So exciting, I am looking forward to driving school and autocross. I am not sure there are too many track days in my future but I will try it at least once.


Tom-
You are nuts with the base jumping I really enjoy bungee jumping but I don't know about makeing the "jump" to base jumping. You rock! Have fun jumping off stuff, and driving pig all over the country.

Love the vanity plate, it looks perfect. I'll keep an eye out for y'all next time I'm in your area.

 

Hit 5000mi on friday then already at 5500 today. We've got about 50 MINIs motoring all over VT on saturday that will be sure to add some more fun miles! Last night I also figured out my average MPG since I've had it: 24.3.

Thanks for the report, Tim. I've auctocrossed a handful of times and think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread (a big part of my MINI decision afterall). Since signing up with the BMW CCA I've been planning to finally do a track day/school hopefully in the spring. Probably at Lime Rock.

 

What is the status of the Mini within the BMW CCA? Is it considered a BMW or a non BMW? I only ask this because I read that non BMWs have to wait until all of the BMWs have filled the spots when you sign up for driving school.

 

I've been to one BMW CCA auto-x, here in San Diego--as an observer. A group of SCMM'ers ran over the summer. They had no problem getting signed up.

 

Did any of them sign up for driving school?

 

In my chapter (National Capital Chapter BMWCCA), a MINI is a BMW, I believe. Membership vs. nonmembership is the biggest determinant in whether or not you get a spot at DE events. However, each chapter writes its own rules on this stuff so check with your local group.

 

Cool, thanks everyone for the info.

 

BMW CCA rules state the MINI is a BMW (simply not a bimmer). We race with the BMWs during our otherwise segregated autocrosses (other brands get a different course). None of the events I have seen including driving schools had any preference for BMWs as for as sign up spots go. But that is up to the individual clubs I'm sure.

I'll be ice racing with them as well this winter :D

 

Thanks for the info. Somewhere in the ggc-bmw-cca manual it stated bmw owners had preference before others when signing up for driving school but I could not find where the Mini fit in to the bmw cca.

 

I just got back from a 400 mile jaunt with Pig, over some beautiful Idaho twisties. It was sooo much fun. It still amazes me how much I can enjoy driving a car! :smile:

Oh, and Pig hit 14k today. We're going to be out of the warranty period in no time

 

Put an Alta CAI into Ollie Thurs nite. z-z-z-zooooom.

4500 miles so far. Next mod--probably the XM set-up that Cooperb has found. I have a little list after that.

 

I spent a lot of time with my car this weekend!

Friday I was the first in the US to receive the official MINI armrest from germany, and I installed it immediately. It's perfect.

On Saturday we had 42 MINIs drive through new hampshire among the changing leaves, covered bridges, and getting lost a few times on dirt roads!

Sunday I worked on the car for 9 hours...washed it, then changed all my brake pads to the mintex pads. Hopefully my war with brake dust is over now!

 

Sounds like a great weekend. Let us know how the new brake pads work out. Did you change the rotors also?

The last two days, Padre had his first taste of driving (or even being) in the rain. After 4 warm, sunny California months, I finally had to figure out how to use the windshield wipers. I really like the rain sensitive variable wipers. They keep me from constantly having to adjust the setting like I always did on regular variable wipers. :smile: Padre even had no trouble driving through the small lake that has formed at the bottom of my driveway. It's not very deep though. I don't think MINI's would do very well in high water. The skies are clearing now so I think I'll play a little hooky and take a drive in the nice, crisp post-storm air.

Cheers,

 

Hey Pete, there is more heading your way, don't open the sun roof just yet.

 

WOW this thread has gotten HUGE

 

You were right, Winechic. I'm glad Padre's wipers work well. After the rains, we (me, Steph and Padre!) took a run in the foothills this Sunday with some other GoldCountryMini folks. We also rode up to Apple Hill since we missed the Norcal MINIs run a few weeks ago. More rain tomorrow. Did we accidently move to Seattle? Maybe I need to learn to drink more over-priced coffee!

