Too bad. Guess you don't know what you're missing.

 

I've been driving much the same in my MINI as I have in pretty much every car I've owned but I've noticed that other drivers act differently. Jerks in SUVs feel free to cut me off, swerve in front of me, or just generally play some dumb *** version of chicken. I used to have a C5 Corvette, and again I noticed a very different behavior. If I pulled up behind someone, say on the #1 lane on the freeway, they would often pull over and allow me to pass. Same thing on some two lane roads, they'd pull over.

I think it isn't the car so much as the presumed creditials of the owner -- i.e. Corvette owners as football players, jocks, macho dudes who've outgrown their Camaros vs. MINI owners who are polite, intelligent, and generally not into knuckle dragging. I think we need to change the attitude of HemiHeads and other neanderthals toward MINI drivers. Perhaps we need to adapt a more aggressive, hostile attitude. Perhaps a group buy for some license frames that say something like "My Other Car's a Harley" or "Just got out of San Quentin. Ain't Freedom Great?" That might help to end MINI bullying.

 

FWIW - I have been on group drives and witnessed some rather bad driving behavior by MINI owners - double line passing and some dangerous risk taking. They are not any different from those who drive SUV's or less capable handling cars IMHO. I have had an aggressive MCS or 2 challenge me with what I am driving now, so I know there are some out there thinking they own the road....

 

Just knowing I can lick them on turns or on the track is good enough for me. Then again I do find myself dodging traffic sometimes. I usually do that after I get cut off about three or four times by a big truck or SUV and I just want to smoke them so badly.


Other times is funny to watch them swing around traffic then end up behind you on a stop light.

 

I really mean this in the spirit of friendship:

 

I really mean this in the spirit of friendship:

 

Use this link for an event near you: http://www.trackschedule.com/

 

Hi everyone,

Just chiming in on track events. This past weekend, I attended my first ever track event with the NJ chapter of the BMWCCA. I had two awesome days of learning. And I met a bunch of great people who were enthusiastic about performance driving.

To those folks who have not done an instructor-lead track event, I would highly recommend it. Besides, the MINI is more than capable to run on the track. You're only using 10% of the MINI's potential on the street. With instruction, you can take it up a notch or two at the track.

And you don't need a BMW to join up. http://bmwcca.org/

hey,

 

I'm glad you had a good time. After years of doing these schools, I would say your experience was typical of the events put on by BMW CCA Chapters around the country. They're generally among the best. There are a number of other groups doing a great job as well. Just get out there and give it a try.

I know what some of you are thinking... You're worried that you'll end up tearing up your car. I'd be lying if I said that could never happen. It could. But it's really pretty rare. Actually, your morning commute is much more dangerous than what you'll do at the track.

That's right! At the track we're all going the same direction. We're all alert and sober. None of us is on the phone, applying cosmetics, reading the newspaper or attempting to discipline our children while we're driving. We're all wearing seatbelts and helmets. We have corner workers with radios to talk to each other and flags to warn us of any dangerous conditions. And, in the unlikely event that trouble does find someone, Fire & Rescue are on site and ready just in case.

Others are worried that they'll fall short of their usual F1-level performance and be embarrassed. No worries there. Everyone has a first time, and your instructor can help you through any challenges you may have. There's a run group for every performance level, so you'll be running with others who are well-matched. And there's no pressure to set a new track record. We're there to improve our skills and enjoy our cars. You really need to try this at least once to find out what it's all about.

If, for no other reason, you need to do it so you never end up like Hemi-boy

 

I have to agree. I have always been afraid of other cars on the road, in large part due to not being confident in my car's ability to get me out of trouble or out of the way. A Chrysler Cirrus may not be a huge car, but it certainly feels like it when you're stuck on a small two-lane road with a dually (sp?) pickup truck towing a boat heading your way and you have no room to move over. Several times a day, my heart would skip a beat because of something someone else is doing. Zooty can get out of the way of those stupid dually trucks who are going over the line and easily avoids stupid behavior. I've not been scared in the least in my 1700+ miles. This, more than anything, is why she's not just a fun weekend car.

