Howdy Folks!!

Most people know of me from my vintage racing antics in my 1967 Austin Mini Cooper S. Few realize that I also own a 2002 MINI Cooper S as well (my christmas gift to myself last year)! She is yellow with a black top/sunroof, black Cooper stripes and Minilite wheels. I call her my Bumblebee. It had 8400 miles on the odometer when I bought her and now has almost 38000 miles (only one year later)!! It is still under warranty and I haven't done any mods to her yet (as well as most of my money has been going to keeping the race car going). Any suggestions of cheap, non-warranty voiding mods will be greatly appreciated. I'm always game to give her a little more guts/attitude !! You can also catch my column in MC2 Magazine (I'm going to try to cover both the Mini and the MINI).

 

Not a reply to your question. A question for you: is your racing Mini #747? If so, I saw you race at Lime Rock on Labor Day. My MINI is Liquid Yellow/Black, too, with vanity plate BMBLEB.

 

Yes, I was the solo Mini Cooper S there that weekend beating up on the big-bore boys. I guess if you caught the accident in the feature race on Monday you realize they were actually beating up on me (nothing like getting creamed by an out of control Shelby GT-350). Oh well. I love the color combination on my (and your) MINI. It's loud, aggressive, edgy, kind of like me. My license plate says "MNI CNDY" . . . go figure!!

 

Read your article today and enjoyed it along with the rest of the MC2 magazine.Q

 

I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was mostly a introduction for those of you who don't already know me and my "Adventures of Mini Cindy" articles. I hope to gear the next column to my MINI and my perception if it compared to some of the cool cars I have owned in the past. Also expect to see a feature in that issue regarding the last few races of my vintage season. We've got lots of plans for next year which should keep things interesting.

 

Hi Cindy;

The only thing I've done to my '05 so far is install the Alta CAI. I think it's been proven to add a little power and torque but the sound alone is worth the money! Really uncorks the supercharger noise.

Are you going to be at the Road America or Mid Ohio vintage next year? I'll have to look you up if you are.

 

An intake is also good for adding MPG if you are cruising on the highway
In the neighborhood of 1-2mpg. Not much really but it will add up in time with the miles you drive.

 

Hi Cindy,

Great article in MC2, welcome to the forum!

 

Greets and welcome to NAM! Looking forward to hearing (reading) more "Adventures" stories.

...the list of mods is pretty long and colorful. Cheaper ones typically include the air box and a pulley. If you want to tweak the suspension to be able to get a little more from the existing power, a stiffer rear sway bar is highly touted.

 

Mini Cindy Shaffer,

Welcome to NAM from another LY/B 03 MCS

Love that color (so do the police )

Earl

 

Welcome Cindy! I cant wait to hear more of your adventures!

 

Welcome!
That's my last name, only yours is misspelled

 

Welcome! Glad you found your way here to NAM... I am still awaiting my copy of the magazine - can't wait to read it and all about your adventures..

Donna

 

Hey thanks for the warm welcome!! I'm not as interested in the MPG mods (she get's 32 MPG pretty regularly). Unleasing the voice of the supercharger is my kind of bag!! Can you give me more details. Road America is not on the schedule for '06 but Mid-Ohio in August certainly is (with SVRA). Stop by and have a beverage!!

 

Hello Mini Cindy!!! Welcome to NAM!!! Nice color combination by the way. The Liquid Yellows are taking over! Muwahahah!

 

Cindy,

I was excited when I found out you were going to be doing columns in MC2. Now, if that first issue would get to me..... I have missed reading your stuff in the CMR newsletter since I left the DC area.

Congrats on the "modern MINI" and I look forward to reading your impressions of it. I still have the Woody wagon and the 67S, and just traded our 2003 MCS for a 2006 model. I would not want to be without any one of them!

Hopefully I will get to see you again at MME in Frederick this next summer.

cheers,

Paul

 

The Alta intake replaces the closed air intake box with an open box and a washable foam air filter. You will find all kinds of info on it in discussions here and in vendor links. Price is $250-270. Installation is a one hour job that only took me 3 hours (shouldn't have started the beverages so early on in the job)