Announcing the first DCMM TECH DAY of 2006, to be held March 4th at John Behe's Lucky Dog Garage (LDG) in Glenwood, MD. John introduced DCMM to LDG (the new name for The Glenelg ServiCenter) at his open house on Dec.17th (click here to refresh your memory, click here to see some photos).

The principal topic for this tech day will be: Car Graphics. John is working with a new (at least to the MINI world) graphics designer in the DC area and plans to introduce him to DCMM. Topics should include:

• What Materials are good graphics made of?
• What lasts longest?
• What looks best?
• How do I install them? Is it a DIY project?
• How do I get bubbles out?
• etc.

The second topic for the day will be for John to describe some of his recent "Go Faster" work. Some topics might include (depending on what he choses to talk about and what questions you ask):

• Tuning and tweaking a Mini with custom ECU software?
• What are the differences between the brands of ECU?
• What results can be expected? (HP, Torque, gas mileage)
• Is there a better (or cheaper) way? How much will it cost?
• Is a dyno needed for optimizing? Or is a "universal" profile possible?
• What dynos are available for teaking MINIs in the DC area? Does LDG have any plans for a dyno?
• Does LDG have any plans to make a really impressive and unique MINI?
• etc.

We plan to start at about 9:30 AM with coffee and and assorted "fat pills" just like the Saturday breakfasts at Tate & Sterling. It is recommended that you bring a folding chair.

The tech sessions should go thru about 2 PM, at which time we will move across the street to the Lucerna Grill across the street (http://lucernagrill.com/). At the Lucerna, we will hold the official DCMM Annual meeting which the By-Laws call for in the month of March; for additional details, see Jen's posting here on NAM. At that meeting, you will

• elect 4 new members of the Board of Directors,
  • A personal comments: please nominate people you think are right for the job. This includes yourself!
  • The present officers and board are described here.
• hear about DCMM's plans for the next year,
• hear how things are progressing for the Dragon,
• be asked to volunteer to help organize events,
• be told that it is time to pay your 2006 dues,
• have an opportunity to sound off.
• See this item for some more information.

After the meeting, you can eat a scrumptious lunch. Jen will be posting the "official" call for the annual meeting and describing the luncheon plans soon. After eating is done, the new Board members will be asked to stay to transact some vital business (like electing new officers).

Some of you attended the Tech Days we held last winter at John's (Pictures can be seen at http://www.pbase.com/tomcat/tech_day and http://www.pbase.com/tomcat/tech_day_2). A third Tech Day was cancelled because of an impending snow storm. We are still eager to hear of your desires for future Tech Days.

 

Depends on the weather. i may stop in.. and bring the xbox 360 gear with me this time

 

Sounds like a good time to be had by all

 

WOOT! I'd love to attend this

 

This looks good. I plan to attend both events, the 9:30A tech day and the DCMM annual meeting afterward. Good idea to do both at the same place!

Barring conflicts I can't foresee now, I'll be there.

 

Sounds great - I hope to make it to everything, until I'm asked to leave anyway.

 

Ive put in a request off for work, so hopefully I can go. I plan to be at both gatherings. Won't know til later though.

 

Thanks for the great response so far. The way that DCMM collects RSVP info is by Email to events@dcmetrominis.org

For the Mar.4 events, please have your RSVP show 2 items:

• are planning to come for the Tech Day
  
• and/or for the official DCMM Annual Meeting.

We need to plan resources both at the LDG and at the Lucerna.

 

I sent an email.

 

Ah, local to me events. Makes for a nice change of pace over driving to VA/DC so much.

 

Tom,

Email sent, as requested. Please note... a number of us have become accustomed to also "RSVPing" simply by replying to the thread... it's much more convenient than the email method. Usually, the thread originator will then periodically update the first post with an RSVP list.

I am more than happy to comply to the "official" method, I just wanted to make sure you realized, since there may well be people who do not send the "proper" email, but just reply here and then show up. I don't want you to get overwhelmed by unexpected attendee numbers!

 

Haemish -- one of us normally makes a "sweep" thru the message board and match/collate the contents with the Email RSVP's a week or 2 before the event. This list is then posted in the thread for all to see.

Tom

 

There's a section of Georgia Ave. a few miles south of Lucky Dog that's fun to drive. The section down closer to the beltway isn't any fun though.

 

Looks like I'll be missing this one. I'm being sent out of the country for a few weeks.

Have a good time all.

 

I'll be posting the RSVPs to the events mailbox a bit later on tonight! ! (Still disposing of fridge contents and cleaning said fridge...)

-Paul!

 

I RSVP'd

 

I see that John and LDG have their new website online. Check out http://www.LuckyDogGarage.com/

The website has directions on how to get there. Just remember that the Rte.97 is MD 97 (a.k.a. Georgia Avenue, north of Olney) and not I97 between Annapolis & Baltimore (someone got lost going to LDG's Xmas open house )

 

i plan on being there. but this will be my first time at a DCMM event. I've been a little out of the loop, and trying to get back in. I've already registered for MOTD so I think that is a big step forward. I look forward to meeting all of you soon!

 

For those quick to add UNICHIPs and whatever ... check out his bespoke tuning philosophy.

 

Ok, RSVP sent. I got the day off from work and plan to be at both events!

 

I will be there

 

I am sorry I will have to miss this one. I will just be getting back from Key West. What a long drive it will be.

 

Hey all, just sent a RSVP list to Tom (W3IWI) who'll be putting up in the near future. After it's posted, check to see if your name is on it if you have RSVP'd. I have a feeling the while I was moving mail between folders, some may have disappeared into the ether!

-Paul!

 

OK, here is what I got from Paul!, plus a few other RSVP's I know about. The [both] indicates that the people responded for both the morning Tech Day and the afternoon Annual Meeting:

• - John Behe
• - Tom & Elizabeth (W3IWI) [both]
• - Jen [Afternoon only] (and Michael?)
• - Paul B. (Paul!) [both]
• - Kat (Discosmurf)
• - MiniNurse + Jayson [LDG Only]
• - Matt L. (CmdrVimes) [both]
• - Claudia & Art (chows4us)
• - Haemish E. (Edge) [both]
• - Sally (ssallykat) [both]
• - Mark S. + 1 (MDSBrain) [not sure about meeting]
• - Jim & Suzie [both]
• - ***** B. (willimini) [both]
• - Cheryl R. (maganda_mini) [both]
• - Phil A. [both]
• - Tony (Mugami) [maybe for both]
• - Sam (samiam01)
• - Katie (kdgblu) [both] (and Paul?)
• - (ezuloga) [both]
• - Kurt (krut) [both] (with Cooper?)
• - Will & Chai (Wagnbat) [Both]
• - Sam F (CSAMF) [tech day]

And I add those that Jen has on here Annual Meeting list

• Bruce
• Marina & James [Afternoon only]
• Denise
• Rick
• Bruce
• Rick
• *****
• Ken
• Carol

That gives me a count of about 36 so far. John tells me he has a few more also. I will continue to update as I get more inputs.

Tom

 

I just got off the phone with John at LDG, and I have never heard him so pumped up and enthusiastic.

• He has just returned from a trip and he and his partners have achieved over 300 WHP with some mods he'll describe.
• He is building a new racecar and will have an engine out and open for all to see Saturday.
• He has taken over part of his new expanded area and plans to have it all painted before we show up Saturday.
• He has collected together a lot of Swag for people to take home on Saturday.
• Coffee and Donuts too!

We still need you to RSVP for a head count for the morning tech day. And Jen really!!! needs a head count and lunch orders for the afternoon annual meeting.