Robert's Random Ramblings

Get Ready by FIAT

2011-06-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

Pretty good way for Fiat to build USA awareness in the style conscious, urban, forward thinking, and cost savvy consumer segment. I'm of the opinion that Italian design at this price point will have the same type of appeal that the MINI Cooper fostered back in 2002 but in a market now already well aware of the "premium" sub-compact class. We'll see.

Audi TT RS: Quite possibly Audi's sharpest weapon

2011-05-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

Yes, the R8 is faster and a bit more head turning. Still, for the cost savings the TT RS, while not inexpensive is still quite a good looker and a stunning performer to boot. The DSG 3.9 second 0-62 time is astounding!

Nissan's 2011 GT-R Black Nurburgring Hotlap

2011-03-24T23:54:00.000-07:00

The Nissan GT-R posts a staggering time at the Nurburgring in Germany. Commentary is in Japanese but the in-car footage speaks for itself.

Jeremy Clarkson Gives His Impression of McLaren's Newest Car

2011-03-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

Jeremy Clarkson on the new McLaren MP4-12C and giving his take on the MP4-12C's closest rival. In the battle of the best road going rockets this British sports car and the Ferrari 458 Italia stand out from the crowd. Interesting review by Mr. Clarkson and his opinion and car of choice would probably also be mine (with my predisposition and love of Italian automobiles naturally) but the McLaren would be lingering in the back of my mind...

For the complete review please visit: BBC Top Gear Reviews the McLaren MP4-12C

Ferrari V12 Engine

2011-03-23T10:18:00.000-07:00

The production of the famous Ferrari V12 motor as used in the 612 Scaglietti:

Scuderia Ferrari Racing News n. 6 (English version)

2011-03-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

News from Ferrari ahead of the start of the 2011 Formula 1 season.

Abarth 500C esseesse @ 2011 Geneva Motor Show

2011-03-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

The newest iteration of the highest sport spec Abarth has some nice new touches as shown at the Geneva Auto Show. The big question is whether or not the US market will see an "esseesse" version at all.

NPR News Discusses the Challenges of Reaching Younger Drivers

2011-02-27T13:10:00.000-08:00

NPR presented an interesting article today that spoke of the the challenges of reaching the youth audience when it comes to new automobiles. Contrasting the old days (at least in the USA) with celebrity endorsements being enough; today's auto executives have all the new social media to contend with, multiple sources of exposure, and shortened attention spans. It's a brave new world where "liking" a page on Facebook becomes just one of a marketer's steps in selling a car to the young tech generation. For more with video clips and audio interviews go to:

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/27/134103436/Automakers-Reroute-Selling-To-Younger-Drivers

Winding Road Magazine test drives the 2011 US specification Fiat 500 Sport

2011-02-24T21:33:00.000-08:00

Fiat is making some pretty good impressions with the US auto magazines and Winding Road is no exception.

Follow the link to the full article:

http://www.windingroad.com/articles/reviews/driven-2012-fiat-500-sport/

Building a Maserati Fuel Line

2011-02-17T21:38:00.000-08:00

National Geographic spotlights automotive factories around the world and is currently focusing on one of my all-time favorites: Maserati. Even better, they are covering the building of my preferred model: the GranTurismo S.

For more information go to: National Geographic's "Ultimate Factories"

Road & Track Magazine Tests the McLaren MP4-12C

2011-02-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

Looks like there are two great choices for the ultimate two seat sports car, the Ferrari 458 Italia and the McLaren MP4-12C. If you've got +/- 230,000 USD to use on one or the other the choice might be quite difficult...

First Reviews are coming in on the US spec Fiat 500

2011-02-15T19:31:00.000-08:00

USA Fiat 500 Review on Yahoo! Autos

Summing up Yahoo's! take on the car:

"Overall, the 500 marks a promising start for Fiat’s re-entry to the U.S. market. Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. -- towns with enough hipsters to support a latte society -- will claim most Cinquecento sales. Fiat's banking on the U.S. and North America being open to the idea of a wee tot for wheels, and a stylish one at that."

Complete review:
http://real-us.autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1713/car-review-2011-fiat-500/

Ducati Diavel first ride

2011-02-15T19:12:00.000-08:00

The more I read and see about the new Ducati Diavel the more impressed I become with Borgo Panigale's latest creation. This motorcycle has the potential to blow the street cruiser class wide open. I love my Harley Davidson VRod but Ducati has come up with something truly unique in the class.

Ducati Desmosedici vs Ferrari 430 Scuderia

2011-02-13T16:28:00.000-08:00

Here's an earlier test between the Desmosedici RR and the Ferrari 430 Scuderia. Different bikes and cars but the result is much like the post below. When it comes to who wins does it REALLY matter? Either two or four wheels these vehicles are truly special.

Forza Italia! Ferrari 458 Italia vs Ducati 1198S

2011-02-13T15:00:00.000-08:00

A great head-to-head competition between Italian high performance machines: the Ferrari 458 and the Ducati 1198 S. If you like Italian performance machines on both two and four wheels THIS is the video to watch!

North American FIAT 1.4L MultiAir Engine Review For Newly Released Fiat 500

2011-02-11T10:38:00.000-08:00

Interesting technical discussion of the engine that will be available in the United States. Changes were forthcoming for the U.S. specification Fiat 500 that are different from the entry level European lineup. Interesting to know that the engines are built here in the USA. I'm really curious to know what awaits the performance Abarth and hopefully Abarth SS models to come soon!

GranTurismo MC Stradale - Maserati's Lust Worthy High Performance Car

2011-02-10T17:59:00.000-08:00

Stellar looks, sound, and pedigree... what's not to like?

MINI USA - "Cram It in the Boot" Full Length Superbowl LXV Advert

2011-02-10T17:49:00.000-08:00

Site Re-design and Link to the MINI Journey Through Europe

2011-02-10T17:28:00.000-08:00

I haven't been too active on the travel blog recently but thought is was about time to update the site's design. I hadn't altered the look of the site since I set it up primarily to document the 2007 journey across western Europe with the California MINI.

I thought I'd take a moment to put up a quick link to the timeline of events concerning the MINI's European adventure. Have a look here: California MINI's European Adventure

Enjoy!

MINI is goin' racin'

2010-07-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

MINI is back and ready to cultivate its racing heritage and move beyond being seen as just a "cute" car by the masses. MINI has always been more than just a fashionable accessory so I applaud this move to bring motorsports back into the MINI fold. What's more is that I really like the look of the World Rally Championship prototype. Might just be the kind of four door car for me.

Here's the official press release (thank you MotoringFile):

This decision sees MINI continue its success story in the world of rallying. In the 1960s, the MINI Cooper S caused a sensation with victories at the legendary Monte Carlo Rally. The company also tasted success on many occasions in the European Rally Championship. Having already demonstrated the sporty character of its models in many countries in the MINI CHALLENGE, the brand is now taking its presence in motorsport to a new level with the commitment to the WRC.
Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing, says: “I am delighted MINI will be represented on one of the most popular stages in international motorsport. The success enjoyed on the rally circuit has made a vital contribution to the image of the brand. MINI customers have always shown great interest in motorsport. I am convinced we will add a few more chapters to our success story in rallying. The MINI Countryman provides an excellent basis, from which to create a competitive racing car for the world championship. In Prodrive, we have a strong and experienced partner. We will work hard together over the coming months to ensure we get the project on track right from the word go.”
“This is a very exciting new motorsport programme,” said Prodrive Chairman, David Richards. “During the 1960s MINI captured the imagination of the world when the tiny car took on the might of V8 powered Fords and won what was then one of the toughest motorsport events, the 4000km Monte Carlo rally. I believe our new MINI will become a firm favourite of the latest generation of rally fans, just as it is adored by its millions of owners across the world. We already have a significant number of confirmed customer orders for the new MINI rally car with the first deliveries scheduled for the start of the 2011 season.” Prodrive has been working on developing the MINI Countryman WRC since early 2009. The company was formed in 1984 by Richards, who won the World Rally Championship as co-driver to Ari Vatanen (FI) three years earlier. Based in Banbury (GB), Prodrive has developed into a leading independent company in the motorsport and automobile sector under Richards’ guidance, and today employs over 500 staff. Prodrive’s many successes currently include six overall victories in the World Rally Championship, five titles in the British Touring Car Championship and three class victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours (FR).
BMW was present when the World Rally Championship made its debut back in 1973. Achim Warmbold (DE) and Jean Todt (FR) tasted victory in their BMW 2002 at the Alpenfahrt Rally in Austria. However, MINI’s tradition in this discipline stretches back even further: Pat Moss (GB) clinched the first victory with the MINI 850 at the 1959 Mini Miglia National Rally. MINI ultimately enjoyed its finest hours at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965 and 1967: the MINI Cooper S celebrated three overall victories at the most iconic rallying event in the world. Paddy Hopkirk (IR, 1964), Timo Mäkinen (FI, 1965) and Rauno Aaltonen (FI, 1967) joined the list of winners at this prestigious event. In 1965, “Rally Professor” Aaltonen also won the European Rally Championship. Tony Ambrose (GB) and Mäkinen finished second and third to round off an excellent overall result for the MINI Cooper S. In addition, MINI drivers also enjoyed many individual wins at renowned rallies throughout Europe. The last BMW World Rally Championship victory was achieved in 1987 in Corsica by Bernard Béguin (FR) driving a BMW M3 which was built and run by Prodrive.

Flying Over Silverstone Circuit in the UK During MINI United 2009

2009-06-05T20:25:00.001-07:00

An outstanding view of the goings on at MINI United 2009, Silverstone Circuit, UK

2009-04-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

Folks, MINI United is just around the corner and I'm making my plans to attend (sans car this year!). Go ahead and visit MINIUSA.com and MINI United.com for event and programming information. White Roof Radio also has an interview up with Gina Koutros of MINI USA that outlines the benefits for the American group heading over to Silverstone Circuit in the UK. Should be a blast!

It's MINI's 50th birthday. You aren't going to miss it, are you?

My Site and a Status Update

2009-03-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a month since I've posted anything new on the site and I thought it fair to give an update. To be quite honest I haven't been able to give the time to post as often as I'd like here on Robert's Random Ramblings. I have been very active on Facebook where I have found the site to be brilliant in reconnecting me with old and new friends as well as allowing me to post articles and stories of interest very quickly. Granted, my Facebook page has a broad range of topics of interest to me; automobiles and motorcycles are high on the list. However, I am also commenting and posting articles on political, social, and cultural topics as well.

If you enjoy the blog, please do come over and visit me on Facebook. Just click on the Facebook link.

I won't be taking down Robert's Random Ramblings. No, I'll leave it up and occasionally stop by to respond to comments and hopefully post something of interest now and then.

Thanks for reading!

Abarth 500 SS

2009-02-17T13:27:00.000-08:00

Well, Fiat keeps the interest in the 500 high by tinkering with the fabulous little car. It's a page from the MINI JCW book, but if this page is any indication I'd be interested in the whole book! Hopefully we'll see this car stateside!

