed a character of the first degree.

One of my first encounters with him was at, I believe, Boston in 1998(?). I was preparing to wash my Mini wit a brand new washing mitt when Hrach pulls up beside me, hoses his Mini down and asks to borrow my yet un-used mitt.

Of course, I'm in awe of this guy (I was already aware of his high place among the Mini folk) and hand over my new mitt.

Hrach proceeds to wipe down hsi Mini, including as much as the underside as he could. He hands back the mitt, jumps into the still wet Mini and hurdles off down the parking lot.

I meanwhile was looking at a mitt just covered in road grime, oil, and grit.

What a guy! D'oh!

RIP my man, you were a unique individual.

ttt for Hrach, wherever he may be,  driving a mini into the sunset-

 

BIG AL

Hrach was all the good things everyone mentioned and more. I still have the custom Mini key fob he gave me for chairing MME III in 1977. At this years MME, it was nice to reunite him with the Austin A35 that he donated to the British Transportation Museum. His hospitality when we picked up the A35 had no bounds. And who can forget at MME in 1998 Hrach's tour of Boston escorted by the Massachusetts Highway Patrol! Wonder what hijinks he is pulling off in Heaven at this moment!

By the way, Rich had Hrach make my engagement ring too. Another Hrach jewel I get to wear every day and remember him.

So many wonderful memories. As we speak, our beloved friend is being laid to rest. But my soul is light with memories of him and the wonderful person that he was. I was soooo lucky to have known him. What a priveledge!

Deb D. - I had a similar "jewelry mail" experience. I was selling the new MINI in Princetion and wearing my Hrach Mini charm (as I have since the day Rich gave it to me - the first piece of jewelry he ever gave me - what a romantic fool!).  It also had diamond headlamps and ruby taillamps. My customers always asked me where they could get a Mini charm of their own and I would send them off to Hrach. Well, that year at Christmas, a small package arrived in the mail. Like Deb's package, it had, no insurance, no note, just a little jewel bag with a new MINI charm in it. But I knew instantly who it was from and proudly put it on a chain around my neck. Now I got even more requests for the charms and I kept sending folks his way. Rich went to a Mini Meet (I could never get off from work on weekends to go to car events which stunk) and Hrach gave him yet another, and different, new MINI charm to give me. Now honestly, who in this world do you know that gives his friends 14k gold jewelry just because he cares. No one that I know except Hrach. To this day, I wear all three proudly. They have always been special to me but now they will mean even more.

Deb

 

Wow!  RIP Hrach!  What a character he was.  I missed a call last night on my cel from Hugh Cannon; he must have been passing through on his way to Boston...  Everyone who met Hrach was/is much richer for the experience.  He will be missed.

Pete,

If you cry make sure that they are tears of joy. We used to laugh until we cried over rthe antics he carried out.

In the winter of 83 he brought up a grey pick up with holes every where and left it here for 6 months. He told Keith that he could drive it. The rocker panels had material glued to them to keep the water out when it rained!

 I hope that his Minis go to people who will be inspired by the history of their former owner. 

In recent years as he grew larger in life, he was a little less rambuncious , the stories were still good. The Mini Barbeque he brought to the British Invasion of Stowe. The sticks for the kebabs were filed down  PUSHRODS with valve spring handles.

The snooty people did not understand. The Mini people did!

He even had a sign that had prices for S Car Go, Filet Mini-on, Cooper- S- ausage and he would light that sucker and bring out the pita bread and feed the Mini gang.

Recently he still did the Panoramic twin thing .Although he was out of breath by the time he ran it.

When I asked Catherine if she remembered him she answered." oh wait he was the one who ran around in the pictures."

She found this behaviour strange as we told her that she had to stand perfectly still to be clearly visible in the picture. 

Yet, Hrach, broke the rules and got to be in the picture twice!

As far as gold is concerned. At Mini Meet in 1982 Keith asked Hrach to make me a special Mini for Christmas. The price was $85.00, don't ask me how I know!

Just before Christmas a plain white envelope arrived in the mail. It had a brown velvet bag in it. Inside was a perect little racer Mini with diamond headlamps and ruby taillamps and  diamond and ruby wheels.No insurance , no signature required. He trusted that it would make it thru the mail system.

I have worn it every day,for 28 years, except when it is in the shop for tire rotations.

Two years ago I lost a ruby from one of the wheels and I had my local jeweller replace both front rims with diamonds.

In Ohio I showed Hrach the change and he approved.

So do not cry, because he would want you to remember him for the fun times and to know that our lives were so much better for having him as part of our Mini family. He was more than a friend he was one of us.

Deb