R50/53 THE APRIL CLUB
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: New York
Hehe! My mom just called me to ask"How in God's name do you roll down the windows in the mini???" She also said that when she took it to get gas today, she was stopped at a light, when a truck with two guys in it pulled up next to her. She said she could feel them looking down at her so she peeked over and caught them laughing and pointing at her! What's up with that? My poor mother, she was so embarrassed. I've never had anyhting like that happen to me before.
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
Howdy folks!
Wanted to share some news. You will especially like this if you have holes in your bumper.
Burnie finally got his bumper plugs and they look great! Here's proof....
Before:
After:
(if you look closely you can see my brake dust cleaning stool at the left...)
A closer look:
If you're interested, contact Eric at Bumper Plugs
Many MINI colors are available, and if they aren't he'll work with you...he added Chili Red at my request and they are a PERFECT match.
Hope all are well!
chef
Wanted to share some news. You will especially like this if you have holes in your bumper.
Burnie finally got his bumper plugs and they look great! Here's proof....
Before:
After:
(if you look closely you can see my brake dust cleaning stool at the left...)
A closer look:
If you're interested, contact Eric at Bumper Plugs
Many MINI colors are available, and if they aren't he'll work with you...he added Chili Red at my request and they are a PERFECT match.
Hope all are well!
chef
>>Ryan: I'll bite. What type of speakers are you running at home?
>>
>>Regards,
>>
>>Red
Excellent question Red, I will answer. I am using loudspeakers I designed myself. They are a 3-piece system, consisting of 2-way passive bookshelf-style loudspeakers and an active subwoofer. I use loudspeakers primarily from D-S-T (aka Vifa, Scan-Speak, and Peerless), Swan, and Seas. The drivers I use are selected because of their uncompromised sound quality as well as near-ideal parameters. My enclosures are the result of 3-years of civil engineering, golden cuboid, and materials engineering research, and contain several esoteric technologies that result in extremely resonant-free enclosures. The crossovers are designed in part by Madisound, whom has state-of-the-art facilaties, and fine tuned by me. I use 2nd order Linkwitz-Riley topology, offering the best combination between filter effectiveness and maintaining signal integrity.
That's the short answer, whew.
>>
>>Regards,
>>
>>Red
Excellent question Red, I will answer. I am using loudspeakers I designed myself. They are a 3-piece system, consisting of 2-way passive bookshelf-style loudspeakers and an active subwoofer. I use loudspeakers primarily from D-S-T (aka Vifa, Scan-Speak, and Peerless), Swan, and Seas. The drivers I use are selected because of their uncompromised sound quality as well as near-ideal parameters. My enclosures are the result of 3-years of civil engineering, golden cuboid, and materials engineering research, and contain several esoteric technologies that result in extremely resonant-free enclosures. The crossovers are designed in part by Madisound, whom has state-of-the-art facilaties, and fine tuned by me. I use 2nd order Linkwitz-Riley topology, offering the best combination between filter effectiveness and maintaining signal integrity.
That's the short answer, whew.
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
^^^enjoying the sig updates Ryan, can we expect a new "thought of the day" every day??? 
BTW Burnie is VERY happy today, he had a nice bath and detail in the shade this morning!
_________________
03 MCS-CR/B>>>>Now motoring through a twistie near you<<<<<< CWFAC 03 Rocks!
BTW Burnie is VERY happy today, he had a nice bath and detail in the shade this morning!
_________________
03 MCS-CR/B>>>>Now motoring through a twistie near you<<<<<< CWFAC 03 Rocks!
::applause:: Chef, that's one NICE looking Mini!
Ryan - I wish I were closer so I could beg a listen to that system. That HAS to be amazing.
... I wish I didn't live in an apartment made out of an old house that conducts sound like no other and is held together by liberal use of scotch tape. The tiny sub(s) we've got now drive the neighbors insane and we're barely even using them. I vow to make good use of the money that I'll eventually be earning someday and put a GREAT system in the house that we'll surely eventually buy. Life is too short to listen to music that sounds like it's coming from a tin can.
