rickaustin's MINIHERO - - Cooper Flags MINI of the Month - June 2010

Discussion in 'Featured MINI' started by Nathan, Jun 1, 2010.

  1. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

    Mar 30, 2009
    25,144
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    Writer
    Short North
    Ratings:
    +10,069 / 0 / -0
    [​IMG]

    [imgR]http://www.motoringalliance.com/gallery/data/598/medium/minihero_alliance-2.jpg[/imgR]1. Please tell us about your MINI when it was delivered. Option Packages along with the Year, Model and Color.

    It is a 2006 MINI Cooper S, Dark Silver with a Pure Silver roof. It came with the Premium, Sport, and Cold Weather packages. I bought it used in July of 2008 after spending 8 weeks looking for my perfect MINI.

    2. Why did you choose a MINI?

    We bought our daughter a MINI Cooper S JCW for her 16th birthday in 2006. I was immediately hooked. As soon as the time was right I had to get one myself. It turns out, my wife wants one as well so 2011 will probably see the addition of a third MINI to our family :)

    3. Please tell us about the various phases your MINI has taken as your mods progressed.

    Dennis Miniero (note the name) purchased this MINI new and did a lot of mods to it. That was one attraction I had to this MINI since his mods were in very good taste. I've continued to move MINIHERO forward with a combination of aesthetic and performance mods.

    4. What has been your modification philosophy?

    My wife wanted me to buy a red MINI so one element of my changes is to introduce red into the car - under the bonnet, inside, and outside. I also want to make sure I don't go over the top and keep things subtle, at least on the exterior. I'm all for aesthetics but have a desire to turn up the performance both on the suspension and engine.

    5. What has been the most difficult mod completed to date? Why?

    I can't say that any have been terribly difficult. I'm mechanically inclined, I did group up as a teenager working on heavy equipment such as bulldozers and tractor trailer trucks so a MINI is a walk in the park.
    The last mod done was replacement of the intake manifolds with ported / polished manifolds that also happen to be powder coated red. That's a mod that Way did for me and that certainly would have been a major time sink had I tried it. Not only did this add some pop up under the bonnet but it also provided improved smoothness throughout the RPM range. Nice mod and one I can recommend.

    [imgl]http://www.motoringalliance.com/gallery/data/598/medium/minihero_alliance-4.jpg[/imgl]6. Where do you research and source your modifications; materials, parts, etc?

    I do a lot of research on forums such as Motoring Alliance and my local club forum, AtlantaMINIS. But, my number one source is Way at Way Motor Works. He doesn't try to sell you "stuff", he wants to understand what your are trying to accomplish and then helps you get there in the most economical way. You could say I'm strung out :)

    7. Have other Motoring Alliance members assisted you? If so, give them a shout out.

    I've already mentioned Way who is a member of the board. I've not been a member of this board for long but expect to learn much from others over the next few months.

    8. How did Motoring Alliance help you as a resource in your modifications?

    As noted, I've not been a member long enough at this time for the board to have helped but I expect this to change.

    9. What are you planning next? What remains to be done? What are your goals?[imgl]http://www.motoringalliance.com/gallery/data/598/medium/minihero_alliance-12.jpg[/imgl]

    I've done about all that can be done on the engine unless I choose to go with an upgraded head and or cam - not planning to do that in the near term. I do plan to have rear control arms installed so I can get the camber of those rear wheels under control. Probably make some suspension upgrades at some point. I'm pretty close to done and I'm happy with the results. I'll probably shift some of my focus on helping my daughter continue to mod her JCW.

    10. Please list all current mods.

    Pure silver bonnet stripes with red pin stripes
    Red tow hook
    MINIHERO Euro tag
    Red mirror caps
    MINIHERO stickers
    R53 stickers
    Checkmate design on a panel, aero side skirts & license plate surround
    MINIHERO brake light cover
    Tinted windows
    Aerokit grill
    [imgl]http://www.motoringalliance.com/gallery/data/598/medium/minihero_alliance-1.jpg[/imgl]Aerokit side skirts
    Red center console towers
    Leather door pull covers
    Way Motor Works red Craven eBrake handle
    Red / Black leather steering wheel cover
    Craven short shifter
    Craven shift boot
    Craven red shift knob
    Alpine Sterio with iPod I/F
    Way Motor Works red strut tower caps
    Way Motor Works red cabrio supports
    Way Motor Works red motor mounts
    Way Motor Works polished & ported intake manifold (powder coated red)
    Way Motor Works ECU quick tune
    Helix 19% supercharger pulley
    Helix cold air intake
    Borla "Street" exhaust
    Alta red intercooler connectors
    H-Sport lowering springs
    H-Sport rear anti-sway bar
    Wilwood red big brake kit
    17" Kosei K1 Light Grey
    Fuzion HRi tires

    View more great shots of this car in the Gallery
    [imgr]http://www.motoringalliance.com/gallery/data/598/medium/minihero_alliance-9.jpg[/imgr]
    [imgl]http://www.motoringalliance.com/gallery/data/598/medium/minihero_alliance-7.jpg[/imgl]
     
  2. Ofioliti

    Ofioliti New Member

    May 9, 2009
    890
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    Professor
    ... always curious
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    Great-looking R53. Congratulations! :Thumbsup:
     
  3. pauliekeys

    pauliekeys MINI of the Month July 2009

    Jun 3, 2009
    27
    0
    1
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Congrats, Well done!
     
