Hi all!

I just purchased my new (used) 2005 Mini Cooper S (R53) from Per Olof Ezelius on Monday, May 25th. Her name is Freida. (Per is Swedish, we both are ABBA fans, it fits. ) It has 27,000+ miles and has been immaculately cared for.

I have been Autocrossing since 1998 with the SCCA. In recent years, I have won Street Touring class regionally four years running since '05 (in a gently modded 2000 Focus ZX3). Now it's time to step up my game in G Stock.

Here's some pics from Delivery Day:

Per giving her one last hug:


Me and Per sealing the deal:


OK Per, give it up:


1st in G Stock, 5th out of 99 PAX:



BTW, I beat Per the first event I ever raced it in by .105 seconds. I am still in shock. He's a damn fast driver.

Just for fun, here's some old AutoX shots of my previous cars:






BTW, besides AutoX, one of my hobbies is flagging & communications for SCCA and ALMS. You may recognize this guy:




I look forward to many years of motoring with you all. See you around the forums!

BTW, anyone ever install their own iPod adapter (p/n 65 11 0 035 964) in their R53? I have one in my hands and have lurked and scoured. Can't find any pics of what I need to do to get the radio or glovebox out. I plan on starting a new thread soon unless someone can direct me to an old thread regarding this scenario. (No CD changer, No Nav, No HK stereo. Just want to stealthily hide the iPod in the glove box and control it through the head unit of the stock stereo and steering wheel buttons (Yeah, I know, I heard it only can do playlists this way, but dats fine wit me). Thanks guys and gals!

 

Congats looks like fun and welcome

 

Nice pic with McNish! What race were you working when you took that? I'm a pretty big ALMS fan myself. My race highlight (so far, of course) was getting to the big race in Le Mans summer of 2007 with my father in law. It was awesome!

 

Congrats. Maybe you can come down to Atl for an AutoX

 

Atomic S: Thanks! Good to be here!

mtubesing: Thanks! I have worked the Petit LeMans from '06 on, and that pic was from '07. I am making plans to go flag LeMans in 2012, and learn some French in the meantime.

miniguru: Thanks! If there's ever a National Tour nearby, I'm there.

 

Completed my first Oil change with Catrol Edge, flushed cooling system, flushed the brakes with Ate Super Blue, replaced front rotors, and put Carbotech AX6 pads all around. Now the car actually stops properly! The EBC greens on the car were pretty much shot. Kudos to Chad Matthews at Total Mini & BMW services in N. Charleston for all the work!