I just heard about the fires in the southland. I'm sending all of our SoCal friends wishes that they (most important) and their property comes through this unscathed.

I hope they can send a ping to let us know they are ok.

 

I just read in the WCM bulletin board that Mike and Tigs did get evacuated earlier today. They are staying with another WCM member and they are fine. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by the fires. Stay safe!!

 

Thanks for the Google map Robin, good to hear the news regarding Mike and Tigs. I have not heard anything from my boy and his wife, so off to call again. They are doing a blog for the family on the new baby on the way, but it has a few posts about the fire.

From the maps, it looks like the hot areas are still north of their home, but I know my boys office was evacuated. He works for Qualcomm and she works for SD County, not sure which office, since she floats her assignments (photographer/graphics designer).

I'm glad all are ok.

 

I see Mike and Tigs haven't checked in today. I've read that they are safely back in their home. Their home is now in a "safe zone". I hope they don't mind my passing along this information but I know you all are very concerned for their well being and would want to know they are safe. They are fine and their home is fine, albeit a bit smoky though.

 

Thanks, Gary

We're back in our home, doing alright, totally exhausted, feeling extremely blessed, and still a bit on edge...so much so that I see us hanging out in the living room, watching the News, and taking turns sleeping.

I'd like for this crazy ride to stop so that we can get off now.

Blair's home is OK too...although he is in Jerusalem on business He flew out over the weekend, before anyone knew this disaster was heading our way. His wife and kids are fine though, as we've checked on them regularly.

The rest of the West Coast MINI peeps are doing alright...many have been evacuated, others took in those of us that were evac'd.

Hugs to everyone affected by this.

 

Tigs posted in another thread today, but just hasn't checked into this one.

 

Ok, thought I'd revive the thread.

Wanted to check on all the SoCal folks - Mike, Tigs, et.al. - and see how you are all doing after the fires? Hopefully all are home safe and sound.

I'm still loving Sam and his sound system is blissful. I'll be enjoying it all weekend on a MINI road trip after the MINI trackday tomorrow. This will be my, and Sam's, first in-person get together with other MINI's/MINI folks.

I hope that all are well.

 

Hiya, Em!

We're doing fine. All WCM'ers are accounted for and back in their homes. It was scary for a couple of days - so many of us evacuated. But we took care of each other.

Last Saturday night we had our annual West Coast MINI Halloween party. It was GREAT to get together, share tons of hugs, have a few drinks, and laugh a lot. I think that we all needed it more than we knew at the time.

Very glad to hear that you're getting together with other MINI peeps! I hope that they give you a really warm welcome and that you have a blast. I honestly can't remember one thing in my life that brought about as much change as buying our MINIs and getting involved with WCM. It's been a wonderful adventure, that's for sure.

Take lots of pics and share them with us when you can!!

 

Glad everyone is all right. I know a little of what it is like. I grew up in West Los Angeles around the time of the Bel Air fire. It came within a mile of our house. A close friend was even closer. Every house around her's burned to the ground, cars melted into puddles, but her's was spared.

I've had a few small fires close to where I live now. I posted some photos earlier in this thread, IIRC, and then the year before:

http://www.robincasady.com/CarmelValleyFire/

It can be pretty stressful when it comes close, and the air is horrible. So, I feel for all you guys who went through it.

California, the land of two seasons -- Brushfire, and Mudslide.

 

It appears we have lost the thread passion. So, a revival, hello all.

I hope everyone is fully recovered from the fires, time change, Halloween and the fact that it is almost Thanksgiving.

What are your plans, friends and family or a quiet dinner with just yourselves?

We are having a family dinner at the house. My daughter will be in Hawaii visiting, so we asked one of her friends to have Turkey with us. It should be fun but different, this is the first all four of us have not had a sit-down on Thanksgiving.

On the MINI front, I put on a new set of wheels and tires for winter. Fresh pictures of scooter after a wash&hydro and newly mounted shoes are here for the interested.