Abarth 500 SS
PRESS RELEASE: ESSEESSE – SUPREMELY SPORTING

Owners who want to take their Abarth 500 even closer to the tuning firm's ‘racer for the road' ideal, can plump for the esseesse specification. The word esseesse means ‘SS' in Italian and lives up to its name by giving the car a supremely sporting twist.

The £2500 conversion has to be carried out within 12 months or 20,000km of the car's first registration and can only be undertaken by Abarth's skilled network of technicians. Their first job is to upgrade the engine's Electronic Control Unit so that the 1.4-litre turbo pumps out 160bhp at 5750rpm – more than double the power output of the regular Fiat model and very much in keeping with historic Abarth practice. To help with this power upgrade, a new air filter made by Italian specialist BMC is fitted.

To match the additional power, drilled and ventilated 284mm x 22mm brake discs are fitted at the front, together with new pads, while 240mm x 11mm drilled discs replace the already powerful standard items at the rear. Uprated Abarth springs are fitted front and rear too, and so that the esseesse looks even racier, the regular 16-inch wheels are replaced with 17-inch white or titanium colour alloy rims and 205/40 R17 tyres.

A tyre pressure monitoring system and unique key cover are the final touches in this transformation to the ultimate road-going Abarth 500.

Even though this upgrade relies heavily on modern technology, the esseesse kit stays loyal to the legend of Abarth by being delivered to customers in a high quality wooden crate. Once its contents have been emptied, the crate then becomes the property of the customer as a charming memento.

Maserati MC Corse Takes the Granturismo S to the Track

2009-02-17T12:42:00.001-08:00

Maserati MC Corse Concept
Higher performance and less weight than the S = racer to be reckoned with

Maserati has produced an FIA racecar based on the Granturismo S. Not content to rest on its laurels as having one of the most beautiful and fast coupes on the market, Maserati is preparing to assault the track with the MC Corse. Various bits from the MC Sportline catalog in the form of carbon fiber body and interior updates will be available for Granturismo owners in the near future as well.

Interior carbon fiber bits for the Granturismo and Granturismo S

Granturismo with MC Sportline Exterior Enhancements

Wheels, carbon fiber mirrors, doorhandles plus more aerodynamic sideskirts and front splitter offered by the MC Sportline. Not shown is the more aggressive carbon fiber trunklid spoiler, basically a larger version of the integrated spoiler on the Granturismo S.

Worldwide Economic Downturn Affects MINI

2009-02-16T22:24:00.000-08:00

MINI has withstood the current economic turmoil very well with sales still strong in 2008. However, now even MINI is finding it necessary to shed jobs, cut shifts, and idle the factory to cope with the decrease in global demand.

Let's hope that MINI doesn't take a huge hit that will affect its long-term stability.

MINI USA Confirms that Diesel is Under Consideration

2009-02-09T20:26:00.001-08:00

USA Today posted an article that confirms that diesel powered MINI's are actively under consideration for distribution in the US market. However, the diesel motor would have to be a new powerplant that is not currently in the MINI D lineup.

For the full story visit:

USA Today: MINI Considers Diesel for the USA

Automotive Bliss: The Maserati Granturismo S

2009-01-25T11:57:00.000-08:00

Fiat 500 a Step Closer to Reality in USA

2009-01-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

Looks like we are a large step closer to seeing Fiat Puntos, 500s, and other interesting small Italian cars on US roads:

Original "Italian Job" Film Ending Solved?

2009-01-25T01:01:00.001-08:00

Still haven't had a lot of time to get this site updated but I came across this little nugget on CNN and thought I'd share. If you're a fan of the original 1960's film "The Italian Job" (yes MINI Coopers figured prominently in that film) then the ending must have left you guessing. Well, guess no more...

Greetings from Asia!

2008-12-13T17:43:00.000-08:00

I've been on the go for most of December and I hope to get some pictures of my Asian travels up on the site soon but in the meantime I thought I'd post a few pictures of me doing two things I enjoy: automobiles and travel.

Beautiful Hong Kong skyline View at night

Hmm, a VERY familiar car in a different (and quite lovely) shade of blue in the window at Hong Kong Maserati...

Discussing the virtues of Maserati ownership at Hong Kong Maserati on Gloucester Street

Right-hand drive MINI Cooper S Clubman anyone?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T12:19:00.001-08:00

To all in the USA and wherever you may find yourself today a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Maserati Granturismo S Comes Home

2008-11-27T11:50:00.000-08:00

Well, the November surprise is here: the 2009 Maserati Granturismo S is home. Actually I've had the car since the first week of November but I haven't had a lot of time lately to post on the blog.

First off, and it probably doesn't need much mentioning, but the GT-S is an incredible car. Solid feel and quality throughout, the GT-S is hands down the best GT car I've ever driven. The sound of the exhaust in "Sport" mode is incredible for a "stock" car, let alone an "exotic". The Graziano paddleshift clutchless manual is supremely smooth and fast in MC-Shift mode. In the realm of high-end vehicles the looks, powerplant (4.7 liter Ferrari based but Maserati massaged V8), transmission, and comforts can't be beat. The car is a rarity to boot since only 300 are meant for production with 120 coming U.S. stateside.

I was the fortunate first delivery at Maserati Beverly Hills. I was able to spec the car last spring and pretty much had a huge "sandbox" of options to play with. Of course I was nervous to see how my car would turn out... wondering all along if my choices may not look as good in the flesh as I'd hoped, but the result I think is a great success. I am very happy with the yellow calipers and the yellow contrasting stitching I chose for the interior.

Anyway the first three weeks of life with the Maser beauty have been grand indeed.

Here are some photos:

4.7 badge and trunk/boot integrated spoiler are a subtle difference from standard Granturismo

Coming to grips with the car's controls

La bella macchina!

At Transhine Detailing after installation of "Auto Armor" paint protection

The Granturismo S should prove to be a viable "daily" driver. Not that I'll be driving it everyday but unlike the F355 Spider that I only drive occasionally this car is meant to be driven. Unlike the Ferrari's belt driven cams and intensive and expensive "engine out" maintenance, the Maser uses chains. Maintenance intervals while not inexpensive should be less than on most Ferraris and not quite as frequent. All the exotica without quite the expense... sounds good to me.

The GT-S is ready to roll...

Abarth 500 on Top Gear UK

2008-11-18T10:36:00.000-08:00

Jeremy Clarkson and the Stig put the Abarth 500 to the test!

Video is the property of Top Gear/BBC Productions

Untersberg Mountain, Austria

2008-10-16T18:04:00.001-07:00

Standing near the summit of the Untersberg Mountain in the Austrian Alps near Salzburg, Austria on 5 October 2008

Abarth 500 in Salzburg, Austria

2008-10-15T06:13:00.000-07:00

I've been on the road (and loving the Autobahn!) in Germany again for the past 13 days and began the trip with a few days in Salzburg, Austria. The Salzburg Conference Center was located directly next to my hotel and adjacent to the famous Mirabell Gardens in the heart of the city. I was walking through the Gardens and noticed what I thought to be a Fiat 500 sitting out in front of the conference center. Approaching from the rear of the car and noticing the aero skirt and dual exhaust pipes I knew that this car was something more than a "standard" Fiat 500. Sure enough, the car was a full-on Abarth performance model. I'd love to zip around in one of these in Southern California, but alas, no new Fiats or those snazzy Abarths in the USA... yet. Stay tuned.

I snapped some pics with my camera phone showing the details that set the exterior of the car apart from a common 500. Enjoy!

It's Back!

2008-09-24T09:30:00.001-07:00

Earlier this summer I decided to have my old college car restored (click HERE for the original post).

Yep, after nearly a month in the shop awaiting and refurbishing parts, rebuilding the fuel tank, replacing fuel pump and barely functioning water pump, timing belt, and full tuneup, the 1989 Isuzu Impulse Turbo is back. I needed to replace the driver and passenger side window tint film damaged when the window regulators were repaired. A Transhine complete car and engine detail finished the project and the Isuzu is once again a fully functional part of the family. I've got a couple of minor issues that I am working on now to pretty much bring the car up to a high state of tune and completeness:

1. I need to replace a missing passenger side door trim panel and have already located a suitable replacement piece.
2. I just installed a subtle chrome exhaust tip to clean up the fairly rusted and timeworn stock exhaust tip which is still visible in the picture below. The exhaust could also benefit from some minor spot welding.
3. I'm expecting receipt very soon of a stock Isuzu replacement retractable antenna. I had a Mazda antenna fitted several years ago to replace the broken stock unit but the new antenna never totally retracted since it wasn't designed for the car. You can see what I mean in the pictures below. Problem solved.
4. I need to re-upholster the leather shifter handle and boot which has deteriorated from years of wear and tear.

Other than those items I do believe I have one of the very few really clean and operational Impulses in the area.

Here are a few low resolution camera phone shots of the repaired and detailed 1989 Isuzu Impulse Turbo on its first evening back:

The Isuzu still looks great for her age! Italian design must have something to do with it... :-)

BusinessWeek Interview with Trudy Hardy, MINIUSA Marketing Manager

2008-09-19T05:58:00.000-07:00

I came across an interesting interview with MINIUSA's Trudy Hardy . I had the pleasure of meeting Trudy in the Netherlands last year during MINI United and her interview with BusinessWeek Magazine is very relevant to MINI's continued growth in the U.S. market even though it is a few years old.

MINI Rooftop New York City

2008-09-18T09:47:00.001-07:00

After making a stop in Indiana recently I decided to head out to New York City for a few days to check out MINI's Rooftop event in the city. Jennifer was in-town visiting a friend so we had the perfect opportunity to meet up for another MINI adventure. We had the opportunity to spend the evening with Jim McDowell, VP of MINIUSA and Dr. Wolfgang Armbrecht, President of MINI. The evening of 7 September was a perfect New York late summer evening after tropical storm Hanna drenched the city the day before. The location was in midtown just south of the Port Authority and near the Hudson River. The location provided wonderful views of New Jersey, Times Square, the Empire State Building, and much more of the unrivaled NYC skyline. The event for the evening was the Fashion Week afterparty for Shipley & Halmos and Vena Cava and the event provided an interesting atmosphere to soak up the New York city vibe.

The essence of MINI Rooftop is to present new and artistic ways of using limited but unused space. This concept has become popular in Europe recently. Indeed, a rooftop artistic experiment resonates well in a city like New York.

Dr. Wolfgang Armbrecht, President of MINI, Jennifer, me, and Jim McDowell, VP of MINIUSA

While I'm not sure of the marketing potential of this MINI event in the USA, I do give a thumbs-up to MINI for continuing to think outside the box in the quest for new and avant garde ways to keep the brand at the pointy end of the marketing spear.

