Tag: MINI

They’re More Like “Guidelines”

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Bruce

Once upon a time… When I first bought a MINI Cooper there were only a few of us and MINI catered to the idea that a small car was unique. During that time their ad folks came up with a bunch of advice for MINI owners all part of the “MINI Book of Motoring” which was handed out at dealerships to prospective owners so they would understand what they had gotten themselves into by taking that “first step into a larger world” by just looking at a MINI. I keep a copy of one in my glovebox as a reminder of those simpler times.

MINIs marketing was irreverent and dry, never being too serious and had advice and new vocabulary like “Farking Spot” which was when someone parked and was hidden from view by other cars making it seem like the spot was empty so you would get your hopes up and think you could park there. The idea was as a MINI owner you should keep this in mind and not pull all the way in, line up your boot with the surrounding cars. Other things like wear dirt as a badge of honor and Miles = Memories were ways to say “Have fun, drive and don’t worry.”

Owning a MINI meant you were off to adventure and mostly fun. I do my best to follow this holy scripture, better than many people follow the rules set forth by their organized religions. You wonder where the concept of “Whimventure®” came from? It adds the MINI concepts to times when you can’t Motor. These are just some highlights from the holy book:

The car, besides being small, was quirky and there were things you had to get used to- like the switches for the windows and locks were in the center column, not on the door. Then executives decided that they were being marked down on all important surveys for these quirks and started changing things- making MINI bigger, and moving things around so it was more “normal.” One of my favorite advertising campaigns was one of the last pushing the uniqueness of the MINI- “Not Normal.” Sadly, while MINI is still unique in some cases, the newest models are just like most cars on the road. As I have stated elsewhere, I do like the current interior with the ginormous round screen, but I really can’t tell from the outside that it’s a MINI unless I see the logo. You can’t miss the logo- it’s almost as big as a classic Mini!

During the early days MINI set up some rules, created by marketing and cobbled together from various local clubs. They also were shorthand for those found in the “Book of Motoring.” These have kind of stuck. Unfortunately, many owners don’t have a clue about them (kind of like many church goers haven’t a clue about what their religion actually is about 🤪). MINI has become successful enough that most owners think of it as a car. Something to get them from Point A to Point B (See the definition of Motoring in the MINI Book of Motoring). The concept of “motoring” has vanished. If you adopt a pre-owned MINI you may never know about the community. For those in need here are the Official Rules as presented at MTTS (MINI Takes The States) in 2022 (Cecil was added for clarity):

  1. Always park next to another MINI. Notice it doesn’t say “Back into the spot.” I don’t understand the importance of backing in, but to many that is also a rule. I think since back up cameras became standard it became more of a thing. Originally maybe it was to be able to drive off quickly… I’m sure there is a reason, but not compelling enough for me to participate. I just think of the times when I’d go see the Indianapolis Symphony and all the old folks would slowly and laboriously back their cars into spots… 🙄
  2. Wave, dammit. This can be disheartening since so many owners have no clue about the “rules.” Either that or they are on their phones. The other issue I have found is I wave to cars and then realize that it wasn’t a MINI! MINI has done such a great job making sure that the design doesn’t get dinged in surveys that I can’t tell a MINI from a Hyundai, from a KIA.
  3. Give your MINI a name. I have always done this, but then again my grandmother did this with all her cars. When you name your MINI it starts to develop a personality and becomes your partner in crime and one of the family. Yes, it’s “Not Normal” but that’s what MINI was all about. My first MINi was Penfold, my classic Mini is Tink, my current Roadster is Alfie although he prefers to be called Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All. Sue’s MINI is Poppy.
  4. No two MINIs should be alike. The MINI term is “Youification” you want your MINI to stand out in the crowd. I once owned a black Honda Civic sedan… do you know how many times I came up to the wrong car in a parking lot?
  5. Treat SUV drivers with compassion. This rule was before MINIs started to be as big as some SUVs. We are supposed to feel sorry for the SUV owners because they can’t possibly have as much fun as we do in our little cars zooming around them, and gas mileage. I know many Jeep Wrangler owners would argue this point.
  6. Put away the middle finger. “Carma” be nice to people, there is no reason to be in a bad mood if you are driving a MINI. For many of us this is so true. We get in our little car and smile as we hit the road. Every trip is fun, even if it’s just to go to the drug store to pick some aspirin.
  7. Embrace the MINI community. This can be difficult, but learn about the MINI groups around you and online. When my brother bought a MINI the first thing I told him to do was find out about the club nearby. I recall my first experience with a car club. It was Sue’s Honda S2000 and everyone involved was a guy, and all they talked about was their cars. They wouldn’t talk to her, since she was a “girl.” I had to keep pointing them in her direction since I rarely drove the car and knew very little about it. My first MINI club meeting we talked about life, (and our MINIs) but everyone there was treated the same. It was right before the first Mickey & MINI and we were all excited to head down to Florida. Now it has to do with online groups and MINI events around the country. Yes, I missed MINIs on Top to go to a comic book convention.😱
  8. Find a copilot who’s ready for adventure. For the most part I have Sue, but when she thinks what I’m about to do is too silly, or she has other things to do (work) I have Cecil. Yes, my copilot is a stuffed monkey, but that monkey has been on more adventures than most people and having a stuffed monkey as a copilot is definitely “Not Normal.”
  9. Admire your MINI. I like to add – admire other MINIs too. It’s all part of the Youification thing, your MINI is yours, and someone else has made their MINI uniquely theirs. I have seen a multitude of MINIs and each one is different and amazing.
  10. They call it #37. Always be ready to rally. This is the core of whimventuring. Since the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964 Mini (the car was #37) has had a “Rally Heritage” that we should embrace. Be ready to hit the road at a moments notice, you never know when an opportunity my come up.

