Aug 31st, 2005
White Roof Radio Podcast #9 is a wrap and it looks like we’ve got the best one to date. We were lucky enough to have the famous Randy Webb from Webb Motorsports on to answer questions and to give his thoughts on all things MINI. The only problem is that I just can’t wait for it to be released later in the week. So as a special mid-week surprise for MotoringFile readers I’m happy to present a bit of a bootlegged version for early release.
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Aug 31st, 2005
We do our best to make MotoringFile your window into the MINI world. In doing so we typically like to keep world news out of our general scope. However, I think the recent events in the southern US warrant a mention. If you’d like to help victims of Hurricane Katrina please follow the link below:
[ Help Needed for Hurricane Victims ] Fema.gov
Aug 30th, 2005
We’ve got the goods on the three new OEM wheels for the 2006 model year including full weight numbers. In the US all three will be available as dealer accessories with the Flame Spoke (aka the Horseshoe) also being part of the Checkmate package. Outside the US the Delta Spoke will come on the MINI Cooper S7ven; the Bridge Spoke on the Cooper Parklane; and the Flame Spoke on the MCS Checkmate.
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Aug 30th, 2005
There’s no word on whether MINI will be using a system like this but it’s fascinating nonetheless (from Reuters):
IBM is set to give details Tuesday about plans to sell sophisticated search technologies allowing automakers to cut warranty expenses, which cost the car industry about $14 billion annually.
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Aug 30th, 2005
I have the good fortune of having a friend and coworker that recently acquired a classic Mini. It needs a little work, but looks great, runs well and is in overall good shape. Not to mention it makes me more than a little jealous,..
After conferring with other local classic owners, inspecting and test-driving their cars, he’s beginning to gather the bits and pieces to complete his car and to give it a bit more pep. Which for me (being a fellow Mini/MINI fanatic and general car nut) is a fascinating process.
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Aug 29th, 2005
Winding Road is chock full of MINI related info in this latest issue. In the past several issues Winding Road has been counting down the top 50 driver’s cars and in this latest issue they’ve finally revealed the top ten. In a move that recalls a similar ranking by Evo a few years ago, the MINI has come in at a lofty 3rd. What’s ahead of the Cooper S? Well that would be a sleek little coupe from Stuttgart and some mid-engined monster from Modena. Here’s what they had to say about the MINI:
In a world where colossal SUVs rule and boys dream of decadent Maybachs or 600-hp supercars, it would seem there is little room for a diminutive hatchback with about a quarter of an Enzo’s power. The explosive little Mini, however, can hold it’s own in today’s daunting world of automobiles. It’s backed up by a heritage of conquering Goliaths, and after driving one it’s not hard to see how the little Brit could win rally stages.
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Aug 29th, 2005
The PDF based car magazine, Winding Road, has a MINI related comparison in it’s most recent issue. Pitted against the MINI are two very different cars, the Ford Mustang GT and the Nissan 300ZX. Here’s an excerpt from the PDF magazine:
Part of the Mini secret is that is has quick steering and a suspension tuned for flat,
linear handling. The quick steering amplifies the sense of agility that the short wheelbase provides automatically. Not only that, but you get a good sense of what the contact patches are doing. The flat handling inspires confidence, which is helped along by the uncanny feeling that the Mini wants to ove-steer. This is a front-driver after all, and everyone knows that front drivers under-steer. But BMW has built in a subtle initial move at the rear that communicates the desire of the car to rotate. This would be a risky strategy if the car couldn’t cash the check written by this tuning, but the front just tracks away up to some pretty high limits.
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