>>I was just being lazy, I guess...that post was meant to take the place of emailing all of you beautiful, attractive April Clubbers who are still hanging in after over a year!
>>
>>I think our record for longest running CWF*C is in the "unbreakable" realm, like Cy Young's 511 wins or Nolan Ryan's 5700+ strikeouts...we're #1, we're #1

We've really GOT to try to get together sometime.... what a great time that would be!

 

Found an acre of glare ice at a nearby beach parking lot. This car is amazing in case you have not noticed!

DSC is very cool. Turning it off is way more fun!

And when it grabs a piece of asphalt, it adds a bit more drama.

Regards,

Red Spins Round and Round

_________________
<IMG SRC="https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/albums/album04/fyy.thumb.jpg
">Life is better MINImized CWFAC 03

 

I can't wait for this upcoming snowstorm to take the mini out to play. The only issue I'm having right now it the clearance in the front.. with several inches of snow on the ground, the chin tends to plow. Have to check out the tire pressure again.

But the mini says WHEEEEEEEE! in the snow!

But I'm still ready for spring now, thanks.

 

Get some pictures of your mini in the snow. We just get sun and rain in California!

 

snowtime MINI is FUN - though the yukkie salt all over is NOT.

This was this past Saturday - a few hours before agokart and I tore down MM2's engine and installed the prototype Ryephix #2:


Cheers!
Ryan

 

&gt;&gt;snowtime MINI is FUN - though the yukkie salt all over is NOT.
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;This was this past Saturday - a few hours before agokart and I tore down MM2's engine and installed the prototype

Ryan, our cars look about the same color

I hate the salt, but I can't get the time to clean it without fear of the water (and my hands) freezing.

Mmm... looking at 6-12 inches of snow. Can't wait!

 

&gt;&gt;Get some pictures of your mini in the snow. We just get sun and rain in California!

It's hard to shoot pictures while you are spinning, and I can't find anyone to come play. They think I am crazy for some reason.

The ice is perfect. No snow to bunch up under the bumper to slow things down.

And the defroster is awesome. Car was like a jelly apple with ice today, and it melted off really fast....just a little scraping of the glass.

If it were not for the ground clearance, it would be quite the winter tourer. But I will keep the dry slalom speed thank you very much!

Hope all is well.

Regards,
Red Spins

 

I was playing MINI Snowplow on the way to work today I've already had to snap my front airdam back in place once from hitting snow chunks

 

I am going up to the mountains in a few weeks but I'm borrowing my Dad's van. No mini snowplow for me.

Am I a whimp or what?

 

&lt;grin&gt; way back in the Probe days, I stupidy went out and drove in a huge snowstorm. It plowed, too, but the danged car was SO heavy and long in the front end that as I went down a hill, plowing merrily away, the back end started to chase the front... eek!

Mini MUCH better!

The Audi has a drivetrain stabilizer that hangs down from the transmission and chassis bitses.. when the car goes through deeper powder, it leaves the strangest tracks. The plowing is a given, but there's this rut along the middle of the nice smooth snow.

Rachel, still choking over the ceramic brake kit....

 

One year ago today I plunked down $1,000 at Mini of San Francisco. I am planning on celebrating today by ordering a sway bar, but I can't decide between the Alta and H-sport.

Most of my driving is over bumpy country roads with plenty of twisties. I am also addicted to HPDE's at the track. Planning on at least 4 this year. Haven't tried autocross yet. The thought of only a few short runs vs 5 or 6 20 minute track sessions isn't that appealing to me.

I am leaning toward the H-sport. I like the 3 settings, weight, grease fitted bushings. I don't like the price or the color, but form must bow to function, or to a can of black paint. I even entertained thought of getting it powdercoated, but that make the price even more unattractive.

Once again, choice anxiety sets in. Any suggestions?

Andy

 

Andy - I'd say go for the H-Sport Comp bar. More adjustability, less guilt knowing you've saved weight too


mmm, more MINI Snowplow today - will this damn snow ever stop??

 

&gt;&gt;mmm, more MINI Snowplow today - will this damn snow ever stop??

I'll trade you your snow for my cold!

Went out last night with my housemate to teach her to drive a manual transmission in the snow. Good thing we found a largish emptyish parking lot, since she revealed that she ALSO hasn't driven in almost 10 years

Mini behaved well... but I think it took a few years off of my life trying to not nag her about things, like, oh... 'please don't keep your foot on the clutch..'