  4. TWISTYBITZ

    TWISTYBITZ New Member

    Jan 13, 2010
    31
    1
    0
    graphic designer
    Altadena/Pasadena, California
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    :Thumbsup: I love the downtubes red and the shoes, spank'n!
     
  5. Mr. Toad

    Mr. Toad New Member

    May 18, 2010
    36
    10
    0
    Atlanta
    Ratings:
    +10 / 0 / -0
    Congrats, Rick!
     
  6. Johngo

    Johngo New Member
    Supporting Member

    May 18, 2010
    1,671
    200
    0
    Art Director
    Sugar Hill, GA
    Ratings:
    +200 / 0 / -0
    Where the heck do you get shoes done like that???
     
  7. zeusboy

    zeusboy New Member

    May 18, 2010
    1
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    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Congrats, again, Rick!:Thumbsup:
     
  8. kelly girl

    kelly girl New Member

    Aug 10, 2009
    117
    15
    0
    has nothing to do with my MINI :( -- but at least
    in a nuclear fallout bunker, complete with bottle
    Ratings:
    +15 / 0 / -0
    congratulations!!!
     
  9. rickaustin

    rickaustin MINI of the Month - June '10

    May 3, 2010
    23
    3
    3
    Software development
    Duluth, GA a suburb of Atlanta
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    #9 rickaustin, Jun 1, 2010
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2010
    Thanks everyone!!!

    @Johngo - you can go to converse.com and choose the custom option to make your own. You have control over just about everything!
     
  10. KK48

    KK48 New Member

    May 18, 2010
    6
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    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    BLING!!!!!!!!! Any BLING is a good thing:aureola:

    KK
     
  11. JCC

    JCC New Member

    Dec 15, 2009
    190
    1
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    Installation Manager
    Sachse, Texas
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    Very nice R53! Congratulations!!
     
  12. Wikedmini

    Wikedmini MINI of the Month - December 2009

    Aug 17, 2009
    304
    13
    0
    Ratings:
    +13 / 0 / -0
    Nice work!
     
  13. mistertripps

    mistertripps New Member

    May 18, 2010
    42
    0
    0
    Dallas, GA
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Congrats Rick! Definitely an awesome machine.
     
  14. lotsie

    lotsie Club Coordinator

    May 5, 2009
    3,922
    401
    83
    stagehand/part time detailer
    Right here
    Ratings:
    +401 / 0 / -0
    Congrats!!! The photo with the see-through bonnet is great:Thumbsup:

    Mark
     
  15. putterfarm

    putterfarm New Member

    May 18, 2009
    299
    8
    0
    Bum.
    Pittsfield, Pa.
    Ratings:
    +8 / 0 / -0
    CONGRATS :Thumbsup: very nice. :D

    Mark
    Group4Autosport
     
  16. Johngo

    Johngo New Member
    Supporting Member

    May 18, 2010
    1,671
    200
    0
    Art Director
    Sugar Hill, GA
    Ratings:
    +200 / 0 / -0
    Nice... Congratulations on the honor!
     
  17. Way Motor Works

    Way Motor Works New Member

    May 4, 2009
    1,169
    206
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    MINI Tuner
    Atlanta
    Ratings:
    +206 / 0 / -0
    This is great, just wait to see what else we end up doing to it.:D
     
  18. T8rChick

    T8rChick Active Member

    May 4, 2009
    941
    111
    43
    Paying for new tires! The wheels were a deal!!!
    Oak Cliff, TX
    Ratings:
    +111 / 0 / -0
    Congratulations! That is an awesome car!!!
     
  19. Skargo

    Skargo New Member

    Apr 13, 2010
    3
    0
    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Congrats Rick ! We met and had a long talk on the field at the MOTD8 car show. I was very impressed with all of the Mods you have done to your car, and like all of your under hood bling. NICE RIDE !
     
  20. Rixter

    Rixter Well-Known Member

    Jun 14, 2009
    1,230
    79
    48
    Technology Architect
    North of the 49th
    Ratings:
    +79 / 0 / -0

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