jcwgp.com

MTTUK – Day 58 – Classic Mini’s Door Bling

headed south to Littlehampton with a visit to Classic Mini’s to get some door ‘bling’ for Red. The weather today was yet again exceptional so I spent it pool side.

Mike Raven @ Classic Mini’s created a special set of door hardware for the John Cooper 50th Edition he’s working on.  Could not help myself but get a set for Red.  

New JCW 50 Set, Original Cooper Sport Set and the JCW 50 Set mounted.  It really is extremely well made and solid and feels great!.    A must for any Mini.

Then headed for another nice drive via the twisty and fun back roads.

MTTUK – Day 57 – Richmond

headed into Richmond to have a nice lunch with colleagues from work. Traversing greater London definitely takes a bit longer but did see a lovely 8 in my rear view.  Might have to take mine out this weekend.

MTTUK – Day 56 – Ascot

No Mini events today so I noticed that there was some racing at Ascot so I headed to the wonderful Ascot Racecourse to watch the horsies race.  Ascot is a gorgeous track/facility and perhaps the nicest I’ve ever been to.  

“Hey G, I told you I was going to win”

Betting in the UK is quite different then in the states where there is only one betting authority on the track.  Here there is the government’s authority and then countless other bookmakers on hand to take bets.   Their racing forms are a bit different as well but out of four races I cashed tickets on two of them and was really close on the other two.

 All the Day’s Pictures

MTTUK – Day 55 – Castle Combe

Headed to Castle Combe for MiniWorlds Action Day event.   Thought there was going to be a concourse along with the racing but there wasn’t so spent the day watching the folks race their Mini’s and visiting the trader stands

It  turned out to be a rather expensive day as I spent a bit too much time at KADs tent. After picking up their front 4-pot big brakes for Red that I bought from Minispeed earlier in the week.

I wound up leaving with their rear caliper conversion kit and light alloy rear radius arms which will save quite a number of kilo’s over the current drum brakes about 1/3 the weight.  It wasn’t cheap but the dollar made some ground on the pound yesterday and they gave me a good deal which ultimately worked out to a substantial savings from getting it stateside.  They only had gold at the show but will be shipping me out a set of red to match the fronts.  Red should be quite transformed when everything is fitted.  It uses little motorcycle pads but they are supposed to provide the same braking power as the current rear drum brakes.  They aren’t supposed to increase the rear braking but decrease the unsprung weight and look good.  Lets hope so because the pads are really little.

The bears had fun with the recent addition of 40 bear and albeit late/early they bought me a birthday card with Red on it.

 All the Day’s Pictures

MTTUK – Day 54 – Swindon

Headed west to Swindon and took the very scenic route of B roads via Avebury.

Red spent the night with a German.

Stopped in at Lotus and then Ferrari to check out their new stubby nose and then spent the rest of the day detailing Red in preperation for tomorrows show.

All the Day’s Pictures

MTTUK – Day 53 – Windsor

Stopped in at Mini Speed to pre-order a set of KAD big brakes for Red in Red that I’ll pick up this weekend at Castle Comb.  Then off to Windsor Castle, Legoland and Ascot Racecourse

Along the way these tourists decided to walk in the street holding up traffic.  They must have been lost and in need of a GPS.

 All the Day’s Pictures

Cooper Bikes

Mike Cooper and family are now making ‘Cooper Bikes’.  Here is a press release about the upcoming bikes they are releasing all badged with the oh so special ‘Cooper’ emblem.   Now if they would just fold down and fit in the boot of my classic!

Cooper Takes on Two Wheels 

The Cooper Car Company launches Cooper Bikes with a new urban bicycle range to mark the 50-years since the groundbreaking F1 Cooper win 

 London, Wednesday 23rd September 2009: Cooper Bikes, the bicycle division of Cooper Car Company, launch their new range of bikes at the Earls Court Cycle Show on the 8^th October 2009. 

Utilising the engineering and technical know how that has been synonymous with the British Company for 50 years, and with a nod to their racing heritage, the first models code name T100 will be called “Monza” and “Sebring”, after the circuits which saw the Company’s F1 Championship victory in 1959. 

Both bikes exhibit the modern aggressive styling of a track bike, and combine confident, sharp handling with comfort and smoothness.  The T100 Monza is supplied in dark blue with flat bars and the T100 Sebring is finished in silver, and has bullhorn bars.  The bikes retail from £595 and are available from January 2010.

Mike Cooper commented: “The Cooper Car Company has always had a passion for bicycles and we have been thinking about diversifying the business for a while.  We wanted to turn our engineering know how to making bicycles that offer the best possible components for the best possible price”

In addition to the T100 Monza and T100 Sebring, the Cooper range will include the T200 Championship 50 and the T200 Reims 5 Speed.   Inspired by the lightweight racing bikes of the 1960’s, the T200 series combines classic styling with modern components and technology. 

The T200 Championship 50 is a special edition single speed, finished in classic Cooper racing green to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Cooper Car Company Formula 1 World Championship victory in 1959.  The stunning T200 Reims, finished in cream, combines style with the practicality of 5 gears.  The T200 bikes, which will be available in March 2010 will also make an appearance at the Cycle Show.  

All single speed bicycles will feature a flip flop hub, which accepts both fixed cogs and freewheel.  In addition, all of the bikes will feature Brooks Saddles, Sturmey Archer Cranks, Reynolds Tubing and Tektro Brakes.

These iconic British branded hand-built road bikes will be available from www.cooperbikes.com and from selected dealers worldwide.

MTTUK – Day 52 – Brighton

Headed to Brighton for the day and since the weather was quite lovely I spent most of the time relaxing at the Beach Cafe enjoying my Fish n chips lunch and getting some rays.

 All the Day’s Pictures

MTTUK – Day 50 – Classic Minis

Headed over to Classic Mini’s today to get Red an early 6k miles service.   While Red was getting serviced I gave Mike a hand bringing back some cars from their large display at Goodwood. 

I got to drive my first 60’s Mini and boy was it a blast and yes four adults can fit into a classic with out a problem.

 All the Day’s Pictures

MTTUK – Day 47-49 – Goodwood Revival

Instead of individual posts to cover each of the three days of Goodwood I decided to do one summary with the highlights.  All the individual day picture links are at the end.

Upon parking at Goodwood you walk through a massive field containing pre1966 cars that are on display covering everything from Mini and Fiat to Aston Martin and  Ferrari to American classics like Cadillacs and Mustangs.  I can’t even begin to compute the $ value of the cars on display each day.

Air Show – Lots of planes were on display and each day featured air display flights from the likes of Spitfires, Mustangs and the legendary Aero VulcanBomber

This year’s Goodwood included several celebrations including Mini’s 50th Birthday with daily 50 years of Mini parade laps featuring making his first ever public appearance Mr. Bean driving his Mini on top of a couch.   Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno Aaltonen were also in attendance racing in the St. Mary’s Trophy.

Also celebrating Sir Stirling Moss’s 80th Birthday with autograph signings of his new book as well as very special celebration on Sunday with parade laps of him in an Aston leading a model of all the cars he has ever raced, surprisingly no Mini’s. On hand for the celebration was Buzz Aldrin who flew in a Huey with a grand entrance.  Also on hand the likes of Bobby Rahal, Sir Jackie Stewart and Gerhard Berger.

All of Day One Pictures

All of Day Two Pictures

All of Day Three Pictures

All of Mr. Bean  Pictures

All of Sir Stirling Moss B-day Celebration Pictures