Aug 26th, 2003
Here's a follow-up video from Ken at MINI Eagle Racing who recorded the original Spa video I posted several months ago:
“Here is a video from a recent practice session at Circuit Zolder here in Belgium. I suspect this circuit is more famous across the pond as the place that took the life of Villeneuve Sr. (hence the Villeneuve Chicane). Its a fun little track that has a nice rhythm. You're almost always busy at the wheel and rarely at zero G lateral forces.
Anyway, go here: thetouristreport.org/zzz…and right click and save this file:thetouristreport.org/zzz/mini-zolder-warmup-640×480-2mb-44khz.wmv (39.2MB).
You can also do the same for this file: my1stminivid-studio-edit-1500kbps.mpg (6.5MB). This is a video of a few outside shots of me practicing with my wife's MINI at Zolder from this past February.
FIY, I cleaned up the soundtrack in my original Spa video and if you're interested in that, you can right click and save this file (the 27MB file is
gone): /mtps-studio-edit2-640×480-2mb-44khz.wmv (71.1MB).
Although it still has the Jamaroquai song “20 Zero One” as the soundtrack, I've faded some of the tire/engine noise where there wasn't nearly as much annoying wind noise.
Hope you enjoy them.
Ken Rahaim,
MINI Eagle Racing
Thanks Ken – this is a fantastic collection!
Aug 25th, 2003
While Bridger.us/MINI has had about a dozen posts about the upcoming MINI Cabrio in the past 6 months I thought it might be time for another update of information that has been compiled thus far. If you'd like to read what's already been posted check out the this post from last June. Now onto the info…
According to current plans in a years time the MINI Cabrio should be either arriving at dealerships or already in the hands of eager owners. In general the car has been one of MINI's worst kept secrets. For instance we know that it will come in both MC and MCS flavors. We also know that it will be available in two new colors and have colored trim to match the exterior of the car. Don't be surprised to see other small modifications to the interior of the car as well.
On the exterior we know that the car will have a bottom hinged (tailgate style) boot similar to the classic MINI. The Cabrio will feature a revised antenna placed an inch or so behind the center of the windshield. With no stationary point above the belt-line I would imagine that the third tail-light placement could actually be within the rear chrome trim (blacked out on this photo) where you can see a slight bulge in the above photo.
The top itself will be a folding variety similar to the current Beetle convertible but should lay flatter and thus produce less of the dreaded rear hump seen on many drop-tops (including said Beetle). You can see the folded top clearly here. The Cabrio will also feature two roll protecting loops behind the rear passenger seats. They seem to be situated low enough to not become a dominant design attribute while still doing their intended job protecting the car's occupants.
In the drivetrain area the Cabrio will be the first Cooper to see the new Getrag 5-speed gearbox that will be standard on all 2005 Coopers. Other than that there shouldn't be too many changes mechanically to the cars. They will certainly be less agile and quick off the line due to the curb weight increasing and it will be interesting to see how the already super stiff MINI structure copes with no roof.
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p>Finally the MINI Cabrio (or should we call it the Open?) will be a fairly rare occurrence in the US. Word has it that all production will indeed come from the same Oxford plant that the current MINI is produced at. With that factory running at capacity already it doesn't take a rocket scientist to determine that this car will be produced in low numbers throughout the world. My guess would be to expect the Cabrio to be less than 15% of all MINIs sold in the US. One thing we know for certain – they will be a premium for at least the first six months. So if you want a drop-top MINI and aren't already on your dealers preliminary list I would recommend taking action soon.
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[Thanks Chris for the heads up on the top photo]
Aug 24th, 2003
With the decision just announced that MINI will be switching from the Midland R65 5-speed in the current Cooper to a new 5-speed Getrag transmission I thought I'd offer some background information on why the Midland unit was chosen originally. This excerpt comes from Graham Robson's New MINI – a book about the origins of the new MINI and the development process that went along with it.
“BMW had wanted the car to have a Getrag gearbox, but we (the original UK engineers) put in the R65 gearbox instead, because it was $170/car cheaper, more compact with a two-shaft as opposed to a three-shaft layout, and no inherent cyclic vibrations, so a mass damper was not needed.”
