R50/53 2500 Miles, 10 States=1 2005 MCS
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
2500 Miles, 10 States=1 2005 MCS
Short story is we bought a 2005 MCS from a NAMer in Florida. Me and a friend drove it back to Denver. The long story is below with many pictures and a few key detours...
On August 25th an old-school chum of mine flew to Ft. Lauderdale to pick up my new 2005 MCS. It has Team Dynamic wheels, M7 STB, rear STB, undertowerbraces, and sooper sniffer. It also has an Alta intake and diverter along with a Craven 15% pulley. In boxes are HR springs, Alta short shifter and 2% crank pulley.
Here we are on the roof of his building pimping for some skyline shots. Me on the left JB on the right.
Mugs outa the way for some car shots.
Gotta love a NAMer. He waxed the car and wheels before I picked it up.
M7 Grills and Sooper Sniffer.
After I handed over a wad of cash the car was mine. We hugged the coast enroute to visit JB's uncle in-well I forget the town, but we met him at the American Legion.
We had a beer and headed up the coast.
Car looks good in the sand parking lot.
We both wanted to enjoy some ocean, so we pulled over and sniffed the salty air.
These boys were eaten on site.
We spent the night in Jacksonville and headed to the Big Easy the next day at the crack 11:00. First notable city on the way was Mobile.
Here we are about to drive in a tunnel under the sea.
Next stop Biloxi. We tried to hug the coast, which added some time, but gave it back in life lived. Here was a quick stop across the channel. I sent wave pictures via text to my little girl. Mama said she got a thrill.
Biloxi ended up being casinos and empty lots. Apparently there was a hurricane five years ago which flattened much of the coastal property. There were a few houses going up, but mostly vacant beach-front land.
New Orleans, on the other hand was a wreck. Driving in, you could still see so very-much damage. Houses were black with mold and had giant holes in the roofs. Big-box stores were empty and the parking lots overgrown with weeds. There was still a lot of damage visible even from the highway. I could only image what a trip through town was like.
The French Quarter is just off the highway, so we hit our exit and drove in circles until we stumbled into the Quarter. We stayed in the Inn on Bourbon, so we were golden.
Checked in and dropped our bags just after 6:00.
It pays to tip the valet. He parked the MINI so I could keep an eye on it.
How about the view from our "Courtyard View" room...
We took a quick walk around the FQ.
Crappy picture of a blues guy who wasn't too bad.
Remember when the show "COPS" was more mainstream and not some show you watch when you think nobody will catch you? They seemed to film in NO a good bit which always included the ruckus on Bourbon Street. There was one lady cop on a horse and drunk guys would constantly come up to here, "Whoa, yew are the hooottest cop ever." Well, she wasn't working that night.
And here is my good buddy JB with a Bud and a Hand Grenade. Rock on my man...
New Orleans is like a casino. There is no reference for passage of time. Suddenly the night is less dark and it is getting on 4:00am. Apparently this is well-known in the hotel industry there as checkout is a very generous noon. Sadly, I'm not a good drunk sleeper-as my old college roommates can attest-and I was up with the light. At least we had time for a daylight tour of the FQ.
Jackson Square.
"Hey, do you drive a MINI?"
Oh, but I have been before to this lovely town of New Orleans. I know just where to eat.
Oh, yes, oh yes, oh yes.
That is a big sandwich. We bought two and ate the second for the next two days.
Sitting on the bank of the Mississippi.
The water was perfectly cold. It was like slush. Oh so good.
Hi Paia, daddy is doing well.
Well fed and mostly awake, we head north to Memphis. Oh yes, this is a music and food tour.
But what is a trip to Memphis without a little shuttle over to the land of Elvis.
We have been to Graceland and it was well.
But the real objective was Beale Street. Our view from the hotel parking lot.
In reality, Beale Street was a bust. It was a grundged-over tourist trap by day, and by midnight the thugs and hookers came out. Law enforcement was very-well represented. There were barricades and metal detectors at all corners.
We did try to catch some music. This place looked hopeful but the band's favorite song was, "tip, tip, tip the band."
This was a genuine Irish blues pub with diving goats.
Hi "P" daddy is on Beale St. next to a giant red rooster.
They do have the Gibson guitar factory here. I don't play, but stopped by for fun.
Of course, JB and I are joking about not playing "Stairway to Heaven" and a comic fellow who apparently has never seen Wayne's World, overhears us and cranks it out. Proud as pie he grins big as we return a double thumbs up.
The next leg was the monster drive from Memphis to Amarillo, TX. The traffic between Memphis and Little Rock was the devil. Big rigs go 60 and cars go 70. The truckers like to lock in the cruise control and pass another trucker going 1 mph faster.
After Little Rock was had some fun through the Ozarks. Finally, we shot through the infinite darkness that is the Texas Panhandle. I was so glad to have the HID lights. The brights were so bloody bright they were like a tiny sun.