Pedal Power MINI Clubman in Beijing

2008-09-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

A Chinese MINI dealer in Beijing built this 1 manpower Clubman rickshaw that made its debut during the Beijing Olympic Games. The "highly" modified Clubman was based on the ubiquitous rickshaws that ferry passengers around the Chinese capitol and have been doing so for many years. Now, with the advent of the car in Chinese society, pressure is being put on the rickshaw. Here's to hoping that creative outlets like the Clubman will allow the rickshaw to continue as a part of the Chinese cultural landscape.

Nike+ Human Race L.A.

2008-09-14T22:54:00.000-07:00

On 8/31/08 at 8:38:01 p.m. I took part in the largest one day running event in history: the Nike+ Human Race. With races taking place all around the world on the same day with participants all wearing the same red top and running a 10k through major city streets and competing against all the other cities, the event was quite interesting and very well organized. Entertainers representing cultures and music from all around the globe provided a festive atmosphere at various points around the race course. There was food and plenty of healthy snacks to be had at the Coliseum and at the end of the race Kanye West put on a concert for the runners. Good health, good causes supported (in my case the World Wildlife Fund) and good fun!

For full information on this event please log onto:

Nike+ Human Race L.A.

Here are a few pictures from the race:

At the L.A. Coliseum awaiting the start of the race

Kanye West entertains the Nike+ Human Race participants

2008 MINI "mini" Roadtrip

2008-08-25T00:19:00.000-07:00

MINI on the road in Northern California

Sutter's Mill restoration near site of the original mill where gold was discovered in California in 1848 setting off the California Gold Rush.

The summer of 2008 has been a summer of weddings for me. I've attended three weddings in six weeks. An old friend from high school (actually my sister's really good friend) recently got married in the Sierra Nevada foothills just west of Lake Tahoe. My sister and I were both invited to attend the wedding last week and it was close enough to think about driving up together for a long weekend. So, the question was: Whose car? Well, Jennifer had all those nice modifications recently installed on her 2004 British Racing Green Cooper S so I suggested taking her car on the jaunt to the Sacramento area.

Old Auburn Courthouse, Auburn, California

Turns out the car ran like a champ and made for extremely comfortable freeway cruising. I thought the sound of the exhaust might be tiring after a long stint but at freeway cruising speeds the sound into the cabin was minimal. The Larini system is great... throaty when you want to hear it but not too intrusive on an extended drive. The 15% Alta pulley also made the trip feel more effortless even when the air conditioning was in full operation as temps soared to the 100 degree fahrenheit zone on the run through California's Central Valley. With the stock pulley the extra load on the engine from the a/c unit was noticeable. This was not an issue with the Alta reduction pulley installed.

Statue in honor of the Miner 49er Gold Rush pioneers in Auburn, California

The only hitch: heavy winds blew a tumbleweed across the freeway and into the front driver's side of the bonnet. A very slight dent and clearcoat scratches but luckily nothing worse. Looks like the bonnet will see a paintless dent removal specialist sometime in the near future...

On California's shortest state highway (notice the sign) in one of California's shortest vehicles!

At Motowheels in Sacramento. Needed to make a stop at a great resource for Ducati Motorcycle goodies. Visit: http://www.motowheels.com/

The wedding was just wonderful, the outdoor setting very nice with mild temperatures and blue skies. Spent the following couple of days revisiting my old grad school stomping grounds and meeting with friends and colleagues before heading back to L.A. with the obligatory touristy stop at Pea Soup Anderson's in Santa Nella.

An alumnus returns to campus ten years later

Chatting with Dean Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker, distinguished leader of McGeorge Law School, about the changes on campus in the decade since I graduated.

I hadn't been back to the Sacramento area in a decade and it was nice to be able to navigate the city much as I had remembered doing while living and studying there.

Pony Express Memorial, Old Town Sacramento

The funny places you can find Indonesian food... this time in Old Town Sacramento. The Old West meets Southeast Asia! Had some familiar snacks before hitting the road...

Great little roadtrip in a fun modified Cooper S!

White Roof Radio Interview at MINI Takes the States 2 L.A.!

2008-08-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

Todd Pearson and db from White Roof Radio, the MINI podcast, interview me at Jillian's Restaurant on the Universal Studios L.A. Citywalk as part of MINIUSA's MINI Takes the States nationwide event. The closing weekend took place in Los Angeles and I had the opportunity to meet and greet familiar faces and meet new MINI friends. My time was very limited this weekend but it was nice to be in the company of MINI folks! At least the drive to this event was a lot shorter than the trip to MINI United 2007 in the Netherlands!

I couldn't attend the Saturday festivities and concert but a good time on Friday night at Jillian's and a fun run from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and up Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains and then back to the Rose Bowl on Sunday made for a fun MINI motoring weekend.

Please visit White Roof Radio for the playable/downloadable radio segment.

My interview begins at about 19'19" of the 25 minute segment just after the interview with David Eichenberg, a regular on the "Sex and the City" television series.

For more on MINI Takes the States 2 please visit this link: http://blog.minitakesthestates.com/

Jim McDowell, Vice-President of MINIUSA (left), Gina Koutros of MINIUSA (third from right) with the young couple that drove across the USA attending all the MTTS events along the way and me (on the right).

Getting ready for a tire shredding lap in the R56 turbocharged John Cooper Works at the very end of MTTS.

Italian Thrill: Driving the Rare Maserati GranTurismo S

2008-08-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to drive one of only two 2009 Maserati GranTurismo S vehicles currently in the United States by invitation from Maserati Beverly Hills. Deliveries of these cars is slated to begin during the fall of 2008 and production will be strictly limited to a one year run with total US allocation of a rumored 250 to 300 cars. How is the car? One word: Outstanding! I've driven the "standard" GranTurismo and that was very nice; "a sense of occasion" being an apt description. The S is immediately yet subtlely distinguishable from its sibling car by its bespoke 20" wheels, an integrated bootlid spoiler, black headlight surrounds and black grille, and revised and more aerodynamic side skirts. The total effect is a more aggressive yet still very elegant look. The 2009 range has also added bluetooth and iPod/MP3 capability. Satellite radio will also be on offer soon. I love it...

On the test drive. Shame the camera could not pick up just how marvelous the engine sounds!

My drive in the S was much longer than my brief jaunt in the standard GranTurismo. Two things I noticed very quickly: the revised spring and damper setup was firm yet comfortable. No settings here like the GranTurismo and its electronically controlled "Skyhook" suspension. The more sporting and fixed S setup made the car feel smaller than it really is because the GranTurismo is a pretty large GT that genuinely holds four persons in comfort. Roadholding is superb. I've heard that the revised suspension can be a bit bumpy on less than smooth pavement but I didn't notice.

Getting to know the new Maserati GranTurismo S

Red engine heads... as opposed to the "standard's" Maserati blue

Behind the wheel of the S

The larger paddles behind the steering wheel were easy to find no matter what the position of the hands on the steering wheel. These paddles were linked to the "manual" MC-Shift clutch/gearbox which resides in the rear of the vehicle for better weight distribution. With shifts as quick as 100 milliseconds, the clutchless manual paddleshift gave smooth and very quick shifts. Good fun.

The biggest grin maker: the 4.7 liter, 440 HP 8 cylinder Ferrari designed motor (as opposed to the 4.2 liter standard). Lots of torque and power that really makes the S get up and go. Any complaints about the GranTurismo's power are vanquished with this engine. Not only the power is noticeable, push the "Sport" button on the dash and the sound of the car will make any car enthusiast's hair stand on-end! Absolutely marvelous sound that is simply lovely to hear. It puts many other cars at twice the price to shame...

Can you tell that I like this car yet??? :-)

I should have some interesting news about the GranTurismo S later in the year. Stay tuned.

Old College Car Pulled Out of Storage

2008-08-13T10:58:00.001-07:00

Original Giugiaro designed Piazza/Impulse (1982)

Photo courtesy of Italdesign/Giugiaro

1989 Isuzu Impulse Turbo "Handling by Lotus", last of the Giugiaro Impulses.

Car looks great in spite of all the years and mileage... internals need a lot of work

I've had my old college car in storage for the better part of the last five years and the car had only been driven sporadically in the several years prior to storage. The 1989 Isuzu Impulse Turbo was the first car I owned from "new" and has been a faithful workhorse from college to graduate school and on to post-graduate study. With an Italian Giugiaro (http://www.italdesign.it/) designed body (designer of Maseratis, the BMW M1, Alfa Romeos, the original Volkswagen Scirocco, and countless other iconic cars), a forward thinking interior, and suspension tuning by Lotus, I still think the Impulse is a pretty car. About the only complaint now as then is that the 2.0 liter 4 cylinder turbo Isuzu motor is a bit underpowered.

With well over 100,000 miles on the clock the car served me well. I always kept the car in very good shape, but time and age started to take a toll on the car. As issues multiplied I decided to park the car until I found the time and resources to put her back on the road. Well, most of you know that I have been going to Steve's Auto Clinic in North Hills, California for my MINI performance modifications. Steve's work has been honest, good, and reasonable, so I opted to have Steve give the old Isuzu a thorough inspection. The Impulse no longer started so I had to put it on a tow truck and had it hauled up to North Hills.

The initial problem was a rusted fuel pump and excess rust in the gas tank which necessitated a rebuild. I had put preservative in the fuel, but time still didn't do the fuel system any favors. Lots of Impulse parts are now "unobtainium" so the gas tank could not be replaced.

We're still trying to figure out how to rebuild the power window regulators since those are also not available and both driver and passenger windows are broken. After taking care of those two items a couple of electrical glitches need to be repaired and then a full engine service will be undertaken. Barring any other unforseen problems one of the few remaining cared for examples of the "Handling by Lotus" Isuzu Impulse Turbos will be back on the roads in Southern California!

Larini "Club Sport" Exhaust and Alta 15% Pulley Installation on an 04 MINI Cooper S

2008-07-30T21:33:00.000-07:00

I've been the one to have all the fun upgrading my JCW MCS with Cooper Motorsport bits over the last couple of years so it was time for my sister to join in the fun. I'd previously installed a BMP/ProMINI Cold Air Intake in her car but it was now time to head back to Steve's Auto Clinic in North Hills, California for a few more "safe" go fast bits. First up was the Larini "Club Sport" cat-back exhaust system. I've been impressed with the stainless steel supercar exhaust maker's products and love the sound of the system. A throaty performance sound with a wonderful burble on the engine overrun when letting off the accelerator, the Larini adds some horsepower and makes the MINI sound like a really mean performance machine. The Larini pedigree of Ferrari/Lamborghini/Porsche experience shines on the MINI. Larini doesn't list the systems for BMWs and MINIs on its website (only supercars on the site!) but make inquiries and you can get a system. I love it and so does my sister!

For more click this link: Larini Systems

Stainless Steel Larini "Club Sport" Exhaust System from the UK

Out with the old...

In with the new...

Nice stainless steel pipe that begins just after the factory catalytic converter

Aligning the Larini exhaust tips

Steve gives a final quality check

I hope to film a clip comparing the sound of the John Cooper Motorsport 225 HPD kit that is installed on my car with the Larini. So far I'm a bit envious of the Larini's wonderful sound...

