I will be there! No questions asked. I think every one of us that can attend should. IT'S A BLAST!!

 

Hey Folks,
Stopped by Antique Archeology today. You might know as 'American Pickers' on the History Channel. Danielle was there and obliged me by having her picture taken with my MINI. She was very pleaseant and nice to talk to. She said her father used to be a MINI owner and...get this...although they haven't featured any MINI's on the show she did tell me that they found a place in PA that had a lot of classic MINI's in it. I said we'd keep our eyes open while we are out motoring on the back roads. And if we see a place worth 'pickin' we'd let them know.

 

I would comment, but I'm a happily married man.

 

I wonder if they're talking about this place:

http://www.miniobsession.com/index.html

I confess to some frequent "fantasy web window shopping" at this site.

Smoky, that's pretty cool that you met Danielle.

 

This is tangentially MINI related. Gary M’s son’s band, The Bigger Lights, is starting its first ever headlining tour! I saw them in Des Moines in the spring. Fun! They will be within MINI driving distance in late August. Rock on!

 

We needed to bring this pic up where everyone can see it.

Yes folks, it's Danielle Colby Cushman from Antique Archeology and of American Pickers fame, posing with Smokin' Jo's MINI!



(I'd say there are two things that are smokin' in this pic)

If you motor up from the QC on the 24th on your way to join us for the Cassville Ferry Crossing and Drive, maybe she'll do the same for you!

 

It occured to me after I left. I'll try and contact them and see what they say. Thanks for upsizing the pic. I don't know what I'm doing wrong on that. NAM says the pic is to big to upload so I have to put it in 'Paint' resize it and then I can upload it. Suggestions?

 

Yes. Bring me along to Antique Archeology next time...

 

Okay...I'm pretty faithful about checking this site. Faithful enough to see that on occasion no one has posted anything for days.
So how did I miss the accidents that happened to RedMini & Leo?

 

I think we were too bummed to mention it here. We tweeted that info.

 

OMG do I really need to join that stuff to stay connected to the social pipeline? Please don't make me do it I beg of thee.

 

Your begging paid off. You are excused from signing up for an additional time waster.

 

I discovered an excellent road full of tight twisties, hills and hair pin turns .
Unfortunately it's located in a Wildlife Park where you drive thru and feed the animals from your vehicle (speed limit 5mph). The road map is not available on the website...why IDK. This place was FUN!
1 suggeston dbl your animal feed purchase. http://www.goanimalparadise.com/Wild_Animal_Safari.html

I'm thinking about going back with the MINI any takers?

 

The one in Georgia???????????????????????

 

No..silly rabbit. This near Rolla, MO. This place is not responsible for damage to your vehicle. However, I'd take a scratch/ding from a Wildebeest over an irresponsible person anyday.
"Oooh that's a nasty dent. How did it happen?"
"A Wildebeest did it."
"A what?"
"Yea, that's right a Wildebeest."

 

I would prefer to say a wildebeest hit Leo, but people would say "That looks more like the impression of a big 'ol nasty, ugly, truck bumper imbedded in Leo’s boot, not the head of a wild animal.”

How far away is Rolla? Once school starts, it's hard to get away (but I do it anyway for stuff like Arkansas, or the Black Hills, and fun stuff like that).

 

We'll eventually establish a dedicated thread in our forum here, but until then I thought you'd appreciate this info found on the MINICooperIowa Yahoo groups message board:

"Plans are underway for our 8th Annual Iowa MINI Fall Drive. We'll meet for lunch in Fairfield at 11:00, then enjoy an exciting and beautiful drive though the countryside, completing our adventure with dinner at Honey Creek State Park. This will rate as one of our best fall events! Mark your calendars for October 9, 2010! Daryl, Greg, and Judy"

Given that the date of this Fall Tour is already on the EIM Event Calendar, I have no doubt that--being good and faithful EIMers--y'all already have your calendars marked accordingly.

 

How far away is Rolla?

7 hrs 2 minutes from the Quad Cities as the Mapquest Crow flies. And the town is Strafford, MO not Rolla, MO. my mistake.

 

So, yesterday afternoon I was giving a long overdue bath to Gozer. Decided to use Dawn and then give her a shiny new coat of wax. Washed her, dried her reached for the wax..... nowhere to be found?! I can't leave her naked!!! Had to run to Dyersville as soon as Tom got off work at 5. It was faster than driving to my son's garage in Dubuque where I left it. Got that nice coat on her before dark. She looks good! And I learned to keep better track of my cleaning supplies. Of course, maybe if I didn't have such a huge box of supplies Ah but she is a bit of a Diva and she needs a lot of spoiling.

 

Didn't leave for Dyersville until after five, and fully waxed before dark? Impressive. Most impressive.

...and a nekkid Gozer would not have done at all. We like to think of ourselves as a family-oriented group of MINI enthusiasts.

 

I'll eagerly await non-nude pictures of Gozer!

 

Saturday, I was so bummed about they way my black trim looked.
I had tried something new and ofcourse it backfired in my face much like what happened with my rims.
So, yesterday I tried 'Mothers' Back to Black (thanks to stickergal).
I applied it per label. Then went and washed/quick wax the MINI.
Then applied it again. I figured what the hell and used it on my rims. I thought I had cured my rims but slowly that white residue came back
to haunt my MINI & me .

 

Have you tried Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on your rims? I use it on about a zillion other things and it is amazing.

 

A little birdie told me that LEO is home from the MINI hospital.

 

Leo IS home from the MINI hospital! He can't wait to hit the open road!