Perfect Color Match For Your Neglected Collectible Car

[Source: CarDomain]

Daffodil Hill Run March 20, 2010 - Sign Up Now!

Don't miss NorCal MINIs' Saturday, March 20, 2010 Daffodil Hill Run. We will meet at MINI of Concord at 9:30 a.m., and reach Daffodil Hill around noon. Bring a picnic lunch and we will eat at the State Park. Here's the proposed route.

Please respond to your email invitation. If you did not receive one (or lost it) add yourself on the Calendar Of All Motoring Events for this event or RSVP to info@norcalminis.com

MINI Takes The States 2010

It's back!!! This time MINI Takes The States will start with a handful of events around the country in major cities with a rally from the starting points to Denver, Colorado. Once there, a two day festival (August 6 through 8, 2010) will be held and is expected to culminate in a headlining concert.

[Source: MotoringFile]

Ken Block Practices Before 100 Acres Wood Rally

In his new Ford Fiesta WRC.




[Source: via rpmgo.com]

First Images Of MINI Laurel Sport Edition Revealed

See these photos and more at MotoringFile in a MotoringFile Exclusive.

Australia Awards MINI Garages Excellence Awards

The Auto Channel reports that Australia's annual MINI Excellence Awards, given to top performing MINI Garages who excel in areas of customer service and loyalty, new and used sales as well as a host of other metrics that underpin the MINI brand, to Brisbane MINI Garage and to Trivett Classic MINI Garage located in Parramatta, Sydney, Australia.

Preview Of the Geneva Motor Show

Automotive News tells you who will be there and what to look for on the floor.

[Source: via cnet cartech blog]

This Drive Isn't Hard - It's Floppy

[Source: You Drive What?]

Jake's Company Car

[Source: You Drive What?]

Winter Driving Tips: Acceleration

In the second part of Michelin's series on winter driving Michelin discusses accelerating on snowy and icy roadways.

[Source: via cnet cartech blog]

The Minis of Camrose Cruise Night

They include the mini pole dancing Mini and several other classics that you can view at Hooniverse.

MINI Prepares The Countryman For Its Geneva Debut

MotoringFile, with the help of MINI United's Facebook page, provides a behind the scenes look as MINI prepares the Countryman for its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Auto Express Compares The Fiat Abarth 500 And The MINI Clubman

From the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Guess which wins the greatest praise.

[Source: AutoExpress @ YouTube]

Motorwelt Berlin 2010

This is Germany's leading car show held February 18-20, 2010. Tons of tuners and classics. What is your favorite?

[Source: multivan2001 @ YouTube]

SF Drivers Show Little Regard For Stop Signs

Check out this time lapse video by Christopher Mast that compresses twenty minutes at one "all way stop" intersection down to about 2 1/2 minutes. Does anyone actually stop?

You Want To Go Shopping Woman? I'll Take You Shopping

[Source: You Drive What?]

Plenty Of Room In A MINI

[Source: via MotoringFile]

What Every Driver Should Know

Ridelust believes there are 10 skills every driver should have:

1. Know how to check Tire Pressure;

2. Know how to check your Oil, Coolant, and Transmission Fluids;

3. Know how to change a Headlight Bulb (non HID headlights);

4. Know how to change a Tire;

5. Know how to Jump Start a Car With a Dead Battery;

6. Know how to Stop a Vehicle With a Stuck Throttle;

7. Know how to Control Understeer and Oversteer;

8. Know how to Handle a Tire Blowout at Speed;

9. Know how to Execute a Handbrake Turn; and

10. Know how to Drive a Manual Transmission.

If you lack one or more of these skills you should go to the article and check out the videos.

When Your Car Turns Into A Vibrator

HowStuffWorks provides a handy article on the top five reasons for the vibration and helps you diagnose the cause in your car.

Improve Your Winter Driving

Watch this Michelin video on winter braking from Michelin. It will improve your winter driving and add to your motoring knowledge.




[Source: via cnet cartech blog]

Pass The “Nürburgring” Toast

BimmerFile loves Nordschleife. What better momento to show that love than toast imprinted with the Nürburgring track? The toaster is officially licensed swag from the Nürburgring fan shop.

iPhone App For Those That Drive Connected

Aha Mobile have created Aha Radio, a free iPhone app that that allows users to listen to real-time traffic reports, Twitter and Facebook updates, 50 podcast channels, Yelp restaurant reviews, open community stations and web radio in a radio-broadcast format without having to play with the phone while driving. Get it here free!

[Source: via GigaOm via PSFK]

More Money Than Driving Skill

[Source: via CarDomain Blog]

My MINI Walks On Water

Jet ski converted to a MINI.