The second item to install was an Alta 15% reduction pulley, a quick and safe way to get a major boost in horsepower from the stock Cooper S supercharger. This modification along with the Larini exhaust and the already installed ProMINI cold air intake really gave the British Green MCS a shot of serious horsepower. Steve commented that the car was very strong as a stock car and the modifications made a strong car a lot stronger and even more satisfying to drive.

Stock pulley ready for removal

Alta 15% reduction supercharger pulley

Stock pulley removed and shaft ready for Alta installation

Tightening the Alta pulley

Fitting the supercharger drive belt on the Alta pulley

For more click on this link: Alta MINI Performance

I haven't quoted any horsepower gains but I think it is a safe bet that the three "traditional" safe modifications should yield 20-25 horsepower easily but probably even more. Significant numbers I'd say...

Jim Clark, Racing Legend

2008-07-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

I've had a soft spot for the "golden age" of Formula 1 racing that, oddly enough, was triggered by the Papyrus Software racing simulation game "Grand Prix Legends" that was released for the PC roughly ten years ago. I continue to be amazed by the bravery of the men who drove very fast, very fragile, and very dangerous racecars on racetracks that would never ever even come close to today's safety standards.

The man that made the greatest impression on me was the driver Jim Clark. A class act and one of so many who were taken much too early at a time when death on the racetrack was a regular occurence, he IS the benchmark racer for me. What he did with the Lotus 49 (one of the most beautiful F1 cars of the era) in the 1967-1968 F1 seasons and throughout his F1 career or at the Indianapolis 500 by winning with the first rear-engined Indycar or in Lotus Ford Cortina touring cars was absolutely awesome.

Now, forty years on from the tragic racing accident at Hockenheim, Germany in the spring of 1968, F1 and fans remember the great Scottish driver. He died before I was born but even I get a knot in my stomach when I watch archival racing footage.

He's still sorely missed.

Tribute to Jim Clark before the 2008 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix

Video tribute to the great Jim Clark

Motorcycling In the Sierra Nevada and Yosemite National Park

2008-07-02T00:03:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to take a "mini" vacation last week and spent the time with good friends motorcycling through majestic California scenery. The plan was to camp for two days in the heart of Yosemite Valley and then spend another few nights at a campground in the northwest section of the National Park. The rest of the time was spent on motorcycles traveling through the park and especially Route 120 to Tuolumne Meadows and down the awesome Tioga Pass and out to the small town of Lee Vining on the shore of Mono Lake. Another longer motorcycle ride went through the same area but we then headed north to Bridgeport, California and on up and over the Sonora Pass, one of four crossing points across the Sierra Nevada between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. From there it was on remote and sometimes barely paved backroads to the town of Twain Harte and then back to the National Park.

Riding and traveling by motorcycle is a wonderful experience that is different in subtle and not so subtle ways to the experience of driving in a car. You always have a sense that you are somehow just that bit closer to the surroundings you are traveling through and your senses are heightened as a result. You feel the subtle temperature differences when going up and down elevation, can literally have a better sense of smell as you ride with an open face helmet or with your shield open, and just generally feel more connected to your immediate surroundings because you are more exposed than you would be in a 4 wheel vehicle. We were on the constant vigil for wildlife especially along the lightly traveled backroads but the riding was absolutely wonderful and the scenery did not disappoint. We did see some of the effects of the wildfires and we greeted the firemen who passed by and also saw some of the basecamps that were utilised by the crews fighting the fires.

All in all a great time with longtime friends: motorcycling by day, camping and telling tall tales at night... makes for good times!

With the Ducati Paul Smart 1000 Limited Edition at Olmstead Point, Yosemite National Park. Notice Half Dome in the background.

Setting up our campsite in Yosemite Valley

Unloading a Ducati 900 Supersport CR

Hanging out at Olmstead Point. Honda CBR 1000 in the foreground and Ducatis in the background.

One more picture of Olmstead Point

Gas pitstop at Bridgeport, California with snow on the Sierra Nevada in the background.

Rest stop somewhere northwest of Yosemite National Park

Using a GPS unit to figure out where we are!

Up around 9000 ft. MSL just below the Sonora Pass.

2008 Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance

2008-06-16T00:24:00.000-07:00

I've wanted to attend the annual Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance the past several years since it is so close to home but it always falls on Father's Day and I usually have family commitments. Well, this year our family decided to celebrate on Saturday so Sunday was left free and I decided to have a look. The Rodeo Drive show is rather small by concours standards and took up roughly the two blocks between Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards. However, the quality as you might expect from this show was very high. I had a nice time strolling amongst some really high quality automotive beauties and also had time to chat with the folks at Ferrari/Maserati Beverly Hills and with classic car specialists at Gooding and Co.

Ok, here are some pictures to give you a flavor of the event:

At the north entrance of the show

60's Vintage Cobra Daytona Coupe. Just lovely!

Ferrari and Pininfarina. Classic combination!

60's Ferrari 250 GTO. 'nuff said.

50's Mercedes Gullwing 300 SL... another timeless beauty

Classics sit right next to modern Audi R8

Hanging out with the good folks at Ferrari/Maserati Beverly Hills and talking about... cars 'natch! How could you not when flanked by a Ferrari 599 and a Maserati Granturismo?

Still talking cars...

...and more car talk with the Gooding and Co. representatives about the magnificent yellow 1914 Stutz Grand Prix racer.

What car show would be complete in Beverly Hills without at least one uber-expensive and uber-exclusive Bugatti Veyron????

The Rodeo Drive show was actually quite relaxed. Sure, there were a lot of "beautiful" people hanging out as well but the cars were definitely the stars. Maybe I should bring my Ducati MH900e to the motorcycle corral next year. Hmmm... we'll see!

Karmina's Debut Album Is Now Available

2008-06-04T13:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know this is a bit off-topic on my site but I just had to post about my friends' new album that debuted yesterday. Kelly and Kamille Rudisill make up Karmina and both are supremely talented musicians/writers/singers. I've watched their careers blossom over the past couple of years and I am delighted that CBS Records has released their first album "Backwards Into Beauty" nationwide in the USA. Have a listen over at http://www.karmina.com/ or check out Amazon.com.

I also had the privilege to be on-set for part of the video shoot for "The Kiss", the first released single from the album. For those of you with a keen eye and know me well do you recognize someone in the video? Here it is:

Finally, here is a clip from CBS television's "The Early Show" that provides a short interview with Kelly and Kamille followed by a live in-studio performance.

News Flash! JCW MCS Takes a 1st Place Prize at Huntington Beach, California Concours d'Elegance on 1 June 2008!

2008-06-02T10:43:00.000-07:00

On the lawn

Waiting for the judges

Nervous time... Judges at work!

Keith (Concours Class Winner) on the left and I (Street Class Winner and Mr. Jet Lag) congratulated by famed MINI Hot Rod and Hollywood Vehicle Builder Fireball Tim

Parade of winners. Good company! Notice Keith's 2005 MINI Cooper S JCW/Alta right behind me.

Getting ready to take the spotlight and receive my trophy!

The 2008 Huntington Beach Concours d'Elegance 1st Place Glass Trophy

Ok, I knew it was going to be tough to get to the Huntington Beach Concours d'Elegance Car Show this year. I've missed it in the past because of the need to travel for business but the event has become a fairly regular show to attend and/or show a vehicle for me. I sent in my registration and fee just in-case I still wanted to attend even though it was just a day after my return from Europe. I knew that I'd be in no shape whatsoever to self-detail my MINI as I usually do for these types of events, so I contacted my friend Bill Debever at Transhine in Whittier, California (http://www.transhine.com/) while in Europe to see if he could take my car in on Saturday and detail it for Sunday's show. The car was already in need of a good detail (I detailed it last November upon the car's return from Europe) and Bill was going to have a stand at the show as well. The crew did an excellent job and suffice it to say the detail helped me garner a 1st place trophy and a bucket of detailing supplies for Best Modern MINI Cooper S in the "Street" (vehicle regulary driven) class. I showed JCW MCS at the HB show in 2005 in the "Concours" class and managed a third place trophy. Many miles and kilometers later it is satisfying to achieve a 1st place trophy. Bleary-eyed and jet-lagged I drove JCW MCS up to the stand to take the prize. It was worth the extra effort this year. Definitely!

Charley Boorman's bike from his and Ewan McGregor's latest motorcycle adventure. Love those guys!

Mid-1970's vintage bevel drive, square case, Conti exhaust, Ducati 750 Supersport. Bellissima!

For more info on the Huntington Beach Concours d'Elegance go to: http://www.hbconcours.org/. It usually takes a few weeks before the full winners list is posted.

Video Impressions from Europe, May 2008

2008-06-02T04:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a video that highlights just a few of the week's many events.

Vienna, Austria and Riva del Garda, Italy... and a review of the Skoda Roomster

2008-06-02T02:09:00.000-07:00

Stunning Alpine Scenery

On the road in Bavaria

Not all of the trip was about sobering 20th century history. We did spend a pleasant couple of days in Salzburg in the beautiful Salzkammergut area of Austria. I almost consider this part of Europe to be a second home (in addition to the Netherlands) as each time I return I grow more fond of the area. The culture and natural beauty is simply spectacular. After the all too brief stay in Salzburg it was on to Vienna for my biannual law school international reunion. An event I always look forward to, this year's reunion was quite simply the best yet. Good friends and accomplished professionals in their home countries, it is always a pleasure to meet and network and enjoy an interesting European city. We had a great time enjoying the Viennese nightlife. Two of the hip clubs we went to: Bar Italia and The White Line. Bar Italia had a nice lounge feel and the White Line had pretty people and great dance vibes. Check out Bar Italia and click on the video link to get an impression of this fashionable lounge.

Welcoming new Austrian graduates into the extended law school family at the opening dinner at the Vienna Radisson Hotel

Bar Italia, central Vienna after the reception/graduation dinner. The middle point of a very long night!

The party continues back at the hotel as the sun rises... almost time for breakfast!

Reception later in the day (after very little sleep!) at a Viennese law firm overlooking the Danube River and the city of Vienna

At the law firm reception

Entrance of a Viennese Heurigen (vineyard), site of the second evening's dinner and wine tasting. Turned out to be the first stop and then it was on to the nightclubs of Vienna... and another morning watching the sun rise before calling it quits! Don't believe anyone who says that attorneys don't know how to party!

From Vienna it was time to head across Austria to the Dolomites of Northern Italy and Riva del Garda for a business conference. Instead of driving the quicker route back west to Salzburg and over the Brenner Pass into Italy, I decided to travel south on the A2 via Graz (my home state of California Governor Schwarzenegger's hometown), Klagenfurt, Villach, and over the border to Udine, Verona and on to Riva del Garda. The drive was beautiful, especially near Villach and the Slovenian border. Northeast Italy is very industrial especially the region surrounding Venice and the traffic on the roads reflected this. Lots of freight on the move! After the hard weekend of VERY late nights in Vienna I needed to take a couple of breaks to get some seriously needed rest on the approximately 8 hour drive.

