Just returned from running the McLaren M10A at the Portland Historics. What a blast, and what an amazing city PDX is! Stumptown Coffee - oh my.

On a Mini-related note: I was shocked at the number of modded MINIs I saw while in Portland. I live in LA and can probably count on one hand the number of modded MINIs I've seen in the last six months. But over the course of three days, I must have seen 20 modded MINIs in PDX. And only one of those was at the track - the rest were just about town. Right on!

Attached is the McLaren, driven by my uncle. Photo by me: Nikon D2X with 300mm f/2.8 Nikkor.

 

I'm glad you had a great time in PDX! Oregon can grow on you. If you are from out of state and don't know about the gas laws, you just need to be careful about pumping your own gas, the gas stations can get pissy about it.

 

With Alta and MINI Madness based out here, having a modded MINI is almost required by law! My MCS certainly didn't stay stock for very long.

 

Now that looks like fun.


Hmmmm.... McLaren orange on an R56 S....

 

It is also possible that you ran into the gang of MINI and mini drivers that attended Mini Meet West 2007 last week.

 

Well you must have seen most of us at the paddock as well! We had I think 32 MINI's there ranging from our local GP (Thanks JP) to a couple classics from around the state as well... Too bad you didnt have time to come visit!

A few of us ran the Auto-X for most of the day as well... I thought the organizers did a GREAT job at the event! I remember seeing your uncle as well.. what a fun car!

 

Thats an amazing pic!

 

Very familiar - I used to live in New Jersey, which I believe is the only other state with that law.

 

I thought about that as well! That would be hot!

 

Possible, but most of the cars I saw were just in normal situations - parked in an apartment parking lot, parked at a grocery store, or just driving about town. All had Oregon plates, and, not surprisingly, not one Cabrio in the lot (that I saw).

Look out for yet another SoCal-to-PDX transplant in the near future!

 

We run that car at 3 or 4 races a year at various tracks on the West. This one was easily the best-organized of all those events. The same organizer is responsible for some of the other events we attend as well, but something about this particular event was special.

Probably helped that the weather was stellar! We got out just before that heat wave y'all had last week.

 

I am planning to drive up there in September from LA, taking the 101 mostly, with a few stops and detours along the way. I am planning it to take 1 week, or there about for the whole round trip.

I really like Portland.

 

We drove up as well - really easy drive.

Word of caution: DO NOT stay at the Hampton Inn in Crescent City. Worst hotel in the history of hotels! I'd stay at the Bates Motel sooner than I'd stay there again.

 

Glad you enjoyed yourself at PIR. You should have come over to the infield corral areas to see some fantastic cars, inc. the 30 or so PDXMINI club members.

 

Plenty of MINI's in this town, and I love walking by other's modded cars and checking out their personalization’s. I even met a local congresswoman who drivers a Cooper and loves the car – I got a kick out of that she has good taste. I saw the tail end of a GP going down Sw 4th the other day – maybe it was Jarid maybe not. Portland is a small town :-)

 

You should take the McLaren to Cars and Coffee this Sat in Irvine-they'd get a kick out of it and you would see some heavily modded MINI's that show up regularly. It starts about 7am at the Ford Premiere Auto Group HQ right off the I-5 in Irvine. MaxN or Sideache can tell you the exact exit. I know it would be a early morning for you coming from Pasadena but it is worth it. Check out the Cars and Coffee threads and click on the link to MaxN's pics for more info. Nice shot! I have been eyeing the D2X myself. Slightly OT but did you use a monopod with the 300/2.8 for that shot?

 

After driving the McLaren, does it seeem like you are dragging an anchor with the MINI?

 

Not at all! Well, maybe a little bit

Funny - the three core people responsible for the car all have MINIS - I have the MCSc, my uncle (the guy driving in the pic) has a 2007 MCS and my other uncle (the crew chief and mechanic) has an '06 MCS. It was the only logical choice!

 

Probably was me if it was in SW. Theres another GP in Beaverton and one that gets rarely driven in NW.