NorCal MINIs' Friday Reminders

Join NorCal MINIs For 2012 And Get The Rest Of 2011 Free!

That's right!  If you join NorCal MINIs now for 2012 you can be a Member for free for the rest of 2011.  NorCal MINIs' annual Membership is only $25.00/family and entitled you to a host of discounts from vendors and Dealers that support NorCal MINIs   Use the Paypal Button to join now!:

Food Truck Mafia Invades East Bay MINI

The Food Truck Mafia, a Bay Area food truck events company, will bring 2 gourmet food trucks to East Bay MINI for one day only! Try tasting a wide variety of American BBQ and yummy desserts!!!!!

Don’t forget your lunch money!

Date: Saturday, October 1st
Time: 12 (noon) to 3:00 p.m.
Location: East Bay BMW (by Pre-Owned showroom)

What: American BBQ Truck + Dessert Truck at East Bay BMW-MINI for 3 hours serving delicious tasty food for you!

RSVP: You don't have to officially RSVP but it would be nice to give East Bay MINI a sense of how many people will attend. RSVP via East Bay MINI's Facebook page!

Free Lunch And Test Drive The New MINI Coupe

East Bay MINI is offering a chili dog lunch and a test drive in the all new MINI Coupe on Sunday, October 2, 2011, from 11 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. RSVP here.













NorCal MINIs' October Mystery Tour

 

October is the month of black magic, darkness and mischief capped off by Halloween.

Give in to the darkside and join NorCal MINIs on Saturday, October 22, 2011 as we tour the Winchester Mystery House , dine at a secret restaurant and run to the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot!

We have made special group arrangements for the Mystery House tour.  The cost per person will be about $19.50.  


Please meet at the Winchester Mystery House  (map) promptly at 10:00 a.m.  The approximately one and a half hour tour will start at 10:30 a.m. 


We will then run to Scopazzi's Restaurant and Lounge in Boulder Creek, CA (map) for a buffet lunch ($20/person).


Following lunch we will drive to the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot (map).  Group rates to be determined but the cost will be about a total of $11.00 for both parking and the attraction.


Final pricing and Paypal Purchase options will be posted soon!

Make plans now to spend 

Saturday, October 22, 2011 

running scared with NorCal MINIs!

Please email us at info@norcalminis.com to tell us if you will join us.  Members may also RSVP when they receive their email invitation from NorCal MINIs.

East Bay MINIs' Second Annual Motor-tober Rally

Mark Your Calendar!!!

East Bay MINI will hold their Second Annual Motor-tober Rally on Friday, October 28, 2011, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Last year was a blast and this year should be no different! East Bay MINI says,

GO-KART RACING: 4-6 pm you against "Foxy"

OKTOBERFEST DINNER: 6:30 p.m. at East Bay MINI 

more details to come...stay tuned!

Go here and RSVP!

WRC Team's Shakedown Before Rallye de France

According to MINI Motorsport Dani Sordo's and Kris Meeke's shakedowns in advance of Rally France-Alsace went "flawlessly." Sordo finished tied with the second quickest fastest time and will start in 10th and Meeke, who came in sixth, will start 16th. Other MINI drivers in the event include Armindo Araujo of Motorsport Italia who is starting 13th; Daniel Oliveira for the Brazil World Rally Team will start 17th; and Pierre Campana for Equipe de France FFSA will start 19th.

MINI And Full Metal Garage Look At The Countryman S All4 WRC

This is a "Monster" of a video:






[Source: via Bond MINI]

Classic Mini In The Land Of Eternal Snow

Check out this article at MINI Space about a classic Mini arctic tractor in the Arctic and Antarctica.

In Depth Video Tour Of The 2012 MINI Cooper JCW Coupe

[Source: SAABKYLE04 @ YouTube]

MINI Inspired By Goodwood Now On MINIUSA Website

Go here and find out how you can reserve your limited edition, hand-appointed, $52,000, Rolls Royce MINI.

[Source: via MotoringFile]

Get Your Shift Together And Manual Up

[Source: via East Bay MINI's Facebook Wall Photos]

How Good Is The MINI Countryman WRC?

