Wall Street Journal "Premium" Small Car Article

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

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

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

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

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)

Ferrari Challenge, California Speedway, Fontana California

F430 Challenge Car on track

Interview with a local newspaper reporter after returning from the lapping session on-track

The F355 Spider in good company

Today I had the opportunity to drive yet another racetrack... my third racecourse this summer. First was Zandvoort in the Netherlands, then the Nuerburgring in Germany, and today was the California Speedway east of Los Angeles. Jennifer also decided to join me for the day's events.

Ferrari had its annual Southern California round of the Ferrari Challenge, a race series for Ferrari F430 V8 cars. Supporting categories showcased the classic Ferrari racecars from earlier eras.

While at the track I had the chance to drive our F355 Spider for several laps with other Ferrari owners and enthusiasts. The event was a treat and the atmosphere was relaxed and casual.

Although my focus was on the Cavallino Rampante and all things Ferrari today, I couldn't help but notice that there were several MINIs in the parking lot as well!

Sights and Sounds and an in-car lap during the Ferrari Challenge at the California Speedway

State College, Pennsylvania

At Clem's BBQ in Central Pennsylvania

Well I just got home from Europe and a few days later I was back on a plane... this time to go on a business trip to visit V.I.C.s (Very Important Clients). Heck, I've got to pay off the European adventure!

I've spent the last few days in State College, PA (home of the Penn State Nittany Lions). I'm also off to Indiana for a few days before getting back to California. While in State College we stopped at a small restaurant named Clem's BBQ. The food is simple, the eating accommodations even simpler, but with food this tasty who cares? Definitely a must stop if you're in the central Pennsylvania area. Clem's is near State College on Route 220.

Back in California

On the lift at Steve's Auto Clinic

Installing MINI United Zandvoort Mirror Caps

Looks really good on Jennifer's car

Cleaning up the decal installation

Applying the MINI United 2007 rear window decal

Nuerburgring decal... Jennifer is a 'Ring veteran

Job done

We're home again and getting over our jet lag. I even got out on the motorcycle for a blast through our local hills the day after getting back. Within hours of getting home Jennifer brought her car into Steve's Auto Clinic to have the clutch replaced and to get new pads and rotors. She decided to go with EBC Green pads and slotted front rotors. The car feels really nice with the fresh new bits.

Today was time time to put MINI United mirror caps on Jennifer's car. Additionally we mounted the MINI United 2007 rear window sticker and put Jennifer's "badge of honor" Nuerburgring sticker on the car. It was nice putting these items on as a way to remember the remarkable trip that we have just completed. I can't wait to put my Nuerburgring sticker on JCW MCS when it comes home!

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

A view we won't be seeing soon: old and new windmills alongside the freeway

Looks like this will be my last post from Europe. We're checked into our hotel next to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and relaxing before tomorrow's flight home.

Earlier in the day we left the Hague to check into our hotel, drop off the luggage, and then head down to Rotterdam to drop off the car at the shipping company.

As I was packing the car I noticed a work van parking nearby in the parking lot of the complex where we were staying. I noticed that the driver had gotten out of the car and was looking in my direction with a shocked expression on his face. I looked back and it just so happens that my cousin Ken had arrived to work in a nearby townhouse. He didn't know that we were staying close by and he just happened to show up as I was loading the car! Now, Holland is a small country... but it definitely isn't THAT small! This was not planned at all so the odds of this happening were tiny. Well, we had a chance to chat and say our goodbyes again. Definitely a huge surprise for all of us!

Cousin Ken's Surprising Visit

After getting the car loaded we drove to Schiphol to drop off our luggage and check into the hotel. We first stopped by Hertz at the airport to say "hi" to our good friend Brian. He's originally from Pasadena, California but has spent many years living in the Netherlands. We thought we'd bring the L.A. car by before dropping it off. It's not a sight he sees everyday and he does see plenty of cars!

Dropping by Hertz at Schiphol Airport to bring a bit of California to our friend Brian who originally came from Pasadena, California but now works and lives in the Netherlands

After visiting with Brian it was off to the hotel. We dropped off our luggage before heading down to the port of Rotterdam.

A picture for "rb": a fully loaded MINI for a six week jaunt through Europe.
Actually, we didn't have quite as much on our road trip and I always had a good view out the back. If you remove the duffel bag on top and the rear shelf then that would more closely resemble how the car looked when fully loaded

We finally made it to the port and dropped off the car.

