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!