It was a beautiful morning to drive to retiree breakfast along with running some errands and topping off the tank with some 93 octane.
Chicago MINI Motoring Club drive yesterday. We took a 2 hour scenic drive to a cars & coffee hosted by a detailing shop. The owner has a gen2 Clubman and a classic Mini he stuffed a 200hp Honda engine into.. It isn't quite finished up but he hopes to get it on the road in the next couple months. Here is a link to more photos of the event https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestovumbles/albums/72177720316209475
Saturday my wife and I went to a play downtown. She wanted to take her mini so it would be easy to park. She let me drive! I forgot how much fun it is to drive them. She has an auto but it is still fun! When you slow it down shifts, it’s great.
Since you’re in the buying mood and you like second generation turbos there are a couple GP2’s for sale right this very minute.
Got a call from the manager of one of the local dealerships letting me know they got an advance 2025 JCW Countryman for 2 days a week ahead of the roadshow car, so I stopped over to take a look. It's too big for my taste, but I do like the seats, the more simplified dash and many of the interior touches that I know will be carried on to future MINIs. Here is a link to a couple more pictures.. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestovumbles/albums/72177720316325814
2012 Clubman summer tire change. Also found a rattly heat shield.. Tucked it back in as a temporary repair.
Packed the Clubman up to be a mobile tire change vehicle to help my nephew with a flat tire on his Ford Fusion. What should have been a simple job was complicated by the wheel having different size lug nuts, so his car's supplied tool kit did not work.. I suspect they were mixed from a previous servicing on the car.
The 2025 Countryman roadshow came to one of the 3 Chicagoland dealerships last night.. They had the expected non-JCW on display. I didnt really look closely at all the differences, but did notice the more ordinary wheels (I didnt especially like the JCW pattern), different badges, and also noticed the lack of paddle shifters. I'm sure there is more. Big crowd, and the dealership threw a great party. Fun night to visit with lots of current and former Chicago MINI club friends. here i a link to more pictures https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestovumbles/albums/72177720316448547
Yea.. Gotta sneak those pics in when I can.. At least I've spared you my pictures of the Sunbeam and the motorcycles ;-)
Actually I noticed your Sunbeam and motorcycle in the Clubman summer tire picture, and I always enjoy seeing sports cars from that era.
That is a 1963 Sunbeam Alpine. got it about 4 years ago and I had also stored it for the prior owner for a couple years before that. It's a really nice looking driver, and I usually take it out weekly for drives around the area or to local cars and coffee events. I have a couple older BMWs I got from a family friend who passed away a few years ago. Both had been in storage for over 20 years. I got the 1974 BMW R60/6 running and sorted a couple years ago and use it as my primary bike, and plan to keep it forever.. I remember when the original owner got it new. The 1987 K75 was upgraded back in the day with a bunch of go-fast goodies. I got it running last fall and have about 500 sorting out miles on it so far. I am hoping to move it on to a good home due to lack of space, but lots of people are telling me to hang on to it. It has been hard to start/long to warm up in cold weather but once it is warm it runs great. It has been getting better with more use and warmer temperatures in Chicagoland.
They need to change the MINI name there's nothing mini about it. I use to work for Honda in the 70's and they did the same thing. Started small and just keep making it bigger.