MINI of Peabody 2009 Spring Rally

Posted on by Ian C.

Another year, more rain – time for the MINI of Peabody Spring Poker Rally; rather than drive my Q5, Brig kindly loaned me a pre-owned MCSc – although with lots of rain, I kept the roof closed!
Lots of MINIs arrived (about 40 in total), and we gathered together to listen to Joel’s driver speech, and check out the route; and then we’re off, waved by Hrach:

 

On the road, we started with heavy rain, but things improved as time went by. On the route, we had three “poker pit-stops” to get a card (and two more cards on arrival back at the dealership); It even got dry enough to drop the top!
The route was pretty up in New Hampshire, especially along the coast along Ocean Boulevard:

 

Once back at the dealership, we also had a chance to look over a nice 1970 Mini Innocenti, from Italy as recently as 2002 (and previously owned by much-missed Dan McDonald):


Many thanks to MINI of Peabody and their staff, for creating another great day 🙂

MINIs Motoring Against Cancer

Posted on by Ian C.

Regular readers know that I plan next month to re-trace my 2007 trip from Florida to Massachusetts – this year I’ll be driving GPMINI up from Florida to meet the Blue Ridge Parkway Tour organized by Tar Heel MINIs, then joining organizer Robyn and friends for another Great Ice Cream Run (and this year, Margaret will travel with me 🙂 )

Now, thanks to famous MINI owner Mark / Twister, there’s an additional reason for me to do the trip:
MINI_Cancer_Banner.JPG

Mark writes on Tar Heel MINIs:
I propose [the banner] make it to Mt Washington and back. I challenge anyone going on this trip to donate whatever they can to Cancer Research during this trip.
My donation will be as follows:
GBMINI aka Ian Cull is driving his 2006 GP from Florida to Maine, I will give .01 cents for every mile he drives during this multi-tour event.

This is an important cause, and I applaud Mark for supporting it in such a fun way … I have pledged to match Mark’s fund-raising, and hopefully many other people will do the same – please visit the Tar Heel MINIs thread, to join with Mark in supporting MINIs Motoring Against Cancer.

(also, see this NorthAmericanMotoring thread)

MINI E links

Posted on by Ian C.

A while ago, MINI owner Jason posted some links to interesting MINI E websites – some of the linked websites are really interesting (Robert for example), discussing the pros & cons and decision process of going forward with spending $850/month PLUS lots of costs to set up wiring to charge the vehicle, balanced with the anticipated fun of driving an all-electric MINI. I recommend you head over to Jason’s website and spend some time reading the linked MINI E websites 🙂

Recently, once-excellent MINI site MotoringFile posted something on the MINI E; not as interesting – and apparently now any comments such as the one I attempted to post, that (horror!) include a link, are simply banned. Oh well, I guess there’s not so much over there for me to read and comment on anyway, since GPMINI isn’t an R56 or a BMW!