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Minis in the Park 2008

Got up early and hit the road north to Santa Pod Raceway to attend the Minis in the Park event but not before Blue Bear tried to drive out with the the McLaren.  The road up to the raceway was quite scenic with lots of twists and turns and wish I had GP or Red with me.  Good thing I had ‘Lola’ with me else I might have had to stop and asked Seabiscuit for directions.

Once we arrived at Santa Pod we parked and started to check out all the Minis and MINIs that were already parked.

In attendance was the IMM key that is handed from sponsoring club to the next and where next years big Mini50 event will be held in the UK.  Mini Magazine had a nice setup of cars including this ERA Turbo

Lots of cool Mini’s and one of my favorites the Red Mini Seven

Several Mini 40’s and this most incredible white one, boy that would look good next to Blue and Red kind of complete the Italian Job theme.

Quite a few Cooper Sports were in attendance as well as lots of MINI’s.

Rather cool custom Mini

They came in all sizes..Clubman to pickup to stubby.

In the club area, various clubs setup their cars with various themes.

there were two pinks, a Cooper Sport 500 with a custom S style intake and the commando Mini.

spent a little time watching the drag races.  I was amazed to see some really modified classics running the 1/4 in low 10sec.  One GP took to the track but the one time I caught it he ran 14’s.

Was delighted to see several GP’s in attendance and GP56MCK has a nice display and couldn’t help but drool over his Recaro’s.

Lost Blue bear for a while and caught up with him hangin out by the White Mini 40 trophies and figure I’d stop by Silverstone on the way back for a lap.

Headed back and dropped off the Ford Focus.  Focus was not that bad.  The 1.6L has about the same specs a Cooper.  Focus fun factory was zero but economy level was a ten.  Averaged shy of 39mpg over 670 miles for the weekend.  Can’t complain about that when petrol is 1.15ltr or roughly $8.20 a gallon!

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Fiat 500

Got up early and headed to the nearest Fiat dealership to take a closer look at the Fiat 500 that went on sale this year.  Showroom was open but the sales folks wouldn’t arrive for another hour so no test drive this time around.

Was able to get inside and look around and it has a rather nice interior and for under $20k. 

A few more inside and one with the Red 500 calipers and even comes with Microsoft Mobile connection.

Pictures from an italian version used on the Italian Job run that I took at the Minis in the Park event.  I rather like them in white and with the italian stripes down the side and middle. 

I really hope they make it to the states and especially the Abarth as I’ll be first in line to get one.  I hear 2010 is the target for them coming state side..  crossing my fingers.

Classic Minis

Back in the UK to attend the Minis in the Park event on Sunday and figured I’d come out a few days earlier to catch some sites.  got a room at the airport hotel which worked out quite well as it was really easy to get around from the west side of london.  In the hotel lobby was a McLaren as it appears that Hilton is now sponsoring them.  I headed south, enjoying the countryside and stopped at Arundel to take a pix of a lil classic that was parked outside.

I made my way to ‘Classic Minis’ run by Mike Raven who worked for Cooper Garage for 16 years or something and is the only authorized John Cooper Classic parts and accessories dealer. 

Quite a nice selection of Classic for Sale and

lots of the pictures and items from the Cooper Works garage as is Mike Coopers custom classic ‘HI5 FUN’.  Incredible custom interior, Rolls Royce commisioned paint, silk headliner.. truly a wonder. 

Spent a couple of hours there chatting about Classics and about having Red2 (Blue’s Sister) spend time between Mini United and IMM events next year and maybe get fitted with the S works kit and a Webasto roof while she’s there.  R

Since I was by the south shore I figured I’d stop by Brighton as it is host to one of the larger yearly events the ‘London-Brighton’ run.  took the scenic route past some incredible homes and Chandlers MINI. 

The weather was absolutely perfect and seemed everyone flocked to the beach.  Tried to find a parking spot for my Ford Focus rental to get some Fish-n-Chips but no luck.   Will definetely stay here during my next trip back. 

Then I was off to G.C. Motors, another Classic Mini dealer to see what they had in stock and I was just amazed on how many Classics one can fit in one place. Fortunately I was able to complete the day without another acquisition!.

Have to say I was rather please with the economy of the Ford Focus 1.6L according to the trip computer I averaged about 48mpg today.   All the days Pixs

Greenwich Concours 2008

We had the Classic loaded on the trailer and followed her up to the Greenwich Concours in GP1717 who found a nice spot.

