MotoringFile Spotlight: Aaron Cornaby

In the forth of our “Spotlight” series we figured we'd do something a little different and feature someone other than the typical MINI owner. Aaron Cornaby is the owner and founder of OutMotoring.com as well as an avid MINI enthusiast. In some respects Aaron is just like all of us – except he has an almost unlimted supply of the coolest aftermarket parts around.

So Aaron, what's your MINI story?

I've been a long time Mini lover, beginning when I was about 14 or so. I have since kept my eyes out for a good reliable yet affordable classic Mini and have yet to find the perfect combination.

Over the years I have compromised by driving water cooled VW's until the day that I could afford to keep and maintain a classic Mini. As I grew older (not more mature) I realized that a classic may not be the best choice as a daily driver here in the states with the amount of freeway driving that is required as well as safety issues, etc. So life brought me to the VW Scirocco, of which I have owned 4, including a 88 16v (all decked out), a 84 16v look alike, two 82's, a 88 6v GTI, a completely decked out G60 Corrado (sold a few days before our my son was born), a Range Rover and a New Jetta. But throughout the years I have flipped the pages of Hemmings Motor News, UK Mini mags and have occasionally been to classic Mini meets looking for the perfect car.

When I saw the new MINI at the NAIAS, Autoweek sponsored Design Forum and saw Frank Stephenson speak about the design and development of the MINI while sitting just yards away from one of the first production S models I was smitten once again. It was then a only a matter of time until I could get my hands on one, which I did in November of 2002, which so happened to be around the same time as my birthday, which had in years past been the 'birth dates' for 3 of my other cars.

Having a ingrained entrepreneurial spirit that has had many years of refinement while having a number of small businesses, it was just a matter of time until Out Motoring happened. In college I had a Product Design consulting business that yielded a number of products in the automotive organizational departments of Pep Boys, Autozone, Sams, Walmart, Target and a few other national chains. Many of the products are still being sold. That, along with a great education from the respected Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, CA) got me to my current position as a Industrial Designer for one of the Nations most respected Design Constituencies where I currently work full time. So, I create products for a living with a specialty in Sporting Goods and Consumer Goods. More importantly, I also have two wonderful (and very young) kids and a super wonderful and cute wife.

As I became friends with the new MINI I started to formulate an idea to create a web based aftermarket performance boutique that is, of course, OutMotoring.com. The funny thing is that I never meant for the company to be so successful. My wife and I started it in the early spring of 2003 with a product offering of a few wheels from Team Dynamics (the first addition to the project car), some air filters and a sway bar or two. At that time, many of the aftermarket MINI products were mostly 'coming next week' (not much has changed). I simply continued to research and review products, get them in stock (when we could afford to) put them in cyber space, and offer what many of customers consider great customer service.

We created a space that is easy to navigate, shot most of our own photos, put stuff on the project car (yipee!!), did some of the earliest how-tos for aftermarket parts and so forth. Passionate MINI owners made the rest happen. Clearly we (I) are passionate about the MINI as can be seen by glancing at our website. Out Motoring is my hobby and part time fun gig, which is growing nearly out of control day by day. We have many happy customers from aroound the world who enjoy interacting with us and like who we are and what we are doing. It's a good match, because we like them too!

So, now back to the car, which is the main focus of the spotlight. I started with the most basic of basics; a nearly bare bones car. British Racing Green with White roof was the only way to go for me. That color somehow resonates as a color. with motoring heritage. The only options were the heated seats and the MFSW. Nothing else. It didn't stay bone stock for long though, the wheels and tires lasted about 2 weeks (I went with a set of 17# TD Monzas in Anthracite which were just replaced-again).

It must be said that I have constrained myself beyond belief, making sure that the mods to our project car balance out with the success of the business. It's a daily struggle to see shelves full of goodies that seem to yell “install me!” Well, I have installed and uninstalled a great deal of things, with the list of things that don't come off after review and testing getting longer and longer. While it's a modest list compared to some of our customers as well as Motoringfile.com readers, here is the latest:

• Miltek Exhaust
• Eurosport 15% supercharger pulley
• K&N Typhoon Intake
• 17″ Team Dynamics Pro Race 1 (Hi-power silver) 45mm offset
• Yokohama AVID H4s 215-45-17
• Alta Lowering Springs
• Hsport Adjustable Control Arms
• BMP Upper Stress Bar
• Pilo Racing Rear Upper Stress Bar
• Madness 3-way Rear Sway Bar
• Whalen Shift machine
• B&M short shift kit
• Out Motoring Leather Shift Boots
• Out Motoring Armrest
• Corbeau CR1 seats (not in right now)
• Corbeau 3-point harness (yellow) and pads
• Red Kingsborne 9mm Plug wires
• Accel 'colder' plugs
• Euro Parcel tray
• Soft Cubby Glove Box Organizer
• Carbon Fiber Hood Scoop
• PIAA Driving lights
• Clear Headlight Protection film
• Philips Blue Vision bulbs
• “Cooper S” embroidered Floor and Trunk Mats

The list of stuff that has come off after testing is too long to put here.

In the next few weeks; Slotted and Cross Drilled rotors and new pads, Braided Stainless brake lines, painted calipers (yellow) and some other stuff. Who knows!