I was at Lime Rock Park yesterday to catch the end of MTTS. It was a very cool event. My favorite part was walking around the lots admiring everyone else's rides. In addition to a MINI parking corral, there were also Italian car parking corrals, British car parking corrals, and Porsche parking corrals among others. I've been considering several different mods to my MCS, most of them cosmetic, and I've wondered what many of them would look like on my car. Seeing the variety of cars in lot (probably well over 200 MINIs alone!) gave me a chance to see several things that I've been thinking about doing.

Some of my observations:
1. I wasn't sure how the JCW CF intake scoop would look on my CR/W. I worried about the dark CF clashing with the white stripes and roof. There was a CR/W MCSC at the MINI display that had the CF scoop w/ white stripes and it looked pretty nice.
2. I really like the R99-style wheels in silver. Seeing the variety of wheels that people have on their cars reinforced that choice, in my mind. Those wheels, and their aftermarket equivalents, look pretty sweet.
3. I always wondered how dark wheels would look on CR/W. I saw a few yesterday and I don't like it. CR/B yes, CR/W no. Anthricite or black wheels just don't look right with that combo.
4. The JCW CF rear spoiler looks pretty cool in person. I liked the looks of it in photos I had seen but I was a little worried that it'd look a little too "ricy" in person. I don't think it does.
5. I need to paint my brake calipers red, especially if I get the new wheels that expose a lot more of the brakes. I also need EBC Greenstuff pads to cut down on the dust.
6. The JCW shift **** in CF/alcantara feels very nice in-hand. Better than the standard ****, IMHO. I like the looks of the CF dash, too, but $1200 is way too expensive. Can you tell that I like the CF look?
7. The Aero kit is a great look, even if it's only the side skirts and the rear bumper. I really like the look from the back.
8. The GP Works cars look great in person.
9. I should have gotten cloth seats - no back sweat in the summer.

Random, non-MINI musings, after walking around:
1. Porsches are a dime a dozen, not even warranting any second looks from me. I'd still absolutely love to own one someday, though.
2. Every time I see a Ferrari Testarossa, I immediately think of Crockett and Tubbs.
3. The Lotus Esprit is still one of the best looking cars ever made.
4. I don't like Fords at all but the new GT is very hot.

Overall a very cool event. MINI owners are definitely some of the most creative car owners in the world and it's very cool to see what other people come up with. Like snowflakes, it seems like no two are alike. I even saw a customized intake scoop on one of the GP Works cars already! It didn't take that owner very long to get into personalization!

 

Nice post, Phil. Thanks for your impressions.

 

we had a great time checking out what seemed to be endless minis. MINI supplied lots of good eats, the bmw m car and motorcycle displays were sweet. i lucked out and got a hot lap in with the current M5. around noon, between the morning warmup laps and the afternoon racing, i noted a gold m5 running around the track by itself (the pace car for the day). i wondered down near the car, chatted with an ems guy, and ended up with a free ride around (two laps). it was a skip barber m5. unreal.

it was neat to see the new GPs parked next to each other and see how much stuff people could cram into their MINIs.


over all a great day - looking forward to next year and turbo MCS's.

 

my back sweats if it's hot enough and I'm stubborn enough to keep the AC off.

ok more info than you wanted? ahaha

mb

 

I live near Lime Rock and I have always wanted to attend the Vintage Racing and events around Labor Day, but I usually go backpacking in the White Mountains that weekend. I am gald to have been able to combine the fine MINI obsession with Labor Day at Lime Rock.

I share many of the above observations. I will never tire of ogling the Jags and Ferraris, and nothing sounds better than a V-12 from Maranello.

I really enjoyed the vintage racers, especially the Allard J2 kicking butt in its class. However, I have always loved the late 50's through mid 60's Formula cars. Since my opportunity for a F1 drive is a fantasy long past, it gives me great hope to think of eventually driving a classic Formula car at speed with other enthusiasts. Observing the age and physique of some of the guys driving the old Coopers allows me to think this is in the realm of the possible.

I was not able to stay for the Trans Am race, but when those beasts were doing their practice session I could not even hear myself think. I'm sure glad I was not hung over. It reminded me of the time I camped near one of the turns at Watkins Glen at the last F1 race there (1980?) and was rudely awoken by cars shifting through gears at WOT 50 feet from my head during early morning laps.