“Niiice” MINI

Today, perhaps unsurprisingly, I went to MINI Peabody to meet Richard and install my very last auto-up-windows circuit in his MINI – I am getting proficient now, less than five minutes!
While Richard and I were chatting, a smart Electric Blue MCS pulled in – the first thing we saw was its license plate, then we slowly noticed more customisations – like a “JCW” badge on the front grille, chrome around the front and rear lights, chrome behind the door handles … chatting with the owner, Jim, we also discovered more chrome inside and even under the hood!

Jim will be at MINIsOnTop so if you are going, look out for hisΒ “NIIICE” MINI πŸ™‚

What might have been …

Today I received (from my favourite eBay seller “CadillacAlex”) a Rover group press release from March 1997 (before Rover & BMW split, with MINI going to BMW).
… unveil a revolutionary new Mini design concept – Spiritual … a full four-seat family car achieved in a package of just 3.1 metres [10 feet, the same as the original Mini and much shorter than the MINI]
… powered by a flat three-cylinder engine mounted under the rear seats and driving the rear wheels … exceptionally compact but can seat four adults in comfort [like the new MINI? ;)] and meets all forthcoming safety and emissions demands.
… Spiritual Too extends the same compact design to a larger five-door car …
[Spiritual] is not the new Mini; it is a free-thinking approach to the long-term challenges of a future generation.

MINIs On Top 2004 – almost here!

This weekend Margaret & I headed up to Franconia Notch in New Hampshire, close to where MINIsOnTop will soon occur. This is a favourite place with great scenery and also great pancakes, bacon and maple spread at Pollys Pancake Parlor.
Today before heading home we drove the Kancamagus Highway from end to end – most of it will be driven again with 125 other MINIs in three weeks!