So far, it has been a good purchase and the sound level is much more comfortable from the non-runflats. Perhaps this week, I will get to test them out in a light snow.

How is the SDMike Support group doing, in fact how is SDMike and Deacon? (Tigs, too )

 

Emily, how was the track day? Awesome! Did you get any great pictures?

 

Hi Don,
I guess the problem with this thread is that now that Dean has arrived, Mike no longer needs support.

I also was hoping for a report from Unixgal. Hope her track day and road trip went well.

I've been busy preparing to be a vendor here. Did a complete reworking of my web site. http://www.robincasady.com/ShiftKnobs/ and finished a bunch of new *****.

Attempted to replace the front speakers in Milo today (yes, finally thought of a name. It's from Phantom Tollbooth). Ran into a problem. Although the stock HIFI small speaker in the door is supposedly 3.5" the Infinity Kappa 3.5" is way too small. So, I've ordered 4". Replacing the larger speaker with the woofer from Infinity Kappa 60.7cs 6-1/2" component speakers worked out. Had to drill a few holes, and feed a wire back through a rubber seal, but otherwise a good fit. Haven't tackled the driver-side door yet. Since the mirror controller is said to be a pain, I did the passenger side first and got stopped by the small speaker problem.

 

Hi all,

Life has returned to normal after the SoCal wildfires (for us anyway).

Weekend before last our MINI Club took up collection of items and met at Mike's Mom's house to donate them to their next door neighbors who lost everything. It's really different to see the devastation up close, as opposed to on TV. I just stood in what was once their neighbor's driveway and cried. They were so touched that a group of people they don't even know donated enough items for them to start over - clothes, appliances, furniture, linens...

This weekend we had a bit more fun. We headed up to Valencia and went to Magic Mountain with a few folks from the MINI Club, Jarek and one his friends from school. The boys all had a blast. I enjoyed the drive to and from, and the company - though I have zero interest in climbing aboard any of those coasters. Noooooo thank you.

Yesterday was spent watching football (how 'bout those Chargers ) and recovering from Magic Mountain. I think we must have walked about 10 miles on Sat....and stood in line for 10 hours. What does it say about humans that they'll stand in line for 3 hours in order to experience a 45 second addrenalin rush?

I can't believe 2007 is almost over. Usually we head to Chicago for Thanksgiving and spend it with my family. This year, however, we're spending Christmas on vacation in Hawaii with my whole family - so we're spending Thanksgiving here locally with Mike's Mom. It should be........*cough* fun.

Before we know it, it will be 2008....time just goes by too dang fast. :impatient

 

Tigs pretty much said it all in the above post.

Sorry I havn't been on here much at all... work is challenging as of late, and the hollidays are upon us.

Deacon now has about 5,500 miles on him and he's doing great. So far no issues to report, no new mods, just great miles and lots of smiles!

I am planning on implementing electronic guages via OBDII interface, along with a code scanner and reset ability should be pretty neat. Right now I am in the planning stages and the current challenge is where to mount the heart of the system. I don't want to let the cat out of the bag on this but it should be a pretty trick setup.



Robin the new site and ***** look fantastic!

I'm digging the Dunlop Direzza Z1's I havn't had the chance to take them out in the rain yet but so far they are great, very sticky and sure footed.

The stereo from Church made its way into another WCM MINI and the new owner is loving it. Thats about it in our world... Hope everyone is doing great!

 

Good updates, glad to see your busy and having some fun.

Robin, I sure wish I had a 6 speed. Nice redo of your website, congratulations on going vendor status.

So, where is Emily? And Gary? I wonder if his puppy is all healed and his MIL is enjoying her new MINI?

Off to send some gifts to China, only a a few were made in China making the round trip. Go figure!

 

Yeah Robin, the new ***** look great with different shapes and woods. I still say I got the pick of the litter!

 

Thanks. I've just finished another inlay **** and plan on doing some more.