Are there other “Rules”? Everyone has added or changed them. Unfortunately, like having a large menu, at a restaurant it gets confusing. Sometimes it’s hard to remember which ones to follow, and we sometimes forget. Gordon Ramsey’s first act when he swoops in to save a failing restaurant is usually to make their menu smaller and easier to navigate. So 10 rules is fine, if we all know and follow them as best we can. If you go to a large MINI event you’ll see most people following these and other obscure rules.

I know, I know… What about ducks? There are some MINI owners out there who like to put ducks on other people’s MINIs. This is a way to say “Hi!” “I like your MINI” “quack” or whatever. While it is a Jeep thing, according to many, a MINI owner started it. Ummm… sure, fine, whatever. Even if that is the case Jeep is doing a much better job at it, along with the Wave (See Rule #2). While driving home from North Carolina I saw multiple Jeep Wranglers with windows filled with ducks… I didn’t see a single duck on a MINI. Should we stop? No, you be you. If it makes you happy, go ahead. If you get mad because people say it’s a “Jeep Thing” maybe MINI should invest more in PR, but I don’t think they really care. People might get angry over who started it (See Rule #6). In a time of “Alternate Facts” the winner writes the history books (or bans them). This is a battle I don’t choose to fight, but I find it amusing to poke the bear when people start getting really serious about it.

The best response I heard from someone when it comes to ducks was “Google it!” Like the Internet is ultimate proof. You google “Ducks on cars” and every link and AI assist gives you stuff about Jeeps and some person in Canada who “started” it. I don’t know, like I said and I don’t really care. I know there are many who do, which is why I bring it up. Yelling about it won’t change the fact that Jeep seems to do the duck thing better.

Next Steps?

I suggest we all start with a personal focus on one rule that we can do without worrying about anyone else. I don’t care which rule it is… For me, It will be #2 Waving. I have a friend who always gives a peace sign ✌️. For me I will do my best to give the Vulcan “Live Long, and Prosper” sign 🖖. I know I will forget sometimes, but with MINI Takes the States coming up I should have a lot of practice. Of course the sad part is not getting a wave back. There’s nothing I can do about that, just be happy I spread the joy, the “logical” joy of owning a MINI and not being normal.

Mostly, You should make friends along the way. It starts with a simple wave. You may find people who you wouldn’t normally hang out with who are awesome people and the only thing you have in common is MINI. Just remember there is probably only one thing that doesn’t fit in a MINI- that’s politics, especially in this day and age. See Rule #6. One thing all MINI owners can agree on is that the MINI (no matter how much bigger they make it 🙄) is an awesome car.

MINI Takes The States 2024 is coming up and if you are attending it’s a great time to get into practice following the rules and becoming a better Motorer. People will wave, people will park and gather, people will duck, and button, and sticker, and whatever… MTTS is uniquely MINI and an awesome opportunity to motor with other like minded “Not Normal” individuals. If you happen to be along the route… look out for us- “We’re all mad here.” 🤪

This Week in Comics (My Pull List 5-15-24) and traveling with the Monkey

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Bruce

So last weekend we headed to Mansfield, Ohio to go prison. What does this have to do with comics? Not much, but it does have something to with environment and images. You see one of the MINI groups we run with planned a tour of the Ohio State Reformatory. This is the same group that had tour of the Randolph County Asylum, hmmm… coincidence?

Why the Ohio State Reformatory? It was the location for the film “The Shawshank Redemption.” It’s an impressive building from the outside and a work in progress on the inside. Sue and I spent the night before in Mansfield and did some geocaching and adventure labbing. There is an Adventure Lab that takes you to many of the locations used in the film which was cool. It seems that thanks to “Hollywood Magic” Mansfield took the place of Maine with almost every scene being shot there except the final scene on the beach… which was done using primitive AI technology 🤪 (it wasn’t, they actually went to the U.S. Virgin Islands).

