How many of you intentionally go out of your way to get somewhere now that you have your own MINI? Do you REALLY subscribe to the "Let's Motor" concept, or is it just me? In my case, yesterday I took what I thought was the long way to drop off a customer's order. I haven't had the MINI out much lately and taking advantage of a break between snow, slush and rain, I really felt like opening up the MINI. By a previous highway route it took me about 45 minutes. But yesterday I pulled the directions off MapQuest and selected "fastest route", or was it "shortest route"? In any case, It took me through the pitching, winding, potholed backroads north of Pittsburgh. Talk about a wild ride! My "S" Screamed through alternating winding hills and farm country. It felt like a road rally of one, but I really didn't care. All I was concerned about was avoiding deer and missing my next direction (It's a little tough to read the directions pulling 5g on the tach!) I kinda wished I had a navigator, or at least a Nav sysytem. I would have gotten one if I didn't love the look of the center position speedo so much. Anyway, I found myself slightly carsick (hard to do when you are the one driving) because of all the pitching and rolling of the road and the less than cushy ride of the performance package and 17" runflats. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the hot chicken wings I had for lunch just a couple hours before. Don't get me wrong, A smile was plastered across my face the whole drive. Oh, what a feeling! (Oh, that''s taken... pity.) By the way, I made it in 35 minutes instead of 45 highway, never saw a cop, and had a blast. Anyway, let me know if you have had any recent awesome drives.

 

... motoring is what it's all about! Go out and find a way from A to B that doesn't involve Interstates, go get lost and find your way back (without a Nav), take the long way home from work ... that's the daily routine!

 

Traveling in the Highlands (Western NC), in an, ugh, rented Taurus wagon, years ago, I got both motion sickness and dizzy from a long (several miles) series of pretty regular switchbacks on a two lane state highway heading down towards the flatter regions of western SC. So it can be the drive at times.

BTW: MTG, my parents in the NE O-hi, and I (used to) drive 80 to visit them, Just went through the state park that starts at Lock Haven runs west to Dubois. There is a state route (ferget the #) that is fun for higher speed motoring (no really tight corners) and was beautiful in late fall (the SR runs along the west branch of the Susquehana). I would recommend that. It was a great deal more remote than much of the secondary roads between Pittsburgh and New Castle or Youngstown, and better maintained (14, 51 all those are nightmarish surfaces, or were the last time I drove them)

 

Thanks Username, I'll keep that in mind when we kick off the club. I do so enjoy the backroads though. I'm just hoping the whine from the supercharger will scare off the dang deer. I hit one the other morning on the way to the airport in my BMW 740. Deer died, BMW $3k damage and still in the shop. I was so grateful it wasn't in the MINI. I think it would have wound up in my lap. It would be a good way to die though!

 

Well i have been tryen to find more twisty than straight shot roads and as I am driving around in new towns I dont mind missing turns soo much casue i end up finding great little farm roads that i twist and turn down for a while till i find a "spot to turn around in" ahaha soo far SOOOO MUCH fun :smile:

 

Every chance I get.
8000 (twisty) miles in two months

 

MindTheGap
(LOVE the name)

Let me just say this:

I live 3 blocks from work - somehow it takes me 25 minutes to get to work!

Cheers,
GROSS67

 

I love to motor! I have 5000+ miles on MINIclo since 8/28. I especially like to head up the Pacific Coast Highway to Topanga Canyon and the Santa Monica mountains for fantastic twisties, switchbacks, and views, views, views!

I plan to motor across country, from L.A. to Florida, stopping along the way to visit other MINIacs, and then go up the Eastern Seaboard, back through the upper Midwest to visit the Chicago motorists, back through Denver to visit Dave in Denver and the MINI5280 crew (I joined!!), down through Santa Fe and back home. I'm planning this for Spring sometime...maybe late April!

Cheers!
Clover

 

Being in my MINI is my church. It's when I get my best thinking done and I can sing at the top of my lungs without pissing anyone off. I am a night owl so I am often on the streets at all hours. I have been motoring since I've been a licensed driver. My friends know I like to drive and they enjoy tagging along sometimes, especially now that I have my MINI.

 

Mind the gap??? As in the door from the jetway to the plane, or the Deleware Water Gap, or...????

Where form?

I DO MOTOR!!

 

>>Mind the gap??? As in the door from the jetway to the plane, or the Deleware Water Gap, or...????
>>
>>Where form?
>>
>>I DO MOTOR!!

Randy...Mind the Gap is a slogan of the London Underground (subway)...see this
link
The 'gap' is the gap between the train platform and the train...Tube riders are reminded to "mind the gap" over the PA system by a friendly English gentleman. You have to hear it...over and over and over

_________________
MINI SWAG--an MCO Sponsor

 

I can't wait to take one of those "I got nowhere to go, so I'm going anywhere I want" drives in my MINI! It's just not the same in an Explorer!

BTW, I work for The Gap (Old Navy Division) and I have a HUGE "Mind The Gap" sign from the London Underground hanging in my office! :smile:

Tony

 

If you've ever been on the London Underground aka the tube (Subway for New Yorkers) you probably have heard a disembodied voice booming over the loudspeaker: "Mind The Gap"! Particularly on station platforms that bend and the train car don’t, a large gap is created between the platform and train. It's not hard for people (especially tourists) to fall into one like Indiana Jones falling into a pit of snakes. Fortunately I was holding my (then) 8 year old son by the hand when he didn't "Mind The Gap!" Translated in American English from the Queen's English, it is "Watch your step!" I was in England again last July and heard it again in the tube. Somehow it amused me. Apparently it amuses others because I saw a sticker in the store that read Mind The Gap I just had to get it for my Mini. So I guess it's a classically Brit thing, probably only they would understand. I figure for US drivers that see it on the bottom corner of my rear window, maybe they'll take it to mean watch your following distance! Only problem being, it's so small it brings another bumper sticker to mind: "If you're close enough to read this... You're to darn close! I love my Mini, but I'd sure hate to get rear-ended in one!

 

I have done plenty of motoring in Molly - today was a perfect example! A trip that generally take me an hour took well over 3 hours today!!! (I had a little time, so I made the best of it! ) I found roads that GOD didn't even know existed!!!

 

 

I know its been awhile since anyone posted here, anyway... I will go out for the sole purpose of motoring, no destination. Find a new road, ice cream shop, whatever, just the fun of driving

 

I love to Motor. I wonder if I could make a living Motoring? That would be nice. I would love to hear from any Motoring sponsors. Something in the low six figures would be nice.


P.S. Nice [FONT=Verdana]resurrection[/FONT].

 

I'm a motorer.

Admittedly, I do a lot more motoring, (drives just for the sake of driving), in the summer, versus the winter months.

The snowfall accumulations, ice, and threat of hitting deer all conspire to harsh my mellow, so to speak.

On nice sunny days, even in the winter though, I will "take the scenic route" to work if time allows.

MOTOR ON!

 

The road in front of me (Ohio 14, Pa 51) what they were talking about before, is not that bad and the cops are not around unless its 5'o clock, their is some high speed driving out their.

 

I drive my car, and have fun doing it. So if thats "motoring" then I guess I do.