Oh, wait! If I turn right out of my driveway instead of left, and go around the block, I'll see one! I've been going the wrong way all this time. My bad.

 

OK, second part of August 26, 2008.

Saw a total of 22. So that makes 36 for the day.

 

 

This may surprise y'all, but in NJ, (the most densely populated state, with more cars per capita then any other), Mini's are still a rare sighting. Yesterday, I drove 50 miles and only saw one. (mellow yellow/white/white stripes) Since I placed my order for an 09 Clubman on July 05, I have seen exactly one on the road.
San-fran sounds like Mini Mecca.

 

MINI-Mecca....So true!

MichaelSF, I certainly hope you're as fit as you sound from biking all over the place....And from your "lovely" photo, I just can't understand why girls don't pay more attention to you.... Ahem....

I smiled at a IB/W yesterday! But i was in my truck - my two non-MINI motoring badges on the truck don't get much notice, so I only nodded not waved.

 

Saw my "doppel-MINI" yesterday while waiting for the streetcar: PW/B R56 with rotator spokes and sport stripes (but at least no UJ scuttle). It was pulling into the 7-11 parking lot. Made me sad because I STILL DON'T HAVE MY MINI!

Also saw the DS with the red mirror caps again, parked, while I went by on the streetcar.

Funny, though, while walking around downtown, I wasn't paying attention to the cars at all - for some reason when I'm a pedestrian, I tend to notice cars much less.

Great thing about this city though is that even though you tend to see the same MINIs repeatedly (especially on a regular route), every now and then you see one you haven't seen before (like a PW/PW with white bonnet stripes I saw on Friday).

 

Will yours have the UJ scuttles? I was looking into those, expensive as an add-on. I thought those would be a nice touch on my MINI, not as "flashy" as the UJ mirror caps, but still a nice accent. I was looking at tape for the same effect, but decided not to go the skinflint route.

For those of you just tuning in and don't know what these are, it means "Union Jack" side lights, NOT the marker lamps in the black wheel well area, but the sidelights / directional signals, one on each side of the MINI.

If you look at the BRG MINI in my pics above, the S with Sidewalk option, the scuttle is in the shot. Sidenote: the scuttle on the Sidewalk MINI is extended and says "Sidewalk."

 

Yeah, I'm getting the UJ scuttles. Thought they were a nice bit of "flair" and not something that most cars have.

I picked up some UJ valve stem covers over the weekend.

 

This is true, for some reason. When walking I tend to forget to count. I don't know what it is, seems we would have less to do when walking so that is when counting would be easiest. I'll have to think about it next time I am walking, to determine what I am doing. Maybe the field of view is more limited? Maybe walking is more hazardous so we have to keep our guard up?

Like I said before, this counting thing has made my road bike ride a breeze. I ride just as hard as before, but I don't notice it. Guess that is nothing new since "distractions" at the gym have been commonplace to help people work out. I know when going to 24 Hour watching CNN or listening to MP3 files [radio talk shows and debate] makes workouts easy.

On my road bike there was not much I could do to distract. So this MINI counting was a great thing to discover.

Everyone I know knows what time I go on my bike, about 40 minutes before sunset. They know not to call me at that time. But when I get home, that's when people call. Lord help me if someday they ask "Oh, were you on your road bike?" and I respond, "NO, was counting MINIs."

 

A fine day, big count for only a bike ride.

August 27, 2008

And the number is:

31!!!

 

I might have seen more yesterday, but I only had eyes for one!


Left the dealer about 6pm, as the fog was pouring through the Golden Gate. Took the patented "extra long" way home for photo ops and was disappointed that when I got down to the waterfront (like you see in MichaelSF's pics), the fog was so thick, you couldn't see the GG bridge anymore! Later, driving down the Great Highway, along the beach, you couldn't even see the ocean for the fog, even though it's about 100 yds from the road. Did get to test out the new fog lights. though.

