That is awesome Drew. Your boss has the motoring spirit!

 

I have 460 miles on Buddha. Every one has been pleasurable.

I do have a question...does anyone have a bra on their car, and if so, how do you keep the hood section from flapping? I've never seen such a crappy design for a bra before. The tie down straps keep loosening up, and 10 miles down the road...flapflapflap....grrr.

 

Well, I was considering the "clear bra". Haven't had the "strap on" on a car for ages. Maybe some extra clips/straps are available. How about Velcro?

Nice mileage for Buddha. His motoring wisdom expands daily.

 

I am going to pick up a bra for mine tomorrow evening. I am buying it used (2 times) and I will have him give me some instructions on how to install it securely. If the strap is pulling you could always just put a couple of safety pins in there with some tape around them to hold it in place....

Mine will be the one from MINI MANIA, so maybe I can give you some advice...

Drew

 

Mine is the BMW one.

Had a Chrysler bra years ago and it fit perfectly and it went on in 30 seconds. .

You'd Think BMW could get it right. It's a 15 minute job with 8 straps...yadda yadda....

 

I can finally jump in here! I'm also a PW27 person, but I haven't been participating in this thread because I wanted to surprise some of my friends who also read NAM with my new MINI. So I had to stay quiet, and just lurk here. But it's been nice reading along. Now the surprise has been revealed and I can say hello to you.

Here's a link to some pics of my new MINI. I picked it up Saturday AM, but it had actually been at the dealer since a week earlier. I think knowing that my MINI was there, ready and just waiting for me, yet not being able to get over to the dealer to take delivery, was harder than the rest of the waiting process.

Anyhow, just wanted to introduce myself.

James

 

I'm going clear bra all the way...a black one would cover up my silver scoop and stripe

 

Well, since there's no DIRECT way to track this puppy, I'll interpolate.

The Auto Banner is scheduled to arrive at 5 AM on 8/9 and Port Hueneme is after that, looks like things are good to go!



The above "scratch" is actually a screen capture of the schedule.

Geez...I think the final days...daze...are worse than the rest.

 

Hey James,

Nice looking Works. I'll bet it's sweet. Good job stealthing!

 

From the Panama Canal daily traffic report website, the AUTO BANNER ETA is 1 August. Another day later .

 

Argh.

What's the link for that one? Tried to find something but maybe I was looking too hard.

 

http://www.boydsteamship.com/daily_traffic_report.htm

 

Cool. ANOTHER ship tracking website. Krikey...by the time we're done we could be cargo shippers and trackers.

Wish it was bearing good news. Oh well...Jake, Firecracker, Nightcrawler and the other kids are all keeping each other company.

 

That's all we got right now! At least the cars are happy.

 

I finally got the big call today, my MINI was delivered to the dealership today. They are installing the security system and bluetooth out of my previous MINI and will be ready by Wednesday.

What a great day. Good luck everyone on waiting for delivery dates. I'll post pictures as soon as I get them.

 

James,

Welcome aboard. Hope your friends were surprised. I think they received a whole bunch of cars (maybe 30) on last Saturday. I picked mine up on Monday and that was long enough to wait. My wife and I took it over to Dewey Beach on Saturday so now it has around 600 miles on the clock.

 

Congratulations. Let's see the pics.

 

After checking the daily chart again, the Auto Banner is scheduled for passage at 4:00 AM, 8/1. And, if I am reading it correctly, it is FIRST in line(AS IT SHOULD BE).

 

Buddha now has 570+ miles on him. He had a great day. He explored some twisties out Culpeper way today. I've been letting him open up a bit, hitting 80-85 today, and letting the tach creep up to 3500. I've been keeping it very low key for the break in period (recommended below 90 mph and below 4500 RPM for the first 1200 miles per the dealer) so I've kept it to 75 and 3000 until today.

I said, "Wheeeeeeeeee!"

Buddha said, "Yeeehaaaa!"

 

Wow, you are well on your way. I never knew what 4500 RPMs equaled until today. Yeah...you better keep it under 90 for a little bit!

 

Er... the way I read it, AB will arrive at 4AM on 8/1, but is #1 booked for passage on 8/2. Up towards the top of the page it notes long delays at the canal. Hope I'm reading it wrong, though.

 

All I need to say right now is....


Pics coming as soon as I find my freakin cord for my camera!!!!

Drew

 

GO DREW! GO DREW! GO DREW!

 

Me, too...but I think you are right.

 

Guys, this is BLISS. He and I had a great time today motoring around and getting to know each other. He had 7 miles when I drove off and has 117 now. It was a wonderful evening!!! They threw in front and boot rubber mats for free, but didn't do much else. Honestly though, I am happy just to finally be motoring! I'll be putting another 200-250 on him tomorrow and 1500 this weekend, so I will easily clear 2000 miles in my first week of ownership. I know I'll enjoy every one of them too!!!

Drew

PS. Thats me, the 6'3" 250lb fellow in the wonderfully matching blue shirt. Pfft, and they said I wouldn't fit in a MINI! Oh, and more pics are in the gallery.