Pre Migration M/A World HQ is Relocating

I've told a few people about this and the local club, MetroplexMINI has heard more, but with all the calls, PM's and emails I've recently been receiving I thought it best to make it public.

I'm moving out of Texas to Columbus, OH at the end of March. With that it means the expansive M/A offices, well really my desk at home, will also be moving.

Let me try to answer some of the questions I've received or expect.

WHY?

It's not Texas. While there are many that are very happy here in the Lone Star State its just not for me. I miss real seasons and summers here are long and brutal. The house I live in was inherited after the passing of my parents, it may sound odd but I have been feeling haunted as of late. I need a clean break.

North Texas is not for motoring. While everything is far apart and there is a lot of driving to do things it is almost impossible to lose ones self on fun roads. In this part of Texas the sprawl is massive, the roads for the most part are straight and it takes hours to get anyplace worth motoring.

I want to live in a more urban area where I can walk or ride a bike to stores, shops and bars yet also not be hours from good motoring locations. The area I have chosen will allow for that sort of lifestyle.

Why Columbus?

I'm an East Coast boy, born and raised, lived there the for 40 some years. I feel better in the Eastern Time Zone when the news is on at 11 and Craig Ferguson is on at 12:35.

Columbus is more centrally located to do the things I want to do. I can easily be back in my hometown of Baltimore for the Jewish Holidays in a mere 7 hours. Other cities where I have interests are also only a few hours away. Indy is 3 hours, Detroit is 3.5 hours. The Dragon is 7 hours.

What about Track Days?

I do have a fondness to tear it up the track, Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course is but an hour away and is one of the premier venues in the country. Putnam Park is 3.5 hours, Beaver Run and Nelson Ledges are 3.5 hours.

Will this affect the quality of service M/A provides?

Yes, it has the potential to become better. Being in a more central location I can attend more events around the country. I've always had a soft spot for the Detroit Tuned Spring Cleaning event, I can now attend. I'll be closer to other events such as the Pub MINI Meet, MINI's on Top, The Ice Cream run and Blue Ridge Parkway drives. While I may not be able to attend them all this year they are in the plans.

If you are worried about the server location, don't be. M/A is not hosted in my home but is on a dedicated server at a GSI Data Center in Kansas City. GSI is a big player in the hosting arena with clients such as Burger King, Samsonite, Nationwide Insurance and JC Penny. If they can support operations such as those M/A is easy for them in terms of data transfer.

Don't you have family in TX?

Yes, the only immediate family I have lives very close to me here in the North Dallas area. While I will miss the Friday night dinners of dry overcooked Chicken, over salted mashed potatoes and limp veggies cooked to mush levels there is also a need to not be so close. My brother, sister-in-law and nephew have their own lives. It has become clearer to me since my nephew has been growing that there is less and less time for me in that circle. I can deal with the little tyke but time with him often comes with the dozen or so other children in the neighborhood that is his circle of friends. I do not do well with groups of screaming, pooping, crying kids. I will visit often but they need their space just as much as I need my own.

Will you be active with the local MINI Community?

I intend on it. The Mid-Ohio group, while less formal as a Club than MetroplexMINI, has many activities. I relish the lack of a formal structure and look forward to being a part of the group.

Did someone say doughnuts?

What can we do to help?

Besides being a member of the site and doing what you do here there is not much. That is unless you live in the Greater Columbus area and want to help move stuff from the moving container to the new living quarters on or about March 30th. It's not a lot, I live a simple life and do not have much stuff.

Where in Columbus will you be?

The exact address is not something I want to share on the interwebs, but suffice to say it is in the Short North area. For those familiar with the area, no, I'm not Gay, but there is something appealing about being part of such a vibrant community.

Please feel free to ask any questions that come to mind.

 

Shirts are packaged and labeled ready to be dropped off at the Post Office on Tuedsay, Monday they are closed for Presidents Day.

I've been to Mid-Ohio for a DE and CART events. Mansell was driving then. Still have the Red 5 Tee Shirt. Spun in Madness during the DE, went down that hill backwards...

Also have been to Putnam Park where I was a Viper Days instructor. The coupe was there as a preproduction model for testing. Have vivid memories of running out of brake at the end of the front straight when they tossed me the keys for a few hot laps. One sure does travel a long way in a soybean field.

 

My day job can be accomplished anyplace there is a decent internet connection. I'm an independent contractor that has a focus on vBulletin consulting, Q/A for software, websites and iOS apps along with technical writing.

My commute is going to be shorter as the place I'm moving into is smaller.

 

I'll be passing you a few times come the fall, in the space of 4 weeks I have 2 weddings and a Bat Mitzvah in the area. I'll be an I-70 commuter for a month. I miss my McCutcheons Apple Butter too. That and fresh pressed unpasteurized cider.

 

GSI Managed Hosting Services - PCI Compliant Hosting, Corporate Hosting | GSI Hosting, A Layered Tech Company They were just purchased by Layered Tech based here in Plano.

I use URLJet who is co-lo'ed at GSI Kansas. M/A is not big enough to go direct to a provider such as GSI and I want a more managed server than they offer at the pricing the site can afford.