I understand the importance of drawing from real life and one of those things I always find frustrating is trying to do that with a group of people wanting to move onto the next spot. or trying to draw while also trying to learn about the place from the tour guide. So I take some photos and maybe use them as inspiration when needed. So far I haven’t needed, but someday I might.

Cecil came along (of course) and since this is a newish group of people I got to explain the monkey all over again. My usual response is “I’m an old elementary school teacher, and this is my class mascot. I take him places and my students like to see where he’s been.” As you get know me, you know he’s a lot more than that. Besides being a character in this comic (when I actually draw the comic) you learn he’s my extroverted personality. He does all the silly things, I don’t do. He’s my excuse to come up to complete strangers and ask for a photo. He’s an icebreaker for when I’m too shy to talk to someone. He’s an alter ego… with a big ego. I have friends, not because of me, but specifically because of the monkey.

I just remember being at a MINI event and someone was coveting the exclusive MINIon badge that each person in the group I drove with had. They met someone from the group and when they found out I was involved asked I was still carrying around that stupid monkey. I found out about it. When they came up to me and asked if they could get a badge, because they had heard I was the guy to talk to (I am the guy to talk to), I replied that being MINIon 4238 I was so far down the line, I had nothing to do with it. They needed to talk to someone with a lower MINIon number. Don’t ever disrespect the monkey.

This Week’s Comics:

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #20 – One of those “filler issues” that I actually like. It gives you a chance to build up characters and relationships without much chaos. Of course there is some chaos, but still and nice art walk with friends and “Shift” stats to gain a bigger role, which is nice. Of course we have to end the whole thing with Vampires since that is the summer mega event. 🙄

Action Comics #1065 (House of Brainiac 3) – we’ve got Lobo, Superman, the whole Super Family against Brainiac and a special guest appearance by the Space Cabbie! It seems that Brainiac has a city collection more vast that we first thought and this will play into future issues (next in Superman #14).

Batman and Robin # 9 – Batman captured by Man-Bat and Robin still trying to figure things out… and finally doing it. getting the Principal to snap (I think it really had to do with low test scores and not getting teacher evaluations done on time) and the identity of “Shush.” So now Gotham is about to be “saved” in some weird psychotic way by Man-Bat. Let’s see- No Zur En Arrh, no Orghams, it’s interesting to try and figure out when in Batman’s timeline all these stories are taking place. It’s a comic, it really doesn’t matter.

Dark Ride #12 – It looks like the conclusion. Who will end up controlling Devil Land? Who lives? Who dies? It has been an interesting ride as we see the story behind Satanic Disneyland.

Fishflies #6 – Yes! a history lesson and we finally learn why a giant bug is running around the county and what his purpose is. I like the way the flashback was done monochromatically. How will the news at the end impact the story?

U & I # 4 of 6 – So the bad guts go after U. Can Isabelle save him? I frankly have sadistically enjoyed the trouble Isabelle’s uncle has gotten himself into- Karma is beautiful. Unfortunately, it might not work out well for U & I in the end, but we have two issues to get there.

The Displaced #4 – It’s been months since the small town of (weird, I don’t remember it’s name) disappeared from the map and memories of everyone in the world, except those who escaped it. Those folks now are forgotten the minute they leave your sight. This has lead to some interesting ways to dealing with life- rob someone, and they don’t remember it, check into a hotel, and they don’t remember you did and give the room to someone else. Now it’s starting to wear on everyone… the way to escape? leave everyone, and go off on your own… although it looks painful, you then disappear too. Where do you go? I think many hope they return to the friends and family they lost when the town vanished.

It’s interesting, when I read this comic I go back and think of how people come in and out of our lives. Sometimes you forget them, others you don’t. I feel bad, because I’m one of those teachers who, try as I might, can’t remember all of my students. After 35 years, 3 schools, and thousands of kids, my memory is faulty. Having taught elementary school doesn’t help, because kids age and change (I think it’s called puberty) which doesn’t help. Worse yet is 20 minutes after a former student leaves, sad that I don’t recall their humorous exploits, I remember everything, and feel even worse. What’s also sad are the number of kids (now adults) who come up and tell me they were “bad kids.” In 35 years I’ve only had a handful of kids who were “bad” and most of them it was their parents who really made them memorable (or the thing of nightmares).

Ultimate X-Men #3 – We learn the story of Mei the white haired girl with lightning bolt earrings. The last word of the speech bubble in the last panel… “mutants” I wonder what that could mean?

Star Trek #20 – Since this takes place in a pre-Picard time period as the Theseus gets and overhaul at Utopia Planitia we get to meet Commander Liam Shaw who seems to be making the rounds in the comics since he can’t make the rounds anymore streaming because <SPOILERS>. So off they go where “No Man Has Gone Before” in hopes to save the Organians. Who will they meet? Dr. Crusher is hoping to be reunited with Wesley.