EVO Magazine gives it a good thrashing and an honest look on video -




[Source: via autoblog]

The Minis Of Speedfest

Just A Car Guy posted this photo of Minis getting prep'd to race at Speedfest on the North Island Naval Air Station.

msn cars Reviews The MINI Coupé

msn cars review of the MINI Coupé gives it four out of five stars and concludes,

Purists are going to be predictably narked here - though maybe less so than they were over the Countryman - while those looking for a true MINI sports car might feel short-changed. But the company has always protested that the Coupé would be a niche product.

This is, basically, a MINI Hatch with two fewer seats and a funny roof - but the independence of spirit such a car represents may well prove to be exactly what some people are looking for, and above all else it re-emphasises the fun-to-drive disposition that is the very essence of this brand.

Drive Actor Pulled J-Turns In A MINI

Drive movie star Carey Mulligan in an interview with Movies.ie admits,

. . . Another day we were going to shoot in a car-park so we borrowed a producer's Mini-Cooper to get there. Ryan was like, ‘Let me show you something, strap in!' Then he did this twisty-spinning handbrake turn, and I said from that point on that I was never getting in a car with him again.

Turning Your MINI World Upside Down

Located in the rotunda of New York's World Financial Center.

[Source: via Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?]

MINIUSA 2012 Configurator Now Available

Make up your own 2012 MINI.  The MINIUSA Configurator for 2012 is now up and running.

[Source: via MotoringFile]

Free Lunch And Drive The MINI Coupe

East Bay MINI is offering a chili dog lunch and a test drive in the all new MINI Coupe on Sunday, October 2, 2011, from 11 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. RSVP here.

Limited Edition London 2012 Olympic Games MINIs

In honor of the 2012 London Olympic Games MINI plans to build 2012 examples of a special edition series in Cooper, Cooper D, Cooper S and Cooper SD trims, which will be available in a choice of three colors Chilli Red, White Silver or Lightning Blue. All models get white mirror caps and a white roof with the London 2012 Olympic graphic. Other exterior features include a unique Union Jack single sport stripe running over the bonnet, roof and rear tailgate, while special graphics can also be found on the side scuttles. Other touches include, in the interior, the London skyline etched on the passenger side supplemented by the words “London 1 of 2012”. The vehicles will be available to U.K. buyers beginning in March 2012.

[Source: Carscoop]

Long Jumping MINIs To Prepare For The Olympics

autoevolution reports on England long jump champion J.J. Jegede easily clearing three MINI London 2012 Editions.

Going For a Land Speed Record In A Classic Mini

That is exactly what New Zealand's Nelson Hartley will attempt at Bonneville.  Read about the upcoming attempt and the amazing mods made to the Mini to try and break records in this article from MiniMania.

The World's Fastest . . .

Couch!





[Source: via Jalopnik]

Why Is The Consumer Rights Law Blog Writing Favorably About The MINI Coupe?

Read it for yourself, a favorable review from
http://ohiolemonlaw.blogspot.com, apparently an Ohio Lemon Law Attorney called "Burdge Law Office" with, of course, a link to a National List of Lemon Lawyers.

A 4 Season Update Of Automobile's S Countryman All4 Review

In an update to its long-term test review of the MINI Cooper S Countryman All4 Automobile Magazine and finds it performs admirably on rural roads, gets good gas mileage and permits the reviewer to place his elderly parents in the back seat without difficulty.

DIY - Replacing The Chain Tensioner

eric0919 @ NorthAmericanMotoring.com has posted step by step DIY instructions, with photographs, that show how to replace the chain tensioner in his 2007 MINI Cooper S.

How The WRC Team Prepares For A Race

MINI Motorsport, in part 2 of a series on the WRC Team, discuses how the team handles the "Recce," when the drivers and co-drivers get to inspect the course.

You Really Really Don't Want To Run Out Of Gas

Here's why!

The Real Dangers Of Running Out of Gas

[Source: MonkeySee Videos @ metacafe.com]

An Argument For Production Of The Rocketman

Green Car Reports identifies five green automobile concepts that it says should be built and that they have been waiting for.  One is the MINI Rocketman concept shown at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.  Read the article and find out why.