Beautiful scenery on the way to Italy

On the shores of Lake Garda in Northern Italy. Spectacular location to do business!

Business discussion at Riva del Garda

Several days of serious business talks followed in the supremely beautiful setting of Garda lake in the Trentino area of the Dolomites Mountains. Then it was back up through the Brenner Pass and Innsbruck Austria and then on to Munich for the return home.

Skoda Update:

So how did the Skoda fare over the 10 days of travel? I was pretty unimpressed during my initial encounter with the car. Rubbery shift feeling, long throws and a long reach to the shifter, a lack of steering feel, a top heavy feeling, all of the foregoing did not bode well for the Roomster. However, the 1.9 liter twin turbo diesel proved to be a fairly peppy motor and allowed me to pass a fair amount of traffic with gusto. I adjusted to the steering and though not a precision tool, enough feel exists to give confidence within the car's performance limits. The small tires and top heavy feel made me refrain from making quick maneuvers in favor of smooth inputs, especially at speed. The center armrest was a pain when in the down position since my elbow would always hit when I wanted to shift.

I attained approximately 180 kmh (111 mph) at about 4000 rpms (max approx 4500 rpm) on a derestricted portion of the German autobahn. Pretty good for a fairly high profile vehicle. Sure, I had to move over quickly for the true performance vehicles but torque and decent speed allowed for fairly easy overtaking.

Final verdict: After well over a one-thousand miles behind the wheel I found the Skoda Roomster to be a competent vehicle with decent space for luggage, roomy rear seats given the vehicle's size with good visibility and lots of glass, good fit and finish with quality VW feel, awkward styling, decent power, smoothness, and good fuel economy with highest spec diesel motor. Definitely not an enthusiast car, but it is a competent European travel companion.

Final Note

Before I sign off on this post I have to thank Jennifer for taking most of the photos and video. She joined me on this trip and also reconnected with several of my friends she got to know back in my post-grad study days and also helped with the business conference. Without her camera I'd have a lot less to post about!

Berchtesgaden, Germany

2008-05-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

The Skoda Roomster chased by an angry classic Mini on the road from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden

Remains of the driveway leading to Hitler's Berghof

The Berghof seen in a period photo. I stood in the area roughly shown as the driveway to the left.

All that remains above ground of Hitler's alpine mountain retreat

Blasted area of the tunnel complex which ran underneath the Berghof. German writing on the wall stated that this machine gun position was taken out by a "panzerfaust" or better known to us in the USA: a bazooka.

View from inside the bunker complex near the ruins of the Berghof. Here machine gun and observation slits can be clearly seen in the hallway. To the left: a kennel for protection dogs.

At a Berchtesgadener specialty brewery. Much lighter atmosphere after visiting the foreboding ruins of a brutal regime.

I'm spending my final night near Munich's international airport and I thought I'd put up a small update. This trip has been very busy so I haven't had much time to get online but the beginning of the trip was actually quite relaxed. Immediately after touching down in Munich we drove to Salzburg with the plan to visit famous sights from Mozart and the musical "The Sound of Music" but jet lag and feeling a little bit under the weather meant a LOT of rest.

Before departing for Vienna we did manage to get over to Berchtesgaden, Germany while driving in a steady rain. Although always a beautiful place, the alpine setting was obscured by the rainy and overcast weather. History buff that I am I made sure to visit the area of the Berghof (Hitler's mountain home), or what little is left of it, and explored the remaining passageways of the underground complex that protected and connected different sections of a vast complex. I was alone for quite awhile down in the tunnels. It actually felt very eerie to be alone and facing machine gun slits meant to protect the Nazi dictator. It really is hard to imagine that this beautiful and serene mountain setting was the focal point of so many decisions that had a ruinous impact on the modern world.

After the sobering visit to the Berghof it would have been nice to visit the Kehlsteinhaus "Eagle's Nest" at the top of Obersalzberg Mountain for more history and for the spectacular view but I thought it better to get on with the drive to Vienna because of the bad weather.

Before we left Berchtesgaden we made a stop at the Grassl Enzianbrennerei and tasted a few of the locally grown, brewed, and distilled root-based liquor products. Picked up a couple of bottles and hit the road to Vienna. For more visit: Enzianbrennerei Grassl.

More later as time allows!

Back to Europe in the Skoda Roomster

2008-05-22T15:21:00.000-07:00

The Skoda "Roomster" at Franz Josef Strauss Airport, Munich, Germany. Roomy for a small car yes, decent turbodiesel power, but darn if I don't miss the power of my MINI from last summer's blasts down the autobahn!

I'm in Europe on business and to attend a class reunion. It's good to be back even if only for a short stay! I arrived in Munich and immediately picked up my Skoda "Roomster" TDI at Hertz and drove over the border via autobahn (I already miss the passing power of my MINI!) into Austria and on to my old stomping ground of historic Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's birthplace and home of the von Trapps of "The Sound of Music". Mozart dominates the town as usual and I am always very happy to be in this wonderfully beautiful place. I hope to take a day out and head over to the magnificent vistas and intriguing WW2 history of nearby Berchtesgaden, Germany before getting back on the "schnellweg" to Vienna for a class reunion. After that it is over the border into Italy for a business conference.

If you are interested in the Czech Skoda (an offshoot of the VW Group) have a look at: Autoblog on the Roomster or on the official Skoda homepage at: Skoda Roomster. For a history of the Skoda car company which goes all the way back to 1894(!) visit Wikipedia at: Skoda Auto.

I hope to post more soon and add some more Roomster driving impressions!

Just before leaving the airport in Munich, Germany we came across this interesting BMW display. Given that Munich is the home of BMW finding this advert was not a huge surprise!

JCW MCS Gets a High Performance Camshaft

2008-05-15T23:18:00.001-07:00

I've been having issues with one of my O2 sensors as my "check engine light" has been on for a couple of weeks. I went up to Steve's Auto Clinic in North Hills, Calfornia (in the blazingly hot San Fernando Valley) to have the issue sorted and to take the opportunity to change oil and check all fluids prior to the summer driving season. I also have a Schrick camshaft sitting on my table that is just begging to be installed. Well, today is the day I decided to get all of it done.

The oil change and O2 sensor replacement was completed very quickly. The location of the sensors on the John Cooper Motorsport full exhaust system made access very easy.

The camshaft install was more intense but it was a fascinating experience to watch the engine head being removed and the valvetrain internals laid bare for the cam installation. The Schrick camshaft is tuned to remain smooth at idle and give a good punch from about 2500 rpm and on up to redline. A heavily modified car like mine should easily see between 5-10+ horsepower gain from the new cam install. I'll definitely have to get JCW MCS on a dyno to see just how far I've come from bone stock 168 horsepower to the original JCW 200 kit install back in 2004 to the JCW 210 upgrade to John Cooper Motorsport 225 HPD conversion to Cooper Motorsport sourced limited slip differential and light flywheel upgrades to the Schrick cam. Quite a bit of fettling under the bonnet I'd say!

I've posted some pictures to give you a flavor of the install process:

Faulty oxygen sensor replaced

On the lift surrounded by MINIs new and old and a very yellow '69 Camaro

Inspecting the valvetrain

New and old camshaft and various valvetrain parts

Schrick high-performance camshaft in-place

Steve and Junior completing camshaft installation

I've only had one drive with the new cam installed but I DEFINITELY feel a difference as I'm easily able to power-on chirp the front tires. I think I'm really gonnna like this engine modification...

JCW Clubman and Cooper S On Track

2008-04-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

Fun Video of the new generation JCWs on the racetrack. What?!? No supercharger whine??? I still need to get used to the turbocharger era...

2008 MINI Cooper S JCW vs. Renault Clio Cup

2008-04-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

Does the turbocharged "base" MINI Cooper S JCW have the speed and handling to take on the not-available-in-the-USA Renault Clio Cup? Tiff Needell and Jason Plato of Fifth Gear along with guest and awesome stunt driver Russ Swift (who performed amazing feats in the MINI at Mini United 2007) put the two cars to the test in the as-usual entertaining manner.

Video content is the property of Fifth Gear.

Berlin's Historic Airport Under Threat

2008-04-29T12:19:00.000-07:00

As part of my MINI United adventure in 2007 I traveled to Berlin, Germany. A fascinating city with its huge role during the 20th century, Berlin is home to many landmarks including Tempelhof Airport. I circled the airport in my MINI and drove by the memorial to the Berlin Airlift. The buildings are architecturally interesting and I think it would be a shame if the airport were to disappear. Sounds like this is not completely the case, but there is that possibility. Anyway, Reuters has a video that talks about Tempelhof Airport:

Maserati Day at Ferrari/Maserati Beverly Hills

2008-04-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, 12 April I was invited to drive the Maserati Granturismo (and Quattroporte GTS) by my friends at Ferrari/Maserati Beverly Hills. I've been eagerly awaiting this opportunity and the car did not disappoint. The event was elegantly organized and catered with wonderful Italian luxury goods on display when the guests weren't occupied with all the automotive engineering art all around.

Driving the Granturismo was quite easy. I thought the car's dimensions would be a little difficult to get used to but by two blocks I was comfortably rowing through the ZF auto transmission's Sport Paddleshift mode and maneuvering comfortably. Of course the stint behind the driver's wheel inside such an exquisite interior made me want more... and I look forward to the introduction of the Granturismo S with the the true manual paddle shift "Super Fast" gearbox out of the Ferrari 599 and the 440 hp 4.7 liter engine with revised suspension tuning. I can't wait for another drive!

The folks over at Beverly Hills put on a very nice event with some excellent gifts in the goodie bag we received as we left. I'll be sure to dogear the lovely Granturismo brochure and I'll be closely tracking the progress of the Granturismo S!

A MINI Vacation in Vegas (AMVIV) 2008

2008-04-02T11:37:00.000-07:00

JCW MCS at rest in Shoshone, California. It's a loooong way from Paris, France!

MINIs at rest in Death Valley, California at about 250 feet below sea level!

I spent several days last week in Las Vegas, primarily for the annual AMVIV MINI owner's event. Last year my car had problems before it even made it to Las Vegas so I spent a day checking out the vendor displays on the top deck of the Palace Station Hotel parking structure while awaiting the repair of my vehicle. More on that adventure can be read in the archives for March 2007 which can be accessed from the right frame of the main blog webpage or just click this link: March 2007.

This year I got a little more involved: I took the day-long excursion with countless other MINIs out from Las Vegas to Death Valley, California, and back via the small town of Pahrump, Nevada to make a stop at Mountain Motorsports Park, host of the first round of the North American MINI Challenge. A great day on the road.