This Week in Comics (My Pull List 3-27-24)

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Bruce

So If you read my last post about Indiana Comic Con you know about that. I wouldn’t say “Worst Con Ever” because I’ve been to worse Cons, but I would have to say it wasn’t what was advertised, or at least if this is the direction Comic Cons are going- I don’t see the need to attend them, unless I want photos and autographs (which I don’t). Heroes Con in Charlotte and Baltimore Comic Con seem to be the hold outs when it comes to die-hard comic cons, I’m sure there are others, but those are the ones that jump out.

I have said in the past that I’m torn between a bunch of different things I like- with retirement I’m trying to decide what I really want to focus on. Yes, I know I don’t have to focus on one thing, but with limited resources I need to decide what I really want to invest in. First there’s comic books- something I have been interested in since I was probably six or seven years old. Something I keep returning to when I need to escape. I returned to comics the last time when I was in grad school and needed to escape the pressure of classes. Tied closely to that is drawing. Again something I return to over and over again. I don’t see this going away anytime soon.

After Billund I have renewed my interest in building with LEGO Bricks, but mostly sets and not full on MOCs (My Own Creation). The thing keeping me from diving in again is the community. While there are some amazing people, the local LUG seems to be a a bunch of people who are into being in power and not willing to change or adapt. One of the reasons I retired was that I felt the robotics program could not evolve as long as I was in charge. It needed new ideas and other people to be responsible. Same goes for our local LUG. “We’ve always done this way” seems to be their mantra, and they will argue until you just give up.

I have met some of my best friends through MINI Coopers. I’m not a car guy, but I do love the MINI Community and the people in it. Like LEGO, the local group seems stuck in doing the same things over and over again with the same people in charge. There is another group in Fort Wayne which I’ve attended a number of events, then there are the national events like MINI Takes The States which are awesome. If only MINI would go back to making smaller cars, but as long as the Roadster is running (and when I get the classic back to working) things are fine. Unfortunately when people start talking to me about cars, I realize just how much I don’t know.

Geocaching is Sue’s thing. I have made a lot of friends while hunting down Tupperware in the woods, but I’m definitely not as competitive or completist enough to geocache more than when I’m traveling (see comments on Caching in my posts about Denmark).

I’ve been into games since I was in middle school playing the Marquis de Iblis in D&D. The problem with gaming is having to rely on other people and in this day and age it is impossible to coordinate calendars. I’m tired of thinking I’m going to play only to have it cancelled at the last minute. This is the thing on the chopping block, I’ve invested a lot into games, but if they aren’t being played, it’s kind of silly. I’m torn between attending Gen Con this year because I could use the resources in other interests… and I don’t really need anything more. Although it is an amazing Con and I highly recommend it if you are into games.

This Weeks Comics:

Primer #1 (of 4) – Primer is an all ages comic introducing Ashley, a foster kid who can just be trouble. She get’s placed with a couple who are polar opposites and tries to escape, only to discover one of their secrets… Since it’s a first issue there is a lot of character background going on, which is good. Sadly it looks like this will only be 4 issues, hopefully it will continue, The premise is interesting.

The Flash # 7 – What happened to Max Mercury and Impulse?!? In this issue we find out. Something weird is also going on with everyone else, but I’m sure Barry will figure that out while Wally is in the garden looking at statues and finding out about the Arc Angles… no that isn’t a typo. Angle not Angel.

Detective Comics #1083 – This version of Batman is hopefully going to get out of the desert and return to Gotham to save it from the Orthams who have made Gotham a better place (on the surface, but under that chocolate coating is it still an ooey gooey mess of corruption and bad stuff?) The Question finds evidence, but is it too late? A then Dr. Hate’s story comes to a conclusion… or does it? So many question marks…

Black Hammer The End #6 – So, this is the end… Will Lucy save the world from the Anti-God? What about the extremely large cast of characters gathered throughout the previous 5 issues? DC took 12 issues to do what Dark Horse and Lemire are doing in six…

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #18 (Legacy #300) – Big issue in which Miles goes up against the Cape Killers who have more impressive powers even if they don’t want to use them! Will Miles finally confront Rabble and save Brooklyn? Who lives? Who dies? Only the next issue will tell.

Amazing Spider-Man #46 – The Sinister Six return and try to help a reluctant Sandman escape Ravencroft (no relation to Ravenloft in Barovia). Spider-Man and Jackpot (MJ) try to thwart the attempt made by Electro… and succeed?

