While I do tend to think that the MINIs of enthusiasts mark their territory, and each other, in this case, "tagging" means to put a West Coast MINI sticker somewhere on Gary's MINI - most clubs put them on the back window.

Like in this pic...I have my WCM sticker centered...and Mike has his off to the right (which is where most peeps with hardtops put them).

 

Feeling rather sentimental this morning so here's a tribute to my little buddy and the last year...


A brief history of Churchill....


Brought him home 6/06

New wheels and a Front Plate Mount

Tigsy spoilt me for my birthday 8/06

On the Dyno Just under 180whp

Supporting my CHARGERS!!! (Had so many people taking pics and vids it wasnt funny!)

FIREBALLED! Wing... Back to S-Lites after dinging 2 of my 18"s

MMM Weds Sports! 14lb goodness!

Mountain Spring Motorsports AMVIV Event

AMVIV Mobile Theater

First install of the 5.1 system

After blowing one of the Infinity's I switched to JLs... Painted grills to match..

 

I figured as much... that was my ill-fated attempt at humor.

So, do you guys/gals allow POM's into your fold?

 

POM as in Pomeranian?

 

P.O.M (Plain 'ole MINI - non 'S').

**Edit... not that I think there really would be. If anything it would be because of its loony owner

 

Mike, which helped more on the track, WING? or all this WEIGHT?

Church was/is an awesome MINI, you did a nice job with him. I expect in a year we will not know what the MEGA-MINI will become.

What are the plans for Churchhill, is he being purchased by one of your friends or going to the dealer, I might have missed that in all the discussion.

Unixgal, "POM" plain old MINI or "justacooper", I think you will find your "POM" is a pretty steady performer and can be modded with the best of them. Look at the 'justacooper' threads!

Robin, I had a hard time working "POM" into my vocab, but it makes sense.

 

I know I will have plenty of fun in my MC: it handles great and I tend to love the challenge of 'working for it' in the twisties (I ride an 'underpowered' Motorcycle in the hills and love leaving liter bikes behind). I can hardly wait for my planned 'long drive home' through the SC Mtns.

It's just that I've been reading that MCS vs. MC thread and have been feeling a bit 'looked down upon' though I don't think I'll regret my decision at all.

Sorry Mike & Tigs for hijacking your thread

 

I hope ou don't feel that way. ANY Mini is a GREAT Mini, whether is a MC, MCS, MCSa, R56, R53 or a classic. They each have their own cham and style. It urks me to no end when people start bashing one model versus another...

 

THANKS! Don't really feel that way from the folks on the threads I've been participating in at all. I feel like I know you all even though on this thread I've been a lurker until now.

Back to the topic... So, Mike, have you found a good new home for Churchill yet?

 

The R56 sucks. Nah, I'm just kidding. A MINI is a MINI, unless it's a Mini, which is the same company, but smaller car, but the MINI is a Mini, and, well, never mind. The point is, we are one big happy family. And when the Clubman comes along, it will be like gaining a new uncle or something. Just enjoy what you got, don't forget to wave, and represent us all well! Motor on!
jason

 

The Carmen seems to be inconsistent with her weather data reporting. She should be reporting every six hours but some of the reports aren't listed. Oh well, at least she is reporting something every once in a while. We were stuck without any information as the Isolde was making the trip to the Canal.

 

No thread hijack apologies necessary...we're here to chat, make some friends, have some fun, and get Mike through his waiting anxiety.

As for POMs...West Coast MINI welcomes them. We are equal opportunity MINI lovers.

As for the MCS vs MC debate - let me tell you something. We have some MCs in our club driven by some very talented drivers...and one of the things I've learned over the last year is that a skillfully driven MINI has much less to do with the model of the car than the overall knowledge, skill, experience, and performance of its driver!

There's a saying...the first nut that should be tightened on a MINI in the one behind the wheel. All I can say to that is....amen.

 

Well Churchill is tenativly being given to the dealer as a trade, there is a possibility that one of our club members may end up giving him a happy new home. magic 8-Ball says "Remains Uncertain"

As far as "help at the track" heheh the speaker boxes and the amp-rack are all on quick-disconnect circuits and it can come out in about 10 minutes. They are also secured enough that spirited driving and a potential accident wouldn't allow them to come loose and go flying. (never tested in real life thankfully).