And here's the weirdest part: took the old car in to work this morning for a couple of reasons. New job, I don't know what parking's like on a Saturday in that neighborhood and don't want to risk Reg's bumpers, plus I need to work a bit more on my shifting (waaay out of practice) to be able to do it confidently at 4am. But pulling up to work, I notice a PW/B R56 MC also parking. With black sport stripes. WTF? It's like my car followed me (except this one was feeelthy!) Turns out that someone at my new job (been there less than a week) also has a PW/B MC w/sport stripes. Though hers is auto, and she has the egg yolk turn signals, no scuttle, and other small differences, but how freaky is that?! I didn't even know this woman a week ago, and we have the same car! (and so far I quite like her).

Now off to play with my new toy!

 

I finally got you figured out Michael! Knowing that you are a dabbler in PhotoShop, I surmise that you've taken pictures of four or five or six MINI's and then PhotoShopped the bejeebers outta them! Busted!
(I'm just jealous, dood. I've seen 3 in as many weeks out here in the boonies, and all of them were yesterday... counting mine.)

 

I think I must've seen about 20 MINIs this weekend (not including the other 7 with me)...but I was *ahem* moving a little too fast to whip out the camera. Most everybody waved, though!

jgarner53 - that's too funny!! This means you must you-i-fy Reg significantly before taking him to work...(At least she has good taste, right!)

 

I would just like to give a fist bump to all the new MINI drivers in College Station, TX. I remember 2 years ago I was maybe one of 10 that you rarely saw.

I average seeing 10 every day...driving to work, running errands, and driving home...

Why the increase? Gas prices and live in a college town...the students are back!

 

Oh no, someone has figured me out. Guess those three blue MINIs on the same day gave it away.

Yes, it does take hours to PhotoShop into each pic the fog, dusk, and details on the MINIs so they look different in the various shots.

Takes me about three hours for each pic. This thread has turned into a full-time job. Don't get any sleep, over dosing on No Doz, and canceled appointments, dates and everything.

 

Been remiss in my postings.

Saw about 22 on August 28.

Forgot to put a chip in my camera, so no pics using my Casio, did not think to use my cell.

Shame because I saw a Clubman, which I don't see too often.

 

How Many MINIs Did You See Today?

Just the one in my garage ...and it was pretty slick.

 

Talked to the boss Michael. He said he's going to double the pay you're getting for all that work. He's still thinking about breaks and days off...

 

Ooohh, Ooooohhh--I saw two (one waved; one thumbs-up). Significant for me because until this past Saturday, I waved from the Subie and no one gave a rip. Now the O2Blue MINI is finally mine and the wavees seem much more enthusiastic. Western NY doesn't have quite as many MINIs (or people, thank goodness) as some of the MINI havens in other parts of the country. Seeing one (or more) is just a thrill. It's my main reason for traveling these days (at least in my head...).

 

Saw a bunch (didn't count) today on a nice little drive up Highway 1 (traffic to Stinson Beach - ugh!) to Hwy 12, then over to Santa Rosa for a coupla pints at Russian River brewing. But did get our first wave back! A couple in a black convertible returned our wave.

Now Reg has bugs in his teeth and needs a bath. Where can I get a grill-sized toothbrush??

 

OH, Oddlots has one pretty cheap. Nice and round to get all around the edges of the grille.

 

Counted 10 today while running errands around Amherst-Northampton, MA. Included one sky blue classic but no Clubman's. Come to think of it, I've only ever seen one Clubman around here.

Previous record was 7.

 

Well...I was at the Limerock Vintage Race today!! There were 90 MINI's at the track today!!! It was truly a spectacle, so colorful and each one different and beautiful in their own right!! What a great day!!

 

One day last week I was on the way to class from work. As I pull up to an intersection a PW MINI pulls up next to me and across the intersection another MINI, this one AB, pulls up. We all kind of sat there staring at each other until the light changed. It was a weird twilight zone kind of moment.

 

doooo deee doooo oooowwww eeee ooo eeeeee