Video of some of the weekend's events

The run from Las Vegas was a lot of fun. I've never driven with so many MINIs in one caravan and that includes my trip to MINI United 2007! After a rest stop in Shoshone, CA where a photojournalist enthusiastically photographed my car for possible magazine submission, the group made its way into the National Park. Visiting Death Valley for the first time (with a huge gaggle of MINIs!) was a very interesting experience. I have the factory navigation system in my car and to watch the altitude go from 3000+ ft MSL to -260 ft MSL in the span of fifteen minutes was amazing! As the altitude decreased I also watched the NAV screen show a corresponding increase in temperature. Interesting trivia indeed from the nav system!

It's gettin' hot and the altitude is in the negative!

MINIs on the road at Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California

Near Furnace Creek

After Death Valley it was off for the MINIUSA sponsored lunch and action on-track at Mountain Motorsports Park. I took JCW MCS on the track for a few laps and was able to notch up another racetrack that the car has turned a wheel on. Not necessarily as exotic as the Nurburgring in Germany but fun nonetheless!

Parked at the start/finish line of Mountain Motorsports Park in Pahrump, Nevada

I spent part of Saturday on the top floor of the car park at the Palace Station Hotel and spoke briefly with the folks at MC2 Magazine, Todd of White Roof Radio, and with RB at Twistybitz. RB has been on this site quite frequently and it was nice to meet him in-person and hear that his weekend was going well. Check out his website at http://www.twistybitz.com/.

The vendor display area on the top deck of the Palace Station Hotel and Casino

My MINI AMVIV visit was over but before I left Las Vegas I went over to the Wynn Hotel and Casino to drop by the Penske Ferrari/Maserati dealership. I was courteously received and was able to tour the showroom and get behind the velvet ropes to have a closer look at the Maserati Granturismo. The staff was very helpful and I got a heap of information about the car and some nuggets I hadn't known before. I'm serious about putting a deposit on the new S version due at the end of the year but I'm a couple of months away from being able to spec a car.

So, I got to play around for the weekend with cars, I didn't lose my shirt in the casinos, and had a great time. Good trip!

Maserati Granturismo S, Time to get serious!

2008-03-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

Well, it's here by the end of 2008, the car I really wanted Maserati to build. Not much more to be said but "Wow!". The GT's introduction at the recent Geneva Auto Show has piled on my desire to get behind the wheel of this drop-dead gorgeous machine. Time to get serious about putting a deposit down...

Overview of the Granturismo S

Edmunds.com impressions from the 2008 Geneva Auto Show

Old School Adrenaline Rush

2008-03-18T20:59:00.000-07:00

I just watched an old music video favorite and thought I'd post it here since news has been a bit on the slow side lately. Van Halen's "Dreams" accompanied by the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels (flying the previous generation A4 Skyhawk and not the F/A-18 Hornet) has always been one of my favorites. I've never posted anything related to my aviation interests (many of you know that I am a private pilot) and the combination of Van Halen's music and the Blue Angels' flying prowess has always been an adrenaline rush. I'd listen to Dreams as a motivator before driving the Skip Barber Formula Dodge racecars back when I was on-track frequently. Anyway, here it is:

And here's a modern version of the same video with the Blue Angels flying the F/A-18. I'm always amazed that the pilots don't wear G suits! :

Music copyright: Van Halen. Video footage courtesy of the U.S. Navy.

For more on the Blue Angels please visit: http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/

The Big Easy - Nouvelle Orleans

2008-03-10T12:04:00.000-07:00

I was on the road last week attending my industry's biggest North American Trade Show in New Orleans. Jennifer joined me to get an insight into the industry I'm working in and to get a taste (literally!) of New Orleans. I was pretty busy this year so there wasn't a lot of time to enjoy the city but there was time for dinner at Emeril's Restaurant in New Orlean's Warehouse District and Nuvolari's in nearby Mandeville across Lake Pontchartrain. A final morning walk in the Vieux Carre with stops at the Napolean House on St. Louis Street for Muffaletta sandwiches to bring back to L.A., Bourbon Street, the Waterfront, Canal Street, and time for cafe au lait and beignets at the Cafe du Monde at the corner of Jackson Square.

Business discussion

Jackson Square, French Quarter, New Orleans near Cafe du Monde

On Bourbon Street

Rainy February and the MCN Video Review of the Ducati 1098R

2008-02-24T14:57:00.000-08:00

Outdoor fun has been fleeting during the month of February... plenty of rain and the flu had me down and out. The Ferrari finally got on the road after basically being in storage for the last three months. Besides a perfect Sunday drive out to Malibu in the F355 on 10 February

Amanda's birthday drive in the F355 on the best Sunday in February

and a motorcycle ride down to Lake Elsinore and over Ortega Highway to the Orange County coastline on the Harley-Davidson V-Rod, I haven't gotten out much. The MINI's oil pressure gauge is acting up again so I might need to head over to Steve's Auto Clinic to have that issue sorted out. We'll see. I still need to get the Nurburgring sticker on the car!

I came across Britain's MCN (Motorcycle News) Magazine's video review about the Ducati 1098R. What a bike! Truly an awesome machine and backs up my conclusions about the beast.

Here it is for your viewing pleasure:

Video courtesy of MCN

Finally, today is Academy Awards day a couple of miles from my place. But back in the summer of 2006 I headed to Hollywood Boulevard to see the stars of MotoGP and the awesome Ducati race bike strut its stuff in front of the Kodak Theater. Here is a picture of that day that shows future world champion Nicky Hayden riding his Honda on the boulevard. Down the line (just past the outstretched hands and wearing sunglasses) you might find a familiar face (mine!) enjoying the event. I had returned from Italy and the Italian Grand Prix a month earlier and it was interesting to see the racebikes on the streets of L.A. instead of the rolling hills of Tuscany!

Nicky Hayden (not on his MotoGP bike) on Hollywood Boulevard

Picture from MotoGP.com, the official website of the MotoGP World Championship

Possible New Love?

2008-02-18T21:13:00.000-08:00

What am I talking about? Well with me it is usually something mechanical and yes folks, a new motorcycle has caught my eye. The Ducati 1098R is quite a beast. 186 hp with the racing exhaust, traction control (the first for a production motorcycle), MotoGP and World Superbike technology aplenty, this is one serious machine. Expensive...yes. I've heard that it's going to run about $40,000.00 in the US. No small change but nevertheless I keep mulling the possibilities and keep checking the piggy bank. Hey, at least it costs less than the $72,000.00 Desmosedici and I think it is a helluva lot sexier looking too! Beauty, brains, brawn, and exclusivity (hmmm... where can I find a woman like that?): what's not to like? Dealers are taking orders now...

Ducati 1098R

The stock clutch cover would last about 5 seconds on my bike before I put something better looking on!

Image courtesy of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.

Ducati Desmosedici unveiled!

2008-02-04T10:37:00.001-08:00

I received an invitation to attend the unveiling of the Ducati Desmosedici on 2 February. This bike is THE closest thing to a race specific machine available for the street. It's like owning a Mclaren F1 car with turn signals. Very expensive and very rare, the bike will surely see more "museum" time than street time. 200+ horsepower, MotoGP tech aplenty, the Desmosedici is like nothing else on the road. About 1500 will be built and they are all spoken for.

Pro Italia Motors in Glendale, California, a longtime and respected Ducati dealer, unveiled the first U.S. customer bike. Rumors have it that Tom Cruise has also taken delivery...

Update 24 February 2008

Here is the official Pro Italia video of the Desmosedici unveiling (you get a glimpse of me in my Ducati MotoGP Race Team shirt ogling the bike):

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Anyway, I got a few grainy pictures and a short video on my phone:

Nurburgring Revisited

2008-01-17T00:08:00.000-08:00

Most of you know that I have a passion for aviation, automobiles, and motorcycles. After going through my archive of files from last summer's European trip I came across more video (including in-car footage!) of the day at arguably the world's most difficult racetrack: the Nurburgring in Germany. I quickly put together a video montage that shows the L.A. MINI on a sighting lap of the 'Ring.

The 'Ring is notoriously tricky. Witness this 7 second lap (Warning: there is a bit of rough language) taken from the second entrance to the track:

If you want to see the 'Ring driven at its absolute best, then watch this clip. It's awesome stuff!

More about the 'Ring and the "One Lap of Europe" trip in the archives. Check out the June and July 2007 posts.

More from Taipei

2008-01-16T23:07:00.000-08:00

I've got a few more pictures from my recent trip to Taiwan to share with you that were taken on my last day on the island:

Statue of the late Chiang Kai-Shek, leader of the Nationalist Chinese and longtime leader of Taiwan (Republic of China)

Exterior of Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial. This was the "pitstop" on an episode of CBS television's "The Amazing Race" in January 2008.

Changing of the Guard at Taiwan's Martyrs' Shrine

Taiwanese Naval Honor Guard at the Martyrs' Shrine

Respectful moment at the Martyrs' Shrine. The Shrine is akin to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery near Washington D.C. The memorial remembers the Chinese who fought and died against colonialists, Imperial Japan, and the struggle against the communist Chinese.

Traditional Taoist Temple

The National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum houses the largest collection of Chinese culture and art in the world. Most of the collection was brought to Taipei from the Forbidden City in Beijing during the struggle between the Nationalist Chinese and the Communist Chinese during the late 1940's.

Taipei 101 and Shi'lin Night Market

2008-01-07T07:11:00.000-08:00

Traditional architecture within earshot of my hotel

Street scene, northwest Taipei

Taipei 101, world's tallest building

Outside observation deck, 91st floor, Taipei 101

View from 89th floor of Taipei 101, Grand Hotel upper right

The very chic and modern 6 story Taipei 101 Mall, directly connected to the tower

Your one-stop high-end shopping stop in Taipei. Cartier anyone?

Exterior of 101. Note R.O.C. Nationalist Flag

101

Shi'lin Night Market

Not far from the Grand Hotel, Taipei's largest "night market" takes place. Night markets are traditional Taiwanese shopping bazaars that go on well into the evening and can become quite busy. It is a great place to people watch and enjoy the sights and sounds of bustling Taiwanese night life. I relied on Sunny and Michael to introduce me to local cuisine that I would not have easily tried on my own. Exotic tastes of local fruits, candies, tapioca drinks, and local crab and spring rolls were all on the menu. Instead of going to a sit-down restaurant we spent our time going from stall to stall, snacking along the way and enjoying the shopping opportunities. A great evening out on-the-town!

Green mango and other exotic fruits

Eating an authentic spring roll... not the deep fried small variety available at home

Candies to take home and have with a cup of tea...

A tasty and exotic fruit that unfortunately I don't know the name of...

Ok, I can't mention one of my trips without a reference to motor vehicles:

Maserati/Ferrari stamp on Taipei 101

Caught a Taiwanese MINI Cooper at rest near the Shi'lin Night Market.

