MINIs at the BMWCCA Driver School Prep at HMS Motorsport

Posted on by Ian C.

I spent a very entertaining few hours this morning at HMS Motorsport, learning about what happens at Boston Chapter BMW CCA Driver’s School events.
Central to the entertainment was Steve Fitzgerald – his knowledge, tales and personality were well worth the cost of entry (which, by the way, was zero)!

Steves track rules for cars are: “Make It Stop, Make It Turn, Make It Go – in that order!”; making track time fun was emphasized, with Steve explaining that if the car does not stop well, it won’t be fun and you won’t go so fast (because you are wary of not stopping).
Another serious tip was to upgrade your seat belts – the tighter you are in the car, the better you can experience and respond to the behaviour of the car. HMS carries and recommends SCHROTH’s Rallye 4 harnessbelt and has pictures showing them installed in a MINI with Lapis Blue interior 🙂

Also mentioned as almost essential was replacing the brake oil with a higher temperature spec oil, and considering replacing the rubber brake lines with stainless steel (to eliminate pipe expansion during hard braking).

I plan to attend an Advanced Driving Skills School, probably in early May; but I don’t know if I will ever do a driving school event (I don’t like the claustrophobic idea of a full face helmet wrapped round my head).

MINIs in England

Posted on by Ian C.

On my recent trip to England I took a few pictures of MINIs over there, including this billboard poster advert in Norwich, and pictures of a MINI and a Ford Ka (even smaller), both parked outside their garages in a new housing construction. When you compare the size of the cars with the size of the garages, you can appreciate why smaller cars are so popular in England:


(Not strictly GBMINI meets, since GBMINI stayed home … but his owner went to England!)

MINIsOnTop auction for signed poster

Posted on by Ian C.

On my recent visit to the John Cooper Works showroom in England, I talked with Mike Cooper about the MINIsOnTop event happening this summer. This event is a repeat of last years event which had 70 MINIs attending; this year we hope to top 100 MINIs.

Mike Cooper very kindly donated a rare signed poster – signed by Paddy Hopkirk and John Cooper as well as the artist:

We have decided to auction this poster on MINI2; anyone can bid but the winner must collect the poster at MINIsOnTop on June 19, 2004.
Proceeds raised will benefit children through the American Make A Wish and English Whizz Kidz charities, as well as being used to support the MINIsOnTop event.