Star Trek Defiant #13 – OK- if you read the last issue there are no spoilers, if you didn’t- shame on you. IN the last issue we find out what happened to those weird bug creatures that had infiltrated the Federation way, way back in ST:TNG’s first season (Episode 25- Conspiracy). The alien enemy I think we all thought would be the new big bad, but they never showed up again, instead the Borg took their place. They have taken over a Starbase (for Lower Deck fans , not Starbase 80) and Worf and the crew of the Defiant have been sent there (probably by someone taken over by the alien bugs). Now they need to escape but seeing as this is only part 2, we’ve got a long way to go in this arc. I’m OK with that.

Ultimate Spider-Man #3 – Wow. Just like the original Ultimate universe we are starting to get into some interesting stuff! Spider-Man gets help with his costume (with amusing options). He also meets and teams up with an old friend (who is a new friend in this universe).

Alan Scott Green Lantern #5 – The penultimate issue in which Red Lantern reveals more about his origin and we finally meet the real bad guys and (redacted) show up to make the next issue awesome.

Nacelleverse #0- This was recommended to me at Indiana Comic Con (but I won’t hold that against it). Basically take some of your 1980-90’s toy lines and create a comic book encompassing all of them. Robo Force, Biker Mice from Mars, Sectaurs, Power Lords, and The Great Garloo are brought back in a story featuring Garloo. If you don’t recognize any of these brands… you (like me) won’t have the nostalgia button pressed, but it still was a good story setting up a series and the return of these toys to market. Toy marketing has always been a part of cartoons and comics, so this just updates it a bit to tug at the heartstrings of people who now have more deposable income and don’t need their parents permission to buy stuff. Unless they are still living in their parent’s basement.

Time2 Omnibus – I had the chance to meet Howard Chaykin at Galaxy Con. I went to a panel and then paid for a workshop. He’s done a lot in his career but the one I got caught up with was “American Flagg” a take on the future in which a lot of the things going on in the comic seem logical if things continue the way they have been (Have you ever seen “Idiocracy”?). Time2 started off connected to American Flagg- kind of in the multiverse alternate timeline crossover kind of way. It then branched off on its own. A future based on the 1930’s style with gangsters and robots and jazz and… It reminds me somewhat of the Will Eisner’s Contract with God, with a cool American Flagg science fiction twist. This omnibus actually was released a while ago, but I finally picked up a copy.

Miles Ahead Take 2 & the “F56”

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Bruce

Cecil checks out our MINI for the day- number 302
Cecil checks out our MINI for the day- number 302

A while ago I had the chance to attend Miles Ahead Performance Driving School at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  It was an interesting experience I shared with Sue.  We don’t share well.  Yesterday Cecil & I had the chance to repeat the experience with the new, new, new MINI Cooper S (MINI Cooper folks know it as the “F56”).

It was cold yesterday and for those in midwest know it had rained the night before ruining trick or treating for bazillions of kids. I arrived at the Motor Speedway and noticed that Miles Ahead had moved their location into a suit overlooking the main straightaway.  As before there were MINIs parked in lines with drivers names on the roof.  I ran into Dallas (everyone in the MINI community knows Dallas- he owns a tie dyed Clubman and spend his time going from MINI even to MINI event.) and we started catching up on his latest adventures.  The class started with the basic introductions who our instructors were going to be, how the car works, and the shape of the day.  The majority of people attending were MINI owners, but not everyone.  Since the program has been around a bit, the group seemed to be filled with more normal people, not the hardcore enthusiasts I remember from my first go around.

The morning was split into three parts: the skidpad focusing on oversteer and understeer, a portion of the road course with turning, downshifting and braking, and another section focusing on the racing line.  We were split into three groups some cars had two passengers so they would trade off.

The Skidpad

Miles ahead has outfitted one MINI with a lift that picks up the back end causing you to drift.  Stephan Gregoire has you learn to control your sliding around until hopfully you can drift in a circle.  One of the key parts is to fight instinct and not reduce power.  If you do you’ll start to spin.  Ted Woemer then would take you out and show you what happens when the front tire lose grip and how to correct it, which is almost the exact opposite.  In that case you slow down (not braking just coasting) until the car regain control.

Braking, Downshifting, and Apex Turning

After a quick break we headed out to the road course with Dan Clark and learned when to brake and some basic apex turning then ending by stopping in a box defined by cones on the track.  This was when we first used the paddle shifters.  The MINI I was driving was a new F56, yes, it was an automatic which actually made it easier to focus on the driving, but it also had paddle shifters.  Basically, buttons on the steering wheel to change gears.  In the pas the MINIs paddle shifters have been a push pull kind of thing the new ones work just like a race car- right is upshift, left is downshift.  The only thing that was weird (I was probably doing it wrong) was the box you were supposed to stop in, was close enough to the turn that I wasn’t going that fast to really test out the brakes.  The last time I did Miles Ahead one of the exercises was to go as fast as you could, and then slam on the brakes. Both exercises have there place, but I’m guessing I was doing doing something wrong since I think I didn’t coast into the box once out of numerous tries.

