It was freezing cold today by Big Apple and I decided to entertain my MINI a bit and show her some ships. You may see the track by clicking on Track MY MINI below.

MINI recognized the Monster Ship across the bay. She told me she was sailing across the pond on a similar behemoth.





Normally those car carriers with MINIs/BMWs are docking on the other side and she drove me to show where. There was a cruse ship sticking his exhaust up high near that VDC where they unload new immigrant MINIs before clearing them to US





If you are wondering what second antenna is for - it's el cheapo tracker antenna which transmits position beacons on ham radio frequency. The portable tracker itself in in that waterproof red box. Powered from cigarette lighter in the baggage compartment.







If you do not see the MINI badge at the back do not worry I am shaving my MINI and some body work in progress. It's basically epoxy/fiberglass work curing. It's too cold to sand it.

Enjoy your MINIs, they are the best!

 

looks like it was a beautiful day, great location.

 

Always fun to take a clean MINI out on a nice sunny day with a camera. Thanks for tha pics.

 

Is that a vanity plate, or did you get "16V" completely at random?

 

That's a random. I promised my MINI to get her nice plates after pay off

Couple pix from Friday afternoon. Rush hour in Big City, roads clogged. They deploy humans to regulate traffic around WTC sometimes lights are ignored.



...inching closer. Freedom Tower building is in progress



It was a bit easier on Upper East Side but only one block. Then cabbies went mad and I didn't have time to grab the camera.



Any New Yorkers here to share their experience How To Drive Safely in the City?

 

"Any New Yorkers here to share their experience How To Drive Safely in the City?"

I lived in and around NYC for 30 years, the only way to Drive Safely is either way off hours and hope no drunks are getting out of the clubs, or get a commuter car something from the late 70s or early 80s that is BIG and drive like a cab driver, NYC is no place to be timid behind the wheel.

 

I drove in NYC, driving my husbands car. Helped car was a V6, fast pick up and eyes in all directions very important and bully your way through. Kind of like squeezing through a keg party in college and not spilling your beer!

 

so true. The other day some big a$$ black SUV liked my MINI so much that he got closer and touched her mirror We sped away from him like rockets



Cloth and nafta cleaned the spot nicely, no scratch.

 

+1

My entire driving attitude changes whenever I enter Manhattan. You literally have to drive offensively or you'll never get to where you want to go. Thankfully, I rarely have to drive into the city.

 

LOL Nice pictures. I like your Mini's stories too.

 

Thanks MINIxB. I decided to teach my MINI how to drive in Congested City and yesterday I took her with me to work. We departed early morning trying to cross the city line before the first wave of traffic and almost succeeded. The wave consumed us right before entering Holland Tunnel.





She stayed in a warm Upper East Side garage and was very happy and singing when I took her at the end of the day. Work interfered and my MINI was patiently waiting in the cold at a backyard of a commercial building till midnight. She was cold and after starting she complained in Diesel language . Then we were in training mode again trying to figure out how to get to that single lane of the Tunnel





After about 15 minutes in locked traffic my MINI remembered what Boxed UP advised and tried to do some improvisations. I told her not to because if other MINIs see that they would be very disappointed. Driving discipline is what differs MINIs from other cars



The lesson was very productive. Now my MINI is familiar with midnight lane closures and what to do to avoid them.

 

Ahhh the part of NY I don't miss! Got some more details on the APRS setup?

 

Drew,

APRS that's easy and cheap The most important part - you need ham radio technician license from FCC which cost $12 (twelve ) bucks and questions bank is about 50 . The tracker itself could be built by a tinkerer or is on sale from bunch of vendors like Byonics or BigRedBee. No subscription required whatsoever. Cool stuff. Log on www.aprs.fi and see how many vehicles have the trackers. All those monster ships have them too.

If you need more info please feel free to ask. I was thinking about putting a DIY section about the tracker but somebody told me it's of low interest because there are others "modern" methods of tracking. But those "modern methods" depend on phone coverage. Or in case of GPS trackers like SPOT requires pricey subscription.

That's plug-and-play hardware they sell

 

$15, I've been a HAM for about 9 moths now. Curious what you where using for the transmitter, I've been trying to think of an easy way to use an HT as an HT then be able to quickly adapt it to APRS in a few seconds upon entering the car. I'd love to see a DIY thread on it when/if you've got the time. I know there's at least 3 or 3 2nd HAMs and at least a dozen 1st gen HAMs floating around the boards here.

A thread with some installs... https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...in-a-mini.html

 

Please keep in mind that I drive BMW's and we're expected to drive like we own the road......

 

Looks like Xmas is coming. My Mini was sleeping happily when I came home late night.



And she was still sleeping when I started shoveling the snow early morning



I will take her out to the City tonight, please do not tell her...

 

Almost a year MY MINI lives with me. She never let me down. In summer heat and winter freeze she performs flawlessly. Maybe I am just lucky. Took my camera with me the other day on my way to/from work. There are couple shots.

Still on Jersey side.





Freedom Tower grows taller and taller.





Grim Deutsche Bank building is still there. Double trouble for so many years...





On my way from work after midnight I took different route. This one





I managed to make some pictures while waiting for traffic lights.

 

The City never sleeps





I was driving with windows open and all kind of odors are there on Times Square. This guy is real stinky You see even cabbies are at distance very rare event





And the guys on the other side just exited the stable Wild West Odor

 

What is this? I do not remember driving wrong way on Fifth Avenue





Lots of lights in the City.





Leaving the Village





Fun is over back to Holland Tunnel back to reality See you next year...

 

From winter to summer in the big apple, congrats Vlad another interesting photo "trip".

 

This next year began wonderful. Using the noble cause of COUNTRYMAN DEBUT Hosted By Princeton Mini on Jan 9th. our fearless leader FranticFreddy gathered his troops for a run. The Horse Country Drive. We had Mighty Countryman in our midst.

Partying all night before didn't stop my MINI from joining the pack My MINI got lost within a mile or so around the restaurant till she saw another MINI and followed her. We gathered for freakfast at a local joint. The service there is best described by OrangeCrush here It's always useful to feel some diversity in service.





Usual suspects and couple new faces



There were two professional snipers with some gear in the group. I got them all

 

Freddy took us far. For a moment I thought I was driving back in Siberia in my BMW there was so much snow.





We passed some picturesque views. Horses in their country





One lane wooden bridges the tall Countryman could barely fit

 

In some places there was TWO FEET of snow




Disclaimer; this picture was "stolen" from a boating forum

 

Driving was fun. Did somebody rolled donuts on that road?












The caravan stopped couple times for a photo shoot. No I do not have those pictures. Other forum member has and he will post some later. Those pictures he shot are work of arts. Mine look very amaterish.

 

It was wonderful trip and there was Part 2 which I missed. Got a call blah blah blah and need tylenol. Who won the big a$$ TV by the way?