Posted on 10-08-2008
Off with the old & on with the new!
Filed Under (MINI) by Mark V.

Last Thursday I sold my old wheels to a club member for his wifes MINI. I looked long and hard for a new set of wheels and decided on the Drag DR-8. I also added a new set of rubber all the way around. They are Yokohama S.Drive and have a very aggresive look to them. They make TWISTER look so much different that today I decided to take off the numbers and frame for them and add a small touch of silver to the shelby stripes and the Challenge side checkers.

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Posted on 10-08-2008
New Shoes!
Filed Under (MINI) by Mark V.

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Posted on 02-08-2008
Carfun Footprint
Filed Under (MINI) by Mark V.

I went to our local MINI dealership this morning and found 2 new JCW MINIs on the lot. One Chili Red & one Mellow Yellow. Both were quite nice!

MINI is running a new interactive website called Carfun Footprint. Here is a sample of what to expect:

THE EQUATION.

The Carfun equation uses real numbers, real facts and real math.
Here is how it works:

Fun Score + Green Score = Carfun Footprint

See more @ http://carfunfootprint.com/

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Posted on 13-07-2008
Another mod… that makes how many?
Filed Under (MINI) by Mark V.

Another cool mod that I’ve wanted to do even when I bought this warning triangle back for my 2004 MINI. I have to say thanks to Mark Reid, a friend in the UK for getting me the brackets.

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Posted on 14-06-2008
Challenge almost complete
Filed Under (MINI) by Mark V.

I installed the ovals and numbers today. Only a few more pieces to do. I also had the MINI lowered last week with Mach-V Springs. I love the look it gives.

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Posted on 31-05-2008
The BRP Tour - June 19-22, 2008
Filed Under (MINI) by Mark V.

I’ve been getting ready for this for the last 8 months and it’s almost time.

Last year I headed up a Tar Heel MINI Motoring Club outing to the tallest point in NC, Mt. Mitchell. While there, I asked our members if anyone would be interested in traversing the entire Blue Ridge Parkway.

We we set a date and it’s almost time. I truly can not wait to get driving!

We head up to Waynesboro, Va. and spend the night and start the journey the next day. We complete over 265 miles on day one, 230 miles on day two and finish the last bit early on Sunday morning before having a nice lunch in Cherokee, NC. I planned the days so that we have time to stop and smell the roses so to speak during our journey.

We have approximately 33 individuals tagging along during the 3 days. It’s open to everyone, not just our members. Some of the people coming are from New Jersey, Maryland and most from North Carolina. It should be a great trip!

More to come…

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Posted on 19-05-2008
Kids, smiles and the MINI
Filed Under (MINI, Personal) by Mark V.
So I need to tell everyone this great thing that happens to me daily as I drive to work. Let me set the scene, I drive from the outskirts of Winston-Salem to downtown every day on Reynolda Road. It’s a normal commute road for a lot of drivers to downtown. There is everything from buses to contractor vehicles to moms or dads taking their kids to school. It’s most likely the same kind of commute a lot of you take. Everyone wants to be the first in line before it narrows down to 2 lanes and away from the school buses. The one thing I do every time I drive my car is watch the driver behind me as I’m slowing down. I had a contractor truck plow into my Saturn years ago and I never want to live through that again. So anyway, today I first had a dad in a mini van with 2 kids in the back seat and one in the passenger seat, all around 9-12 years old I’m guessing. The second vehicle I noticed today was a dad with 2 young girls in the back seat of a suv. This story is all about the kids. In both instances, the kids are looking at my MINI and talking, pointing and smiling all the while. Soon after noticing the kids, I look at the driver and now he’s in on the conversation they are having. They are all smiles and it just makes my day! I don’t know if they are talking about my tag or other mods on the MINI or the car itself. Doesn’t really matter to me, I just like seeing the smiles on their faces. It makes that daily drive not so boring.
 
I know most of you have stories like this, Let me know your little moment of joy. There is so much going on in our lives that makes these little things the best!
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Posted on 16-05-2008
What a challenge!
Filed Under (MINI) by Mark V.

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Posted on 11-05-2008
Goin’ in & Goin’ out
Filed Under (MINI) by Mark V.

Installed the ALTA intake and the new exhaust! Both sound really, really good. The exhaust has a deeper tone than stock. If I could tell you more if I could, I’m testing it for a company and that’s all I can say.

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Posted on 05-05-2008
RIDEMAKERZ ROCKS!
Filed Under (MINI) by Mark V.

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