NorCal MINIS | Northern California's Premier MINI Cooper Club: April 2012

NorCal MINIs

Snijers finished in second place.

[Source: rallymediaoneshot @ YouTube]

[Source: PVDB97 @ YouTube]

[Source: RallyMedia @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

Here is MotoringFile's Roadster Photo Gallery. It claims it is ". . . the biggest Roadster photo gallery in the existence of the known universe."

NorCal MINIs

Apparently, so does MINI of Chicago! It says the hot dog MINI is currently touring around Chicago going to all of the hot dog joints! You can follow it on twitter @MINIofChicago @ViennaBeef #FollowtheVBMini!!! They usually have some free stuff to give away when they stop at places!

[Source: via Karrock @ NorthAmericanMotoring.com]

NorCal MINIs

La, la, la, la, la la, la, la . . .

[Source: t3lmoo @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

View all of the MINIs and Minis selected in this MINI United Facebook Album.

NorCal MINIs

MINI of San Francisco posted on Facebook that it has a MINI Inspired By Goodwood on display and for sale in its showroom.

NorCal MINIs

MotoringFile reports, in part:

With BMW co-developing the next generation MINI alongside a new family of small, front wheel drive BMWs, MINI’s component offerings are about to get substantially better and more technically impressive. One of the more important things on that list will be a new 8-speed dual clutch transmission. This DCT gearbox, co-developed with ZF, will replace the current 6-speed, old-school, torque converter auto in all future MINIs beginning with the F5X/F6X cars. This will begin with the F56 (the 3rd generation MINI Hardtop) and spread as each model is updated.

NorCal MINIs

Fox Business reports the chance of a strike has diminished after the labor union said it would recommend to its members an improved two year pay deal that includes a 4.5% pay increase in 2012 and 2.3% in 2013. If inflation is higher than 2.3% in 2013, the difference is to be added to a bonus.

NorCal MINIs

According to Eliseo Salazar, MINI WRC Team driver, Rally Argentina has proven to be tougher than the Dakar Rally. He told Racer (citing Autosport):

"In Dakar, OK, you do five or six hours and then you go relax and go in the hotel," said Salazar. "But yesterday was crazy! I woke up at 4:30 yesterday and at 10 o'clock last night we were still going. And on this event you are going flat-out and pushing as hard as you can, whereas in Dakar you are driving at 80 per cent."

Salazar added that competing on the longest round of the WRC since the Safari Rally in 2002 completed his motorsport ambitions.

"In Formula 1 we had what was called the magic square and I finished Le Mans, Indy, Dakar and now I need to finish this one," he said. "I guess it doesn't help that I chose to make my debut in the World Rally Championship on such a tough event, but I'm happy. My times are coming down on the second loop of the stages and it's great to drive these cars."

The Final Standings (via www.crash.net):

Rally Argentina: Overall standings after Stage 19 - Top 20:

1. Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT DS3 WRC 5hours 34mins 38.8secs M
2. Mikko Hirvonen Citroen Total WRT DS3 WRC +00mins 15.2secs M
3. Mads Ostberg Adapta WRT Fiesta RS WRC +03mins 10.4secs M
4. Martin Prokop Ford Fiesta RS WRC +09mins 45.3secs
5. Thierry Neuville Citroen Junior WRT DS3 WRC +11mins 17.6secs M
6. Petter Solberg Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC +12mins 02.2secs M
7. Sebastien Ogier VW Motorsport Skoda Fabia S2000 +12mins 25.3secs
8. Evgeny Novikov M-Sport Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC +21mins 10.2secs M
9. Nasser Al-Attiyah Qatar WRT Citroen DS3 WRC +28mins 22.6secs M
10. Ott Tanak M-Sport Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC +37mins 19.5secs M

11. Benito Guerra Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +37mins 21.8secs P
12. Eliseo Salazar MINI John Cooper Works WRC +41mins 15.9secs
13. Nicolas Fuchs Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +41mins 40.9secs P
14. Valeriy Gorban Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +44mins 06.4secs P
15. Marcos Ligato Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +50mins 21.2secs P
16. Gianluca Linari Subaru Impreza STi +1hr 05mins 46.0secs P
17. Ezequiel Campos Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +1hr 12mins 48.6secs P
18. Subhan Aksa Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +1hr 13mins 06.1secs P
19. Juan San Martin Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +1hr 18mins 09.5secs
20. Luis Ortega Etcheverria Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +1hr 18mins 48.5secs

Rally Argentina: Power Stage / SS19 – Top 3:

1. Petter Solberg Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC 2mins 32.9secs M
2. Mikko Hirvonen Citroen Total WRT DS3 WRC +00mins 01.1secs M
3. Nasser Al-Attiyah Qatar WRT Citroen DS3 WRC +00mins 01.5secs M

NOTE: Top three finishers in Power Stage are awarded bonus points. 1st = 3 points; 2nd = 2 points; 3rd = 1 point

PWRC standings after Stage 19:

1. Benito Guerra Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 6hours 12mins 00.6secs P
2. Nicolas Fuchs Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +04mins 19.1secs P
3. Valeriy Gorban Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +06mins 44.6secs P

4. Marcos Ligato Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +12mins 59.4secs P
5. Gianluca Linari Subaru Impreza STi +28mins 24.2secs P
6. Ezequiel Campos Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +35mins 26.8secs P
7. Subhan Aksa Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +35mins 44.3secs P
8. Lorenzo Bertelli Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +1hr 23mins 05.8secs P

Notable retirements:

SS1. Ramona Karlsson Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Mechanical P
SS3. Evgeny Novikov M-Sport Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC Lost wheel M*
SS3. Paulo Nobre WRC MINI Team Portugal John Cooper Works WRC Stopped*
SS4. Petter Solberg Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC Steering arm M*
SS4. Ott Tanak M-Sport Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC Stopped M*
SS5. Thierry Neuville Citroen Junior WRT DS3 WRC Rolled M*

SS9. Alexey Kikireshko Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX Mechanical P
SS9. Michal Kosciuszko Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Mechanical P
SS9/SS10. Nasser Al-Attiyah Qatar WRT Citroen DS3 WRC Knocked a wheel off M*
SS9/SS10. Paulo Nobre WRC MINI Team Portugal John Cooper Works WRCOverheating*
SS12/SS13. Daniel Oliveira Brazil WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC Engine

SS15/SS16. Andreas Mikkelsen VW Motorsport Skoda Fabia S2000 Mechanical
SS16. Ricardo Trivino Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Mechanical P
SS17. Paulo Nobre WRC MINI Team Portugal John Cooper Works WRCMechanical
SS17. Armindo Araujo WRC MINI Team Portugal John Cooper Works WRCMechanical
SS19. Dani Sordo Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC Mechanical M

* denotes re-started under Rally 2

all times unofficial

[Source: RheinMeidaTV @ YouTube]

[Source: RheinMeidaTV @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

Thank you all who came out for this absolutely awe-inspiring event. Send us your photos and videos so we can post them!

Don't miss member George Hamma's photo gallery from Pacific Coast Dream Machines.

NorCal MINIs

Motorward discusses the fleet of cars the BMW Group is providing during the 2012 London Olympics. The fleet includes "BMW 1 Series ActiveE (EV), MINI E (Electric Vehicle), MINI Countryman Cooper D, BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics, BMW 520d Efficient Dynamics, BMW 5 Series Active Hybrid, BMW X3 xDrive 20d, BMW X5 xDrive 30d, R1200 RT Motorcycle, and BMW Streetcruiser Bicycles."

NorCal MINIs

Motoring Fun has provided this video from his first MOTD experience as he leaves this year to again participate in this event.

NorCal MINIs

Dan Lyons, a columnist for the Albany Times Union, at timesunion.com, reviews the 2012 MINI Coupe. Lyons says, in conclusion:

My test car was a Works edition, and so equipped, the Coupe is a top notch go-kart. MINI claims a top speed of 149 mph for the JCW, and a 0-60 mph best of 6.1 seconds. Acceleration is, then, quite strong, and torque steer is a definite possibility when you lay into the throttle. The engine's power band is impressively wide. Max torque arrives at 1,850 rpm and holds through 5,600 rpm, so the engine is highly responsive over a very wide rpm range. The six-speed stick has a short, straight stroke, keeping the engine on the boil and adding to the car's fun factor. The car posts fine fuel economy, given its performance potential. EPA rates the JCW Coupe at 25 city, 33 highway.

With the optional sport suspension on the JCW, you have the stiffest of all MINI's. Ride quality is firm, and while I didn't find this objectionable for daily driving, this wouldn't be my first choice for a long trip. Standard Dynamic Stability Control and Dynamic Traction Control (standard on JCW, optional elsewhere) help keep the Coupe pointed in the right direction. DSC can be switched off, for those taking their Coupe to the track. Handling is arguably more impressive than the driveline, since you can exercise the JCW's curve carving more readily than you can its, uh, arresting acceleration. And that's the key to the JCW. Unless you have access to a race track or perhaps plan an autocross for your back yard (fair warning: most municipalities — and neighbors — frown on this sort of thing), you really can't scratch the car's itch.