Ryan - I wish I were closer so I could beg a listen to that system. That HAS to be amazing.
... I wish I didn't live in an apartment made out of an old house that conducts sound like no other and is held together by liberal use of scotch tape. The tiny sub(s) we've got now drive the neighbors insane and we're barely even using them. I vow to make good use of the money that I'll eventually be earning someday and put a GREAT system in the house that we'll surely eventually buy. Life is too short to listen to music that sounds like it's coming from a tin can.
well, it was only inevitable; I've modified The April Club webpage to be a bit slimmer, so I can make way for my CWFOctober stuff. Actually, I only took down all the configurator pics, everything else is up and running, I've added more links, and a note about Mr.Motor on the front page.
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 0
>>>>Ryan: I'll bite. What type of speakers are you running at home?
>>>>
>>>>Regards,
>>>>
>>>>Red
>>
>>
>>Excellent question Red, I will answer. I am using loudspeakers I designed myself. They are a 3-piece system, consisting of 2-way passive bookshelf-style loudspeakers and an active subwoofer. I use loudspeakers primarily from D-S-T (aka Vifa, Scan-Speak, and Peerless), Swan, and Seas. The drivers I use are selected because of their uncompromised sound quality as well as near-ideal parameters. My enclosures are the result of 3-years of civil engineering, golden cuboid, and materials engineering research, and contain several esoteric technologies that result in extremely resonant-free enclosures. The crossovers are designed in part by Madisound, whom has state-of-the-art facilaties, and fine tuned by me. I use 2nd order Linkwitz-Riley topology, offering the best combination between filter effectiveness and maintaining signal integrity.
>>
>>That's the short answer, whew.
Somehow I just knew you did not buy something off the shelf! Wow. Would love to hear them.
I currently have Paradigm Monitor 7s (mini monitor surrounds) and a Paradigm PW-2200 sub. It can **** everyone off in the house!
Regards,
Red
>>>>
>>>>Regards,
>>>>
>>>>Red
>>
>>
>>Excellent question Red, I will answer. I am using loudspeakers I designed myself. They are a 3-piece system, consisting of 2-way passive bookshelf-style loudspeakers and an active subwoofer. I use loudspeakers primarily from D-S-T (aka Vifa, Scan-Speak, and Peerless), Swan, and Seas. The drivers I use are selected because of their uncompromised sound quality as well as near-ideal parameters. My enclosures are the result of 3-years of civil engineering, golden cuboid, and materials engineering research, and contain several esoteric technologies that result in extremely resonant-free enclosures. The crossovers are designed in part by Madisound, whom has state-of-the-art facilaties, and fine tuned by me. I use 2nd order Linkwitz-Riley topology, offering the best combination between filter effectiveness and maintaining signal integrity.
>>
>>That's the short answer, whew.
Somehow I just knew you did not buy something off the shelf! Wow. Would love to hear them.
I currently have Paradigm Monitor 7s (mini monitor surrounds) and a Paradigm PW-2200 sub. It can **** everyone off in the house!
Regards,
Red
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 0
Drove upstate today (NY) today, roads near New Paltz are awesome. Took my father around a 5 MPH hairpin at 40 and all four wheels broke loose. Controllably of course. I even let him drive. Now he wants one (He is 80).
6th gear at 60 shows 42 mpg on the OBC, but enough of that.
It even rained on the way home. Now how do those wipers work again? It drives so sweetly at high speed, that you really have to control yourself.
Drawbacks? Well driving through some areas of NYC that previously felt not so bad were absoulutely harsh; as if I had cement in my tires (running 35psi) I wonder if a Boxster handles poor road surfaces like this. My glove box began popping open on every third bump. Need to adjust it.....think I felt two screws to move the catch bar further out. Will check when there is light. Isn't it fun the way the coin holder shoots them into the glove box when you close it?
If I lived in the city, the standard MINI with non runflats would DEFINITELY be my choice. But I don't, so I will try to map out smoother routes.
Eventually dump the run flats and get a rabbit's foot? Who else did? How much better was the ride?