The final leg was Amarillo, over Raton pass then up I25 to Denver. The allure of the SC kept our fuel economy to about 27...ouch. Maybe it was just the long uphill. Having settled down a bit, 25-27 is what I am getting around town now.
Oh yeah, right before I left, my friend at Ferrari of Denver called and told me they had a couple of 458 Italia in. First thing to do when I get back is pay them a visit. I pull up and if you look closely at the picture, you can see a sweet MCS in the reflection.
Easily the nicest example in the country, if not the world.
How does one afford such a fine machine? Well, buy your maintenance supplies at NAPA.
So finally I am at the end of my trip. The car is magnificent. The SC addictive. It squeaks like hell and rattles like an old battleship and I love it. I need an exhaust and DDM Works diverter. Oh, and a Whalen Shift Machine and JCW Alcantara steering wheel. I guess that is all.
On August 25th an old-school chum of mine flew to Ft. Lauderdale to pick up my new 2005 MCS. It has Team Dynamic wheels, M7 STB, rear STB, undertowerbraces, and sooper sniffer. It also has an Alta intake and diverter along with a Craven 15% pulley. In boxes are HR springs, Alta short shifter and 2% crank pulley.
Here we are on the roof of his building pimping for some skyline shots. Me on the left JB on the right.
Mugs outa the way for some car shots.
Gotta love a NAMer. He waxed the car and wheels before I picked it up.
M7 Grills and Sooper Sniffer.
After I handed over a wad of cash the car was mine. We hugged the coast enroute to visit JB's uncle in-well I forget the town, but we met him at the American Legion.
We had a beer and headed up the coast.
Car looks good in the sand parking lot.
We both wanted to enjoy some ocean, so we pulled over and sniffed the salty air.
These boys were eaten on site.
We spent the night in Jacksonville and headed to the Big Easy the next day at the crack 11:00. First notable city on the way was Mobile.
Here we are about to drive in a tunnel under the sea.
Next stop Biloxi. We tried to hug the coast, which added some time, but gave it back in life lived. Here was a quick stop across the channel. I sent wave pictures via text to my little girl. Mama said she got a thrill.
Biloxi ended up being casinos and empty lots. Apparently there was a hurricane five years ago which flattened much of the coastal property. There were a few houses going up, but mostly vacant beach-front land.
New Orleans, on the other hand was a wreck. Driving in, you could still see so very-much damage. Houses were black with mold and had giant holes in the roofs. Big-box stores were empty and the parking lots overgrown with weeds. There was still a lot of damage visible even from the highway. I could only image what a trip through town was like.
The French Quarter is just off the highway, so we hit our exit and drove in circles until we stumbled into the Quarter. We stayed in the Inn on Bourbon, so we were golden.
Checked in and dropped our bags just after 6:00.
It pays to tip the valet. He parked the MINI so I could keep an eye on it.
How about the view from our "Courtyard View" room...
We took a quick walk around the FQ.
Crappy picture of a blues guy who wasn't too bad.
Remember when the show "COPS" was more mainstream and not some show you watch when you think nobody will catch you? They seemed to film in NO a good bit which always included the ruckus on Bourbon Street. There was one lady cop on a horse and drunk guys would constantly come up to here, "Whoa, yew are the hooottest cop ever." Well, she wasn't working that night.
And here is my good buddy JB with a Bud and a Hand Grenade. Rock on my man...
New Orleans is like a casino. There is no reference for passage of time. Suddenly the night is less dark and it is getting on 4:00am. Apparently this is well-known in the hotel industry there as checkout is a very generous noon. Sadly, I'm not a good drunk sleeper-as my old college roommates can attest-and I was up with the light. At least we had time for a daylight tour of the FQ.
Jackson Square.
"Hey, do you drive a MINI?"
Oh, but I have been before to this lovely town of New Orleans. I know just where to eat.
Oh, yes, oh yes, oh yes.
That is a big sandwich. We bought two and ate the second for the next two days.
Sitting on the bank of the Mississippi.
The water was perfectly cold. It was like slush. Oh so good.
Hi Paia, daddy is doing well.
Well fed and mostly awake, we head north to Memphis. Oh yes, this is a music and food tour.
But what is a trip to Memphis without a little shuttle over to the land of Elvis.
We have been to Graceland and it was well.
But the real objective was Beale Street. Our view from the hotel parking lot.
In reality, Beale Street was a bust. It was a grundged-over tourist trap by day, and by midnight the thugs and hookers came out. Law enforcement was very-well represented. There were barricades and metal detectors at all corners.
We did try to catch some music. This place looked hopeful but the band's favorite song was, "tip, tip, tip the band."
This was a genuine Irish blues pub with diving goats.