 

Hey Gang,

I've been remiss in sharing the fun from my trackday on the 1st and run of 36 on the 2nd. I had a blast. Both days were fun in their own way.

At the trackday I ran in the "B" group since I have track experience and know Thunderhill raceway like the back of my hand from my M/C racing days. I was the slowest one in the group however. (Sam was the only non-S in the group) After the day was over I realized that I had forgotten to use the sport button all day. Would have probably helped quite a bit in driving out of the corners. I always made sure to let people pass in all of the allowed pass zones.

That said, I had tons of fun and took full advantage of all of the many instructors they had on hand. I went out with one for at least part of every session and learned tons from each of them. Good stuff.

(Pictures by GotBlueMilk.com)

^ Sam and I are in the third row, 2nd from the left behind the orange Cabrio. In addition to the majority of MCS's (many not pictured) there were two classic Mini's, 4 MC's, and 1 MCSC at the event

It became very clear that my first performance mod should be a rear sway bar which I figured I needed anyway:


A few more trackday pics.


The next day four of us did a totally fun run of HWY 36, 3, and 299. The day was near perfect. The roads were clear for the most part, except one section where we had to wait for a guide through a one-way construction zone. A few slow cars, but most were kind enough to move over eventually. We had one deer jump across the road just in time, another deer that was good enough to look both ways before crossing, and a pair of cows standing in the middle of the opposite lane. One of my favorite sections was on HWY 3 (I was on point of our group at the time) when we "hooked up" with a pair of sport bikes. It was beautiful... MC's and M/C's dancing through the twisties.

Here are some pictures, other than the first one (I-5) and 2nd (the beginning of 36) they are from stops we made.

A fun couple of days of Motoring.

 

Looks like it was great fun. Thanks for the report. Sorry I missed it, but I had stuff I had to do.

 

Wowzer, Em looks like you and Sam were rockin that track! Good for you!

Perhaps one day LT and I will find our way back onto a track for some good safe fun.

 

I was fun, and it would have been great if you could join in, but there is always next time, right?

I'm glad to see your vendor status... the ***** are beautiful. You ever get that trench coat? Then again you've gone legit now.

 

Thanks! Sam was definitely "rocking" on the track. I'll be getting him a 19mm sway bar before any more track days.

I'd love to see/hear about you and LT on the track.

I'm glad life is getting back to normal for you in SD. It is special and very touching to hear what you did for the family that lost everything.

 

Thanks Emily, nice pictures in your albums. I can see a nice rear sway bar, perhaps an Alta 19 or 22.

You had a nice apex in picture 3. Looked like a fun time on track.

Nice country for motoring, nice tight group of 4 to keep it fun, fast and safe.

Nice seeing all the updates with pictures. I will try to get some road trip photos up with my Missouri drive.

 

Thanks! I did get better as the day went on about actually going inside the line with my tire at the apex (on an M/C it isn't a great idea to get quite that close). In the pic I linked here, the apex of the turn isn't even in the frame yet.

It took a few laps and assurance from my instructor that street tires will screech for me to not let off the gas when it would happen (motorcycles don't screech, even on street tires). I got over it though and by the end of the day I was screeching my way around every turn.

I could feel some roll, but when I saw the pictures that the photographer took of me from behind I became a believer in the need for a sway bar. It was really disconcerting to have the vehicle leaning the wrong way when going around a turn on the track, but I guess that's a difference in the nature of the beast even with a dialed in suspension on a car.

So when are you and the missus going to be out here? It would be very cool if we could meet up for a run or two when you eventually do.

The group size was perfect. We all had two-way radios, so it was great to keep in touch if someone fell back, or the lead could warn of upcoming hazards. (I had the fun of announcing "cows in the oncoming lane!" as they appeared after coming around a blind left hand curve. ).

 

Definitely!

Thanks, I've got an old London Fog trench coat my dad bought in England...