I love driving my mini. The happiest moment is when I am finally driving on the highway with the windows all the down and sunroof wide open. It's just mini, the road and me. As I do 80mph down the highway, the wind whips into the cabin of the car. As I put some music in the background, it can barely be heard over the howling of the winds. This is the moment I wait for all day.


can't wait

tony

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I'm happiest when there aren't any cars in front of me. Freakin' traffic!

Heading up the Pacific Coast Highway, windows down of course, a long stretch of twisties ahead and no other cars in sight. :smile:

loooong on ramp to get on to Rt.95 S. at 4:40 am on my way to work every morning (the only place I feel comfortable taking at least 5 of the six gears to red line) .then, some miles later Marblehead St. in Middleton ma.which is even fun at 45 mph.Lastly ,cutting through the Harold parker state forest (now about 4:45 AM )which is a CHALLENGE at 45 ,gotta watch out for the deer, though.

Drifting thru the sweeping turn 10 at Gingerman Raceway, DCS off and playing with the angle of the car with the throttle instead of the steering wheel. It's ALMOST a disappointment when the backstraight finally comes and I can stomp on the gas.

Nirvana...

DREW

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MCS...DS/BLK...SPORT PKG & SUNROOF

When my car is perfectly clean... and the weather is balmy... the sun is setting... the windows are down and the roof open... I'm driving with the lights on and the dash is glowing... I'm following the river, accelerating through the turns...


Godspeed.

Yep, same here. A long fast sweeper where I can accelerate to triple digit speed and feel the g-force, that's where I'm the happiest in my MCS.

And then as I fly by that cop hidden on the median...but realize that he's in fact dozing, that there are no blue flashing lights coming up behind me, and I won't be subject to the "$150 minimum fine for speeding" (plus $50 for every 5mph over 65...which would make this what, a $300 ticket?) and yet another $500/yr insurance surcharge....THAT'S when I'm the happiest in my MINI.

(happens much more often that I usually like to admit)

When the MINI is balanced at 10/10ths regardless of speed- the fine line like a snail crawling on a razor blade. Has only happened maybe once or twice and always at the autocross.

It's a tough call. Autocrossing the MINI is a blast, and pushing it to see how close you can get to the edge without hitting a cone, without developing a rythm, is right where the MINI sings.

There is a Zen thing on the track though. Getting into the rythm and just seeing the apex, then hitting it long after you stopped looking at it, and feeling the bump in the pavement you meant to hit. Using the car in a type of almost ballet fashion. I've been known to go through a tank of fuel at the track and run out on track just because I don't want to leave this zone!

As DREW said - Nirvana!

Randy

I don't think I could enjoy pushing a car on the track, well not one that I have to pay to fix

I also need my Motoring Therapy on a regular basis.
We had an incident at work the other day involving loss of life and I was pretty bummed out by it all. Noy even someone I knew, but still....
So I took off early and told the spouse when I got home that I needed to just "go".

Just took off and hit some of the county roads and back roads around here. Windows down, music on, sometimes off, accelerating and braking and carving corners. So sweet.

Strangely like a good cup of coffee, stimulating yet calming at the same time.
Came home feeling much better. :smile:

Enjoy yours!

I do milk runs in my MINI, so my best time is: 1) just washed; 2) no AC; 3) Saturday; 4) windows down; 5) going anywhere (for fun) more than 5 miles away. I also have a left hairpin and a hard right on my daily commute (back roads) that I love. BTW, IB is especially fansastic at dusk....yummy!!!

Next Friday is Ferarri day for Northern California Racing Club at Thunderhill. I am looking forward to being on the track with some Ferarris.

Quite simply, I happiest whenever I am in my MINI. . . .

Well the best time was running the Dragon 2004, nothing can compare to that!! Outside of that any time I'm in my Mini is my favorite time. The only time I'm dissapointed is coming into some curves only to be slowed by traffic :???:

See sig picture.

When I'm traveling south on Lamb's Canyon (state Hwy79) and hit the dump turnoff light. It means I get the twisties coming in a half a mile all to myself!!! It's the same at 1 in the morning too (without having to stop at the light)!

Have to agree, Twisting through the Dragon as the driver. Worst time in the mini? Twisting through the Dragon as a passenger trying video.


Paul

Actually my best times in the MINI involve traffic, unlike most.

Every time I get stuck in rush hour, only to find a TINY opening that almost no other car would fit; kick the stick over to SD, nail the throttle and zip through the openings while watching all the lumbering land barges try (and fail) to navigate the same chaos.

I get home (on average) about 10-15 minutes faster in my MINI than I EVER did in my Honda......

It is a constant reminder of exactly why I got this little beast to begin with :smile: :smile: :smile:

driving home from the liquor store

I am most happy when I am blowing by SUV's camped out in the fast lane. I have no mercy on them because they sould get out of the fast lane and let people pass and because they are driving 8 passenger vehicles all by them selves day in and day out.

I love driving it like on the Italian Job, passing when there is little room to pass and cutting back in front of them with little room to spare. I know this is not the most civil way to get around but they don't care about anyone but themselves or they would not camp out in the fast lane going 70mph. I know this cuz I usually wait patiently for them to get over and let me pass, I do not tail gate.

Or

when I take late night runs to the McDonalds that has a drive thru for Sundies!!!

Any time without the wife telling me to slow down either on the straights or the turns. Just driving along without the radio on and listening to the car talking to me. Becoming one with the road.

Right after the tach goes past 5000 rpm in third, windows down, sunroof open . The saddest time is when I pull the key out of the lock :???: :???:

....whenever I'm not sitting in the dealer for service!