 

&gt;&gt;Went out last night with my housemate to teach her to drive a manual transmission in the snow. Good thing we found a largish emptyish parking lot, since she revealed that she ALSO hasn't driven in almost 10 years
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;Mini behaved well... but I think it took a few years off of my life trying to not nag her about things, like, oh... 'please don't keep your foot on the clutch..'
&gt;&gt;

LOL! I hate to teach people stick on one of my cars! Can you rent stick shift cars anywhere?

regards,
Red

 

&gt;&gt;LOL! I hate to teach people stick on one of my cars! Can you rent stick shift cars anywhere?
&gt;&gt;

I think they're on to us now... I haven't seen any available in the area for a LONG time.

 

Hey Everyone - check this out: Gabe Bridger did an article on my research for the Yo-Yo! Thanks a bunch Gabe for your efforts at making my efforts more known!

 

&gt;&gt;Hey Everyone - check this out: Gabe Bridger did an article on my research for the Yo-Yo! Thanks a bunch Gabe for your efforts at making my efforts more known!

Very cool Ryan! Are you getting bombed with emails yet?

We CWFAC members are very lucky to count you as one of our own.

Regards,
Red

 

very nice to see your efforts getting the attention they deserve, Ryan!

 

One year ago today I placed my order. MINI sent me an email this AM, but I did not need a reminder.

Also today, contacted my dealer to pick the car up because last night's rainstorm produced a torrent of water coming out of the interior passenger side &quot;A&quot; pillar &quot;AIRBAG&quot; where it cascaded on to the door near the speaker and the floor.

We covered the car as quickly as we could, and placed tons of towels inside.
I have a list of other things to check: Oil leak near center front of car, Rattles in hatch catch and rear right seat back, slight yo-yo.

This will be only the 5th trip back to the dealer and I don't have 6,000 miles.(2x's glovebox; 2x's airbag light).

My 60's British cars driven in the 70's were more trouble free. (Mini, TR3,Sprite).
This one will be gone before the 3 year warranty is up, so I hope they start making them better so I can order another one.

It still is the most fun car to drive. Maybe it just has teething problems.

It's now officially a love/conflicted relationship.


Regards,
Red

_________________
<IMG SRC="https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/albums/album04/fyy.thumb.jpg
">Life is better MINImized CWFAC 03

 

Red, I think you need to drive your car more often. I think it's telling you it wants more attention. We used to have a cat that would pee all over everything when we left it to go on vacation. The a-pillar stuff is just MINI pee.

Just trying to help

Andy

p.s. we got rid of the stupid cat. Keep the MINI.

p.s.s all cats are stupid. All minis need to be driven.

p.s.s MINIs should be driven over cats

 

&gt;&gt;This will be only the 5th trip back to the dealer and I don't have 6,000 miles.(2x's glovebox; 2x's airbag light).
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;My 60's British cars driven in the 70's were more trouble free. (Mini, TR3,Sprite).
&gt;&gt;This one will be gone before the 3 year warranty is up, so I hope they start making them better so I can order another one.
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;It still is the most fun car to drive. Maybe it just has teething problems.
&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;It's now officially a love/conflicted relationship.

Yikes! The water issue is scary!

If you've had to take your car back to the dealership to deal with the same things over and over, is the dealership actually trying to fix them? I know that some of the dealerships around here have a TERRIBLE reputation for their service sucking; not actually fixing problems that should be an easy repair and things like that.

It's distressing to hear about fellow CWFACers having these problems... luckily, at almost 14,000 miles my car has had very very few of these issues. I had some mad squeak from the speakers when I first got it, corrected wonderfully and immediately when I mentioned it. Not a whole lot else going on... my intent is to try to keep the miles down on the car and buy it at the end of the lease either to re-sell or keep. Boyfriend is threatening me if I mention selling the car - I think he'd probably stage a sit-in (or a live-in) if I actually tried to go through with it.

Then again, we've got a $40,000 car with even more issues.... so the Mini seems PERFECT in comparison :/

What ya'll think of the limited edition MCS?

 

Andy as usual has good ideas. But I don't have to drive the car to go shopping or knocking down ice dams, so I don't. It's a second car that we love!

Even though it is getting me a bit miffed, I would consider trying again on an 05 if the resale was decent.

You should have seen it wrapped in my 69 Caddy car cover! Very funny, but no PIX, Maybe I will do a re creation.

When it comes back from the dealer it will be perfect. I promise. And I will drive it more!

Regards,
Red is Restless

 

Just got my black side repeaters today.

Original Orange



Black chrystal



And with the light on

 

&gt;&gt;Just got my black side repeaters today.
&gt;&gt;
ooo... very pretty! How was the install?

 

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;Just got my black side repeaters today.
&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt;&gt;ooo... very pretty! How was the install?


Install was a piece of cake. Took about 3 minutes per side. Just slide the old lens back and pop it out, slight twist to release the lamp. replace the white lamp with the supplied orange one, and re-install.

Andy