As for the sanity of the driver to drive with the convertible top down in -25F weather, I say these few things: I was going to be his shotgun at one point, and I wouldn’t have done well. (I am “allergic” to the cold.) But, DuctTape was very well prepared — right down to the military -issue parka, the same kind they get for the poor schmucks stationed in Alaska and Greenland — and let’s not forget those humongous gloves with the fur on the outside. And, they weren’t flying full-face into the -30 wind; the windscreen is there, of course. And they had the side windows up and, no doubt, the heater & heated seats blasting away!

As for his new MINI cabrio (aka, a “topless” MINI), even with the snow landing zone, I was amazing at the lack of visible damage. The car essentially came to rest on its bonnet, roll bars, etc., and its windscreen — flexed fully horizontal by its position. I would have expected even the hardiest shatter-proof glass to break in that position, but, as reported, a stress fracture was it.

I feel certain that David’s grins upon extraction from the car (& his parka) were in part happiness to be alive and essentially unhurt and part shock; I imagine, the “uh-oh” part of cracking up the new car set in on the long, continued drive up to Radisson that afternoon. No doubt his worry wasn’t fully alleviated until he drove away from Matagami in “Orange Crush” Monday.

So, cheers to ya, DuctTape, for planning this amazing adventure, soldiering on with it after the crash, and even managing to put it somewhat in the back of your mind and enjoying the incredible experience with the rest of us! The comparison of our picture on the frozen Arctic Ocean (James Bay offshoot) in comparison to the first explorers is one I’ll never forget ….

A

I would have to say we all have a tad of eccentricity in us. Otherwise, we’d be in Ford Focuses, or Explorer SUVs. Admit it.

The saying the view never changes unless you are the lead dog is true. Go where you want, do what you want, live how you want. When it’s your time, it’s your time. If it’s not, don’t live (sic) as if it is.

Thanks too, to Gabe for saying don’t judge unless you were there. Persoanlly, sitting at a traffic light, on a cold, winter night with the top UP sucks. Why would I NOT want to be looking at the sky for those 60 seconds?

MAN I had a great time!

My removed comment was a personal thought and I should have kept it to myself.

+++RB

http://www.ifilm.com/WMPPlaylist.asx?ifilmId=2664182,-1&bandwidth=350

Seriously though – great story, and unbelievable testament to the MINI. And more importantly, everyone is OK.

BTW, I never said it wasn’t extreme cold. I said, and feel still that the cold was more than managable. (It was the ice that wasn’t. But it was the ice that caused the flip, not the cold)

David

As has been reported, despite all this we had a fabulous trip. I would do it again in a minute, but maybe a little better prepared. It was the most challenging and exciting driving I’ve ever done, the most extreme cold I’ve ever witnessed, fantastic scenery, and a terrific group of people. We had close range viewing of caribou by mini and turboprop airplane, awe-inspiring viewing of the Northern Lights, and got to walk on the Artic Ocean. It was an amazing experience.

I just returned from Prestige where all the mechanics stood around in amazement when I told them the car rolled. It not only did it’s job of protecting me, it looks like a million bucks!

DSC was on. Top was down (of course.) Maybe 60 mph. I was in the number two position, if I recall. John Cary was up front.

We were driving along a nice straight-a-way. The road curved just at a patch of ice. The car did not turn with the road. (Now I seem to remember that rule of physics from high school)

It stayed straight. I turned right to compensate, then left. The nose went straight into the snow bank on the side of the road. The car kept the turn to rear end first as the rear wheels slid out. We traveled, oh, a good 100 miles backwards along the snow embankment :) At that point, I would imagine after the embankment turned enough with the road, the car mounted the snow. From there I am a blank until being upside down in the snow. I do remember the car landing in the snow, just not the flip.

I hung in my seatbelt. However, the headrest had me pinned under the car by my hood. I couldn’t get out. I was able to spin my body around to get my feet out of the passenger side, so someone could pull me out. They slid me out of my jacket and out of the car.

My major injury is 2nd degree frostbite on two fingers. I had to clear an airway to breath in the snow, and my hands got wet. When I came out I didn’t think about the cold at all (it was about -25C) With the wind chill, my wet hands froze very fast. Real frostbite is not a pretty site.

I have to say, even with this little adventure, this was probably one of the best trips I’ve ever been on. If you get the chance to go away with people from the MINI community, hop on it.

I’m going to try and post a picture/story page, probably on my web page and on the page Ross is setting up for this event and it’s pictures.

Also, thank you all for your good wishes and concern, and interest!

Glad to hear everyone’s safe & sound at home.