The Racing Line

After another quick break we headed to the road course again, this time with Pippa Mann to learn the racing line.  This was a basic follow the leader exercise with the lead car being the instructor and the car behind her switch out after each lap.  This is where it gets scary, and fun.  While you aren’t going as fast as you could (or should) you are still turning a lot faster than you ever would on your normal daily drive.  We practiced apex turning and braking as we drove a section of the road course.

Lunch

Lunch was nice and a great time to talk to the other students.  Dallas and I talked up MINI events especially MTTS 2016, MINIs on the Dragon, and next year’s MINIs on the Mack.  We all chatted about how we ended up with a MINI and how much we really can’t see why we would drive anything else.  Then a quick overview of the afternoon- autocross and road course driving time.  We’d been divided into two groups and while one was on the autocross the other would be on the road course which had been changed from the morning configuration. While we were at lunch Go Pro cameras were added to our car for some in car video.  I really need to get one of my own or at least take some time to get the general idea on how to use one.  The cameras were turned on and ran for about 2 hours before the battery went dead and it looks like the exposure setting was great for filming the inside of the car, but not much of the outside.  Still I have some video of me driving around which is a bonus.

The Autocross

We started off with some practice time on  the autocross to see how the course was laid out.  For those who don’t know and autocross is basically drawing on a parking lot and then defined by cones.  My first experience was in 2006 and I DNF’d (Did Not Finish) any of my runs the first day, because I had read the cones wrong and turned left instead of right on every run.  When Sue and I did Miles Ahead, I let Sue take the autocross, this time I had to face down those demons and actually try.  We spent one part practicing with a follow the leader just to get the feel of the course.  We would come back later to actually race, the best time out of two runs.

The Road Course

Compared to the autocross the road course seemed like it was an open field.  We followed the leader for lap upon lap. There were two groups one with Pippa and the other with Dan we gave each other enough time between runs and after Sue’s experience I felt really bad each time I got close to the car in front of me. The first time we took the course one way, the second time (after the timed autocross) we did it going the other way.

Breaking Bad Habits

As Dallas commented I probably ran through an set of tires, which is not a good thing.  It means I was being too aggressive, coming into corners too fast.  It’s something I know I need to work on and I think I’m getting better at, but probably not.  When Stephan Gregoire drove the autocross they pointed out it was full throttle, full braking, and no coasting. I was close, but it just felt wrong to lose all that speed, unfortunately you lose more speed by screeching your tires.

The New New New MINI

The steering wheel with the speedometer/tachometer cluster on top. The lights on the right side of the speedometer are the fuel gauge
The steering wheel with the speedometer/tachometer cluster on top. The lights on the right side of the speedometer are the fuel gauge

I’ve had a chance to drive the F56 a couple times as a loaner and have really liked the experience, but spending a full day in one on a race course takes it to a new level.  First things first, the seats… Wow!  Having owned five MINIs from a classic to the Roadster- I love the seats in the F56.  The grab ahold of you and don’t let go.  They’re like a Baymax hug. I still love my roadster, but the F56 seats are fantastic.

When I first learned that Miles Ahead would be using automatic transmission MINIs I was disappointed.  And the first time I went and drove their JCW R56 there was a definite lag in the transmission when we tried to accelerate to quickly.  Not the case in the F56.  Having driven both the Cooper and Cooper S both were quick off the blocks (remarkably so in the case of the “Justa” Cooper).  The paddle shifters in the past have also been a disappointment, this new generation are great and I can see why people would want them.  While I spent most of the afternoon in “Sport Mode” some of the morning was spent in “Normal” and while there was a difference (burble, burble) both were fun.

As with any new design there are a few things that make you scratch your head- some interior changes made sense and others I’m just trying to figure out the logic behind them.  Moving the window controls, kinda makes sense, so that they can appeal to a larger market, they needed to be in the “normal” location, the same with the door locks (interesting for a company that talks about being “not normal”).  Putting the speedometer above the steering wheel again- in a “normal” location.  The tachometer off to the side is a little weird, but most “normal drivers” don’t use the tachometer.  The buttons on the steering wheel- Why did they flip them?  On my R59 the right side is cruise control and left is radio, on the F56 these are reversed and I don’t see why.  That and the location of  the gas cap, why move it from the driver’s side to the passenger side, does that really matter?

The center column with the the screen (turned off) and the a/c controls (yes, dual zone)
The center column with the the screen (turned off) and the a/c controls (yes, dual zone)

All the bells, whistles, flashing lights would seem to get annoying after awhile, but actually I think they are there to entertain the passengers so the driver can focus on driving.  When I got into the F56 the first thing I did was turn off the screen.  I know there is a purpose for it, but I was there to drive and I felt it would be distracting.  I see myself doing something similar when I end up buying an F56 and slowly adding back the tech one step at a time.  Watching my video from the autocross I saw how the circle of lights actually were my tachometer, but while driving, I didn’t notice a thing.  As a techie kind of guy I look forward to discovering all the technology in the F56, all cars are turning driving into a video game… hopefully I’ll make it onto the leaderboard.