Taipei, Taiwan

2008-01-05T22:36:00.000-08:00

The Grand Hotel, Taipei, Taiwan

Photo credit: Taiwan Junior

Woke up to the Rose Parade on New Year's Day, caught a bit of the USC rout of Illinois in the Rose Bowl and then it was back off to the airport to catch a a flight to the Ilha Formosa, the "beautiful island" of Taiwan.

I'm in Taipei for a few days to attend the wedding of one of my post-graduate school friends.

I've never been to China before but my first impressions of Taipei are of a clean modern city. The wedding reception was held at the Grand Hotel, a famous Taipei landmark and visually interesting building with a history of intrigue dating back to the years after Taiwan established itself as the Republic of China in the face of communist victory on the mainland. Chiang Kai-Shek, the Nationalist leader of the Republic of China had the Grand Hotel built so that he could entertain dignitaries and foreign guests.

Imposing archway entrance to the Grand Hotel and view of Taipei City with the world's tallest building, Taipei 101, in the distance

The main foyer of the Grand Hotel and the wedding reception hall

My graduate school friend Sunny and her husband Michael during the reception

Taipei skyline with the world's tallest skyscraper, Taipei 101

The wedding reception was very elegant and traditional Chinese and I soaked up the cultural atmosphere. The first few minutes of the meal I felt self-conscious about my ability to use chopsticks properly... I've always been fairly proficient, but somehow I felt that I needed to not make an idiot of myself in front of my Taiwanese hosts. All went well, and I joked with the nice folks around me about feeling a little unnerved... especially when I was asked if I would need a fork and knife!

I'm very happy for my friend Sunny and I wish her and her husband Michael all the best now and in the future.

I have a few more days in Taiwan and I hope to see a bit more of the city including 101 and the National Palace Museum, home of the world's largest selection of Chinese art treasures. The Nationalist Government brought these items from the Forbidden City in Beijing after the Civil War, thus nowhere else in the world can one see such an expansive collection of Chinese art. A dinner with Michael and Sunny is also planned.

I'll try to update the website with photos.

Southeast Asia and Home for the Holidays

2008-01-05T15:19:00.000-08:00

Tropical Paradise

I want to start off by wishing all of you a happy New Year. May everyone enjoy much health, prosperity, peace, and well-being in 2008!

I was able to enjoy the Christmas and New Year's holiday with friends and family at home in Los Angeles before heading back to Asia. More on that later.

I'd promised to update the story about my trip to Indonesia so here it is in a nutshell:

Hindu Temple, Bali

The plan was to fly into Denpasar, Bali and spend a week on the island. On Bali I was able to visit the popular resort areas of Kuta, Sanur and Nusa Dua. Visits to Hindu temples, indigenous cultural performances, exotic cuisine, and rest and relaxation were all on the menu.

Ready to ride at Dewata Harley-Davidson, Kuta, Bali

While passing by the Bali Harley-Davidson dealership on the way in from the airport, I already knew that I'd have to ride a motorcycle. The islands are full of small displacement bikes and I'd get a whole new impression by getting myself out into the stream of traffic with the local population. I think the normal route to renting a bike in Bali would be to go on an organized tour. I chose to just ride baby...

I don't think that Harley rentals are common in Indonesia although the infrustructure is there. If you ride then you can easily rent with some preparation.

Make sure you have a current license and also an international driving license showing that you are large displacement motorcycle qualified. Bring gear with you or borrow and purchase gear at the dealer. Should there be any questions about experience and ability you may have to perform a short riding test. Insurance is included in the rental. It also helps to have an understanding of the local riding style and rules of the road! And by all means... have a sense of adventure!

For more Bali motorcycling information click on this link: Dewata Harley-Davidson

Kintamani Caldera with volcano, Bali

After the visit to Bali, an overland excursion was undertaken to really get to know the island of Java. Now I've been to Indonesia before but only experienced it from the most populous and tourist-oriented places. While the trip took me to many of those same places, I received a new-found respect for the beauty, culture, history, and geology of these fascinating islands. Java is a large and densely populated island dotted with rice fields, palm trees, exotic fruits , rare wildlife, and stunning geography.

Local temple resident, Bali

Mountainside Terraces near Malang, East Java

The people are warm and friendly, and never more so than when I scaled the mighty Borobudur temple in Central Java near the city of Yogyakarta. A temple of Bhuddist origin in this predominantly Muslim country with magnificent views of the mountains surrounding it, Borobudur is a must-see on an Indonesian itinerary. While at the temple and especially at the top, many visitors noticed that I wasn't "local". They were keen to speak English with me and fascinated to know that I came from Los Angeles. They wanted to know about L.A., but even more so about how I felt about the people and Indonesia in general. I really enjoyed these brief exchanges and photo opportunities (it did make me feel like a celebrity of sorts) and I viewed the exchanges as a way to build bridges with other cultures apart from the all the stereotypes we have about each other when viewed from afar.

View from the Borobudur Temple, Central Java

Street Life, Yogyakarta, Central Java

Continuing west from Yogyakarta we stopped in Baturaden, another majestic mountain retreat and then on to the city of Bandung and the resort area of Lembang. Rest and relaxation and visiting with relatives occupied my time and then it was off to the metropolis of Jakarta and then back to the USA.

Baturaden, Central Java

Mt. Slamet Volcano, Baturaden, Central Java

The politics of the world have taken a toll on Indonesian tourism and that much is evident from my own memories and past experiences. I didn't see as many western tourists as I had in the past. True, tourism is experiencing a slow resurgence, but the 2002 Bali bombings act like a lingering hangover. The Balinese are a warm and hospitable people as are the people of Java. Indonesia is doing quite a bit to maintain a safe atmosphere and the recent United Nations World Climate Conference went off without a hitch on Bali.

If you are looking for a different, exotic, and eye-opening journey, I cannot recommend Bali and Java enough.

Java, Indonesia

2007-12-14T09:19:00.001-08:00

At the Borobudur Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near the Imperial city of Yogyakarta in Central Java

I'm running short of time tonight and the eyelids are getting heavy. A more in-depth report about my current travels will have to wait for another day.

Stay tuned!

Crossing the Bali Strait between the islands of Java (left) and Bali (right). Notice the volcano in the distance.

Javanese Beauties in traditional dress.
I could get used to this!

Beautiful Bali

2007-12-14T06:39:00.000-08:00

Tanah Lot Temple Sunset

I was lucky to capture this image of a beautiful West Coast Bali sundown

Thirteen years after my first visit to this magical island I have the privilege to once again take in the beauty and mysticism of this tropical paradise. It turns out that the touristic areas of the island are quite busy due to the United Nations Climate Change Conference currently wrapping up in Nusa Dua.

Bali is, if anything, more beautiful than I remember. Unfortunately, the island has suffered in the years since the 2002 Bali bombing that captured worldwide headlines but the island still has so much to offer the savvy traveler: full service resorts, fascinating local culture and history, and natural beauty aplenty.

I took the opportunity to view cultural performances, eat exotic cuisine, and travel to the edge of a volcano. I also had the opportunity to ride a Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe around the island. What an adventure! Balinese traffic is on the left (just like the UK) and that was a new experience. Take into account the crowded roads of trucks and tons of 125 cc scooters/mopeds and some rather chaotic driving tactics and riding a big Harley becomes a whole new ballgame. A Harley is a rare but respected sight on Indonesian roads. Well beyond the reach of most Indonesians, the Harley motorcycle carries a mystique as the "king" of motorcycles.

Riding a big HD on such a magical island is something that few get to experience. The fact that I had to drive through tropical downpours further added to the adventure and I hope to do it again soon!

Harley Softail at rest near Sanur Beach

Taking refuge during a tropical downpour

Filling up at the local Pertamina Gas Station near Kuta Beach

Driving up the coast on the way to Java gives some stunning views of the Indian Ocean

One of the local Balinese residents

Lucky me with several Balinese dancers

Photo Problem Update

2007-12-09T07:13:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note this evening. The most likely problem with my photo uploads is the atrocious upload rate that I'm having here in southeast Asia. Coming down the pipeline is fine, but uploading anything beyond a simple e-mail takes quite a lot of time. I'll hope for a quick connection somewhere along the way but I may have to wait until I get back to give a full rundown about this trip.

Bali, Indonesia

2007-12-07T02:52:00.000-08:00

Balinese Sculpture at Sanur Beach, Bali

A few hours after leaving the L.A. Auto Show I was on a plane bound for Asia. First stop Tokyo, then on to Singapore, followed by a flight to the exotic Indonesian island of Bali the next day. I'm here in Southeast Asia for three weeks and will travel on the islands of Bali and Java.

I'll have much more to share with you when I can figure out why Blogger is not accepting my picture uploads and I do have something motorcycling related to share as well.

Let's just say it involves riding big American iron in a very exotic locale not experienced by very many riders!

Blog Downtime and Image Upload Problems

2007-12-07T02:47:00.000-08:00

Hi folks,

I've been trying to update my blog for several days now but I am having constant uploading issues. Bear with me as I sort things out because I have some interesting adventures to share. Stay tuned!

2007 Los Angeles Auto Show

2007-11-29T07:09:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, 25 November, I headed down to the L.A. Convention Center to see the Maserati Granturismo in the flesh for the first time. I wasn't disappointed... except for the colors of the showcars. The Granturismo is even larger than I expected but my infatuation with the exotic Italian continues.

I also took a look a the MINI Clubman and the new V8 powered BMW M3 and the 1 Series Coupe. I liked the cars and all three should do well in the Southern California auto market.

My car "of the moment" the Maserati Granturismo next to one of my favorite vehicle brands

The MINI Clubman... soon at a dealership near you

M3 V8: Probably will see a lot of these in SoCal

The 1 Series Coupe: "Entry" Level BMW

CNN Does Extensive Ducati Coverage

2007-11-24T20:45:00.000-08:00

CNN did a lengthy piece about Ducati and the 2007 MotoGP World Championship winner Ducati rider Casey Stoner on a segment of the show "Art of Life" hosted by anchor Monita Rajpal. Monita speaks with Livio Lodi, the director of the Museo Ducati and a gentleman that I met on one of my previous visits to Ducati.

Have a look at CNN's "Art of Life" by clicking on the link:

CNN's Art of Life: Ducati

Ferrari are World Champions!

2007-11-24T20:32:00.000-08:00

I know that this is old news now but on the heels of Ducati's triumph in MotoGP, Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen managed to reel in the manufacturer's and driver's trophies in Formula 1.

What a good year to be a fan of the Scuderia Ferrari and the bikes from Borgo Panigale!

Molto Bene!

The Best of France and Italy

2007-11-24T19:25:00.000-08:00

Another great event that took place on November 4th was the "Best of France and Italy" car show. After the Hansen Dam ride my friend Dodi and I rode our bikes over to the car show to peruse the beautiful vehicles on display. Of course my love of Italian machinery runs deep and there were all kinds of gorgeous cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Fiat. To tell you the truth I was more taken by the very rare (for the North American continent) French vehicles on display. So much so that I realized that I didn't have a single photo of an Italian car. If you would like more information on this event check out the official website: Best of France and Italy .