I know that's true of many performance cars, but most of them are content to cruise the highways, while this one seems to whisper troublemaking thoughts in your ear. For that reason — and price (this loaded test car stickered for a stout, $38 Large) — the downrange Coupe models (base, S) make the most sense for most people. While you'll clearly get less performance, you reach a better balance of price vs. usable fun.

NorCal MINIs

Andrew-JCW @ MINI2 discusses how he revived a dead 2005 MINI key and was able to program it. He writes:

Had my 2005 MCS JCW for a whole 7 days now and loving it

. But one of the remote keys was completely dead!

Tried re-programming as per the instructions on the forum and driving around all week with it in the ignition hoping it would charge but nothing seemed to work!

Last night decided I would have to get a replacement or break it open to replace the battery.

As a last resort I thought I would read up on induction charging as this is how the battery is meant to recharge whilst the key is in the ignition. My thoughts were that it could not get enough time to charge the battery if it was completely drained (common when the keys aren’t used for long periods). So I needed to find a way to boost the charge for an extended period of time.

So last night I left my key fob lying on top of my electric toothbrush induction charger in the hope that it would charge the key.

HEY PRESTO!

This morning I followed the re-programming instruction below and it worked (also re-programmed the working one to make sure they both worked!).

So if you are having trouble with charging your key it might be worth trying to charge it with your electric toothbrush induction charger!

I found these instruction for programming the keys via a search on this forum and can confirm that they worked for me;

1. Have all the keys on you when you get into the car.
2. Get in and shut the doors (don’t open them until you are finished programming)
3. Put a key in the ignition and turn on (no need to start the engine) then back off and take the key out within 5 seconds.
4. Now hold down the unlock button, while continuing to hold it down press the lock button 3 times, then release the unlock button. The doors will now lock and unlock. DON’T open the doors or door locks yet.
5. Repeat action 4 for ALL other keys.
6. Once you’ve finished doing this to all the keys you can open the doors and/or use your keys in the ignition.
7. Try to lock and lock the doors remotely with all the key fobs. If they don’t work try again but make sure the sequence is followed completely as it’s critical.

If the key fob still doesn’t work then probably the re-chargeable battery is beyond recovery and you will be faced with a ££££ bill for replacement

.

I hope this helps some of the rest of you with dead rechargeable remote key fobs

NorCal MINIs

[Source: AutokeskusOy @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

Top 10 Sports Cars hosts a gallery of photos of the MINI Cooper Coupe line-up and says, in part:

If you are a fan of speed, Coupe John Cooper Works is the appropriate vehicle. Strong and agile, JCW coupe fitted with turbocharged 1.6 to 208 kW capacity. Acceleration time 0-100 km / h takes 6.1 seconds, top speed around 240 km / h. Not only that, JCW coupe version was also consume the most fuel when the fuel consumption combined average European standard of 8.6 liters per 100 km.

NorCal MINIs

CEO Hartmut Mehdorn and his three board of director colleagues on the board of Air Berlin, Germany’s second largest airline, all drive MINIs as Company cars.

[Source: The Local]

NorCal MINIs

[Source: jonsooy @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

Eliseo Salazar, Armindo Araujo and Paulo Nobre of the MINI WRC team rank 24th, 9th and 17th, respectively after just 1.2 percent of Rally Argentina. By starting the rally Salazar is the first driver in motorsport history to contest the Monaco Grand Prix, the Le Mans 24 Hour, the Indianapolis 500, the Dakar Rally, and the start of a WRC round.

[Source: MINI Motorsport]

NorCal MINIs

[Source: BlackwaterOpsDotCom @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

[Source: Rafalo74 @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

AutoGuide.com is rather harsh in its review of the MINI Ray. Amy Tokic titles her review "MINI Ray is a Bad Dose of 80′s Style" and bemoans -

The MINI Ray will be hitting dealerships at the beginning of May when Italian hipsters can look forward to a Summer spent cruising the Italian countryside blaring your old Duran Duran cassette tapes, through an iPod of course.