No JCW Countryman In 2012

MotoringFile says, in part,

. . . sources at MINI have told us that the JCW Countryman will not make an appearance in model year 2012. What’s the reasoning? Because the 2013 JCW Countryman will be worth waiting for.

Watch Out For That Lounge Lizard Leather

Billboard is located in the U.K.

[Source: Ads Of The World]

Drag Of A Drag Race

Watch this painfully slow drag race between an Isetta and a Goggomobil. No slow motion photography is involved.




[Source: via Jalopnik]

Search The British Coast For A MINI In A Bottle

Win a MINI.





[Source: The Denver Egotist]

Fixing Car Scratches

AutoMotto provides recommendations on what it believes are the 7 best scratch removal products.

PistonHeads Reviews The MINI Coupe

PistonHeads reviews the new MINI Coupe and ask the question

More niche-tastic magic from Mini - or a step too far?

Its conclusion,

if you want an endearingly tiny sporty two-seater with a surprising amount of boot space (20 litres more than you'll get in a Mini Clubman, then it would be hard not to pick the Mini Coupe. Provided you can get over the way it looks. And you're not too offended by the concept of the further dilution of the Mini brand...And you're sure that actually a normal Mini Cooper S JCW might not be a better bet any way, just in case you have to put someone in the back...and you're not keen to save up that extra bit to get into a Porsche Cayman...

DIY - Repair Door Lock Actuator Locking Mechanism

Molecular Sandwich at instructables.com provides a step by step detailed and illustrated guide to repairing the door lock actuator and locking mechanism on his 2003 MCS, a part that MINI says is "non-serviceable," but as Sandwich says,

I was sick of reading about the countless number of people who have been forced to replace this poorly designed component with a new one ($130) because BMW made them "non-serviceable". This unit IS SERVICEABLE - if you are clever enough ;)

NorCal MINIs' Secretary Becomes A TV Star

Most of you know NorCal MINIs' club secretary, Scott Hunter.  Scott is also a Service Advisor and former Service Tech foreman at East Bay MINI.. He gets his 15 seconds of fame in East Bay MINI's new advertisement running on the Bay Area broadcast TV station KTVU, Fox Channel 2. If you missed it just click on the photo and it should take you to the video.

Rumor Alert! WRC And Rocketman In The Offing?

Car Dealer Magazine says Lee Connolly, MINI UK product and planning manager, has hinted at production of the Rocketman concept slotted below the Hatchback and WRC-inspired editions of existing vehicles within the next couple of years.

What Handling Your Stick Probably Means About You

[Source: That Will Buff Out]

Sordo Hopes To Celebrate Again

MINI spoke with WRC driver Dani Sordo in anticipation of the Rallye de France. Sordo is quoted,

"The surface is constantly changing in France, which makes the rally very technically demanding. A hilly rally awaits us, particularly in the forest sections," says Dani. That was also the case in Germany. Dani believes you must be "very concentrated" in France – and the Spaniard proved around Trier that he does not have a problem in this regard. After finishing runner-up in France last year, it should come as no surprise that Dani says: "Personally, I like the Rally France."

cnet tv Reviews The MINI Coupe

[Source: cnet Channel @ YouTube]

Tell Us What Really Happened

Adrenaline is an evil high. This is the best accident description ever!





[Source: via autoblog]

AutoGuide.com's Video Review Of The 2011 Countryman S All4

[Source: AutoGuide.com@YouTube]

How Pissed Off Did Your Commute Make You?

Audi has a real time Road Frustraton Index that measures the amount of anger over road conditions in a given location.  At the time this post was written the people of Sacramento were the most frustrated in the Country.

Check out the present levels of frustration here.

[Source: via That Will Buff Out]

Suite101.com Thinks "The Mini Cooper S Clubman Is The Best For Your Money"

Angela Nelson for US News at Car Care/Ownership @ suite101.com writes to justify this statement,

As far as vehicles go when you are looking for something affordable yet fashionable the Mini Cooper S Clubman offers the best price.

