Looks like next years Mini Take The States will start in Atlanta Georgia. How cool is that. I was hoping to do a few days so this makes it a can't miss drive for me. With a stop at Road Atlanta with supposed hot laps, with me left in the dust on the back straight. Looks like it is going to head up to Richmond Va, Baltimore then up into Mich and cross country to end at Palm Springs Ca.
I hadn't seen the whole route yet, I just knew it started in Atlanta and ended in Palm Springs...where is the route posted?
I'm making plans to go to my old home town in June for MMW - Sandy Eggo here I come!
Like Willie B's trip to MMW last summer, I'll be going thru the hottest parts of the country mid summer - I'll be stopping in Phoenix to see my son/grandkids......time to get building my cool seat!
The complete route is not posted. They have been posting hints of places on the route and that is how folks know where it will pass.
Where in Michigan?
Quote from: Dmulder on November 04, 2015, 12:04:27 PM
Where in Michigan?
It has not been posted the total route yet.
I don't see where any of the route has been posted. But you mentioned clues. Where are you finding these clues?
The info is on the MTTS facebook page.
Route just got released. I will only do the first day from Atlanta to Charlotte.
Had a fun day on the drive from Atlanta to Charlotte. I think I was the only classic mini on the first day. I saw three more at the morning meet up in Charlotte. The neat thing at Charlotte is the person in charge of directing the cars in the rows had the classic minis start a new row so we would be in the very front of the line for all to see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG0EV81dEv8&feature=youtu.be
This was done on the first day. Looks like my car got a little air time. Be sure to watch all the way to the very end.
Yep, you're in there twice, at the end and at about 4 min!
Love the tail! ;D
4.gif
Justin and Buzz left Kilgore this morning early and by afternoon had made it all the way to Oxford, Miss. but they carried on all the way to Metropolis. Il where they stopped for the night - 750 miles in one day with no issues. Well......one, he said towards the end of the day the clutch started acting up but after he let it rest a bit seems to be fine now..... maybe Buzz was just letting him know he was tired and ready to stop for the night! ::)
(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13631631_1360533973961739_6107419920097124770_n.jpg?oh=7874e10370cfdd184f915fde6fff4e7d&oe=57FAA673)
(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13615221_1643715725849186_3138681349810928291_n.jpg?oh=d23e0ac99b6c417aa13461a5786baf50&oe=582C33A6)
Good deal. He will be one of very few classic minis. He will get a lot of thumbs up. 4.gif
Freaking awesome you classic guys getting out there and showing the Maxi Coopers how big they really are, especially the latest versions. They seem to be the same size as my FJ Cruiser. Who would own a BMW mini anyway? Am I right? They are huuuuge.
Looking forward to more videos from that cat. That track run looked like fun!
Willie_B is the man out running his classic for a leg.
Good job!
(green text indicates sarcasm)
OMG like totally huge I mean look at it must be bigger by almost inches, guys have to jack up their trucks like 6 inches just to see over the things and they have like no lines/resemblance to the original. And OMG that honda fit thing should be banned it's like this huge tank thing on the road I can't believe they allow a car bigger than the bini to even be built
I know, right??????
There have been Buzz sightings all over Facebook today!
Quote from: jeff10049 on July 13, 2016, 10:38:28 PM
OMG like totally huge I mean look at it must be bigger by almost inches, guys have to jack up their trucks like 6 inches just to see over the things and they have like no lines/resemblance to the original. And OMG that honda fit thing should be banned it's like this huge tank thing on the road I can't believe they allow a car bigger than the bini to even be built
Completely agree they are hideously large! Who would want to drive one?
Well, I would.... ;D
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/20160712_202845_zpsbywms9tc.jpg)
Just picked up this 2005 JCW with 73K miles on it. Needs some TLC, mostly maintenance stuff but runs like a top. Loving the Enkei rims on it.
BUT, to be honest, I purposefully shopped for a R53 I am not too keen on the 2007 on up Minis. I especially do not like the newest offerings, not that there is anything wrong with owning one, just not my taste. Sort of like how I love the Fiat 500 not so much the 500X.
I'm OK with the R53 and R56 but not so much the F56.......they seem to have lost the plot with that one......
Congrats on the new ride!
I remember the R56 coming out and thinking what the hell is BMW thinking? why are they making the Mini bigger? Can't they follow the example of the classic and keep the outside dimensions the same.
I love seeing the 2002-2006 Minis on the road, they look so tiny and not too far off from the classics. What they are doing now? