Next Stop, Tail of the Dragon…
The 2007 MCS press car is packed, the tank is full, and all my various batteries are charged. In the morning, we hit the interstate for 11 hours of pure road trip action. We should arrive at the Dragon tomorrow evening if all goes well. We’ll have pictures on the MotoringFile Flickr group posted throughout the event and a quick update or two provided the Fontana wifi (two sticks and a can) holds together.
I’ll also be starting the official MF longterm review of the new 2007 Cooper S. I figured, what better place to test the R56 than with a massive road-trip and on a road like the Dragon. I’ll have a full review next week but look for some small updates before then.
Finally if you’re heading down to the Dragon, let’s hear about your plans in the comment section. And be sure to swing by the MF open house Friday night after the Brew Swap.
Safe travels everyone.
[ MotoringFile Flickr Group ] Flickr.com
Flying in from the UK on Thursday, picking up my MINI, spending a bit of time with my family, and driving up to Deals Gap on Friday afternoon… Will be there in time for the Brew Swap on Friday night, and the MotoringFile gathering afterwards… I’m staying at Fontana Lodge on Friday and Saturday nights… Surprised they still had rooms…
Unfortunately, nobody else from my UK MINI club is coming with me, so I need to take lots of pictures… They are saving for MINI United, and our trip to Monte Carlo afterwards!…
Gary
Have fun!
Wish I could come back but will have to wait till next year when I actually have a Mini again. Gabe please tell us about how the R56 handles the Dragon. Still haven’t seen one in the wild but only at the dealership. It will be interesting to see one someone ordered and “personalized”.
Hey – did you swap out the factory wheels for the trip? Is it the base suspension, or did you land something with LSD or sport suspension?
>Hey – did you swap out the factory wheels for the trip? Is it the base suspension, or did you land something with LSD or sport suspension?
Unfortunately MINI currently has no press cars equipped with either LSD or Sport Suspension – both essential options from my experience.
The plan is to test both runflats and aftermarket tires/wheels.
Gary,
Look forward to meeting you. I’ll listen for a guy with the funny accent. 😉
I hope we all have safe travels. Have my Kumho ASXs [after a good review by WRR] and will be heading out Thursday ~ noon for my 4.5 hour trip. I’ve never been but I am really looking forward to the experience
Art
Thanks Ken… Will be great to meet everyone!… I’m driving up from Atlanta, after seeing my brother, and catching up with my parents… I’m originally from the US, but have been away long enough to say things funny now… I’ll be in a Pepper White Cooper S, with a GB badge on the back…
Heidi & I are catching the red eye out of Phoenix tomorrow night, arriving in Atlanta at the crack o’ dawn. Picking up the MINI rental and heading to Fontana.
Can’t wait to put on the Brew Swap.
Coming up with a group from Gainesville, GA on Wed afternoon. I’ll be pulling KaBooSe, a custom built MCS trailer behind my MCS Cabrio, Paris. Looking forward to showing the results of this project.
Hi PassatDoTd… I’m still trying to figure out if I can bring along any Kentish Ales from the UK for the Brew Swap, but really looking forward to Friday night!…
Does the R56 have all the gears?
Yellow??
You must have had to pull some strings to get that one.
Gary, I don’t see a Gary on my list of attendees. The event is sold out. Did you register for it through NAM?
It’s not a problem PassatDoTd… This has all been very last-minute for me… I haven’t registered… I’m just happy I’ll be in the area…
If you have nothing to do come by and ask for me at the check-in table. I’ll see what I can do. Just for you since you are coming from out of the country. Don’t you other people get any ideas. 🙂
There are times when living on the west coast sucks. This is one of them. Have a good time on the Dragon!!!
Gabe I’d be more than happy to volunteer my car (an R56 equipped with Sports Supension and LSD) if you want to compare one. Just don’t put me on clutch/flywheel #3. 🙂
>Gabe I’d be more than happy to volunteer my car (an R56 equipped with Sports Supension and LSD) if you want to compare one. Just don’t put me on clutch/flywheel #3. 🙂
Thanks for the offer – while I’ve already driven that combo (and made up my mind that I love it!) I’d be happy to take it out again 🙂
Ahh, well at least they set you up with 17s. Wouldn’t want you to feel like you were going out with your high-waters, converse, and black socks…
>Ahh, well at least they set you up with 17s. Wouldn’t want you to feel like you were going out with your high-waters, converse, and black socks…
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bridger/480848486/" rel="nofollow">Well actually…</a>
Ha ha! It’s yellow! At least they didn’t give you horseshoe wheels! (hi Robert!)
Hey Gabe, Your in for some fun with the R-56. I’ve had mine for almost 3 weeks now and in the last 2 days we’ve ran the dragon 4 times and the R-56 has my seal of approval.. I have the LSD & Sports suspension also and although it feels as though there may be some body lean it’s very little once you plant it in the curve. The stock 4th gen dunlop run flats are a tad better than the previous run flats Mini has been selling.
Saw Gabe’s press car here and it’s running around with (insert pause here) his 18″ OZ Ultraleggeras (I think that’s what they’re called).
Hey nice color, actually let me rephrase that, who cares about the color. I personally dont care for the color (mellow yellow) of my R56, but i got it exactly a month ago, now with well earned 2000 clicks on it, I’m actually motoring. Have fun breaking it in for The Dragon.
Hey – Moskito caught the press car in one of the photo’s he posted:
<a href="http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1508456&postcount=21" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1508456&postcount=21</a>