Last night, I let my Dad show me a couple twisty roads. He was driving, and we came up behind a Chevy Z71 pickup, who upon seeing us going as fast as he was, stepped on the accelerator. He was all over the road trying to make the turns, and my Dad just kept with him, staying in our lane. I could smell the rubber on the truck's tires burning on every turn, lol. He eventually pulled off. The twisty lead to a new highway that had just opened, so Dad floored it, got to 95mph pretty quickly and commented, "Man, your car isn't even sweating. It's not even breathing hard!" We quickly got to the end of the highway and slowed down to play nice for the state troopers.

 

I was wondering if anyone was going to twist those two thoughts together.
i.e. Dodge Hemi - Mini ("Dodge" Tritec)...

You see, now when you get someone whos "house is on wheels and car is on blocks" type asking you "What'ga got undrr that theryre hood?"

You- being the bigger person, can honestly say, "eyze got me a Dodge MINI-HEMI in dare"!!!

Ah HEMI?! In dare?!
ohhh---You betcha'! Could there be ANYTHING else?

As they walk away in disbelief, maybe, just maybe they'll tell "Cooter" not to practice drafting you the next time they see that "little Hemi"...

 

New ideas for personalized plates:

Whaddya think? See any winners?

 

I am aiming to be this kind of Dad someday

No one really has been trying to tempt me or tail me. Maybe they know what kind of monster Mins really is...driver too

I have a short story to tell as well. My best friend who owns an 04 M3 and I were testing out our cars. We did a 10 mph roll and amazingly Mins was out ahead initially by a littl more than a car length. Then "little grey" (M3) just dusted me. This shows us just how nicely the transmission ratios and SC engine have been paired together..especially the transmission + FF<--power is transmitted more quickly since the driving wheels are right under the engine. We can use much more of the car's potential and capabilities.


JC

 

Awesome quote ["What do you think you're doing?" And the driver responded "I was following that Mini." And the the other guy says "NEVER follow a Mini! They do Weird things!"]

 

and i have definitely experienced the whole thing of people just getting out of my way on long trips, heh some times even on teh freeway dunno how ill cope with the lack of open road once i get my min:P

Someone told me once that older volvo drivers, thats drivers of older volvos, not older people who drive volvos btw, have a reputation as aggressive drivers. This could be why they get out of my way so much, and i think there needs to be an effort made by the mini community without being too much like the people we are trying to deal with, to project that same reputation.

however, everyonce in a while even i get challenged by trucks, its sad really since im driving a 12year old stock 160hp 4000lb 4cylinder stationwagon, and i usually manage to keep up. Theres no accounting for driver IQ unfortunately, and protection of life over survival of the fittest will always be a stupid idea to me:P i mean, really the kid who sticks too many crayons up his nose as a child shouldnt grow up to have kids of his own right?

 

What a freakin' idiot. I can just picture the stupid redneck in the commercials being the one driving the truck, too...

 

I just tell'um that I'm such a small, agile, target I'm harder to hit

kaelaria,
Obviously you have never entered an Auto-X event or you would realise that you are VERY busy while out on an Auto-X course even though you are only in 2nd gear. The course is designed to be challanging, interesting and unforgiving. If you blow one corner you will be paying for it thru the next few corners. Do not confuse outright speed for not being challanging. An Auto-X is a great way to improve your driving skills. When done properly you will be at the traction limits of your car and challenging yourself looking for more traction and faster lines thru the corners.

Good practise for street driving amoung all of the behemouths out there. Just think of them as "cones"

 

That's him! That was the guy for sure.

Just to update everyone. There was no police report filed, so I guess Hemi-boy left the scene. And the owners of the were left with a lot of damage to their expensive fence. A few weeks later they had it repaired, but having seen the work required to fix it, the damage was even more extensive than I first thought. The only justice is that I'm pretty sure the fence was fixed sooner than the Hemi

 

Git 'er done!