How is the crush going? Will you be set free soon? Let us know and we will be over to wine country to cruise the hills with you.

Cheers,

 

I'm so busy! :[

I need to take a morning off, and motor through the canyons before it gets too cold, and snows on them. Agrippa is now at 7000+ miles and tomorrow morning, he's getting a v.38 upgrade. I hope it eliminates the rare cold-start problem and his touch of stumble.

He's also SO dirty - it's been raining so often (very unusual here), that I'm having a hard time getting a washing in.

I'm so glad to see everyone's been enjoying their MINIs - and that winechic's FINALLY got hers!

BTW, the trip was fantastic - I'll make sure to get some photos up soon.

 

Anyone going to the SCCA driving school at Thunderhill raceway on Nov. 20th? I am considering it but I might just drive some local autocrosses instead.

 

Pig hit 15k miles this weekend. He doesn't get driven for a commute or anything, so that's almost entirely "fun" motoring. We're doing a road trip every other weekend or so (Cheri has 4 day weekends alternating with 2 day weekends due to her 4 day work week).

So far, we've been to Seattle, Vancouver, other bits of British Columbia, Coeur d'Alene, the Tetons and Jackson Hole, Colorado and the Idaho mountains. We're loving the motoring, and Pigwidgeon just keeps getting more fun.

This last weekend we ended our Tetons trip by heading down to Salt Lake to take Pig in for his first scheduled service. We were very impressed with the folks at MINI of Murray, who put up with us ogling every MINI in their lots (service and sales) while we waited for Pig. We even test drove an orange convertible--but since it was snowing, we decided we'll need to do it again when the weather is nice.

Pig did well on his first sub-freezing motoring, but we did get turned around a few times for snow, as we don't have all season tires at the moment.

Motor on, y'all!

 

I shall soon be free! It looks like this weekend may be my first weekend in 9 weeks. (big sigh) I am pretty burned out at this point and really need to clean my house. The pile of mail is starting to take over the living room . I have yet to be able to go for a joy ride in the MINI, it has all been to and from work or other such necessities.
The weekend of the 6th I will be taking part in my first mini group thing. There is a local group here that gets together monthly. Can't wait. My fella keeps telling me I need to sign up for a driving school, maybe in a few months.
I' just really looking forward to having a life again! So Yeah we should get together. I need to hit a dealer and was thinking about going to Sac. so I could visit some friends at the same time, how is the service dept there?

 

Next time you're down in Salt Lake during nice weather, we should get together, and run through the Alpine Loop - that's a blast, and perfect exercise for a Mini.

I just went to Mini of Murray this morning to get my software upgraded, and they installed v.39 - dunno exactly what iy's supposed to improve, but hopefully it helps the rough idle at stoplights. I also picked up a chrome handle for the boot and installed it - so nice looking, and kind of echoes the chrome grill I had installed on the front.

 

I LOVE that this thread has gotten huge.

Hey, Tom, Pig may be the first to have his warranty expire, but I guarantee he's had the most fun!

Dobby is also at about 4500 miles. AND, the big news is that I gave him his first wax! I was so nervous I would mess him up somehow. But he's as beautiful as ever.

I've never understood true love for a car before Dobby. So my hubby to be was actually jealous that I spent three hours with Dobby two weeks ago on a Sunday.

 

It's all part of my devious plot to get him a smaller supercharger pulley. Cheri says it's ok to do things like that _after_ the warranty expires.

Shhhh. Don't tell my wife...

 

I'm over 6k now. It's starting to get colder here, and I must say I really appreciate just how quickly the MINI's heat heats up despite the small engine! It also starts on the first crank every time now that it's cooler.

 

My boyfriend has a VW Gulf, the heater in the thing blows out hot air in seconds, I mean really hot air, it is so awsome. My camry would take like 5 min. before the air from the heater would be warm.

My point/question........is the mini heater instant hot, or should I prepare to freeze for a few miniutes before being thawed?