Well i've been wandering around this forum a couple of months now.
I guess it's time to post something in here too :smile:

Hi, the names Morty and for those who don't know me yet I'm from Belgium. Yeah people from accross the pond actually read all this here hehe.

Mostly passing my time playing mod on other MINI related sites and driving my Pure Silver Cooper since april 2002, with 80000kms now and still smiling

Hope to make it to the US in the following years to participate in one of those great events

Greetz

 

Welcome morty! When I first saw mayo I thought "CANADA!" I didn't know that fries and mayo was popular in Belgium too. Cool! Cheers to you from the middle of the pacific. I'm in Honolulu, Hawaii.

--pyratio

 

Thanks


WHAT !!! Canada

OMG ...

Belgium is famous for it's fries (and mayo) we practically invented that
Don't believe that ******** of French Fries... Belgian Fries were first !! LOL

 

Hey, there's folks down here in the States that like mayo on their fries, too. Some of us have good taste (and intelligence) down here, but I can't speak for the majority.

 

I do believe that we would be hard pressed to find a meal like this in the US...

 

Hehe ... searched our gallery's hey

That's called "steppegras" it's like fries but very thin sliced. It's a speciality in the northern part of Belgium, next to the border with Holland.

That's just too HUGE .... but then again, it's an adventure on itself because you have to find your meat beneath that pile LOL


BTW: Hi Cooper ... hows u mate

 

Hungry and thirsty now...happens every time I look at those pictures...

 

LOL

 

Welcome, Morty! For anyone who has not been through Belgium with a local, I can attest to the quality and variety of the beer. The fries (frites) are great, too; I still eat them with mayo. I spent two weeks there when I was 16- a time in my life when my brain focused on two primary areas (beer and sex). Well, maybe two and a half, as I went to Spa for a 24 hour race. I had my best luck with the beer. If you like the flavorful and potent Belgian style beers, try Hoegarden for a lighter, white beer and Brewery Ommegang's (Cooperstown, NY) selections. I'm not talking about the other area of focus on this forum, but buy me some good beer at an event and I will fill your ear.

 

Well, I thought 'Germany' when I saw the title - I used to do the fries and mayo thing over there, but here in the States, the fries AND the mayo taste different - not nearly as good, and over the last 10 years or so I've drifted back to ketchup on my fries.

Still miss all the varieties of great beer, though.

 

Yeah we're lucky with that ... great beers here
The guys who came to INMM all enjoyed are Belgian pride, and Clare the chocolates

 

Yup..Mayo and Friend are Beligic...thats for sure...
I remember when i was in Liege when i was 16 to visit my Grandparents..
I remember this one Spa i went at the Boarder of Holland and Belgium...It was a half Nudess Spa/ Half clothed spa....It was kinda wierd..but funky...
I was 16 and damn nervous when i went to the Naked Half...

My brother in law is actually from antwerp!
He lives here now!

 

Hiya Morty! And glad to see you here...

This thread is definitely making me hungry and thirsty now. I can't say I've EVER had fries with mayo - I'm a Catsup gal myself - but looks like I've been missing out on something...:smile:

Donna

 

Welcome Morty! :smile:

Ok, I think your message title should have been:

"Hi from the land of Spa Francorchamps, the best racing track in the world".

Just my .02 Kim

 

Welcome Morty, hoe gaat het met je? Awesome country. Don't forget the chocolate! Leonidas may be poor man's chocolate there, but to this American, they're great!

 

Morty,

I'm just down the road (Autobahn) from you. . . here in Heidelberg, Germany. I'm an American working for our government and I just ordered a 2006 Mini "S", w/JCW options (all of them) ! It should be delivered by the end of October 2005. I can hardly wait too.

Now, for the fries and Mayo thing. . . I'll have to agree with you ! It's good. I love fries with Mayo. . . never tried it until I came to Germany many years ago, but everywhere I travel in Europe it seems to be pretty popular and it's good too .

When you get a chance how about posting some stats on your Mini and maybe a pic or two. I'm sorry, I won't be able to return the favor until around the end of October.

Well, welcome to NAM and enjoy your Mini, Fries and Mayo :smile: !

Later,

Cecil
Heidelberg, Germany

 

Hi Morty,

Welcome on-board, I was born in Minden Germany, spent the first 8 years of my life in Europe, then came back to US . Love Belgium, and actually been in Antwerp 4 years ago, during our Euro Tour. Cool country .
I have a question, I heard that there is very strict laws against modding in Belgium, is it true?

 

Indeed

We have strict laws regarding modding, although some can be bend.

If you've read GO MINI there was an edition with 2 Belgians, whom I know pretty good. They explained a few things too.

For most mods we need official certification papers. There are a lot from which we don't need any but still a few examples:
- Rear clear lights aren't "allowed" without having red reflectors on the rear bumper or booth. That I think you have in several countries
- For like exhausts an EU certification is demanded (TUV is not sufficient). But I know a lot of people who have non-EU certification exhausts under their MINI's. (Playmini, Magnaflow,...)
Mostly it ain't giving us troubles, but sometimes police or at a checkup they can complain.
- Lowering springs, only certain vendors are approved by Belgian law (KW, Koni, Weitec, Eibach) and we need a conformity attest from them. Also with that an official attest of installation from an approved installer. (garage, tyrecentral...)
If you have fully adjustable lowering they demand at least 9cm ground clearance, although most of us hang lower

And a few things more. Mostly police doesn't complain but it could be that you get a red card instead of a green one, when you get back from the obliged car checkup after your car had passed its 4th year.

One thing that ain't allowed and I think that's real sad, are the bumper side reflectors you guys have on your cars. (front and rear bumper inserts on the side) I really want those

 

Well let's see, what can I say

Pure Silver Cooper - March 2002 build
Leather interior + sportseats
Manual airconditioning
Chrome rings and add-ons
Sport Suspension ++
Cooper S Sideskirts and 'S' Fuel cap
MINI Drivinglights
White sidemarkers - Rear lights with white sidemarkers
17" S Spoke with Yokohama 205 45 R17 tyres
Lowered with Weitec Springs
Remus exhaust
K&N replacement Airfilter
Brembo brake discs with EBC Greenstuff pads
OMP upper and lower strutbrace
MTH Tuner remap
ICE: Kenwood HU, PG speakers and Subwoofer install in booth

Mmm I'll check if I haven't forgotten anything

 

Catsup sucks. Yuk. Much prefer home-made mayo or aioli (or just plain salt). You can't taste the potatoes when you smother them with catsup. All you taste is the catsup. Has anyone tried Peter Lugar's steak sauce? Really good in lieu of catsup for just about anything.

 

Hey Morty!

I work with Cecil and have also just placed an order for a pure silver 06. It is due late October early November. Like Cecil, I love mayo with my fries and well Germany and beer, need I say more?

Hey, we all may have to make a road trip in the future. It would be a Mini Meeting!

 

I guess with proper documentation you should be able to transform your Mini to a space shuttle there is always a way around it

 

Angenam Morty,

I used to live in Antwerpen, great city. Welcome to NAM. Hope you are in Spa-Francorchamp today, there will be a great racer later on.

 

Nice car. Interesting about the strict regulations for modding. In California the highway patrol seems to be moving in that direction.

I don't know about fries and mayo (I am allergic to mayo) but I love the way mussels are prepared in Belgium. Best I have ever eaten. Haven't had much time to pass through lately, but I am definitely looking for alternatives to CDG airport (it's just too big and service and food are so-so) next time I am in the EU for work.

Very best wishes to MINIs in Europe.

 

Unfortunately I'm not , but will try to follow it on TV :smile: