R50/53 The first 100,000 miles - lots of pictures! slow connections beware!
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,021
Likes: 7
From: Burlington, VT
The first 100,000 miles - lots of pictures! slow connections beware!
The biggest impact my MINI has had in the first 100,000 miles is the giant number of people that I have met because of it. The MINI community is amazing!
Having said that, most of these pictures will probably not have many people in them.
I guess that will be the goal for the next 100,000 miles - more pictures of the people.
I picked up my Cooper on October 12, 2002. Here's the first picture I took of it:
Only a few weeks later, it was already time to try to find snow tires for it, which was a little tough as there weren't that many MINIs around back then. After a few missteps, I was successful:
November 16, 2002 I went on my first MINI run... it's chronicled by Ian (GBMINI) here:
http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive...ander_mi.shtml
On the drive home fromt that, I got my first "winter" driving experience in the MINI, and I discovered just how useless the stock windshield wipers are in a freezing rain storm:
A few days later, November 18, 2002, my MINI got its first blanket of snow:
To begin 2003, it got a snowboard carrier for the roof rack:
Mid April, 2003 was the first time I did a real "detailing" of a car:
Early May, 2003 my Cooper went on its first boat ride:
There was also a preview of The Italian Job, and the first picture of my Velvet Red with another Velvet Red:
Again Ian comes to the rescue with the documentation of the event:
http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive...an_job_1.shtml
I started the mods with a Whalen shift **** and getting my iPod connected to the factory stereo, with some electronics help from Gavin (GadgetGav) as this was before the official aux input was available:
Only obsessive MINI owners document the first scratch on their car (May 12, 2003):
On June 3, 2003 I ran my Cooper into a moose:
So I was without my MINI for the first MINIs on Top in June 2003, but the loaner VW Beetle from the body shop made the trip:
July 1, 2003 I got my Cooper back from the bodyshop (with damaged wheels that also eventually got replaced).
Early August 2003 saw some more audio equipment installed in my car:
Having said that, most of these pictures will probably not have many people in them.
I guess that will be the goal for the next 100,000 miles - more pictures of the people.I picked up my Cooper on October 12, 2002. Here's the first picture I took of it:
Only a few weeks later, it was already time to try to find snow tires for it, which was a little tough as there weren't that many MINIs around back then. After a few missteps, I was successful:
November 16, 2002 I went on my first MINI run... it's chronicled by Ian (GBMINI) here:
http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive...ander_mi.shtml
On the drive home fromt that, I got my first "winter" driving experience in the MINI, and I discovered just how useless the stock windshield wipers are in a freezing rain storm:
A few days later, November 18, 2002, my MINI got its first blanket of snow:
To begin 2003, it got a snowboard carrier for the roof rack:
Mid April, 2003 was the first time I did a real "detailing" of a car:
Early May, 2003 my Cooper went on its first boat ride:
There was also a preview of The Italian Job, and the first picture of my Velvet Red with another Velvet Red:
Again Ian comes to the rescue with the documentation of the event:
http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive...an_job_1.shtml
I started the mods with a Whalen shift **** and getting my iPod connected to the factory stereo, with some electronics help from Gavin (GadgetGav) as this was before the official aux input was available:
Only obsessive MINI owners document the first scratch on their car (May 12, 2003):
On June 3, 2003 I ran my Cooper into a moose:
So I was without my MINI for the first MINIs on Top in June 2003, but the loaner VW Beetle from the body shop made the trip:
July 1, 2003 I got my Cooper back from the bodyshop (with damaged wheels that also eventually got replaced).
Early August 2003 saw some more audio equipment installed in my car:
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,021
Likes: 7
From: Burlington, VT
Late August 2003, and my MINI braved the "floating bridge":
And it made its trip farthest from home - to Annapolis, Maryland:
September 2003 and it made its first appearance at a car show, The British Invasion in Stowe, Vermont:
Why not throw in a picture with some people in it:
October 2, 2003 and winter #2 appears:
And the first MAMA run:
It took until November 2003 to get the first "second annual" MINI event - the second MINI Meander:
Winter isn't kind to cars:
Mid April, 2004 - living dangerously by putting new summer tires (first replacement set of summer tires) on while there's still some snow around in the mountains:
Driving lights were installed in late May, 2004:
MINIs on Top again in June 2004, and I didn't take many pictures:
July 2004, some of my favorite things... my MINI, my god-daughter, and the rubber ducky Ed (maxamini) gave me:
Another amp and the JL Audio stealthbox went in in July 2004:
I got my first polarizing filter for taking pictures in July also:
And it made its trip farthest from home - to Annapolis, Maryland:
September 2003 and it made its first appearance at a car show, The British Invasion in Stowe, Vermont:
Why not throw in a picture with some people in it:
October 2, 2003 and winter #2 appears:
And the first MAMA run:
It took until November 2003 to get the first "second annual" MINI event - the second MINI Meander:
Winter isn't kind to cars:
Mid April, 2004 - living dangerously by putting new summer tires (first replacement set of summer tires) on while there's still some snow around in the mountains:
Driving lights were installed in late May, 2004:
MINIs on Top again in June 2004, and I didn't take many pictures:
July 2004, some of my favorite things... my MINI, my god-daughter, and the rubber ducky Ed (maxamini) gave me:
Another amp and the JL Audio stealthbox went in in July 2004:
I got my first polarizing filter for taking pictures in July also:
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,021
Likes: 7
From: Burlington, VT
Late July 2004, more audio stuff:
July 30, 2004 MINI-MOT run in Worcester, MA:
British Invasion 2004, another Velvet Red MINI:
October 18, 2004 - thie MAMA covered bridge run:
December 30, 2004 - skiing with Annette (NoNo) and Ed (maxamini):
February 2005 - more snow:
March 2005 - one of the many snowboarding days my MINI has taken me to:
April 2005 - fisheye:
June 2005, summer tire set #3:
June 11, 2005 - first time trial in my MINI. I had no plans of getting into autocrossing / track days when I bought the car, now I cannot get enough.