[Source: Crazy Pics]

MINI Yo-Yo

[Source: Crazy Pics]

Don't Breakdown In Chicago, IL

AutoMD.com released its Advocacy for Repair Shop Fairness Report, the first to analyze how the top-50 most populated U.S. cities stack up when it comes to providing consumers with fair auto repair cost estimates. Memphis ranked as the best city for fairness and consistency of prices quoted in auto repair, while Chicago ranked as the worst.

[Source: via AutoSpies.com]

A Mazda Pickup With Heart

They call him "Mr. Love."

[Source: You Drive What?]

The Minis Of The Chiriqui Rally

Four Minis took part January 23 and 24, 2010 in this year's Chiriquí Rally, a car navigational rally held in Panama, Central America that is open to all kinds of classic and performance vehicles. Here is video from the Rally.

[Source: MiniWorld]

Got Spare Change For The MINI Vending Machine?

[Source: Crazy Pics]

The Best Off-Road SUV Is A Tractor

[Source: via The Truth About Cars]

Yes, Homage To The MINI's Xenon Lights

[Source: Crazy Pics]

Where Are The Worst Potholes In The Bay Area?

With a pothole at the I-580/I-680 intersection, in the right lane of southbound I-680 north of Stoneridge Drive, causing flat tiresthe Contra Costa Times has posted an interactive map that tells you where the worst potholes are in the Bay Area. If they are not going to fix them they might as well give you fair warning!

Having A Woodie

. . . for a Honda Civic.

[Source: via AutoMotto]

How MINI Connect Works

MINI Connect will allow optional head units to connect to the internet and to the iPhone. The first MINI Connect app is web radio. MotoringFile expects to see email, the web and even MINI’s own app store to eventually make it to the market in future models.

Summer Giant Slalom Practice

Kalevi Häkkinen with his practice car. Cheaper than a wind tunnel.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Getaway In The MINI Countryman

[Source: via egmcartech]

Someone Doesn't Like The Aussie Prime Minister

Someone posted "Kevin Rudd Sucks" via electronic road sign and locked it up in the Sydney suburb of Rose Bay. Mr. Rudd is Prime Minister and disliked for his support of internet censorship. Police responded by using bolt cutters to remove the lock and turn it off.

[Source: News.au via Jalopnik]

2010 MINI Cooper S Rated A Best Car Buy

NADAguides.com has rated the 2010 MINI Cooper Hardtop Coupe S a "Best Car Buy" in the Coupe category based on these statistics -

MSRP: $22,300, 30 MPG, 24% Depreciation year 1, 4 years/50,000, 4-star frontal driver crash rating.

[Source: via AutoSpies.com]

Well, I'm A Yankee Doodle Dandy

James Cagney's 1934 V12 Auburn is up for sale on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $299,900. This particular Auburn cabriolet was owned and driven by James Cagney in the 1933 film "The Mayor of Hell" and had a complete restoration in 1986.

[Source: via Just A Car Guy]

Feeling A Bit Congested?

That is because you live in or near one of the top ten U.S. cities for traffic congestion according to INRIX, a provider of traffic and navigation services, as reported by Driving Sports. According to its free 150 page report the top 10 most congested cities in 2009 were:

1. Los Angeles, Calif.
2. New York, N.Y.
3. Chicago, Ill.
4. Washington, D.C. (up from 6th in 2008)
5. Dallas, Texas
6. Houston, Texas (down from 4th in 2008)
7. San Francisco, Calif.
8. Boston, Mass.
9. Seattle, Wash.
10. Philadelphia, Pa. (up from 11th in 2008)

An Alternative To The High Cost Of Bridges

Leave it to the Russians to figure a way to save money on river crossings and make them a matter of free choice dependent on what type of vehicle you have.

[Source: via Left Lane]

What Does It Mean?

Caution. Watch out for the disabled being used as bait?

[collegehumor.com via Hooniverse]

Picking Up Fast Food In A MINI Cooper D

[Source: promotionalitemstv @ YouTube]

If You Think It You Can Be It

. . . and you will be transformed.

[Source: Residuoman @ YouTube]

Did He Hit The Camera?

[Source: Tomliny @ YouTube]

MINI Thunder Report

Here is KRCR 7's report on MINI Thunder at Thunderhill.

[Source: gasman1049 @ YouTube]

Congratulations Koreena

At 16 please tell us when you will be out driving so we can steer clear of the roads while you learn to drive your MINI.

[Source: RichHill77 @ YouTube]

Colors For The MINI Countryman Interior Revealed

You can view them all close up at MotoringFile via PicLens.

MINI Connected Debuts

Today MINI debuted the final version of the MINI Connect system that will be available in the upcoming MINI Countryman. MotoringFile lists these system highlights:

• World-first in-car entertainment solution with unique-to-MINI technology integrating into the Apple iPhone.

• World debut of in-car web radio; unique possibilities for customisation and integration of additional functions.