“Because the design of the front-wheel drive Rover 75 had already been finalized around a new-generation Getrag gearbox – BMW had been patronizing this German specialist for more than three decades – the proposed link-up was logical, but the British didn't see it that way. The Getrag box, which would be all-new, would necessarily be costly and take time to develop.
The R65, on the other hand, was an existing major component, which was already being manufactured on the Longbridge site, and was in large scale use in other Rover Group front-wheel-drive cars. Originally a PSA (Peugoet-Citroen) design, it was well-proven, and well thought of.
Unhappily, it took Rover Group ages to convince BMW that this should be done, as there seemed to be a growing culture in Germany which (to alter George Orwell) stated: 'German engineering Good, British engineering Bad.' To many over-worked British engineers, it seemed, they saw an attitude which suggested that the only acceptable method was the BMW method.
On this occasion, though, Chris Lee (MINI Product Leader '96-'99) and his team stuck to it's convictions, produced rafts of evidence regarding costs, performance and service experience. Back-to-back tests, evaluations on the road and comparisons of torque capacities were all made. In addition, major improvements to the R65's change quality, a reduction of free play and healthy attention to warranty claim records were all needed before Rover won the argument.
Then, when the Cooper S derivative came along, the R65 couldn't cope with it's increased torque, and BMW had to choose a 6-speed Getrag gearbox after all…”
I think this is pretty fascinating insight considering that there have been various reports on some MINI forums about a rash of manual transmission failures in Coopers. This would seem unusual considering all the work they did on the R65 transmission and the fact that it's been called “well-proven, and well thought of”
Aug 22nd, 2003
Sent in by Tony:
I am travelling historic Route 66 over the next two weeks. I have to go to San Diego on business and my employer has agreed to pay me equivalent airfare to take my Mini Cooper S.
So, the plan is: to take two weeks to travel from Chicago to Los Angeles following what's left of America's “Mother Road” and see lots of the sights in between; I then have to spend a week in San Diego on business; and then I plan to take about six days to drive home.
I left home (Ottawa, Canada) on 10 August and started the actual Route 66 portion of the trip on 11 August as I passed through Chicago.
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p>You can follow along with Tony on his trip via his website: www.magma.ca/~alderton/route66/index.htm. To see photos of his trip so far check out the map portion of his site here.
Aug 21st, 2003
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p>Here's some MINI trivia for everyone out there. Many of us are aware of the sales success that the new MINI has had over the past two years. However what would surprise most is that we're not even close to the yearly numbers that the Classic Mini enjoyed in it's heyday. For instance in 1973 alone the Classic Mini sold an astounding 343,000 units worldwide (except for of course the US where it wasn't being sold).
As expected that number diminished greatly by the 2000 model year (the last year of Classic Mini production) when just 12,000 were sold world wide. However it's safe to say with a total production since 1959 of over 5,400,000 the Classic Mini is firmly established in automotive history as one of the most successful vehicles of all time.
Aug 21st, 2003
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Scott over at the Madison MINI Group has detailed instructions on how to make your foglights yellow – as they should be according to some:
“Yellow fog lights work better than white in most weather circumstances. We don't know why most auto makers insist on using clear lenses. So, how do you fix the clear lenses on your Mini? MMG has searched the world for you, and found that RSpeed sells protective light film kits for headlights, turn signals, and fog lights. You can get these kits in clear or blue for the headlights, and clear or yellow for the fogs. MMG invested in the yellows. RSpeed is very accomodating, and shipped the laminating kit immediately. They are a snap to install – literally all you need to do is to clean your lens, spray the usual soapy water on both the lens and the cover, and slide into place. Fifteen seconds, tops. Once the covers “cure”, they are good to go. Presto – yellow lights AND protection against stones and ugly bugs. Granted, they aren't as yellow as amber lenses might be, but they work fine.”
You can check this mod out in more detail here.
Aug 20th, 2003
Today MINIUSA introduced four new commercials highlighting the 2003 North American Car of the Year Award.
You can read posts about other MINI commercials from around the world here (UK) and here (Canada). And finally you can always check out the entire list of commercials at Bridger.us/MINI in the “Video” section on the right hand side of the site.
Oh and while your at MINIUSA.com checking out the new commercials be sure to check out the two new games and other content that has been added as well.