June 20, 2005 - MINIs on Top #3:
July 8, 2005 - JCW suspension upgrade:
July 31, 2005 - first track day (no picture of my car, though):
British Invasion 2005:
March 31, 2006 - roll bar gets installed in the car:
April 29, 2006 - new wheels and tires for the track:
July 30, 2004 MINI-MOT run in Worcester, MA:
British Invasion 2004, another Velvet Red MINI:
October 18, 2004 - thie MAMA covered bridge run:
December 30, 2004 - skiing with Annette (NoNo) and Ed (maxamini):
February 2005 - more snow:
March 2005 - one of the many snowboarding days my MINI has taken me to:
April 2005 - fisheye:
June 2005, summer tire set #3:
June 11, 2005 - first time trial in my MINI. I had no plans of getting into autocrossing / track days when I bought the car, now I cannot get enough.
June 20, 2005 - MINIs on Top #3:
July 8, 2005 - JCW suspension upgrade:
July 31, 2005 - first track day (no picture of my car, though):
British Invasion 2005:
March 31, 2006 - roll bar gets installed in the car:
April 29, 2006 - new wheels and tires for the track:
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,021
Likes: 7
From: Burlington, VT
June 16, 2006 - MINIs on Top (again):
July 29, 2006 - camber plates installed:
I'm sure I missed a whole bunch of stuff. All I did was go through my photo library to remember what happened when. There are a bunch of track days that aren't listed because I didn't take pictures at them.
Missing include pointing out snow tire set #2, summer tire set #3, track tire set #2 (yes, that makes 8 sets of tires that have been on my car). Borla exhaust installation, sway bar installation, numerous windshields, electrical tape mod to try to avoid frozen doorhandles, the flatbed rides due to transmission failures, and who knows what else.
July 29, 2006 - camber plates installed:
I'm sure I missed a whole bunch of stuff. All I did was go through my photo library to remember what happened when. There are a bunch of track days that aren't listed because I didn't take pictures at them.
Missing include pointing out snow tire set #2, summer tire set #3, track tire set #2 (yes, that makes 8 sets of tires that have been on my car). Borla exhaust installation, sway bar installation, numerous windshields, electrical tape mod to try to avoid frozen doorhandles, the flatbed rides due to transmission failures, and who knows what else.
Very cool. I'll have to do
that too. Sorry to hear
about the moose encounter.
I didn't hear about that.
But other than that, I
assume she's still running
strong?
PS: Is that moose fur in the
windshield wiper??!?!?!
that too. Sorry to hear
about the moose encounter.
I didn't hear about that.
But other than that, I
assume she's still running
strong?
PS: Is that moose fur in the
windshield wiper??!?!?!
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,336
Likes: 1
From: Clinton Township, MI
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6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,212
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From: Cherry Log, Georgia USA
Great photo history! I love the Velvet Red and wish it would have been available when I finally got to order mine. I finally saw one in person not too long ago and it is a yummy color!
I like that your mods have continued throughout your ownership. I'm trying to slow down and make the "trip" last a bit longer.
Congrats!
Annette
I like that your mods have continued throughout your ownership. I'm trying to slow down and make the "trip" last a bit longer.
Congrats!
Annette
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: NorCal
Great picture accounts! It seems like you got the better part of the moose.
Nothing is more interesting than a picture story! I really appreciated the thread. Thank you.
I think I'll do the same with my MINI when it arrives.
Nothing is more interesting than a picture story! I really appreciated the thread. Thank you.
I think I'll do the same with my MINI when it arrives.
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 648
Likes: 0
Excellante!!!!
BTW: Did the Moose survive the encounter? Those guys are BIG! ...and the damage to your Mini did not look that bad...considering. (unless it was a baby moose!!!<grin>
GREAT PHOTOS...Like "THIS IS YOUR LIFE" (for a Mini)For those of old enough to remember the TV show!
BTW: I love your color and wish they still made it...very distinctive!
BTW: Did the Moose survive the encounter? Those guys are BIG! ...and the damage to your Mini did not look that bad...considering. (unless it was a baby moose!!!<grin>
GREAT PHOTOS...Like "THIS IS YOUR LIFE" (for a Mini)For those of old enough to remember the TV show!
BTW: I love your color and wish they still made it...very distinctive!
Very cool. Call me an emotional sap (or maybe just PMSing), but it really was touching in a very "this is your life" sorta way. Like watching your kids grow up
Thanks for sharing, and you have a beautiful MINI - VR is such a distinguished color.
Thanks for sharing, and you have a beautiful MINI - VR is such a distinguished color.
7th Gear Gal
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 36,087
Likes: 3
From: Weeblegabber West (aka WLA)
Originally Posted by HEMI-MINI
Nice pics but your MINI has actually had more than 1 boat ride! Its first official boat ride came right after it was born.
I was going to post the same thing! Wonderful thread, snid! I really love the Velvet Red...beautiful, classic color for a MINI.