I left the equipment in at AMVIV after getting him weighed in... he sat at 2594lbs if I recall correctly with a 51/49 distribution... so honestly... the equipment helped achieve a really good weight balance

POMs LOVE THEM! We have several in WCM that are known to keep up with some of the most heavily modded "S" models. Keep it in the powerband and you will have a blast with it

I too hate the rivalry between MC/MCS R53/R56 Mini/MINI. We all love our own individual cars, we bought them because we wanted "THAT" car, doesn't matter what year, model, color, modded or stock, I will never tell any other owner that thier choice was wrong, bad, or stupid... our MINIs are unique and as individualized as the owners and it takes all kinds...there should be no biggotry amongst them.

 

Oh and just an update... the R56 has a name now...

Deacon

 

I find it hard to think of any MINI as plain. Seems like something of a sacrilege. I'm used to seeing it referred to as "MC" vs. "MCS". I know that the Aussies sometimes refer to Brits as "Palms" but POM doesn't have the right spelling. So, I was thinking it was something like DINK, or SO. "Person Obsessed Over MINIs" would be POOM. Lots of POOMs here.

My 1990 Integra has about the same 0-60 time as the non-turbo MINI. I've had a lot of fun with it on the twisty roads of Carmel Valley and Big Sur. I haven't driven an the MC, but I can't imagine it not being fun. One thing you do have over the MCS drivers is that you are more ecologically righteous in your choice. We have allowed our lust for power to overcome our social conscience.

 

New acronym!!! Bwahahahahahhahahaha...we're all POOMs, regardless of what MINI we have. Good on ya, Robin! That one belongs in the official MINI dictionary

 

Thanks!!! I knew you guys (non gender-specific) were cool

Hi, I'm Emily, and I've got MOCD and am a POOM

 

Emily has now been assimilated.

 

POOM !

When I brought home the JB MCSC last weekend, a dear friend of mine asked, "what, are you OBSESSED with MINIs or something ??".

I looked her squarely in the eye and said, "yes".

So, I'm a POOM. Cool !

 

 

 

Thanks Jason!

May seem silly:

Quick question for all of you about the wave. On my motorcycle I always wave, but the way it usually works is a couple of fingers out with the left (non-throttle) hand to oncoming riders, but that doesn't make much sense for a car. For MINI's do you wave at oncoming cars? If so, can they see you without your window down? Or is it a wave at other MINI's in traffic going the same direction as you (or at a light)?? I have every intention of representing just want to make sure I know how its done!

I love that the MINI community is like the M/C community in sticking together. Actually, MCs and M/C's happily co-exist with my riding friends. There is a member of one of my motorcycle groups that drives her MCSC along with us. Now I'll have to decide which twisty-loving machine I'll be taking out of the stable on weekends.

 

So no more MEGA-MINI, Deacon is good.

Did this come to you in a sleepless moment as you were waiting for a sailwx update?

Btw, I though you might have found the weight transfer with the speakers in the boot to your advantage. Randy Webb (Webb Motorsports) had his fast time at the rmbmwcca autox with his wife in the passenger seat (corner weights), he was #1 in BS with his nicely setup CR R56.

I'm looking forward to getting scooter out on a track after a few more miles on the motor. We are sadly lacking in tracks here in Colorado, but hope is on the horizon for 08.

Robin, POOM works, guess I'm one too, plus MOCD, etc....

 

Unixgal... Emily waving at MINIs is universal... we wave like mad freaks, and have about a 50% ratio on wave backs. It doesn't matter if they are oncoming or side by side... we still wave. If the owner doesn't wave back... then we just figured we waived to the car, or the owner was so busy enjoying motoring bliss they were unawares.


Olds81... not sure when it came to me exactly, just had it rattling around in my head the last 2-3 days, must have heard it and it just stuck.

As to the weight distribution, I can say it has been nice having the stereo equipment, the car's been very neutral and predictable, well... untill I started taking out the goodies... it's funny how after driving a modded car for the last 9 months you get used to it and take the behavior for granted... taking the USS and STB off made a HUGE difference in how the car handles, Church is a lot more tame now than he has been for the last 9 months for sure.

I'm Mike... I am a MOCD-POOM

 

The best MINI wave is a

That seems to be more universally understood as a MINI related wave to the non-POOMs driving MINIs. In my area there seem to be quite a few non-waving MINI drivers, and I've had some "Who is that guy; do I know him?" puzzled looks.

Some people flash their lights, but for those with xenons, flashing tends to wear them out early (or so the rumor goes).

When you are heading into the sun, people can usually see into your car. When you are going away from the sun, the often cannot. So, if your MINI is so equipped, standing up through the sunroof usually works.