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 …

Another lovely “fridge magnet” beautifully made by Todds Mods (Motoring Badges):

During MINI Takes The States 2010 there were some fabulous themed comic strips created over at My Geek Odyssey, featured by MINI Takes The States … After the event the original artworks were given to Ryans MINI Adventure and auctioned to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I bid for a few of the artworks and was lucky enough to get this one:

A very nice collectible – and a good cause too!

UPDATE: The artist, Bruce, very kindly sent me a high resolution version of the complete colored comic published by MINI Takes The States – thanks!

We collected quite a few nice pins, badges, etc during the last week

A few duplicates of some, too!

Tshirt, magnet badge, Denver pin and nice flashlight!

Before leaving Los Angeles, I grabbed a couple magnetic badges from MotoringBadges, via DB; they look nice next to the MTTS 2006 badge, but they’re not staying there (more for my fridge back home!) …

Another MINI website, another nice “fridge magnet” …

Motoring Alliance, top left, if you couldn’t tell

(but I still don’t like the thickness and quality of Cooper Flags badges as much as those from Motoring Badges (note left edge of Motoring Alliance badge above, where the sticker started to peel off the magnet backing when I tried to peel off the protective sheet)

Nice badge from Motoring Alliance … though it didn’t quite make it to my “favorites area”

(click for bigger)

The tasty kind, courtesy of MINI Italy financial services …

And yes, inside, some actual chocolate – smells lovely, but I’m not sure if I’ll ever eat it (it’d destroy the collectability!):

Some pins I collected at some time this year …

This “MINImalism” one, too:

Today is the time to be thankful, and I’m reminded again how happy I am to know many wonderful people through the MINI community; I may drive my MINI less now, and see less MINI folk, but I believe the friendships I’ve made will last even if we don’t drive MINIs … Theo, Michael, Richard, Robert, and especially George – who sent me a MINI United package after his visit back in May this year, which I’ve only now got to exploring and enjoying!

Included with the MINI United offerings was a great postcard set featuring Minis / MINIs through the years:

And … another fabulous MINI 50th coin (like the ones I got from England); this one is serial numbered (# 09421), in a postmarked envelope and with interesting information inside …

(more pics here and here)

Lastly, a copy of MINI International again featuring the 50th anniversary of MINI …

(close-up of insert here)

The magazine also features an article about “JCWGP” George, and his collection of Minis / MINIs:

Which brings me right back to “Thanks, George!” … and thanks to all my MINI friends