With the nitpicking done, as with any changes to the MINI (remember the original R56 weird & confusing center column?) these are things you get used to as you drive the car and soon you’ll be complaining that they are “ruining the brand” for some other reason.  It’s still a MINI, it’s still fun to drive (if not more fun to drive).

So What Do You Really Think?

I’ve been to a couple “performance driving schools” and taken away good practices from each.  I really do think that if you own a MINI you should consider Miles Ahead as a way to learn from experts in a safe environment what your car is capable of doing.  They also have classes for new drivers on safe driving- If you have a kid who just got their driver’s license, no matter what car they drive consider sending them. I know I would (but Hemi isn’t going to be driving anytime soon).

The F56 has once again raised the bar, while it has some quirky things (what MINI doesn’t?) I’m not going to complain when I get one as a loaner.  Hopefully the F59 will be announced around the time I make the last payment on my R59.

Cecil is still not happy with the loss of the "ginormous" cupholder/monkey seat that used to be in the R53
Cecil is still not happy with the loss of the “ginormous” cupholder/monkey seat that used to be in the R53. He says the loss of that feature has “ruined the brand”

 

So as we crossed over the boarder to Iowa on this epic adventure we did end up getting one cache (GC2A17V) before calling it a day. After that we headed for the hotel in Iowa City. Sue had made the arrangements looking for something cheap and near the interstate (so we could make a quick getaway if needed 😉

We pull up to the hotel (in the dark) and we are greeted by something we might have seen in England… kind of, sort of, in a weird midwestern surreal way. Yes, we had found the only Tudor inspired Best Western in the world! There had to have been a sale on gargoyles… Sadly, there was no cache in the parking lot. Secondly, when I checked into the place on Foursquare one of the tips was “bugs.”

We were tired and headed to our room…

Life when you aren’t a “diehard cacher” sometimes isn’t fair… then again I did finally get a chance to drive Poppy- Sue’s new MINI. I was even behind the wheel when we broke 1000 miles! One nice thing about motoring & caching I have discovered is you tend to be able to go a bit further. When I was younger I could deadhead over 1,000 miles in a day (now- not so much). Stopping for a cache every once in a while actually helps me not to get tired, it breaks up the monotony of a long straight drive.
So when all the numbers were crunched Sue decided that it might be time for a new MINI. What caused this? Sue could probably explain it better, but I’ll give you some of the basics. Recently another MINI owner I know bought the newest MINI, the Countryman. They checked out the trade-in price and one of the limitations (MINI’s do retain their value) was the mileage. So since Penfold (my MINI) has almost 90,000 miles, and has a few mods I figured I would get nothing for him. Sue’s MINI was stock, and wasn’t that bad when it came to mileage, although now out of warranty. So I thought it might be a good idea to check out the Countryman, & see about leasing one for a couple years (use it a a cachingmobile) since Sue really is looking at the two-seat convertible coming out in a couple years. So the Monday before her MINI went into limp mode, we had been in the dealership looking at a Countryman. The numbers at that time didn’t work out for us. Then Sue’s MINI broke. Was this the first time? Sadly no. Sue’s MINI has had some issues so when Sue found out how much the repairs & regular maintenance was going to be she checked to see if the offer from Monday was still on the table. With some deals being given on the hatch (R56) Sue decided to go for it and we now own “Poppy” a 2011 MINI Cooper S. Yes, another MINI. Why? If you talk with some MINI owners you’ll see that after MINI introduces a new model they do what is called a “refresh” after a few years- fixing those things that people complain about. In the case of the 2007-2010 MINI there was: the cold start rattle, the amazing melting hood scoop, and the poorly designed center stack. Personally there are people who say that any MINI pre-2004 should also be avoided since the refresh happened in 2005 (when I bought Penfold). Is this scientific? No, anecdotal data, but still… When Sue was asked about leasing or buying (she wanted the two-seater so a two year lease seemed about right) she decided to buy. She says she’ll wait until the refresh comes out. So now the question is what is going to be Poppy’s first road trip?
So they determined what was wrong with Sue’s MINI and since it had 52,000 miles on it was out of warranty. For those people who own a MINI (a BMW product) we kind of understand that service can be rather expensive. $100 oil change is common. When I had a Honda, service was cheap. They did things for nothing. Little things like every time I brought my Honda in they replaced the wiper blades. If you went to an orientation once you bought your car you got a free oil change card for the life of your ownership. Pretty neat. Too bad I really don’t like the design of Hondas anymore (they look like every other car). Now besides all that, I have gotten some wonderful treatment from MINI Service around the country. I go in and they know it is expensive, so they understand and kind of counsel you into other alternatives. Simple things are done for free. In a few cases they have done some major service for a fraction of the cost (if you are nice to people- they are nice to you) With that in mind I would go back to MINI for service anytime… then again there isn’t an alternative around here anymore.
For those who don’t understand carspeak many cars have what are called a “limp mode.” What this means is that something is wrong with the car, but it still can make it somewhere, but slowly. When Sue’s MINI went into limp mode the top speed was around 30 mph. Why did this happen? (stay tuned) As for MINI United, it had been scheduled for August of this year for the south of France. With scheduling the way it was Sue & I would not be able to attend (see the post “The of No”) so if details (like real location) had ever been released, I ignored them. Last week they announced that they were postponing it until 2012. Huh? No one saw it coming- a lot of people had made reservations for flights, rental MINIs & lodging- nonrefundable reservations. So while Sue & I were looking at it as “Oh well, maybe we will be able to go now” there were a lot of unhappy MINIacs around the globe. The reasoning for postponing it- they want more time to plan. As U.S. owners have asked- How will this effect MINI Takes the States? and when it comes to the Summer Olympics in London that will create inflated travel costs to Europe. I still think Cecil had something to do with it… just sayin’