NorCal MINIs

[Source: blvmjohndavid @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

According to carreracaballo @ YouTube:

Krumm's MINI R53 WideBody (Lower Frame) Vs. Tommy's MINI R56 JCW FL (Upper Frame)

Both cars are mechanically optimized however Krumm's MINI R53 has a very interesting detail which is that this car has been newly equipped with a set of TOYO R888 235/40R17 on 8Jx17CH ATS GTR alloy-wheels, 15mm spacers, and a WideBody-Kit in order to enhance it's cornering speed and stability!

NorCal MINIs

Yes, it is a black and white question - in vinyl.

[Source: WrapMeLtd @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

LeftLane lists its top 10 convertibles under $45,000. The MINI Cooper S is included at the article says, about it:

As the “just right” droptop in MINI’s ever-expanding lineup, the Cooper S provides a perfect balance between solid performance and relative practicality not found in its siblings. The Cooper S John Cooper Works is a hoot to drive, but it’s expensive, while the stylish new Roadster trades what limited cargo-hauling ability the standard MINI Convertible has. Goldilocks has found her MINI.

NorCal MINIs

[Source: NewpressOnlineMedia @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

At Saturday’s opening round of the Pirelli-supported MINI Challenge, reigning champion Chris Knox won the first of two races at Silverstone. Lee Allen dominated the second race but Chris Smith took the JCW Class points lead with two second place finishes. Henry Gilbert won the Club class with his double victory.

RallyBuzz continues:

Now in its 11th year, the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S race cars competed over two classes at the opening round of the seven-round series: the John Cooper Works (JCW) class and the Club class. The JCW class is provided with slick and wet options: the 225/625-17 DH slick and 225/625-17 WS wet tyre. The Club class has only one type available: an intermediate tyre that is suitable across a range of different wet and dry conditions.

* * *

NorCal MINIs

[Source: SBARTSTV @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Source: michalborz @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

[Source: TheCyclingNomads @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

Car and Driver interviews MINI head Kay Segler. Segler says, in part:

Are diesel models a possibility for the U.S.?

Diesels in general are a topic for the environment, and for America. It won’t happen in the current lineup because we can’t justify the business case yet. But for future models, we’ll look at it very closely because dealers and customers continue to approach us about it. That pertains not only to the U.S. market, but also to other markets, such as Japan.

Which transmission strategy do you follow? Wouldn’t a dual-clutch box be a better brand fit than a traditional automatic?

Of course, a John Cooper Works is screaming for a dual-clutch transmission, but you can also improve an automatic transmission to a level where you hardly recognize the difference anymore. Over the entire lineup, demand is higher for automatics. Of course, we consider going from six to eight gears or similar, that is a topic [of conversation]. The John Cooper Works Countryman now comes with a manual and an automatic and we are very curious how these choices will be accepted.

* * *
And does the small Rocketman have a chance of series production?

The main issue here is the business case. I don’t believe that a smaller car could be that much less expensive to make, but the customer would expect it to be offered for a few thousand dollars less. What we have seen here are design features that were popular. We didn’t do the concept just to get attention, but we want to see what elements could work on other models.

* * *

NorCal MINIs

NorCal MINIs and Redwood Empire MINI Enthusiasts have coordinated a MINI Corral in the prime race view location and parade laps for each day of the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival. We want all MINIs and Minis to JOIN THE INVASION.

If a parade lap and expensive historic cars racing on Sonoma Raceway aren't enough for you maybe what Autoweek says will get you out there in your MINI/Mini:

The Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival, the third-annual event under that title, returns to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., on June 2-3. The event this year is titled, “Moments in Time: a Celebration of the History of Motorsports.”

The 26th-annual historic-car event organized by General Racing Ltd. in Sonoma will focus on highlights of the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s—the eras in which auto racing began to cement its status as a world-class spectator sport. In addition, 400 historic race cars will compete and parade around the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course, including a number of significant cars ranging from a 1911 National Indy 500 racer to a 1991 Roush IMSA GTO Mustang.

“Our plan for the third-annual Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival is to celebrate the important ‘moments in time' from the sport and the cars that defined each era,” said Steve Earle, president of General Racing Ltd., who has organized premier historic-car events for four decades.

Earle started the Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca that ran in conjunction with the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

“Our focus, as always, will be to bring the history of the sport to the attention of automotive enthusiasts, new and old, with the display of a number of important cars and the presence of personalities from specific events during those periods. This year, these will include the winning driver of the 1952 Golden Gate Park Races, and the winning car from the 24 Hours of Le Mans that same year.

“The theme will also focus on the emergence of GT cars, rather than Prototypes, as contenders for the 1962 FIA World Manufacturers Championship, the introduction of Group C sports cars and the dominating Porsche 956 of 1982,” Earle added.