Checking the car in at the shipper's office and making sure there are no dents, dings or scratches!

After the car was dropped off we took the train back from Rotterdam to the Hague. We visited with our good family friends Maude, Ferry, and Bob. After the visit it was time for dinner and then it was back to the airport area and our hotel.

Jennifer with Maude, Bob, and Ferry

Next stop: Los Angeles

What an adventure! I'm glad I've had the chance to share this trip with all of our friends, both new and old, and with our family. A special thanks needs to go out to our parents Ben and Nel for supporting us in making this adventurous idea a reality. Without their support we could never have made this trip.

The sun sets on our European adventure

We'll see you back in California!

The Hague and Eindhoven

At ANAC Car Wash in Eindhoven, the Netherlands in preparation for shipment back to the United States

We spent the day taking care of more end-of-trip errands. Jennifer stayed in the Hague to get some rest and did some shopping during the day and I made one last trip to Eindhoven in southern Holland to visit family.

It turned into a very pleasant day here in Holland with good weather and time spent with family. I am looking forward to being back in my normal routine at home but it is a little sad that this wonderful adventure needs to end.

In preparation for delivering the car to the shipper in Rotterdam I decided to have the car washed one last time at ANAC Car Wash in Eindhoven. The evening drive back to the Hague was pleasant with a beautiful sunset and light traffic. A nice way to spend my final extended drive in Holland!

Our last full day will be spent taking care of final trip preparations. By tomorrow afternoon I will have to say goodbye to JCW MCS for about six weeks... I know I'll miss the car when I'm back in L.A.!

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

At the Cafe Stobbe

We spent the last few days relaxing and enjoying the fact that we didn't have to go through the loading/unloading routine with our luggage!

Time to rest, relax, go shopping, do some laundry, and in general try to slow things down after such a hectic month on the road.

I did visit our shipping company near Rotterdam to get initial paperwork and logistics taken care of. Everything is going smoothly and I'll have the car until Wednesday, the day before we depart from Schiphol airport.

Jennifer and I then had a late lunch at the Cafe Stobbe in Rotterdam, a great little restaurant where I used to eat regularly when I worked and lived in the area. For a mini review of the restaurant click below:

Cafe Stobbe

From there we headed eastward to the Arnhem area for dinner with family.

The Hague, The Netherlands

Spotted!!!

Spotted by a Mini2.info reader while on the autobahn heading towards the Netherlands!

Well, we're back in Holland and begin our final week of L.A. MINI's "one lap" of Western Europe. It's been a great trip and now I've got to wrap things up and get ready to ship JCW MCS home and get Jennifer and myself on a plane back to Los Angeles. We'll probably try to rest a bit and JCW MCS will likely be used to visit family and friends before being dropped off at the port of Rotterdam.

I just noticed that we were spotted on the autobahn the other day.

Click on this link:

MINI2.info (site is in German!) to see the full text.

Also, http://www.bridgetogantry.com/ has published a small article about JCW MCS' visit to the Nuerburgring Nordschleife. Click on: http://bridgetogantry.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1&limit=4&limitstart=4 to see the article!

Cologne, Germany

We wrap up our visit to Cologne today and will make our way back to the Netherlands. Although we did not spend much time in Cologne, we did take the opportunity to visit the massive Cologne Cathedral. It still is the church that most impresses me due to its sheer size. We also spent some time in the central shopping district next to the cathedral.

The Cologne Cathedral (Koelner Dom)

Nuerburgring Nordschleife!

Photos courtesy of http://www.bridgetogantry.com/

One item marked on my "to do" list has always been to drive the fabled Nuerburgring in the Eifel Mountains of western Germany. Of course in my daydreams I drove my own car or motorcycle. Well, today that dream became a reality when JCW MCS turned four laps at the historic, famous, and notoriously long and dangerous racecourse. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on-track even though I didn't push the car that hard. Still, I've never seen that much brake dust on my wheels after such a relatively short drive! My concentration level was pretty high since I had to deal with learning the track (pretty much impossible in a few laps) and dealing with all the fast motorcycles and race-prepped supercars. I've done laps at the Nordschleife on the computer so I had a familiarity with the general layout but all the subtle camber changes and the real "sight picture" all needed to be processed. Also, the utmost desire to bring JCW MCS home to the USA in one piece kept my throttle foot in-check. Nevertheless, I won't soon forget my day at the 'Ring.