Text To Speech Added To MINI Connect

cartech@cnet reports that MINI has added text to speech functionality to the MINI Connected iPhone application. Once you access the application it can now read your messages to you. The updated version is available at the iPhone store.

Timbaland Features Pitbull And Countryman In "Pass At Me"

Check out this new sort of NSFW music video from Timbaland that features Pitbull as they perform "Pass At Me" which includes a hop into a MINI Countryman after the orgy leaves the yacht!





[Source: via RyanSeacrest.com]

MINI Launches The Coupe In Leiper's Fork, TN

The Tennessean reports that MINI introduced its 2012 MINI Coupe in Leiper's Fork, TN, more known for the horse whisperer than automobiles, at a local establishment, Puckett's Grocery, where the automobile press came to see and ride in the vehicle.  The location was chosen for its good local twity roads for test drives for the journalists. According to the article,

Mini Cooper automobiles were lined up outside Leiper’s Creek Gallery like fine pieces of art. Puckett’s Grocery’s “patio” dining area (once part of the parking lot) was host to the funky Hog Slop String Band playing vintage American roots music, cloggers were clogging in Hee Haw-esque outfits, and local horseman J.R. Root, with his 10-gallon cowboy hat and signature handlebar mustache, rode up on a horse.

And then the 2012 Mini Coupes started rolling in, piloted by automotive journalists from across the United States and Canada in Mini Cooper’s official launch of the snazzy new two-seat coupe.

The only Mini Coupe launch in calendar year 2011 had journalists from an array of publications, websites and TV stations settling in at Puckett’s Grocery for a buffet of barbecue and all the fixin’s, after having spent three hours on Middle Tennessee roads testing the spiffy coupe that tops out at 140 miles per hour.

And according to Yvonne Malmgren with the Mini USA communications team, it was Puckett’s barbecue that made it all happen.

“We were looking at two cities for this launch: Nashville and Seattle. Our logistics team came to Nashville first and ended up concluding there was no reason to visit Seattle,” she said as she stood in Puckett’s parking lot, surveying the scene.

A Road Trip In The MINI Cooper SD Convertible

Design Talks took the mINI Cooper SD Convertible on a road trip this summer "around northern France through Normandy." After providing a detailed description of the trip Design Talk says,

This is a fun car that doesn’t take itself too seriously yet offers the sort of environment and driving experience you would expect from a more serious, grown-up car. Most importantly it was a perfect road trip companion around Normandy.

Now There's Mini Power Wheel Racing

[Source: Kickstarter via autoblog]

Will The 2nd Generation GP Be Based On The Roadster?

MotoringFile thinks that it may be. It says,

We’ve been reported for several years now of MINI’s intention to bring to the market a 2nd generation GP. The first of course being based on the R53, remains the most powerful and motorsport focused production MINI of all time. Last year the rumors of what the car will be based on went from R56 hatch to the R58 Coupe. And now we’re hearing about yet another change, this time to the upcoming Roadster.

Washing The Car In Afghanistan

English Russia has a feature pictorial article on Car Washing in Afghanistan.
Simply amazing.

MINI Wins A Motorist Choice Award

The Detroit Bureau reports,

“The Motorist Choice Award methodology is designed to help consumers identify vehicles that speak to their hearts and their wallets,” explains Tyler Schulze, vice president and general manager of IntelliChoice. “The 2011 award winners all share a connection with buyers from both a satisfaction standpoint and overall value as compared to their peers.”

MINI won their 2011 award in the "Popular" category for the car that was the most "Fun To Drive."

Edmund's Compares The New And Classic Countryman

 

This exercise of comparison is to determine

"When does a Mini stop being mini?"

Edmund's says

". . . right about now."

End Of Summer Picnic A Hit

Thank you to all who attended and participated in NorCal MINIs' End Of Summer Picnic 2011.  Through our raffle we raised $200 that will be donated to Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF).

Special thanks to MINI of Concord and East Bay MINI for their donations of the prizes for the raffle.

Check out member Ken Gitting's slideshow in the Multimedia Gallery.  If you have photos or video from the Picnic send your links or media to info@norcalminis.com and we will post them in the Gallery.

