The Picnic Bench

Posted on by Ian C.

At the recent Pasta For Pat, one of the raffle prizes I won (by buying a significant number of tickets) was a hand made picnic table and benches, donated by Thoms step father.
Well, this 6 foot table was not going to fit in the GP, so I had to borrow a friends truck. This truck is BIG, and it was literally scary driving it home initially – I felt totally disconnected from the road; I had to continuously steer to keep the truck going in the direction I wanted … luckily it didn’t have much “get up and go” so I didn’t have to worry too much about taking corners too fast! This was also the first time I’ve filled a vehicle where the pump shut off before it was full (at $75!) …

However, it was worth it: the picnic table and benches are beautifully made and very sturdy, and fit in the truck easily with the tailgate closed again; once we got them home, we stained them all and they’re now set up ready for use on the patio …


Many thanks Thom for arranging this prize, and Verne for building it – and thanks Roberto for the loan of the truck 🙂

MINIsOnTop “Roll-To-Motor” from New Country MINI

Posted on by Ian C.

Here’s a very unique chance to win your own MINI Cooper (or $20,000 towards it), courtesy of the fine folks at New Country MINI …
New Country MINI have arranged a special event, with the chance to win a MINI Cooper with THE ROLL OF SIX DICE:
Each $5.00 (MINImum) Rosie’s Place donation ticket allows one roll of the six Roll to Motor dice. The six-sided dice have symbols on five of their facets; one facet has a letter. If, in one roll, all six dice land and spell the word “COOPER”, you win a $20,000 allowance toward the purchase of a new 2007 MINI! And, while this allowance will easily pay for a new, custom-ordered MINI Cooper, the winner can use it toward any new MINI and pay just the difference in price.
Of course, the lucky winner is responsible for the tax, title, license and insurance costs.

Donation tickets will be available at the MINIs On Top Information Tent (you must be present to win!), and only 300 donation tickets will be sold for the first place, 2007 MINI – so you’d better be quick and get your chance before they’re all gone!

As with all the other wonderful MINIsOnTop 2007 donations (the two year lease from Herb Chambers MINI of Boston, the trip to England from MINI of Peabody, and the many other donations, all funds raised will go to Rosie’s Place.

For more information, download this flyer.

MINIsOnTop 2007 donations #2

Posted on by Ian C.

Since the previous MINIsOnTop donations update, we’ve received:

Amazing prize of a Trip For Two To England, donated by MINI of Peabody.
A TwistyBitz “Authentic” clock (thanks, Robert!)
MINIdoMore (AKA MiniatureTrailers) are donating one of their brand new TachOn kits, complete with ProClip iPod Nano holder – AND a 2GB iPod Nano!
As MiniatureTrailers, they will also be donating a Mini Cooper Receiver Hitch kit (Receiver
Hitch, Tow Wiring Harness, and Drawbar Kit) together with one of their wonderful Black Powder Coated Miniature Trailers complete with Aluminum Tread Plate decking (see this MotoringFile review).
Oxford Motorsports are donating three family memberships to the Mount Washington Observatory.
MC2 magazine are donating four “charter member” Tshirts, two one year magazine subscriptions, and on MC2 logo rain jacket (light blue, size XL). MC2 are also supplying a number of back issues to hand out at MINIsOnTop, for anyone that doesn’t already subscribe to this great magazine!

Many thanks to all!
(check here for the previous donations list)