I might show a bike or car next year...

Anyway here are a few pictures from the show:

Hansen Dam British Bike Meet

2007-11-24T18:32:00.000-08:00

On November 4th the Hansen Dam British Bike Meet took place in the San Fernando Valley. This is a great event which focuses on vintage bikes from the United Kingdom. There were a few modern and classic Italians in attendance, including my Paul Smart 1000 LE.

Here are a few photos:

My #16 waving the Italian flag in a sea of British machinery

If Nortons, Triumphs, Vincents, Royal Enfields, and BSAs are your passion then this was definitely the event to attend.

L.A. MINI Returns Home to Southern California!

2007-11-08T10:51:00.000-08:00

JCW MCS back on terra firma in Los Angeles. Notice the Alfa Romeo Racer in the background

Last Friday I finally had the chance to drive JCW MCS. It was the first time since early August that I'd been behind the wheel. The car was very dusty and there was a minor issue with the front wheel arch reflectors that I had repaired at Long Beach MINI at nearly no cost. Beyond that the car is in great shape.

It feels good to have the car home and it is extra special to get in the car knowing that I've been in some of the great European capitals in the same vehicle... even if I'm only making a run to the local mall.

What a great experience this trip has been!

JCW MCS hits the road in L.A. once more!

Getting ready to drive home

Not the local gendarmerie, carabinieri, polizei or politie, but L.A. County's finest...

Time to Update the Blog

2007-11-06T13:04:00.000-08:00

Cousin Kenny from Holland and family and friends get together at my place.

Greetings all,

I've been pretty busy the past several weeks with moving house, entertaining relatives from overseas, and work. I need to sit down and get up-to-date with my auto/motorcycle news.

Specifically: the MINI is back!

I'll have pictures to post about the MINI and last weekend's Hansen Dam British Motorcycle event and the Southern California All French and Italian Car Meet.

Stay tuned!

16 October: MINI Due in Port of Los Angeles

2007-10-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

The APL Turquoise with JCW MCS on board in New York City in September.
Photo copyright of Tom Turner

The APL Turquoise off the coast of Baja California yesterday.

JCW MCS should make landfall today after being away since last May. What a journey! I'm still about a week away from getting behind the wheel since U.S. Customs and Dept. of Homeland Security have to do their thing first. The car will then be shipped to a warehouse in Paramount, CA where I will pick the car up. Can't wait!

On the Way to the Panama Canal

2007-10-10T17:24:00.000-07:00

As of 8 October JCW MCS is in the Carribean Sea and on the way to Panama. I'm sure the car is either in or through the canal as I type this update.

More MINI Tracking Info

2007-10-06T23:28:00.000-07:00

I've been quite busy with moving into my new place so I need to keep things short. JCW MCS is down off the coast of Florida and the Bahamas. I'm sure the ship will enter the Gulf of Mexico soon and makes it way towards the Panama Canal.

F430 Scuderia

2007-10-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

Ferrari unveiled the F430 Scuderia at the recent Frankfurt Auto Show. The successor to the 360 Challenge Stradale and the pinnacle of th V8 Ferrari where less (weight, mass, spartan ergonomics) is truly more, the F430 Scuderia sure sounds impressive in this video from Road & Track Magazine. Although I prefer the standard F430 from an aesthetic viewpoint I still like the F430 S... but those stripes need to be WHITE and the wheels need to be polished.

For a video of the car in action click here: Road & Track Behind the Wheel of the F430 Scuderia

Photo and video courtesy of Road & Track Magazine

Tracking the MINI

2007-10-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

As of 1 October JCW MCS is somewhere off the coast of Massachusetts and headed down the eastern seaboard of the United States.

Ducati: Campioni del Mondo!

2007-10-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

2007 has been a great year to be a Ducati owner/fan! A little over a week ago Ducati clinched the MotoGP World Championship at Motegi Raceway in Japan with Australian rider Casey Stoner. All Stoner had to do was finish ahead of the great Valentino Rossi and the title was his. Loris Capirossi, the other accomplished Ducati factory rider, managed to take home the win and Ducati had reached the pinnacle of motorcycling motorsport! Bravo!

I've been to the factory several times, the most recent being this past summer with the MINI. I found this video of the early morning title race event that took place at the gates to the factory. Definitely more crowded than when I was there! It must have been a great day to be in Bologna, especially with all those Ducs on the streets making that wonderful v-twin desmo sound. Have a peek at the day's events:

I feel like gettin' on the bike now...

Top photo and video courtesy of Ducati

Where's the MINI?

2007-09-26T13:41:00.000-07:00

JCW MCS is indeed making the voyage home to California. The MINI left the port of Rotterdam on 21 September and is due back in L.A. on 16 October. The latest position of the car? It's located somewhere to the south of Ireland and making its way out into the Atlantic.

So why did it take so long for the MINI to get on a ship to go home? If you've followed the story of our adventure to Europe you realize that the cost of getting the car to Amsterdam was exponentially more than planned. Our shipping partner in Rotterdam informed me about the possibility of sharing container space with another car headed to L.A. but I would have to wait until late September for the car to leave Rotterdam. I immediately jumped at the opportunity to save a bit of money (anything helps with the horrid US Dollar/Euro exchange rate!) at the expense of getting the car home earlier.

Indeed, I do miss the MINI but now I'm only a few weeks away from driving the car again.

Maserati Granturismo Video Review on Fifth Gear

2007-09-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite television shows out of the UK (the other being Top Gear), Fifth Gear presenter Tom Ford discusses the new Maser GT. The review does nothing to stem my automotive lust for this car... especially in blue!

Video courtesy of Fifth Gear.

JCW MCS Finally Has a Return Date

2007-09-21T17:23:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, but I've been busy settling in at my new home and that endeavor has been taking up a lot of free time. I do have news about my MINI: it should be back in L.A. on October 16. Why such a long time since the end of my journey in Europe? I'll tell more and post the latest photos of the car still in-port in Rotterdam when I get a chance.

I'm just happy that I'll see the car less than a month from now!

MC2 (Squared) Magazine MINI United Coverage

2007-09-08T14:26:00.001-07:00

The September/October 2007 issue of MC2 (Squared) Magazine should be hitting store shelves soon or is already available and this latest edition has extensive coverage of summer's major MINI happening in Holland. A good read and we even got our picture and some coverage in the magazine! More to come about our European adventure in upcoming issues so stay tuned. In the meantime head down to Borders or Barnes and Noble or your favorite magazine reseller and pick up a copy of MC2.

If you want to see more MC2 coverage of the events at MINI United on the internet then click on this link:

MC2 Does MINI United Zandvoort

Fiat 500 Comes to the US by 2010?

2007-09-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

The Fiat 500

I just finished reading my copy of Winding Road Magazine. If you haven't seen this digital monthly and like cars then you owe it to yourself to check it out.

The October issue spends time with two cars that I really like: the Fiat 500 and the Maserati GranTurismo. Both get big thumbs up.

The Maserati is just plain beautiful. Period. An outstanding exterior and interior and a lovely Ferrari sourced motor under the bonnet have me trying to figure out how to get one in the garage. Build quality that meets or exceeds high German standards and gorgeous mechanicals pretty much qualifies the Maser as a potential future classic.

The 500 has me musing about the possibilities of driving the little Fiat stateside. On the opposite side of size and cost when compared with the Maser, the little Fiat still scores big points for style and flair. The design of the new 500 is closer to its original roots than even the new MINI is to its original DNA. The car is smaller than the MINI but oozes just as much charisma and panache as its English rival. The 500 slots itself between the Smart Car and the MINI in terms of size but with the growth of the "premium" small car segment in the U.S. Fiat may be able to capitalize and borrow a page from MINI's experience. I've already seen a few on the roads of Rome this summer and I really like the idea of the 500 as a city car. The possibility of the performance (Abarth) 500 coming to the United States by 2010 is tantalizing indeed.

I'll always love the MINI but the lure of Italia is hard to resist...

Maserati GranTurismo

To read more including news about Ferrari's future plans go to: Winding Road

Wall Street Journal "Premium" Small Car Article

2007-08-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

The Wall Street Journal has printed an article about the "premium" small car, the segment that is dominated by the new MINI, and its future direction in the USA. An interesting article with one notable error. Mercedes is not, it is true, in the market with a small "premium" car under the Mercedes label. However, the Smart Car is coming in 2008 and this is a Mercedes product.

Anyway, the article is worth a read:

Wall Street Journal, Small Is Big in Luxury Cars

Here is a video about the "new" luxury compact segment:

Video courtesy of the Wall Street Journal

Automotive Industry Input

2007-08-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

I was asked over the weekend to participate in an automotive marketing research session here in the Los Angeles area. Yesterday I spent about three hours discussing cars (not hard to get me going on this topic!). I need to leave the details confidential but let me say that I enjoy giving my .02 to hopefully steer engineers, designers, marketers, and industry officials in the right direction with future products and services.

Official MINI United 2007 Recap Video

2007-08-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

For anyone with a love for the MINI here is an official video review of the events at Zandvoort. MINI United was definitely the place to be last June. My MINI even makes a brief appearance. Well, the license plate anyway...

Enjoy!

MINI United 2009... Are you ready?

Video courtesy of the MINI United Team

The MINI United 2007 Car Wash

2007-08-27T01:22:00.000-07:00

I came across this video while looking at some of the MINI United clips on YouTube. I was supposed to receive a car wash for JCW MCS on Sunday as part of my gift package for bringing the car all the way from the U.S. and because the car was probably "really dirty" from the trip. See my post on 25 June 2007 titled "A Nice Birthday Surprise" for a video of the birthday surprise from the main stage at MINI United. Unfortunately Sunday it rained most of the day and I never did get that car wash...(sigh)

Anyway, here is the clip of a classic MINI with its smiling driver inside enjoying the wash. I remember watching this particular car and its happy occupant because I was parked near the stage.

Thanks to noctua on YouTube for the clip.

Number Plate Relocation Installation

2007-08-26T17:44:00.000-07:00

It's been a bit quiet on the blog lately as I've been back in the "normal" routine and haven't been doing "fun" things with the vehicles. Not as much as I have in the past few months actually...

I did pick up a license plate relocation kit from Moss Motors and installed the item on Jennifer's car while she is out-of-town. I have a similar unit on my car as can be seen on the travel pictures from Europe. This is a really nice item; it is especially so if you do not already have the stock center mount license plate bracket already on the car. Jennifer's car never had the front plate mounted so there are no drill holes on the front bumper. The relocation kit provides a way of keeping the car legal since California requires a front and back number plate and it also allows the car to maintain the clean look without drilling into the bumper. The installation is a simple 10 minute job.

Here are some pictures:

Lower grill mounting point with tow hook plug removed

Kit prepared for installation

Mounting bracket installed

Number plate on the car looks good and will keep the authorities and the Department of Motor Vehicles happy
(notice the MINI United Zandvoort mirror caps)