On KGMB News this evening, HPD had it's usual DUI checkpoint at Magic Island this afternoon and gave watermelons to good drivers, while citing other drivers for infractions. One of the drivers pulled over and receiving a citation was a DS/DS MCS with roof racks. Was it any of you? It looked like the car might have had aftermarket rims. Did HPD give a no recon ticket?

 

Last night on the H-1 freeway headed to pearl ridge I spotted a CR/W MC with Hawaiian roof flag.

Yesterday at HRP I spotted an EB/W MCS with silver S-lytes and Philip's 68 BRG/W classic mini cooper S (110 HP?) which he is selling for about $15,000
so that he can bring in an even more powerful classic mini from the west coast.

 

Philip is still trying to sell his Mini Cooper S? $15k is rather high, as is the 110 hp estimate. I think the Mini Cooper S had somewhere between 70 hp to 85 hp.

I did see a nice PW/B MCS yesterday afternoon on Kal Hwy heading west.

 

saw a ds/w mcs flying up the h-2 north. i thought i was cruising along at ~ 70 mph with the flow of traffic when he breezed by in the fast lane, probably ~85-90 mph. debated if i should follow him as i was gonna go all the way to wahiawa and figured at least i got someone to tail for some cop safety. but by the time i was ready to switch lanes, i saw a white acura fly by even faster than the mcs. then when i finally got into the fast lane by the gulch, there was no mcs in sight.

btw, today when leaving wahiawa ~5 pm, i merged smoothly onto the freeway and promptly switched over into the fast lane, shifting into 6th. soon after a spotted a grey/silver car switch into the fast lane ~50 yards behind me, but rapidly approaching. very rapidly. in fact, so much so that i switched lanes with him still 20-30 yards behind me. and in a flash he was gone. easily going 100+ mph. initially, i thought it was a cop trying to catch somebody, but there was no lights. as he blew by, engine roaring, i did see a "m3" on the rear. and he was gone from sight by the time i hit mililani.

whew! and i thought 70 mph was fast enuff. there are actually few stretches of the freeway where i feel there's enuff room and minimal merging traffic to allow "safe" cruising speed, which for me is ~70-75 mph. not so fast that i gotta weave and constantly switch lanes to keep my speed constant. but reasonably fast such as to allow courteous drivers ahead of me in the fast lane to switch lanes and allow me to pass. 1) h-1 out between ewa and kapolei/honokai hale. 2) h-2 pretty much between waipio and mililani, but i only tend to do this going north. 3) h-3 pretty much anywhere on the halawa side of the tunnel. in fact, i think the fastest i've gone is ~85 mph, and that was only for a brief 5-10 sec while passing by those always potentially dangerous dump trucks that have pebbles and debris flying out constantly.

of course, i realize that 70 mph is quite normal, if not slow, for the mainland highways. but over in the islands, being able to hit 60 mph is is lucky for most of the freeway.

 

saw a blue MCS in Enchanted Lakes Shopping Center parking lot in Kailua parked right next to Red MC

 

If we were in California driving at speeds of 70 and above might be more common but with Hawaii speed limits legally posted at 45 to 55 in most highway areas and up to 60 only in a few long stretches on H-3 headed to Kaneohe and along H-1 going to and from Kapolei.

Please resist the temptation to follow these speeders. I hate to see anyone speed like that and endanger others. Up to that time I saw that CR/W MCS and other sedan racing, I had not seen other MINIs doing the same. I wonder how other drivers feel if they see MINIs doing that fast driving on a regular basis.

Save your fast driving for our driving events or for autocross on a closed course.

Yesterday I spotted a PS/B MC headed to Waipio on H-2 going south, I tried to wave but I don't think he saw me. Often in the morning I see a MINI or two headed up to Wahiawa on the H-2 going north.

 

One thing about the MINI is that it is very hard to drive slow! I used to drive my MCS alot faster on the freeway than my BMWs. I don't know if it was due to its small size, 6 speed tranny or the fun to drive quotient. All I know is that I used to speed in that little car!

As for driving fast, as Minihune said, keep it for DEs. However, to better clarify that statement, keep it for track DE's as clubs also have on road DEs such as cruises. You can't get a better rush than doing 135 down HRP's straightaway, then HARD BRAKING for turn one! Get up to @ 100 down the back straight, slow for a slight turn, then back up to 70 before the chicane. Out of the chicane accelerate then brake at the entrance to the off camber. Get up to about 70 and then slow for the entrance to the rubber room and NAIL IT as you exit and back up to 135 again! WHEW! Just keep it safe out there.

 

Absolutely,
I'm a nut about gas mileage. I did get 33 mpg in my stock MCS but since I've done my upgrades it IS pretty hard to drive easy and slow like a grandpa. It takes some self control and the knowledge that we DO have DEs for all you enthusiasts out there. Best example will be the upcoming Aloha 500 at Hawaii raceway park on Friday Nov 26 8am to 4pm and Sat Nov 27 from 8am to whenever. (Official BMWCCA announcement forthcoming) There will be great instructors as always, a bunch of fast MINIs and BMWs, pretty good food (don't forget the cheese), nice weather, and excellent organizing. What more could you ask for in a weekend DE?

Hey, my MCS doesn't do 135 mph on the straight? Must have been a windy day.