Hope all is well, and I love the Chef's new bumper nipples.
Regards,
Red Got It Wet
PS: 2400 miles and I will never catch up to Ryan's Mr Motor, even with a head start (October).
6th gear at 60 shows 42 mpg on the OBC, but enough of that.
It even rained on the way home. Now how do those wipers work again? It drives so sweetly at high speed, that you really have to control yourself.
Drawbacks? Well driving through some areas of NYC that previously felt not so bad were absoulutely harsh; as if I had cement in my tires (running 35psi) I wonder if a Boxster handles poor road surfaces like this. My glove box began popping open on every third bump. Need to adjust it.....think I felt two screws to move the catch bar further out. Will check when there is light. Isn't it fun the way the coin holder shoots them into the glove box when you close it?
If I lived in the city, the standard MINI with non runflats would DEFINITELY be my choice. But I don't, so I will try to map out smoother routes.
Eventually dump the run flats and get a rabbit's foot? Who else did? How much better was the ride?
Hope all is well, and I love the Chef's new bumper nipples.
Regards,
Red Got It Wet
PS: 2400 miles and I will never catch up to Ryan's Mr Motor, even with a head start (October).
my new sig is in honor of Red moistening his MINI 
also, about the run-flats; I was getting slighty sick of them, especially over broken-concrete. They were rather bone-jarring. I'm giving the 16" Dunlop 5000 run-flats a try (what comes on the MCS 16's).
also, about the run-flats; I was getting slighty sick of them, especially over broken-concrete. They were rather bone-jarring. I'm giving the 16" Dunlop 5000 run-flats a try (what comes on the MCS 16's).
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: New York
Ryan thanks for keeping the april club up. I had actually forgotten that I picked my car up on the 4th untill I was just looking at your site. And it's official, 4 months and 4000 miles on my mini.
When are you gonna get an October Club page up? I'd like to see some of their specs and what not.
Red, I live in NYC and I have 16" runflats and they don't bother me one bit! But I don't think my previous ride was much softer, and you know I kinda like being able to feel the road. Again driving my mother's land cruiser right now feels like a cruise ship and that freaks me out!!!!!!!!! OH, I miss my mini
When are you gonna get an October Club page up? I'd like to see some of their specs and what not.
Red, I live in NYC and I have 16" runflats and they don't bother me one bit! But I don't think my previous ride was much softer, and you know I kinda like being able to feel the road. Again driving my mother's land cruiser right now feels like a cruise ship and that freaks me out!!!!!!!!! OH, I miss my mini
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
-->Ryan,
I think the page looks great, thanks for all your hard work.
Have you ever considered tracking the record setting april club's posts and views count?
Burnie will be getting the parcel shelf and aux next week!!! As soon as the parts arrive from Classic MINI. I was so excited to see my two most wanted mods come together into one cool set-up...ipod nirvana here we come!
Info on this very cool project here...parcel shelf/aux input mod thread...mine should be much easier, I don't have the NAV unit to deal with...thanks to james4513 for the heads up, it looks great in his MCS
Later y'all--chef
_________________
03 MCS-CR/B>>>>Now motoring through a twistie near you<<<<<< CWFAC 03 Rocks!
I think the page looks great, thanks for all your hard work.
Have you ever considered tracking the record setting april club's posts and views count?
Burnie will be getting the parcel shelf and aux next week!!! As soon as the parts arrive from Classic MINI. I was so excited to see my two most wanted mods come together into one cool set-up...ipod nirvana here we come!
Info on this very cool project here...parcel shelf/aux input mod thread...mine should be much easier, I don't have the NAV unit to deal with...thanks to james4513 for the heads up, it looks great in his MCS
Later y'all--chef
_________________
03 MCS-CR/B>>>>Now motoring through a twistie near you<<<<<< CWFAC 03 Rocks!
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 0
>>my new sig is in honor of Red moistening his MINI
>>
>>also, about the run-flats; I was getting slighty sick of them, especially over broken-concrete. They were rather bone-jarring. I'm giving the 16" Dunlop 5000 run-flats a try (what comes on the MCS 16's).