Hi "P" daddy is on Beale St. next to a giant red rooster.
They do have the Gibson guitar factory here. I don't play, but stopped by for fun.
Of course, JB and I are joking about not playing "Stairway to Heaven" and a comic fellow who apparently has never seen Wayne's World, overhears us and cranks it out. Proud as pie he grins big as we return a double thumbs up.
The next leg was the monster drive from Memphis to Amarillo, TX. The traffic between Memphis and Little Rock was the devil. Big rigs go 60 and cars go 70. The truckers like to lock in the cruise control and pass another trucker going 1 mph faster.
After Little Rock was had some fun through the Ozarks. Finally, we shot through the infinite darkness that is the Texas Panhandle. I was so glad to have the HID lights. The brights were so bloody bright they were like a tiny sun.
The final leg was Amarillo, over Raton pass then up I25 to Denver. The allure of the SC kept our fuel economy to about 27...ouch. Maybe it was just the long uphill. Having settled down a bit, 25-27 is what I am getting around town now.
Oh yeah, right before I left, my friend at Ferrari of Denver called and told me they had a couple of 458 Italia in. First thing to do when I get back is pay them a visit. I pull up and if you look closely at the picture, you can see a sweet MCS in the reflection.
Easily the nicest example in the country, if not the world.
How does one afford such a fine machine? Well, buy your maintenance supplies at NAPA.
So finally I am at the end of my trip. The car is magnificent. The SC addictive. It squeaks like hell and rattles like an old battleship and I love it. I need an exhaust and DDM Works diverter. Oh, and a Whalen Shift Machine and JCW Alcantara steering wheel. I guess that is all.
Last edited by Prima Car Care; Sep 22, 2010 at 02:38 PM.
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 321
Likes: 1
From: Undisclosed location in Boulder County
Welcome to MINI!
Great story.
I did something similar last August: I'm in Colorado, found a 2006 MINI in Long Beach. We went out to drive it home, but spent a long weekend in LB before rolling off with the MINI.
Great experience, amazing car.
Enjoy!
Great story.
I did something similar last August: I'm in Colorado, found a 2006 MINI in Long Beach. We went out to drive it home, but spent a long weekend in LB before rolling off with the MINI.
Great experience, amazing car.
Enjoy!
See you around at MINI5280 events.
Love the car, the story and the watch. I had to pick mine up just outside of Dallas and drive back to Cincinnati, so I know what that drive between Memphis and Little Rock is like - sucks. I must not have been in my super charger much because I actually averaged just over 30 mph on my drive - and it hasn't been that good since.
Vendor & Moderator :: MINI Camera and Video & c3 club forum
iTrader: (6)
Awesome story Nick! Also truly amazing is how many times we get to see you in a single post! I don't think I've ever seen you that "exposed" in all the years you've been a sponsor here, lol.
Btw, I did part of that same leg of Biloxi and the FQ back in 2003 before Katrina with my first MINI that I bought from Roadshow BMW in TN...and that place was pretty happening. Reminded me of Vegas..though even the it was kind of sparse.
Btw, I did part of that same leg of Biloxi and the FQ back in 2003 before Katrina with my first MINI that I bought from Roadshow BMW in TN...and that place was pretty happening. Reminded me of Vegas..though even the it was kind of sparse.
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Awesome. I just bought a 2005 cooper S from Arizona and drove it to DFW. I only had 4 days to do it, so I had a lot less fun. I am glad I am not the only person doing this; and seeing how much fun you had made me smile.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
Thanks all. Now is the time to visit NO. H and I were there in '99 or 2000. I can't remember. It's nicer now. There are way fewer people trying to scam you. It was definitely a more pleasant visit. Now, as then, the muffuletta is without equal.
re the watch: it is my PAM176. It is a keeper, for sure. It's on a baseball glove leather strap that after four summers is picking up some nice patina.
re the watch: it is my PAM176. It is a keeper, for sure. It's on a baseball glove leather strap that after four summers is picking up some nice patina.
Nice MINI, were the MINI5280 newsletter pictures after the detail or before, shined nicely.
Great pictures and story of your journey. Looking forward to seeing you at some drives and sessions.
Don
Great pictures and story of your journey. Looking forward to seeing you at some drives and sessions.
Don
Sounds like a fun little trip, shame about Biloxi, there used to be some great Southern architecture along the gulf front, a large part of New Orleans looked pretty bad even before Katrina. Graceland??
What a good write up, like something out of a travel magazine, sad to see beale street as it is, years ago it was not as bad. Spent about 20 weeks in Memphis back in the early 90s and it was a blast. car looks great in the pictures, and I can say with out a doubt the sound of the SC is Awesome, better then the radio LOL
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
R50/53 Guidance on selling a 2005 S
Toolman
R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006)
8
Jan 20, 2016 06:50 AM