NorCal MINIs Friday Reminders

Join NorCal MINIs For 2012 And Get The Rest Of 2011 Free!


That's right!  If you join NorCal MINIs now for 2012 you can be a Member for free for the rest of 2011.  NorCal MINIs' annual Membership is only $25.00/family and entitled you to a host of discounts from vendors and Dealers that support NorCal MINIs   Use the Paypal Button to join now!:

NorCal MINIs' End Of Summer Picnic

IT'S NOT TO LATE TO SAY YOU'LL BE THERE!!!

NorCal MINIs holds its End Of Summer Picnic, BBQ and Contra Costa County Backroads Run this Saturday, September 24, 2011. 

We will first run through the backroads of Contra Costa County and end up at the Bull Valley Staging Area at the Carquinez Straits Regional Shoreline for a picnic and BBQ.

 The cost to participate is $10.00/person. We ask that attendees bring their own drinks and a dessert to share. We will provide Kinder's BBQ and accouterments.

Bring the kids and your fishing gear and bait for salmon, stripers, sturgeon, black bass and other delta species since we will be right at the Eckley Pier where you do not need a fishing license to fish!

Bring all those music CD's that you have already ripped and want to get rid of.  We will have a mass CD trade at the picnic. We will also raffle MINI items in support of ARF.

Meet up at 9:30 a.m. for the 10:00 a.m. departure time in the CVS Pharmacy Parking Lot at 3667 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley, CA 94546  for the Contra Costa Backroads run to the Bull Valley Staging Area.  Please email us at info@norcalminis.com to tell us if you will be on the run.  Members may do so in response to their email invitations.

If you can't make the run just come directly to the Bull Valley Staging Area around noon.

Please use the Paypal Button to pay for this incredibly fun way to end the summer with NorCal MINIs. 

We hope to see everyone there. Don't miss it!

Food Truck Mafia Invades East Bay MINI

The Food Truck Mafia, a Bay Area food truck events company, will bring 2 gourmet food trucks to East Bay MINI for one day only! Try tasting a wide variety of American BBQ and yummy desserts!!!!!

Don’t forget your lunch money!

Date: Saturday, October 1st
Time: 12 (noon) to 3:00 p.m.
Location: East Bay BMW (by Pre-Owned showroom)

What: American BBQ Truck + Dessert Truck at East Bay BMW-MINI for 3 hours serving delicious tasty food for you!

RSVP: You don't have to officially RSVP but it would be nice to give East Bay MINI a sense of how many people will attend. RSVP via East Bay MINI's Facebook page!


NorCal MINIs' October Mystery Tour

 

October is the month of black magic, darkness and mischief capped off by Halloween.

Give in to the darkside and join NorCal MINIs on Saturday, October 22, 2011 as we tour the Winchester Mystery House , dine at a secret restaurant and run to the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot!

We have made special group arrangements for the Mystery House tour.  The cost per person will be about $19.50.  


Please meet at the Winchester Mystery House  (map) promptly at 10:00 a.m.  The approximately one and a half hour tour will start at 10:30 a.m. 


We will then run to Scopazzi's Restaurant and Lounge in Boulder Creek, CA (map) for a buffet lunch ($20/person).


Following lunch we will drive to the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot (map).  Group rates to be determined but the cost will be about a total of $11.00 for both parking and the attraction.


Final pricing and Paypal Purchase options will be posted soon!

Make plans now to spend 

Saturday, October 22, 2011 

running scared with NorCal MINIs!

Please email us at info@norcalminis.com to tell us if you will join us.  Members may also RSVP when they receive their email invitation from NorCal MINIs.

East Bay MINIs' Second Annual Motor-tober Rally

Mark Your Calendar!!!

East Bay MINI will hold their Second Annual Motor-tober Rally on Friday, October 28, 2011, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Last year was a blast and this year should be no different! East Bay MINI says,

GO-KART RACING: 4-6 pm you against "Foxy"

OKTOBERFEST DINNER: 6:30 p.m. at East Bay MINI 

more details to come...stay tuned!

Go here and RSVP!