I'm now 2 weeks and 1200 miles into ownership of my new R56S, my first mini and so far it's been great! After 3 long months, I picked up Isobel from Rasmussen on 8/13. After showing the car to anxious friends, family and co-workers, I felt a nice spirited drive was in order, so the following weekend I found myself on the old scenic columbia gorge hwy. I've driven this one a few times previously, but never in such an engaging manner. I proceeded on to hwy to 35 @ hood river to cut over 26, and then back into Portland. All in all a pleasant first drive.

As a field service technician, I sometimes find myself travelling these local hwys. Last thursday evening, I drove to North Bend for an overnight emergency repair job (a 17 hour work day...ouch! at least I get paid to drive). The following day I decided to take off work and just enjoy the return drive back to pdx. I headed up hwy 101 on a perfect sunny day, the first mini I passed heading in the opposite direction waved franticly at me, so naturally I waved back the 2nd mini did not even notice me, so my wave went unnoticed The third mini I passed on hwy 6, I recieved yet another frantic wave. That felt good. I honestly had no Idea that there were so many excited mini drivers around here!


Most of these hwys, I have driven previously, but they really seem to come alive with this car. At some point I will need to hook up with pdx mini.

Geting ready to head down the gorge hwy.

 

Thanks for sharing your motoring adventure!!! And keep up the "wave".. i get about 50% in Portland.. but probably 80% if they actually see me

So now that you have a MINI... when are you going to come Autocross?

Hope to see you at an event soon

 

Welcome to MINI ownership!!!!

Thanks for sharing your story with us! That's so great that you immediately took it out for a real drive.

When my wife and I picked up our first MINI, we immediately drove it 3000 miles. Only it was on the freeway back to Oregon. (We bought it in Ohio and went to get it.)

Yes, you should seek the PDX MINI club out. A very good group of folks. Usually we'll get 25-45 cars per event, and anywhere between 35-60 people. Not bad considering we've got events every couple weeks and have 220 members. Pretty good ratio of people actually showing up!

I wonder what we'd do if everyone decided to come to an event at the same time?

We'd be hosed!

 

Wow! thanks for the invite! taking the car for a long drive is a great way to get familiar with it, I just returned from Seattle tonight and managed 40 mpg on I-5

 

JCW who are you kidding?! PDXMINI has something every weekend! We may be the most active car club on the planet!