“It's a little known fact that the city of San Francisco and its world-famous park was a gracious host in the early '50s to a number of SCCA racing events, and we'd like to take people back to those amazing days when a major U.S. city and a fledgling sports-car club joined together to entertain the public with exciting racing action.”

Cars considered significant in each era include:

1952: Allard J2-Cadillac (Golden Gate winner), Mercedes-Benz W194 (24 Hours of Le Mans winner)

1962: Ferrari GTO (introduced that year), the birth of the Cobra and the introduction of the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

1972: Racing prototypes (Ferrari 312, Matra, e.g.) in the World Sports Car Championships

1982: Group C, the Porsche 956 introduced

Fifteen race groups will compete on Saturday and Sunday, while the weekend will also include the popular Wine Country Pavilion, with samplings of fine foods and wines from the Sonoma and Napa valleys.

The paddock will be open to spectators, allowing everyone an opportunity to get an up-close-and-personal look at the race cars and various car corrals throughout the raceway.

The weekend also will include the Historic Race Car Festival in the Sonoma Plaza on Saturday evening, benefiting Speedway Children's Charities.

NorCal MINIs

[Source: quadforce450 @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

From NYIAS 2012 by AutoMotoTube @ YouTube.

NorCal MINIs

MINI Motorsport previews the races scheduled to start Thursday. You can follow all the MINI Challenge Argentina action starting Thursday on twitter.

NorCal MINIs

[Source: Arturmaks @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

From the NYIAS 2012 by AutoMotoTube @ YouTube.

NorCal MINIs

boston.com discusses the debuts of new car models at the Beijing Auto Show. The article was accompanied by this photo of the MINI booth.

[Video Source: SupercarHall @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

[Source: jakesteven1980 @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

MINI Motorsport highlights the MINI Challenge races in Brazil, the U.K. and Argentina.

NorCal MINIs

MINI Motorsport says the modified MINI John Cooper Works Challenge run by the Besaplast Racing Team will compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours race. It won its class at the 24-hour race in Dubai. In a shakedown race for Nürburgring 24 Hours, the VLN Endurance Championship held at Nordschleife, the team came in third.

NorCal MINIs

The Sealine Cross Country Rally in Qatar was the third 2012 FIA World Cup for Cross Country event of the season. In the first two, Rally Dakar, Al-Mutaiwei and X-raid finished first and in the second, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge they took second. Ten days later Khalifa Al-Mutaiwei and X-raid earned their third podium placing third at the Sealine Cross-Country Rally in Qatar.

Next up for the X-raid Team will be the July 7, 2012 start of the Silk Way Rally in Russia.

[Source: MINI Motorsport]

NorCal MINIs

hypoxic will take you step by step through how you can easily fix the MINI armrest center console if it won't stay shut with some magnets, glue and epoxy.

NorCal MINIs

Bet you this one is better.

[Source: mixonwheels @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

MotoringFile reports MINI has a schedule for GP releases in order to turn the GP name "into a high performance sub-brand for MINI and to a lesser degree JCW." MINI now has under development two GPs, one on the ‘Ring and one at BMW’s secret test track in southern France. The first GP, R56 based, will debut this May at MINI United and will be on-sale in September. The second GP be a R58 Coupe. Expect to see the car debut this fall and go on-sale in the spring of 2013. At least a year later two GPs for the R6X platform, first the R60 Countryman and then the upcoming R61 Countryman Coupe (formally known as the Paceman), will debut

NorCal MINIs

Video from the Launch Party for the new MINI Roadster and MINI Baker Street, Bayswater and Highgate at the MINI Store Horizon Defence.

[Source: BMWMINIHorizon @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

AutoSpies.com publishes a TrueCar study that shows women prefer MINIs. In 2011 MINI had the highest percentage of retail sales to women (46.2 percent). Aside from exotic cars the Porsche 911 (88.2 percent) had the highest percentage of retail sales to men.

NorCal MINIs

That is what Jimmy Dinsmore says in the headline to his short article about the MINI Cooper S Coupe for statesman.com.

NorCal MINIs

[Source: cooperSml @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

Here's our recommendation (and his) - Don't!

[Source: BlackwaterOpsDotCom @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

You can read the full WhatCar? MINI Coupe review here.

NorCal MINIs

soccerbummer1104 @ YouTube provides this time lapse video of the replacement of the CV boot on a 2003 MCS done in a manner claimed to be easier than the way set forth in the shop manual.

