JCW Clubman and Cooper S On Track

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

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

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

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

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!