Entering the staging area
Parking Lot

Impressions of the Nuerburgring from the Staging Area

Berlin to Cologne

At the Reichstag, seat of the German Government

At the Brandenburg Gate, symbol of Berlin

Today was spent primarily on the road. We started the day with a rainy morning drive around Berlin. The object was to get a picture of the car at the Brandenburg Gate and to find the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall. Because of the weather photo conditions were less than ideal, but we did manage to get a few pics.

The Berlin Wall near the Ostbahnhof in eastern Berlin

After checking out of the Berlin Hilton we drove past Tempelhof Airport. Formerly the main airport of Berlin, Tempelhof is now facing closure. The airport itself is interesting from an architectural perspective as it is an example of mid-1930's German design. It is also an historic location since it was the airport that sustained West Berlin during the Berlin Airlift.

Next, we drove west towards our pitstop for the evening: Cologne. Along the route of travel on the A2 Autobahn we stopped at the former primary auto entry point into East Germany. First we saw the "German Unity" Sculpture in a rest area on the West German side of the border.

German Unity Sculpture

We then ventured to the former GDR Checkpoint that is maintained as a memorial. You can get a better impression by watching the video:

Tonight and tomorrow night will be spent here in Cologne. During the day tomorrow: the Nuerburgring

Berlin

We took a drive around Berlin at mid-day to get an impression of this large and impressive city with its cultural, political, and historical landmarks.

Berlin Drive

We also had a chance to grab a bite to eat with my friend Joerg, an old law school friend and Berliner living and working as an attorney in the city.

Robert and Joerg

Munich to Berlin

Heading towards 130 MPH/220KPH on the Autobahn


Dachau and High Speed on the Autobahn

We spent the morning relaxing at the hotel and waiting for the best time to avoid rain along our route. By the early afternoon we were on the road again and making our way up the spine of Germany to the north from Munich to Berlin. My longest stretch so far on the autobahn, we had a five hour drive ahead.

Our first stop upon leaving Munich was a very sobering and reflective one: Dachau. The name itself has become as infamous as Auschwitz in Poland. To be in a place of such incredible cruelty and one of the greatest examples of man's inhumanity towards man, Dachau was unforgettable. At the site there is a plaque that simply reads: Never Again.

Prisoner entrance with the infamous inscription "Work Sets You Free"

The Gatehouse where all victims entered the concentration camp.

For the sake of a better world may we never forget what happened there.

Back on the road we made our way up the freeway and gave in to the lure of a burger and fries at Burger King after I pulled in to fuel the car. High speeds don't do fuel economy any favors...

I also had my first run-in with the police while parked at Burger King. They blocked my car and asked to see "my papers". They had noticed the odd license plate and being a small town of course, decided that they had better check things out. No problems and they were courteous. Thanks to Jennifer I have a photo of the police trying to figure out all that U.S. paperwork.


"Ihre Papiere bitte" German Police try to make sense of the California Car


Long freeway drives and fast food just seem to go hand-in-hand.


The rest of the day was spent on the road enjoying the scenery of Bavaria, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. We crossed a bridge on the autobahn that served as the former border of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic (Communist East Germany). The A9 Autobahn did not serve as a major conduit between the two nations so the former border caught me by surprise and we weren't able to snap pictures in time. Perhaps the more famous east/west autobahn crossing we'll be able to capture later on our way back to the Netherlands.

We finally made it to Berlin Mitte late in the evening.

Munich, Germany

Yesterday we made our way down part of the Romantische Strasse to the Neuschwanstein castle and then on into Munich. I failed to mention earlier that the "service engine soon" light has been off since we left Salzburg. I think that the extreme heat (40 degrees C!) of southern Europe caused the light to go on even though the diagnostic check showed no issues. Cooler temps appears to have resolved the problem.

Today, the sun was shining so we took advantage of the good weather to get out before the rain came down again. Our first stop: MINI Muenchen located right next to BMW Worldwide headquarters.

Parked in front of MINI Munich

I chatted with Maria, the attractive and knowledgeable MINI representative...

looked around the showroom...

and then drove to the famous 4 cylinder BMW headquarters for a picture.

BMW and Beer

Later in the day we took a guided tour around central Munich to catch a glimpse of sights we would otherwise miss and then Jennifer and I left the keys to the MINI at the hotel and had a fun evening out at the Hofbraeu. See the video to get a flavor of the good times there.

Savoring the Hofbraeu specialty...