MINIsOnTop 2003 was a long time ago! 70+ MINIs had gathered for mid-summer at Mount Washington, from a forum discussion on MINI2 – I remember talking to someone afterwards who said that they had seen the discussions, and sent a check off to someone called Steve Barnatt, with no idea who Steve was or if he even existed. They figured, worst case they had lost the money and would have a nice weekend in New Hampshire!

As it turned out, all of us had a fabulous weekend, with spectacular weather and when we finally reached the summit of Mount Washington, clear sky, warm air, and an amazing sunset. Few of the 2003 attendees are still present so for everybody new to MINIsOnTop, here’s a quick video edit of that first year, courtesy of Animoto and YouTube:

Hmmm … video capabilities like this were non-existent in 2003; how curious will our MOT2011 activities be in another decade?! Hopefully at least the cars and the camaraderie won’t have changed too much.

I was wondering today what the Audi Q5 average MPG is – recently it’s on-board computer has been showing figures as high as 27mpg for my easy drive home from work (a bit lower to work in the morning, when the engine is cold).

So … on 2,305 miles at 111 gallons, the Q5 averages 20.8mpg. Not great, but comfortable!

And seeing I have spreadsheets for my MINIs too (except GBMINI#1), let’s compare:
GBMINI#2: 28,676 miles, 1058 gallons -> 27.1mpg
GBMINI#3: 23,803 miles, 902 gallons -> 26.4mpg (not so much of a hit, really, for an automatic!)
GBMINI#4: 28,599 miles, 1049 gallons -> 27.3mpg (I always claimed GPMINI was more economical, there’s the proof!)
GBMINI#5: 716 miles, 25.2 gallons -> 28.4mpg (Of course an average on so few miles isn’t very indicative, but 4% better than my GP isn’t close to the claimed improvements of the “Prince” engine, and no way justifies the downsides!)
GBMINI#6: 6,747 miles, 256 gallons -> 26.3mpg (not much of a hit for the convertible, either)

And, just so there’s a picture in the post here is GPMINI’s mpg chart:

I know other MINI owners get much worse mpg (and doubtless some get better) – but these figures are pretty comparable since it’s the same driver doing largely the same driving on the same routes!

Today I received the sad news that a wonderful friend and MINI owner, Diane, has passed away. Diane had been fighting cancer for some years, and while it appeared that she was winning when we saw her last year, in the end you can never win

(Diane with husband Jim in Bar Harbor)

Before Diane’s struggle, she regularly attended MINI events, driving hundreds of miles from her home in Maine to attend events as far away as New York! Here are some pictures from events that both she and I attended …

Making name buttons in preparation for MINIsOnTop 2006, with Jim:

At the 2005 MINIsOnTop check presentation:

Advanced Driving Skills School:

MINIs Making A Wish (one of Diane’s favourite activities), chatting with Steve:

Waiting for Ice Cream:

Diane chatting with Mart, at Headlights For Lighthouses:

Ready for Ice Racing:

With many friends at the first MAMA drive (October 2003):

(obituary can be found here)

Poor GBMINI#2 … six months and still waiting for a new owner …

All shined up, with re-painted exterior trim; still a super MINI with JCW 210hp performance and a “kick ass” stereo system (as described by the MINI Peabody sales people) …

Many readers will know about 42, the ultimate answer – some may even know how thrilled I was when we bought our first (and so far only) home in USA and it was number 42!
So when MickyD on MINI2 sent me a link to this site, after being surprised by the content I was doubly entertained by the product name, “42 below”.

Before you click on the link, be warned that “those of a sensitive disposition (and those that don’t like “toilet humour”) will probably think it’s all in rather poor taste!

If you are “brave” enough to visit 42 below, watch carefully – and if you totally fail to figure why MickyD sent the link to me, then here are some clues:
1 2 3

Thanks to MickyD!

I have deliberately avoided mentioning GBMINI#2, since this post when I first saw it for sale at MINI Peabody; but I was recently told that GBMINI#2 has had a “freshening” and now the exterior wheel arches and other trim are re-painted (eliminating two years of stone chips), as well as getting a full detailing:

GBMINI#2 hangs out with two other JCW equipped MINIs, waiting patiently for his new owner …

And no, I don’t know the price. Email John at MINI Peabody and ask, if you are interested!