NorCal MINIs

[Photo Credit: La Bloga]

According to The Car Connection only 1 in 25 new cars has a manual transmission.

NorCal MINIs

Martyn Collins, writing for autoblog.uk, took the Roadster for a spin and concludes:

So as an owner of the first two-seater MINI, the mad John Cooper Works GP, would I buy the new Roadster MINI? I could be tempted, as I believe the two-seater MINI concept works better in Roadster form and it looks great. My only worry would be the driving experience could be too compromised for the UK's rough tarmac when compared to the MX-5 and TT Roadster.

NorCal MINIs

Edmunds Inside Line announces that MINI has approved release of the MINI Clubvan, the prototype of which was shown at this year's Geneva Motor Show. According to Automotoblog.net Car & Driver claims the vehicle will hit U.S. shores this September as a 2013 model.

NorCal MINIs

Even if the MINI is just a battery powered toy -

[Source: twizidp @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

What a great time in the Gold Country! Warm weather, neat backroads roads, fun events and good food. Thank you to all who participated with special thanks to Robert, Jessica, Richard and Sharon for suggesting, organizing and leading this run. How good was it? Check out this slideshow of photographs from the run from Ken:

NorCal MINIs

. . . please, pay "your child" some respect and don't video yourself in your car looking at the camera while driving in traffic on the highway no matter where you place the camera. We understand why you have had so many run-in's with semi's - you're playing to and with the camera! You remind us of those guys who have a statue of Jesus on the dashboard looking at them when, really, Jesus should be turned the other way looking out for traffic. Do us all a favor. Try editing and voiceover and leave your little mind completely free to driving "your child" so you are not a distracted danger to the rest of us.

[Source: JrMyers2010 @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

[Source: SupercarHall @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

[Source: Andy Mcphail @ Facebook]

NorCal MINIs

[Source: MOWCVideo @ YouTube]

NorCal MINIs

AutoGuide.com has spy shots of what appears to be a MINI Cooper Coupe JCW GP. In the photos the Coupe includes the same rear diffuser as the GP version of the hard top Cooper model, as well as the same 18-inch wheels.

NorCal MINIs

MINI UK says on its Facebook page that, if you email your name and address to facebook@mini.co.uk, they will send some Team GB stickers your way.

NorCal MINIs

The Truth About Cars re-publishes Edmunds' list of fastest selling cars in the U.S. based on time spent on the dealer's lot. The MINI Coupe is sitting on the lot for an average of 26 days - the Cooper for 29 days.

America’s Fastest Selling Cars

Rank	Make	Model	DTT
1	Toyota	Prius c	8
2	Audi	Q7	11
3	Mazda	CX-5	11
4	Hyundai	Elantra	12
5	Porsche	Cayenne	13
6	Audi	Q5	13
7	Subaru	Impreza	14
8	BMW	X6	14
9	Honda	CR-V	15
10	Lexus	GS 350	15
11	Hyundai	Veloster	16
12	Volkswagen	Jetta SportWagen	16
13	Toyota	Highlander Hybrid	17
14	Toyota	Camry Hybrid	18
15	Kia	Soul	18
16	Audi	A6	19
17	Land Rover	Range Rover Evoque	19
18	Hyundai	Accent	20
19	Honda	Pilot	20
20	BMW	X3	21
21	Mercedes-Benz	CLS-Class	21
22	Toyota	Prius v	21
23	Chevrolet	Express	23
24	Hyundai	Tucson	23
25	Kia	Rio	25
26	Mercedes-Benz	M-Class	25
27	Subaru	Outback	25
28	Lexus	GX 460	25
29	BMW	X5	26
30	Audi	A5	26
31	MINI	Cooper Coupe	26
32	Land Rover	Range Rover Sport	27
33	Scion	iQ	27
34	Toyota	4Runner	28
35	Volkswagen	Passat	28
36	Volvo	XC60	28
37	Lexus	CT 200h	28
38	Ford	E-Series Wagon	29
39	MINI	Cooper	29
40	Subaru	Forester	29
41	Audi	A3	29
42	Toyota	Highlander	30
43	Toyota	Tacoma	30
44	Lexus	RX 350	31
45	Volkswagen	Beetle	31
46	Honda	Fit	31
47	Acura	MDX	32
48	Buick	Verano	32
49	Acura	TSX Sport Wagon	32
50	Toyota	Prius	33

WHAT'S COMING UP?