A big thanks to Cooper Flags for continuing to support the MINI of the Month for 2010! Since in the great data debacle of 2010 I lost most of the entries I've picked some from previous months. Poll for voting on the April 2010 Motoring Alliance MINI of the Month presented by Cooper Flags. Voting Closes on March 26, winner to be announced April 1. Campaigning is allowed and encouraged. Please vote early and vote often... Poll# Car Name Garage Image 1 Mayumi Garage 2 Wee Beastie Garage 3 TPLS BLR Garage 4 Khyenste Garage 5 Stella Garage
I'm honored to have been picked. My car has been a daily driver for over 7 years. Check out my garage for plenty of pictures, mod descriptions, and some action shots.
I am a relatively new, but passionate(read crazy) owner, just bought the car 10/26. Had no idea about all the culture surrounding the car until I after I bought it and someone, a friend who has an R53, sent me an email with a bunch of links for sites to buy stuff and some of the forums. Within 2 weeks I upgraded the pulley and added a JCW exhaust, along with some minor interior stuff, ipod interface, rubber S logo boot mat, the S logo valve stem covers and swapped out the run flats for real rubber. A week or so later I get smoked by a Boxster getting on the freeway, so I get the RMW cam, 450cc injectors, an Alta Intake, a short shifter, springs & a sway bar installed, and headed over to RMW for a tune. Then I added the wheels, some chrome engine pieces, the rubber S logo front and back mats, M7 Ultimate Grilles, front & back, billet race pedals, stubby antenna and registered for AMVIV. I guess you can say I am now a miniaholic, mininut, mini crazed for sure. I drive my car everyday, 100 plus miles is my daily commute, and unless it's raining, the top is down. I have down one organized run, and looking forward to trying out AutoX and a track day.
Here are a few new pics. It shows what the car looks like today, made a few changes since the photo at the top of the thread
I've done a few autocross events, I only ended up a few seconds behind other MINIs that had aggressive coilovers and racing slicks. I ran on my street tires and stock springs & dampers. A clean, 95% stock interior. Only the speakers and oil pressure/temp gauges deviate from stock. It is kept exceptionally clean. My vintage style redline indicator. It's actually a bright red, but the lighting was poor. This was taken last year when my tires were new. My car is a good honest car that I drive all year long, in any weather condition. My car is either immaculately dirty, or completely spotless. Meaning that the pattern of dirt and mud is exactly how it came to rest on the car, all dust & dirt is free of finger prints or wiped areas. It is as if the car was spotless, and the driver got it dirty in one drive, yet my car spends the winter like that. Despite this, my paint is flawless.
She cleans up well, but that has something to do with over 8 hours of detailing work. I spent two days washing, claying, polishing, waxing, black wowing, glass cleaning, tire dressing, etc. Here is a better shot of the tachometer.