It looks like the 2005 model year, offering the new gear ratios and LSD as well as nice “tweaks” like the new headlights, is making life hard for older MINIs now. Particularly so perhaps for upgraded MINIs like these three JCWs – a pre-owned loaded MINI can be more expensive than a brand new one, and can’t offer the “performance essentials” like an LSD.

I also know a few people round here trying to sell their MINI privately, including John who picked up his ’05 about a month after me, and Derek with his MINI needing to be sold before his ’05 arrives.

Perhaps other parts of the country are less saturated with pre-owned MINIs (after all Gabe sold his ’02 easily); is the New England area getting saturated?!
I am at least pleased that I did not opt for the hassle of private selling, although I remain a bit sad that GBMINI#2 still has no new owner.

(also perhaps of interest, Gabes “tips on how to sell your MINI“)

Over the last week or so I have been reverting GBMINI#2 back towards its original stock specification – for example I have removed the euro shelf (thanks to Gary at MINI Peabody for cutting the required hold in the stock knee bolster), my MINI circuit, and the recently purchased chrome hoop toggle switch panel – all these parts will be transferred to GBMINI#3.
But today I removed my Whalen gear shift knob and replaced the (not original but factory) lapis blue shift knob:

(Whalen)

(Lapis)

Of course I don’t plan to install the Whalen in GBMINI#3 But I figured the next owner would prefer a shift knob that indicates where each gear is!

The interesting thing is that, driving home tonight, I rather liked the feel of the original shift knob – a little smaller and easier to hold, and not quite as high so a bit more “short shift” than the Whalen. But when I installed the Whalen, I liked these same differences …
So it seems that change is the key. I have read of studies that proved this – change something in the work place and improve productivity; does not matter what changes, or even if it is later changed back – the key is change.

Does anyone want to buy a Whalen shift knob with GBMINI written on it?

Today was Plymouth Bay Or Bust (see this thread on MINI2, planned by Cape Cod MINI) (see also Hudson Bay Or Bust).
We started at Nantasket Beach, south of Boston – by the time Margaret & I got there after a delayed breakfast, almost everyone else had arrived:

Steves route took us south along winding back roads & route 3A; our first stop was the Old Scituate Lighthouse:

After a quick stop at Dunking Donuts we headed down into Plymouth, parked and walked to the memorial to admire the famous Plymouth Rock:

Our day ended at the British Beer Company restaurant, which had great food (and, I am told, great beer) along with great company of other MINI owners!

(My gallery pics are here)

Other peoples pictures:
Jared (Pezboy)
Gavin (GadgetGav)
Harvey (HarveyJoseph)

Tonights marks the second anniversary of the day I first saw GBMINI delivered to MINI Peabody – it looked very normal back then!

No roof flag, no painted trim, no JCW, no loads of other things. And now, somewhat sadly, soon no GBMINI either.
Well, except for the new GBMINI yet to come.

I think my current GBMINI knows something is up and has been trying to teach me what a mistake I am making! This last week or so I have regularly noticed stunning performance from the car – I will be accelerating briskly along route 128, then push my foot further and get a big new kick of extra power … I don’t know if it is the gas, the cold air, or what but I am really enjoying driving at the moment

Anyway, at 28,000 miles GBMINI is still wonderful and deserves a good new owner …

Only light snow so far today, but “they” are claiming another possible 6-9″!

(for Al – stranded on Cape Cod with only beer to keep him comfortable:)
My new non-runflat tires are performing adequately; fine for driving reasonably plowed roads but I can easily lose traction if I accelerate or brake hard (experimentally – I don’t drive that way!) The traction control & ABS are excellent at maintaining correct direction; without ABS I would not be happy in this weather.
It would be interesting to compare with real snow tires, as there are some places where I would like more traction – mostly on slopes which have not been cleared of snow; I know that if I had to stop I would not be able to go forward up a slope any more. And going down such slopes I am very careful to keep my speed low, in case the tires & ABS together cannot stop GBMINI (not happened yet and I don’t want it too).
Question for any experts reading this: Would an LSD help with maintaining traction from a stop when going up a slippery hill? Or is it only beneficial on curves?
UPDATE: This is what the roads were like when I headed home (early):