I spotted a black/white MC and gold/B MC in Mililani Mauka headed home.
And I keep seeing the parked DS/B MC with aerokit and MCS side markers over in Wahiawa near Pizza Hut, except it was pretty dirty from the foul weather lately. I always point it out to my son since it really is an MC that looks like an MCS (got repainted Dark silver when the aerokit was installed).

 

The DS/B MC is the one that came to Spring Fling last year. The history behind the car is the guy liked the color of DS, but could not drive stick. So....he had the car painted DS and had the aero kit installed at the same time.

As for Aloha 500, it will be a multi day event. We're still working on pricing. As for food, it might be a DIY day! We'll bring all the ingredients, but you can custom build your own sandwich. I won't forget the cheese and onions this time!

Btw, I did 135 in the 540. In my MCS, I think I topped out @ 110.

 

Hey, I got a close up look at a new PW/B MCS with custom airbrush painted curved Hawaiian flags on the side mirror covers. It has a fade to black on it as well.
Looks really sharp and the owner will be at the Mini meet this sunday so be sure to see it up close. On the road it looked like an american flag but it looked different.

 

Saw that the Ewa docked here today so my MINI will be out there soon.

 

i'm pretty sure i saw a purple haze mc at kawaikui beach park today just as i was hopping in the water for my evening session. didn't see any surf racks and couldn't figure out who the owner was.

 

I know there is a BEP MCS at the dealership but that isn't mine

 

Saw 3 monochrome MINIs at Costco Hawaii Kai this afternoon. CB/CB MCS with 9/04 paper plates, LY/LY MC with seat covers with flames, and a PW/PW MC with some kind of euro plates on front and back.

 

Saw a black/black MCS with S lites in Hawaii Kai today with checkerboard mirror caps!

Also, on Channel 4 News, MINIKahuna was on extolling the virtues of the MINI Cabrio at the New Products show. They also had a snippet of a remote control MINI that you can steer from your wristwatch.

 

I said "Nice car!" to a MCS-JCW (got that per his plates) owner a couple of days ago on the 5th floor of the Ward Centre parking structure. Ya there? :smile:

 

Eric808-

How's it brother! That was me at Ward Center. I was on my way to my evening job at Successories. Gotta pay off all those silly Christmas bills. Argh!!

Hey, nice wheels bro. What brand? As soon as I get rich again I gotta shake them white S-Lites (?). Looked good when I first got the car but six months and multiple curb kisses later its time to say Aloha!

I saw a new Cabrio parked on Smith Street yesterday. Boy, the car was in a no-parking area for over two hours and as far as I could tell got no present from HPD on the window!

MINI Kalaikimaka!

John - JCW04

 

THAT'S AMAZING

Right on, John!! I could tell instantly that you're a cool person.

I was rushing then to grab Christmas gifts outta the MC to take into Compadres where my girlfriend, her best friend, & I had our Christmas dinner:smile:...

I've got now-discontinued ASA rims.

However, there are lots to choose from @:

http://www.tirerack.com/index.jsp

I went to Matt @ Eurosport (545-1658) for them (per reference from baronious). Matt's excellent to work with.

Until later, your S-Lites look awesome to me

Happy Holidays, John!!

 

Eric-

Thanks for the info! I'll take a swing by Euro begining of next year.

Have a great X-mas!

Aloha!

John

 

ANOTHER SIGHTING!

Saw a burgundy MINI parked right behind mine at my house yesterday up on Kamhemameha Heights. Had a nice stainless lowergrill too!

Two MINIs on my street temporarily boosted the home values for the entire block!

I saw a blurb in a Bimmer mag that the 500,000 MINI was delivered in November. Owner and wife got a free trip to Oxford to take delivery of the car. Too bad it wasn't a Hawaii MINI.

Aloha!

JCW04

 

Sweet, John

Hey, I've seen an EB/EB with a killer body kit and rims in Wahiawa on several occasions of recent. He's super friendly and I've dug seeing him! You out there, Sir?

akemi... You out there, too?

:smile:

 

while parking at moilili longs today i saw a cr/w mc with large "super geeks" logo on it along with a yellow lens light on its roof. it was parking next door at the super geeks store.

i believe i've seen other mini's being used as company cars also.

 

i've seen the supergeeks MINI before, too! I love it!

MINI owners must be at home on vacation, cause I haven't seen a MINI on the road for the past several days! Or maybe I'm the one home on vacation?

 

I tawt I saw a MINI Red Bull logo car a few weeks ago by Dole Cinema's. Might have been that Suburu thing. Anyone can confirm?
Aloha!

JCW04

 

Okay, I wasn't seeing things last month. I was at MoH today and saw the Red Bull MINI I tawt I saw in October.

Standard MINI w/rear half of hardtop chopped and a BIG Red Bull can bolted to the 'okole!

The conversion included a roof hatch that looked like it came off a Winnebego.

The RB MINI was in the shop and had a big sign on the windshield that said do not rack mount as it was leaking fluid. Maybe Red Bull?

Took some pics w/my camera phone but they didn't work out too well.

Also on New Years Eve I ran into the Head Geek (thats what his business card said!) and his super cool Super Geeks MINI at my favorite cigar shop on Ward Ave.

Nice guy. I hope to invite him to future HMMC events.

Hey, wouldn't it be cool to see the RB MINI and the Super Geeks MINI go head to head at the test and tune on Jan 29th ? Okay, thats a joke folks!

Aloha!

JCW04