 There was in incredible collection of fine cars one nicer the next and all worthy of winning.

Making its first stateside car show appearance was the 1963 Corvette Pininfarina Rondine

Peter and Merry Braun were in attendance with “George” their ‘63 Austin Healey

They came in all shapes and sizes.

It was incredibly hot and fortunately behind where Blue was parked Chevy had an air conditioned tent that made for a nice retreat.  Featured in the tent was the new ZR1, Camaro and the Volt.

 The Good Humor Ice Cream Truck, the Fiat 500 and the lil Iseta and her sail boat.

Baby didn’t win but it was great to be able to present her and be in attendance.  What I really enjoyed was at the end they paraded every car for the audience.

Although near the end we were threatened by rain we were able to leave, drive home and get the Classic into the garage seconds before a the downpour

For all of the days Pictures  

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Baby wins Best in Show @ MINI Q

After spending a couple of weeks at the Spa, the Blue Classic and GP1717 attended the 2008 MINI Q where Blue won Classic Best In Show!

Matt and Eddie at Detailing Dynamics did an incredible job preparing her for the event.

Here’s a nice line up Classic, SportsPack Classic, GP and Clubman with a bum shot with the bonnets lined up relatively close together showing the various lengths.

The bears were in attendance having a good time.  Goober couldn’t wait to get out of the back seat.

 Checker ‘SeaSpray’ won best in show for the MINI class with her great presentation.

 Lots of cool Classics and MINI’s in attendance.

They came in all shapes and sizes. Adam with his family and mini dog,  A giant of a man overshadowing the classics and lil Steven with his new Mini.

What’s next for the lil Queen? Well she’ll be heading over the bridge on June 8th to go up against the big girls in the Greenwich Concours.   For all the pixs Click here

Baby comes home & heads for Spa!

My lil Blue classic has finally arrived.  She left PA where she was staying with friends at MiniObsesion and arrived at 9am this morning.  I had her delivered directly to Detailing Dynamics where she’ll spend the next week or so amongst fine exotics and getting a royal spa treatment in preperation for her first cars show on the 17th.

GP1717 was on hand to greet the lil one and Eddie has  a blast driving her into the shop

where Angus and Ceasar stood at attention for the new comer. 

Visiting the Classic

Drove Blue Bear down to Mini Obessesion in PA to visit his Classic.  She’s been resting from her long ocean voyage and getting acclimated to stateside life with several other classics .   Going to need a booster seat for the little fellow.

Classic is now stateside

The Classic has finished her Atlantic Ocean Cruise where she disembarking in Baltimore, clearing customs and is now safe and sound at Mini Obsessions storage facility and in good company with other Classic’s.   She should be home in NY in a few weeks when I return from the Maldives.   

Now I need to figure out where to put her!   Somebody is going to have to get their Carcoon displaced from the garage.. either GP1415 or the 850CSi.   Someone is not going to be happy better just focus on my holiday.

Classic’s Cruising Home

For Xmas my new additional boarded W&W cruise line in Belgium to begin her journey to the states but luckily she won’t be alone she’ll be traveling with her sister.    Pictured here on their way to the port and then patiently waiting in queue to board.

 Here Route takes her to the UK, Canada and NY before jumping off in Baltimore.   

Classic Weekend, Mokes & Mini Hauler

I spent the weekend in Florida visiting my folks and my little darling.   When I arrived Friday night I uncovered her and realized I never put the battery tender on after putting her away from coming back from Mickie & Mini event in September.  I figured the battery was dead but to my pleasant surprise the alarm disarm chimed and she fired up like the day I put her away.

Saturday morning I took her to DJMINIS for an oil service and tune-up and closer look at her flawless undercarriage.

  Later in the afternoon she got four new rubber soles for her paws that really transformed her into a new car.  I had vibrations at speeds and she was rather noisy.  Several folks commented that the Rover Sportpack has an inherit vibration due to the wider 13″ wheels but once I shed those 10 year old dry-rotted, flat-spotted Dunlop’s in favor of a new set of Yokohama A539 that I ordered from MiniMania she rides as smooth as butter and is so much quieter. 

Came back home, gave her a bath, a wax and put her to sleep until I visit again.  xoxox Daddy

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