Now I can't wait for October! Hope you have good luck with the Dunlops as far as ride/handling tradeoff goes. Can't imagine what the 17's are like on bad surfaces.
And I have owned lots of firm riding vehicles: Three motorcycles, Austin Healy Sprite, TR3, 66 Mustang GT with really stiff suspension, and of course, a 1966 Austin Mini Cooper S. I guess I am just getting old! I better toughen up for those Bronx jaunts.
Regards,
Red Rides Regardless
(now knows how to use wipers)
>>
>>also, about the run-flats; I was getting slighty sick of them, especially over broken-concrete. They were rather bone-jarring. I'm giving the 16" Dunlop 5000 run-flats a try (what comes on the MCS 16's).
Now I can't wait for October! Hope you have good luck with the Dunlops as far as ride/handling tradeoff goes. Can't imagine what the 17's are like on bad surfaces.
And I have owned lots of firm riding vehicles: Three motorcycles, Austin Healy Sprite, TR3, 66 Mustang GT with really stiff suspension, and of course, a 1966 Austin Mini Cooper S. I guess I am just getting old! I better toughen up for those Bronx jaunts.
Regards,
Red Rides Regardless
(now knows how to use wipers)
I had a MINI-buddy ride in Mr.Motor once, and he said that it didn't seem to ride much, if any harsher than his Cooper with the 15's! 
By the way, I still plan on getting another set of wheels for MM2, and they'll be 17's for sure.
Cheers,
Ryan
P.S. Good luck Chefie on your shelf/aux install! Make sure to give us pics and feedback
By the way, I still plan on getting another set of wheels for MM2, and they'll be 17's for sure.
Cheers,
Ryan
P.S. Good luck Chefie on your shelf/aux install! Make sure to give us pics and feedback
warning: broken record!
:smile:
The BEST thing I've done for my car so far has been to get a new set of tires (and lighter wheels, too!). The tires made a great difference in the feel of the car on the road - better grip, handling, and overall feel. There were some situations in with the runflats in the short time that I had them that I felt unsafe (steel grid bridges!).
... of course, we won't talk about the tread situation
Get a spare wheel and tire combo for those times where you NEED to get the wheel off to get it repaired - your car isn't offline for nearly as long that way - and you can GET the tire to the repair place if you're a single-car unit. Might not be a bad idea even if you do have the runflats, since you've then got the freedom to go to the repair place of your choice and more time to do it.
My next plan for wheels when I get more money is to buy a set of dedicated lightweight 16"s for track use. I'm eyeballing some that're allegedly 13.5lbs, but I'd have to call the company and check. Some nice tires on there that I don't mind tearing up and I'm all set for the season. The Mini's truly a blast to accessorize!
:smile:
The BEST thing I've done for my car so far has been to get a new set of tires (and lighter wheels, too!). The tires made a great difference in the feel of the car on the road - better grip, handling, and overall feel. There were some situations in with the runflats in the short time that I had them that I felt unsafe (steel grid bridges!).
... of course, we won't talk about the tread situation
Get a spare wheel and tire combo for those times where you NEED to get the wheel off to get it repaired - your car isn't offline for nearly as long that way - and you can GET the tire to the repair place if you're a single-car unit. Might not be a bad idea even if you do have the runflats, since you've then got the freedom to go to the repair place of your choice and more time to do it.
My next plan for wheels when I get more money is to buy a set of dedicated lightweight 16"s for track use. I'm eyeballing some that're allegedly 13.5lbs, but I'd have to call the company and check. Some nice tires on there that I don't mind tearing up and I'm all set for the season. The Mini's truly a blast to accessorize!
Hey, I just p-shopped this hypothetical Pepper White MCS, for MY04. One of my Octoberites ordered one, and I was on a mission to see what it looks like. What do you guys think?!
Cheers,
VMA
Cheers,
VMA
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 0
>>Hey, I just p-shopped this hypothetical Pepper White MCS, for MY04. One of my Octoberites ordered one, and I was on a mission to see what it looks like. What do you guys think?!