Wait… I’m NOT a Car Geek?!?

Posted on January 17, 2010 by Bruce
Sue & I took this holiday weekend to head north to Detroit to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). While it was a nice little adventure something started to dawn on me as we wandered the exhibit hall… I may not be as much of a “car geek” as I thought. For a lot of the show I was kind of bored… yes, bored. A little history first- This is maybe the third auto show I have attended. The first was the Indianapolis Auto Show years (and years) ago. We were looking at buying a new car and walked around seeing nothing that we wanted. The second was the Chicago Auto Show. This one was special- Sue was working with a non-profit that had an event in conjunction with the show so we attended the black tie preview party. Yes, I was running around in a tux with my Nikon snapping photos. This was the introduction to the MINI R56 and we spent a lot of time at the MINI display, but wandered around to see the other manufacturers. It seemed like there was a larger variety at the show, but most of the cars looked pretty much the same. That brings us to NAIAS- this is supposed to be the biggie, the Mother of all auto shows. Meh. I don’t know if it was the lack of unique designs being displayed or what but I couldn’t get excited over most of what I saw- this was when the realization hit me- I’m not a car geek. I can’t quote stats from various automakers. I’m a MINI geek. Sue I and hung out at the MINI display, chatted with folks there and took a bunch of pictures of the concept/pre-production R60 they had on display. The Beachcomber (as it is called) was a homage to the classic Moke- so no doors or top. Because of this they decided to do it up on a black sand beach and have a triathlon theme to it. I’m not an SUV/crossover fan. In fact I have never understood why most Americans need a military assault vehicle to go to the grocery or get their pedicure. That said while this is bigger than an traditional New MINI (4m in length) I could see myself owning one. With geocaching, Sue and I have taken our MINIs in places they probably should never have gone. I recall Way (of Way Motor Works) doing some work on Penfold (my MINI Cooper S) and asking about the thousands of grass seeds trapped under the car. Last year when attending the Moonshine event we got lost (yes, but we knew exactly where we were… we had a GPS) and took Sue’s MINI on these back roads that even with a rally heritage made me cringe. So as we continue to cache I can see the need for an all-wheel drive slightly higher off the ground vehicle. So, I spend the day at the auto show and scratch my head at what is being passed as “innovation” and focus on a MINI – go figure. One other things I did notice while walking around was the difference between MINI and the majority of the other manufacturers. MINI had folks wandering around in t-shirts fleece jackets & jeans- very casual. The other displays were a lot more formal even with models posing near the cars (which you couldn’t get close enough to touch- the car or the model). This made me kind of chuckle as I saw how they worked the demographics. The really expensive cars if they had a model the model was young basically pushing the 18-30 year old male attendees buttons. They never said a word and just smiled for the camera. One American automaker still had the model with her prepared script talking about the car as it spun on the lazy susan. This automaker while having made attempts to drop it’s “grandmother’s car image” had models that would appeal to the male over 50 demographic, not that they weren’t attractive but I could just imagine some 30 year old looking at this model and saying “Mom?” Have these manufacturers changed they way they show off their cars since the first auto show- it doesn’t look like it (and they may still be using the same models to present them). One last word about innovation or something that makes me go “huh?” All these American car companies who just a few years ago whined about they couldn’t make anything more fuel efficient and that are still whining any time Congress tries to increase the required fuel efficiency of cars in the U.S. were all talking about how many miles per gallon their models got – which for some wasn’t anything to be proud of. So there you have it – I’m a MINI geek. Still lots to learn, but I’m happy to know where I stand. Time to go motoring (& caching)