Missing the MINI after leaving it behind in Seattle in Oct. Last drive was a good track session at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton WA. Decided to get it to AZ and rented a garage so I could have a 3rd car here. Weather has been dry out west. My 2 lane summer route through the high desert looked snow free for several days and dry. Time to go for it.


Car was loaded heavy. Race tires and gear, house hold items, rugs, sewing machine, you name it. Had to be 1000lbs and I could really feel the weight and higher center of gravity. Extra weight vs last trip cost me 2 MPG.


Left at 1:30 am in light fog. Cop paced me as soon as I got on I-5. He was lurking for me as I came off the on ramp pretty hot as normal. I went the limit until he got bored and took off. Last cop I saw until S OR. Light traffic and made good time past hood and into Prineville for fuel. I had been topping off in Burns OR as the next leg is a long and very rural and isolated. 220 no gas. Maserati with its 24 gal take has long range. Mini's 14 gals is usually plenty but not when loaded and running hard. 23 ave.
Decided I could blow of Burns and need towards I-80 thru Denio NV. Sun just came up now and visibility is good. This a rural 2 lane short cut that rocks vrs staying on 95. Was running pretty hard and came up a pick up truck. Passing zone was ending soon and then a corner and steep long hill. I powered up next to the truck to see State Police on the side. oops. I might have been conservation but truck was dirty and hard to read. I powered in front and broke for the corner. Left him room but I was speeding. Hill was covered in frost but the summer tires gripped enough to pull it back into the sun. I was waiting for the lights and nothing. He followed for 10 miles and turned off. Than I ran pretty hard for and hour and started looking as range. It looked pretty close. I had to back off to 70MPH to conserve fuel. Full nascar event now, lol. Range was increase but I was still going to be 10 miles short. I started hitting neutral on all hills, turned everything off. Miles to empty counter hit 0- 9 miles from fuel. The hard running earlier tricked the computer to a lower ave est. and I was able to make town heart pumping. Took 14.25 gals.


Escort Redline saved me several times over the rest of the day. Extra weight really stuck the car to the road but it did not like changing direction like normal. Came into a fast sweep to hot once and she was a hit of a hand full to get her to change directions. Just put on new X-10 pads and love the stopping power.More cops than usual this trip or just not enough traffic to keep them busy this time of year. Did about 700 miles before I got out of the car the first time. I know I am hard core as that is almost half way. Rest of the trip was pretty boring with just cops to avoid. Mini is a real beast on long road trips. Eats up miles and can carry its load. Unload today and taking her to the spa for a clean up. Next long trip is N Cal. in Feb. for MINI Thunder V. She will be for sale and available after that event. This car brings as big a smile to my face as my Maserati. Seattle house is up for sale. I am really going to miss this run!