An early start to MINI of Peabody today, but lots of MINIs there when I got there!

There was even one classic Mini!

I’ve done lots of MINI rallies and this one heads right past work and then down Apple Street (more twisty than it looks on Google Maps!), so I headed off to park and take pictures as the other cars went by …

Soon, Brig passed by in a Coupe, leading the rally, and followed by many other MINIs …

I didn’t catch every MINI (Sony camera apparently has to rest regularly!), but there’s lots more in the Gallery; after a wait, I headed back to the dealership for breakfast and chats with friends (and to check out Ivan’s next MINI!) …

A few Hrach memories, too!

A fun morning – many thanks to MINI of Peabody, and my MINI friends!

Another “bonus” lovely November day, sunny but not hot – perfect for washing GPMINI ready for tomorrows rally …

I took pictures with both my Sony SLT-A55V and Nikon D200 camera; I expected the Nikon pictures to be much better but in fact I preferred the Sony more than half the time. The Nikon might be “truer” but with the lighting creating harsh shadows, the Sony did a better job of using it’s enhanced modes to get more detail in many pictures. The first picture above is Sony, the second is Nikon.

Here’s a couple more – or head over to the Gallery …

Sony:

Nikon:

Lovely car, lovely background!

(more pics at this location, over at M&I)

Weather is changing fast here now! Just 2-1/2 weeks ago it was mid 80s, and now we had overnight snow (in Essex, where GPMINI was, though we did not get snow in Gloucester) …

Nice frost patterns (click for bigger view):

I think GP wants to go back to Florida!

We’re getting worse weather now – and GPMINI is wet!

Could be worse, they’re threatening overnight snow as the temperatures drop to freezing …

It’s Fall again and that means another pretty drive through the Fall colors of Massachusetts, following Sheena to George Hill Orchard and then on to ice cream! Even though it’s late October now, Fall colors also are late this year, and the weather was a comfortable mid-50s, bringing out 6 MINIs (and an Audi TT) – and one benefit of missing Mickey & MINI in Florida is that GPMINI is still up here to join in …

As always, Sheena led us down some beautiful twisty roads (including the obligatory “U-turn”) – which my GP seemed to really enjoy, increasing MPG during the day even while running at higher than normal RPMs

At George Hill Orchard, few Apples were picked – but we sampled the food (hot dogs, cider donuts …) and visited the “Pets”:

Found some Apples, but didn’t pick them!

Then back to the MINIs for a short trip to ice cream at Cold Stone – and Armen got to drive GPMINI!

Cold Stone ice-cream was excellent; my traditional sweet cream ice cream with caramel and banana – which I ate before taking the picture!

Great fun to run in the GP again, and enjoy the company of good friends – thanks Sheena, and everyone!

More pictures in the Gallery (previous years 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006)

After having to buy a set of tires for GPMINI due to the flatspot-caused rumbling, I finally spent the $$$ (less than a set of tires!) to get a set of tire cradles recommended by George. They are a very soft rubbery material, so that presumably they give way instead of the tires!

Easy to use, just stop a little short of where you want to park, place the tire cradles in front of each tire, and drive forward on to them!

Hopefully they will save me from another batch of noisy runflats …

GPMINI got another (rare) wash today – she’s not driven much now, and normally remains at work during the weekend so this is her first wash since June (unless you count the “partial wash” from MINI of Peabody last month) – but when she’s clean, she still looks “good as new”:

I took a few “memory close-ups” too; GP0203 roof number of course:

Of course, she’s a MINI – and a GP!

The original MINI Takes The States 2006 decal:

The metal MINI Takes The States 2006 badge on the back has not held up so well:

This duck has travelled with GPMINI since Las Vegas during MINI Takes The States 2006 – there was one in the Westin Hotel bathroom but I wasn’t brave enough to swipe it … but George did for me, instead!

Five years of ownership, 47,000 miles of memories – but she doesn’t get driven much now and I must admit that I don’t miss driving her so much these days … I’m thinking maybe it’s time to find her a new owner!
(NorthAmericanMotoring Marketplace link)

Today, five years ago, 32 GPs were delivered to the first USA owners, at an event at Laguna Seca in California:

My GP!

Key handover from Jim McDowell:

Since then, so many miles of fun and friends – the best car

GPMINI spent the morning at MINI of Peabody today – in case she is still “up North” when winter comes, I wanted the coolant fluid replaced with something that will survive the expected freeze. I also wanted the mildew-smell from the interior air to go away …

Of course, both tasks were completed successfully – but it was quite a strange visit to the dealership today. Of course I knew Graham, Gary, Dave, Kevin, in service – but upstairs there was no-one I knew, in fact there was just about no-one at all at 9am!

So I wandered over to next door BMW Peabody and chatted with Vin for a while – and he happily gave me the keys to a 5 GT to take for a drive! And this could be a car to beat my Q5 …

Thanks, Vin!