I would like to leave you with some wisdom...and perhaps a bit of sarchasm. But don't take my wisdom too seriously, it's more than likely just another shade of sarchasm.

I've isolated my thoughts to the suspension forum because I am comfortable here with you folks and with suspension stuff. I have met a number of you, even shared a little track time with a few members. Those who I have talked with and laughed with have had no problem pointing out the errors in my suspension thinking...and I wouldn't have life any other way. Friends speak frankly in my world...okay, it was Greg damn it! (onasled)

In a recent email to a NAM member, I wrote about boxer creed. It went something like this: "If some power is good, then more must be better, but I might rethink my position while crammed in a distorted shell next to the armco." Today, after nearly 33 years of driving, and, about to park the heaviest and most powerful car I've ever dirven in my driveway, I'm suddenly longing for something simpler, lighter...I'm rethinking, but it won't change my automotive fate for the next couple of years. Life is indeed funny - sarchasm; we work so hard to achieve so we can do, or buy, the things we lust after. And true to our nature, or lets just write mine, once there, simple seems more appropriate, more wholesome, less likely to affect others and one's self.

Setting up my Mini has been anything but simple. ..."if there is a human who can turn a simple task into something complicated, it's you Boice." - uttered a friend...and I have a lot of friends and family who would agree. See, I cannot help myself...I don't necessarily have a logical goal, or think logically when cars become the subject of discussion or worse, the subject of experiments. I am an experimenter and I take life, or the results of life unguided, as it comes at me for better or worse. I'm not the type who should be followed, and I don't follow. But I do manage to find out stuff along the way...wisdom. I found out today, that the Mini is a pretty damned good car right out of the box...and a whole lot cheaper too. I also found out today, more wisdom, that I would have had more time to spend with my family and friends if I realized the Mini was so good sooner. So the mini is even better in fact, beyond its dynamics and wonderful proportions; it does not beg, after a drive, to be improved.

So why bother, why do any of us bother? At some level within us, I think we seek knowledge, we want to learn so we can share, and better ourselves. It may be the car that sparks our imaginations, but we want to learn and improve. Sophisticated societies embrace higher learning. They ask us to achieve, but we get to pick the mode of expression. My mini has been a willing, if not reluctant partner...it is the personification of the human spirit as car.

Did I improve during my two years with the Mini? I surely did, but at the expense of a damned good car. Only today, my mini, the one leaving me soon, felt better than ever. I imposed no will over its soul today, its tranformation complete for better or worse. It somehow knew today, that the wrenches were stored away, finally, to leave this champ run thru some of the most beautiful hills and roads in this country, free from my tinkering and ambition. While we stopped for a breath, on a high windy bluff overlooking an autumn Catskill sunset, my mini looked up at me and asked before its final drive, "why?" I replied with a tear, and with regret, "I had to, to find out just how good you are."


Michael

 

What a fascinating read! Coming full circle on things in life teaches us many things.

 

Very well said - and thank you for some good advice over the forum and through PMs. I think that some of us just love the process of trying to make something good a bit better - especially in the case of machines or equipment. I know that the Shimano Trinidad reel that came out of the box is more than capable of landing any fish I might be fortunate enough to hook, but I can't resist having the drag washers "improved." I know that my MC will do things right off of the showroom floor that I'm frankly not a good enough driver to exploit, but I flat love the process of researching and adding the rear swaybar, just the right springs/shocks, tires, etc. For God's sake, 90% of my driving is a straight line freeway commute. It's just fun. Check in with us from time to time, meb, & let us know how you fare with the new ride. Motor on.

 

Remember to post wheel pics...

 

Pics are done...now gotta get'm into this box

 

Enjoy your new car, and thanks for sharing your perspective. I think some of us fall into traps of changing everything just to change everything. I also think that is a result of effective marketing. One thing I take away from your post is that slight changes to the MINI are more appropriate than major ones that change the characteristic of the car, because the car just is that good from the get-go.

So maybe you won't touch your new car? Maybe that's until they come up with a kit to cut weight! haha.

mb

 

+1...best wishes to you and happy motoring in whatever vehicle pleases you.

 

Hope you have a lot less trouble with the BMW!

The MINI is the biggest and heaviest car I've had in nearly 20 years, and that includes a 4WD SUV. But I know better than to say never, because I once had musclecars and by golly I liked 'em!

Generally I prefer to take a minimalist approach to modifications because I know the original engineers spent a lot of time making sure their product was both reliable and cost effective; certainly more than any aftermarket company can afford to. Whenever possible, I try to stay away from aftermarket hotrod parts with their different compromises and instead transplant better factory parts (brakes, engines, transmissions... M62!) from a larger car because those parts have undergone rigorous 100,000 mile durability testing under every condition imaginable, and I can be reasonably sure that replacement parts will be readily available for decades. With the MINI that wasn't an option (for it really does not share many parts with anything) and I knew for sure I didn't trust the kids at my dealer to install a JCW kit. I have no problem using a product with glowing reviews (19%, FSD, etc) and am grateful for all of the early adopters who have brought us so many cool mods (twincharge, DFIC). But if you'd like to avoid headaches, I do recommend only making a modification if you know specifically what it will do, when you need it to do that (ie if there is a known problem with the factory camber, brake pads or control arms), and when you are willing to live with some unintended consequences Of course you know that by now, and I had to learn it the hard way too a long time ago.

Good luck and please drop by often!

 

It was (is?) nice writing to you meb. and thanks for playing along
with the dumb comments (well only a few... ) i post up.

working on a car can be nerve wrecking sometimes... a little comedy
goes a long way.

 

thanks for the inspirational read meb... it is interesting reading your perspective... and others who are posting here.

 

.... ummm, ... something makes me think that Michael is waking up with a little bit of a headache today ...

 

Well written ... very nice

 

This reads like soulful story of the Lone Ranger and Tonto heading into the sunset for the last time.
Memories are what we make them, important or forgettable.
I hope you'll never forget your little Mini partner as the Bimmer world will surely take you into realms the Mini couldn't.

Vaya con Dios and "Away!"


Pablo

 

Huh...?

 

What ever gave you that idea... ...it was white.

 

Your humor, kenchan, is inspirational, as well as poignant.

 

Michael,

I, for one, am glad you spent the time, money, and pain to perform these experiments so I didn't have to. :D

Is the new car a secret? I thought you were still leaning towards picking up a new MINI and leaving it alone...

 

Michael, you're a pretty serious track guy, I don't know why you're messing around with another street car. Just buy a tow vehicle and one of these:

http://www.stohr.com/

See what it's like to go around limerock at nearly an ALMS pace

 

I actually looked at a Radical last summer, but the one I wanted cost 75K-80K. My wife didn't miss a beat, "hmmm, no toilet or sink or bed."

 

meb, that was a great post. very sad one too. I'm glad you, especially you, feel that way about the car.

Your poor MINI.

 

ive enjoyed reading about all your suspension adventures and will miss them for sure. thanks for all your help along my way.come on down to the dragon next year with whatever youre driving.

 

Nicely written Michael, and thanks for the advice along the way. The temptation to "improve" can be contagious, and once you start its hard to find a way to stop. Sometimes I marvel at what others are doing to their beloved MINIs in the search for ????. Some of your more recent experiences chronicaled here have caused me to take pause and re-evaluate what my own goals are. I appreciate the experience, and advice you've imparted here along your chosen path. Best wishes