Here’s the first look at the optional Countryman aero-kit courtesy of our friends at Bigblogg. We don’t know that much about the kit yet (is it going to be marketed as JCW, will it be a factory option?) but we do know that it’s much less of a departure than the R56 JCW aero-kit was from the standard look. In fact the front bumper is identical to the stock piece with the exception of a more aggressive splitter. The sides mirror the current JCW kit (which is why we do believe this will be marketed under the JCW) and the rear is certainly quite aggressive.
Hyundai, once the butt of many an automotive joke has been doing some serious work on its products lately. In fact just recently it found its performance voice with the rear wheel drive Genesis coupe. Now it wants to race MINI. Since Porsche isn’t game, apparently Hyundai can be (come July for some reason).
Wanna be a part of history? MINI USA is inviting MINI fans to watch the MINI vs Porsche race this Monday June 21st at Road Atlanta. However there’s a catch; there’s only room for 400 people on a first come first served basis.
It gets better. If you come to the event and register, you also get track time. Free track time and you get to see the much hyped MINI vs Porsche. Not bad for the price of free.
For those interested in making the trip all you have to do is be at Road Atlanta for the guest check-in and track time sign-up from 3:30 to 4:30 (you may want to get there sooner to make sure you get a spot). From there the schedule follows accordingly:
4:30-6:30 Dinner and Track time
6:30 Pre-race festivities
7:00 Race followed by award ceremony
7:10-8:00 Post-race celebration
But wait, how does MINI get Porsche there after they’ve publicly declined? Easy, invite anyone who owns a Porsche to race. MINI is even providing the Porsche 911 Carrera S.
Back in the 1960s, John Cooper’s tuning abilities made the small, sprightly BMC Mini into a monster.  The small wonders dethroned the winning combination of Erik “On the Roof” Carlsson and the Saab 96 after two consecutive Monte Carlo victories. The Mini’s success was no fluke as the results were repeated in 1964, ’65 and ’67.  In 1966, the Mini-Cooper S cars driven by Timo Mäkinen, Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk were disqualified on a homologation technicality.  According to the BBC:
[They] were all ruled out of the prizes – with six other British cars for alleged infringements of complex regulations about the way their headlights dipped.
…The British cars were disqualified because they used non-dipping single filament quartz iodine bulbs in their headlamps, in place of the standard double filament dipping glass bulbs, which are fitted to the series production version of each model sold to the public.
Otherwise, the Minis would have taken first, second and third. Â The scandal rocked the Monte Carlo Rally and cast doubts on its future because of this terrible upset. Â The driver who was awarded 1st place, Pauli Toivonen, quit racing for his sponsor Citroen because of the scandal. Â Reportedly, he did not talk about his victory because he felt it was undeserved.
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Cats? Yes, we seriously start off talking about cats. Fellas, who else among us has also been ‘left’ with a cat? How about a little bit of iPhone talk bashing? Sure, we do that too. And we all have Schroth Harness going for wicked low pricing.
We finally get around to talking about MINI stuff like we like to do and to do that we jump over to MotoringFile and do exactly that, including our take on the MINI vs. Porsche Challenge happening on June 21st at Road Atlanta. And, since we got Gabe tonight, we get his take on all of the newest things, like the JCW changes coming up.
2nd half of the show was Gabe talking about the latest review MINI in the MF Garage, right after all of us beat him up for driving an X5 M, rolling in at $US92k+. Back us up ladies and gents! Back to the MINI, Gabe likes it, except the transmission, but you had to see that coming, right?
Woofcast 341:
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2011 brings a refresh not only in styling, drivetrain and colors but also wheels. In fact for 2011 MINI is drastically rehauling it’s wheel line-up and finally axing a few old favorites. MINI will continue to offer a large range of wheels from the accessory catalog that can be ordered via individual dealers. However the selection below will be the main wheel line-up available from the factory.
Here’s the rundown (images courtesy of Bigblogg):
15″ Wheels
In the 15″ category MINI will continue to offer a steel wheel with hub cap (not available in the US) and carry over the R100. New is the R118 S-Star twin spoke (which is vaguely familiar to a 18″ JCW wheel released in 2007).
16″ Wheels
MINI is completely revamping the 16″ wheel line-up and ditching the always popular (and MF favorite) Bridge Spoke wheels. Light and classic in design the Bridge Spokes will be missed. In their place will be the R115, R120 and R119 in that order. All are available only in silver with the exception of the R119 which also comes in black.
1st Gen MINI R50: One & MC Hatch R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt. R53: MCS Hatch 2nd Gen MINI R55: Clubman R56: Hatch R57: Convertible R58: Coupe R59: Roadster R60: MINI Crossover R61: MINI Crossover Coupe 3rd Gen MINI F55: Clubman F56: Hatch F57: Convertible F60: MINI Crossover F62: Traveller
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Sections: R60 (Countryman) Jun 19th, 2010 28 Comments 
