A MINI Vacation in Vegas (AMVIV) 2008

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!

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

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

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

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?

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!

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

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

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

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

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.