>>
>>
>>Cheers,
>>VMA
The Pepper White looks really good in person. If it was available in the 03 "S", my wife would have lobbied hard for it. I think it is very cool.
Excellent tire advice from Rachel. Guess you leave the spare home and limp back, and at least have a wheel to put on while getting the flat repaired. Guess if you get a flat, you need to be flatbedded if you can't fix it with a "fix a flat" or plug.
Regards,
Red Got It Wet
And you know, it feels good....in the rain.
_________________
The meek shall inherit the passenger seat.
Life is better MINImized. CWFAC 03
>>
>>
>>Cheers,
>>VMA
The Pepper White looks really good in person. If it was available in the 03 "S", my wife would have lobbied hard for it. I think it is very cool.
Excellent tire advice from Rachel. Guess you leave the spare home and limp back, and at least have a wheel to put on while getting the flat repaired. Guess if you get a flat, you need to be flatbedded if you can't fix it with a "fix a flat" or plug.
Regards,
Red Got It Wet
And you know, it feels good....in the rain.
_________________
The meek shall inherit the passenger seat.
Life is better MINImized. CWFAC 03
>>hmmm, 16's for track use that weigh 13.5 lbs. each....sounds like the AK Monza's from Randy! Am I right, do I get >>the prize? Good price too, only a grand for wheel/tire combo.
noooo....
Those are also on the short list, but the ones I was referring to were the Apex 2's from Flik (you can see them on edge racing's website). It brings to mind your point below about the looks.. Not my pick for looks, but for cheap light wheels. They're not legal for SCCA etc. events to stay in the stock classes, but that doesn't really matter to me - I'd never be competitive enough to be worried about what class I was in.
>>I dig the Centerline RPM's, the 17's are 13 pounds each, but they cost $315/each! In any case, I'll want a 7.5"
>>wide wheel, and the Centerlines are only 7" wide. The horror, I know, but I'm picky. Seriously, the Kosei K-1
>>Racing is just about the perfect fitment for the MINI: 17x7.5" ET 45, 16 pounds and only $179 each from Tire
>>Rack (plug). Whether they look good, is another story
Yeah, $300+ is a bit beyond my wheel budget right now. Beautiful, but... $$$. I've still got to pick up a set of winters and get rid of the last lone wheel/tire combo. The Kosei wheels... yeah... um... they DO fit well!
noooo....
Those are also on the short list, but the ones I was referring to were the Apex 2's from Flik (you can see them on edge racing's website). It brings to mind your point below about the looks.. Not my pick for looks, but for cheap light wheels. They're not legal for SCCA etc. events to stay in the stock classes, but that doesn't really matter to me - I'd never be competitive enough to be worried about what class I was in. >>I dig the Centerline RPM's, the 17's are 13 pounds each, but they cost $315/each! In any case, I'll want a 7.5"
>>wide wheel, and the Centerlines are only 7" wide. The horror, I know, but I'm picky. Seriously, the Kosei K-1
>>Racing is just about the perfect fitment for the MINI: 17x7.5" ET 45, 16 pounds and only $179 each from Tire
>>Rack (plug). Whether they look good, is another story
Yeah, $300+ is a bit beyond my wheel budget right now. Beautiful, but... $$$. I've still got to pick up a set of winters and get rid of the last lone wheel/tire combo. The Kosei wheels... yeah... um... they DO fit well!
Ryan - I'd have to see the pepper white with white wheels in person, I think. Since the pepper white isn't a *pure* white, I can't visualize how the white wheels go with it.
I was at one of the big Audi tuner events today and who should I stumble upon but MCO's very own andy@rosstech.com representing the company, Mini in tow and proudly displayed next to all the Audis and assorted Porsches and VW's. It was really nice talking to him about his car. Very nice guy!
I was at one of the big Audi tuner events today and who should I stumble upon but MCO's very own andy@rosstech.com representing the company, Mini in tow and proudly displayed next to all the Audis and assorted Porsches and VW's. It was really nice talking to him about his car. Very nice guy!