Maui was AWESOME.

Seriously treat your to a weekend there.

 

PS -- I forgot the obligatory SEG photo.

 

Who's the smiling guy? Damn, I woulda taken you on a cow tour if I had known it would have made you smile...

 

True, True, JJ. Mystic Mini's Rule.

 

I think it was the "haulin' a$$, whipping around the corner, and discovering cows in the road" that brought the smile. Not the actual cows.

 

Finally put the Deal's Gap Dragon sticker on my car. So, now I have a Nordschleife at the Nürburgring sticker, the Deal's Gap Dragon, and Hawai'ian license plates.

Wow, my car is all kinds of confused.....



Oh, and with the two different autobahn stickers on the windshield.



But, she's all nice and pretty, ready for the car show and toy drive tomorrow. I'm tempted to bring my German license plates, and install them after I park the car. Is that cheating at a car show?

 

Peace, brothers. I'm out. I fly in a couple of days. Need to reach me? Ask Blimey -- he knows how.

 

Who.. .me? I know NOTH-ING! NOTH-ING!!!

Safe travels, my brother from another mother.

Honored to be part of the Tess Turbo World Tour.

 

kthxby.

 

Alright. Here's the situation.

I get two weeks of R&R during my year in Iraq. Original plan was to go as late as possible, to try and be home for son's birthday (which I have missed the past thee years in a row).

Well, that didn't work out. But I had already told the wife the plan. She doesn't know that the date has moved up to late May, and I'm not telling her. Secret surprise, sneaking home early.

Which means, a couple of weeks with the Mini. Well, and her and the family, but really, a couple of weeks with the car.

I want to bring Tess something. I was thinking a new CAI. I could also lay on a "spa day" and take her in for the JCW exhaust or something.

Thoughts?

 

CAI, definitely. Exhaust would be nice. The ladies always like to have a little lovin at both ends when the old man's been gone for a while.

Of course I'm talking about cars here. Of course.

But the JCW exhaust... meh.... it's *quieter* than stock. Prettier, definitely. but quieter. Only sounds sweet IMHO if you add a header (like RMW)....
Better exhaust options IMHO would be Milltek or Alta...

Get some touchup paint and some Langka and some ScratchX and spend a day making her look perfect again...

 

Well, a wash and some lovin' is on the agenda, for sure. Better pipes would be nice - I understand about sound, but I'd trade sound for warranty, I fear. Unless performance was so much better with Alta / Milltek.

Later, I'll need advice on brakes. You've gone through a bunch of types, right? I want foot stomping, dragon-taming brakes.

 

Huh? What's a warranty?

Warranty on a stainless steel exhaust? Huh? Or warranty on the car? Which you've already corrupted with the pulley and abuzavi R&D?

Brakes - I know brakes. Just bought my FIFTH different set of pads (if you count the OEMs). Soon I will have personal experience with:
OEM
Hawk Ceramic
Carbotech Bobcat
Carbotech AX6
Carbotech XP10 F / XP8 R

 

Hey. Just got home to Hawai'i, for two weeks of R&R. Loong story, I'll share later when I get some quiet time.

 

Awesome! Welcome home for a bit. Hope you manage to relax... you should have a package in a couple of days...

 

 

Dude... that's awesome. What time in the AM was it when Kristin was up sewing?

 

Only like 1030pm. Not too late of an hour -- though well after when the kids went to bed.

Treating the Mini to a day at the spa tomorrow -- OK, so it's the service bay at the local dealer. She's not been holding a charge while I've been gone, so they're going to check it out (and do blades, oil, brakes, etc). Funny, there are no service records for my car, as if the can never existed....

 

Passed 22k miles today, driving home from this.

I fly out tomorrow, and won't get back until NOV most likely -- the 3 year anniversary of when I took delivery of my car (one of the last '06's made). 3 years, and 22k miles. Perhaps the most interesting 22k miles, though.

 

Sounds like you had some excellent R&R... and got a good blend of idleness, running, family time, and MINI adventures. All good.

 

Laaaaaaaaaadies and gentlemen, I am home from Iraq!

 

Congratz.

 

Welcome home, my friend. Welcome home. Enjoy.

Just had my three year delivery anniversary a couple weeks back - and Blimey passed 60,000 miles last week.

Eight trips to the Dragon (none to the Alps... I know, Art), a few to the track, thousands of miles of twisties, 10,000 forum posts here and elsewhere, hundreds of new friends I've made, and discovery of my Brother from Another Mother, all because I bought a silly little clown car. Hard to believe.

 

Shhhhhhhhhoot. I am not even at 30k miles yet.

( I guess I need to update my signature now that I'm home. Hmmm, if only I had some ideas, maybe from all those RudyT, Blimey, Sarah emails I get....)

 

What leaks light blue?