• Data exchange capabilities, allowing a huge range of infotainment, navigation and communication functions to be used on board the vehicle.

• MINI Connected brings enhanced user functionality and customisation to the MINI-exclusive Mission Control function.

• Safe, convenient, intuitive control of all functions via the MINI operating system.

Maybe They Should Meet Mammoth Erection

[Source: Ride Lust]

Girls Gone Cars Presented By The Auto Channel

A review of the car display girls at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show from The Auto Channel.

How To DYI Detail Your MINI

NorCal MINIs' End Of Winter Detail Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 17, 2010, just eight days before we show our MINIs at Pacific Dream Machines. Recently we have received questions from new Club Members about what detailing entails. We suggest that you check out the videos at Autogeek.net's Show Car Garage. They will show everything from interior to exterior detailing including how to use a Porter Cable 7424 (PC). Although the videos do include product endorsements the procedures are common to all brands. For example, here - see how to clay bar your car. (You really don't need to use their "handy dandy" claybar handle or Pinnacle products.)

Burning Man Spider Car Vs. Big Wheel Drag Race

Want to see who wins?




[Source: Just A Car Guy]

Playing Russian Roulette With Your Cell Phone

[Source: via Ride Lust]

PSA: Hookah Smoking While Driving May Be Distracting

[Source: via Gizmodo]

Cheap New Way To Check Vehicle History

The California State Department of Motor Vehicles will now provide a report on a used car's history from a federal website for only $4.00. The report provides information similar to that on a $30.00 Carfax but only 31 states offer these reports to the public. The reports can be purchased online at http:// www.vehiclehistory.gov.

Thank You To All Who Joined Us For Keith's Run

The leaking pipes in the walls of President Larry's home were a harbinger of the 2010 Keith's Run. This year the run was made in almost constant drizzle and rain. While our President looked for row boat rentals at home, the club traversed Mt. Hamilton, via the James Lick Observatory (now only open from 1:00p.m. to 5:00p.m.), and then down and on to Mines Road (the Junction store was also closed.) A fine Hop Yard lunch in Pleasanton made up for inclement weather. See you all next month for the Daffodil Hill Run.

See You Sunday For Keith's Run

We hope to see you all this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. for Keith's Run in honor of one of the founding members of NorCal MINIs who is now deceased. We will meet up at 2225 Quimby Rd., San Jose, CA 95122 (the parking lot of the Eastridge Mall) and motor Mt. Hamilton Road to the James Lick Observatory, then down Mines Road for lunch at about 1:30 pm at the Hop Yard (3015 Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton, CA 94588.) This event is open to all.

Ever See An Isetta Truck?

Now you can say that you have.

[Source: Just A Car Guy]

Sears To Franchise Auto Centers

Yesterday Sears Holdings Corp. announced the first franchise under the Independent Sears Auto Center franchise program "which offers automobile dealers the opportunity to operate licensed Sears Auto Centers, bringing the Sears brand, buying power, distribution network, systems and corporate support to automotive aftermarket businesses."

[Source: via The Auto Channel]

Donald Duck Hot Rodding It In "Donald's Tire Trouble"

[Source: YouTube via Low Tech Blog via Just A Car Guy]

Rumor MINI Countryman WRC Rally Car Will Debut At Geneva

MINI intends to build a world rally car for racing the world rally circuit with the likes of Subaru and Ford, Travis Pastrana and Ken Block. The project is ongoing. Now come reports following a meeting at Rally Sweden between BMW and Prodrive that the rally car will make its debut alongside the production model Countryman at the March 2010 Geneva Motor Show. MINI intends to return to WRC competition in 2012.

[Source: rallybuzz.com via MotoringFile]

Building A F1 Race Car

. . . out of Puma shoe boxes, by Ben Wilson. See the time lapse video of the construction at psfk.com.

Must Be Really Hard On Brakes

A 1957 Metropolitan that the Russians turned into a 45 mph, 1,100 lb towing capacity, car-sledge.

[Source: AutoMotto]

The Car Makes It All Fuzzy Inside

Meet the "MOGMobile," a crazy vehicle that MOG (a mobile app company with a new music service) is building to take to the SXSW conference in March. The van is to be fitted with foam and then fiberglassed over. In addition, 24,000 blue hair plugs and a "psycko" sound system are to be installed.

[Source: TechCrunch]

Exotic Car Hello Kitty Litter

[Source: You Drive What?]

MCS Takes On Prescott Hillclimb Drivers' School

[Source: craigthomas101 @ YouTube]

The Royal Luxury MCS Limo

Changing Side Vents On 2nd Generation MINIs R55 R56 R57

Learn how to DYI in this video straight from the infamous mikeythemini.

You Are To Salute As He Drives By

Must feel guilty about driving a foreign car.

[Source: You Drive What?]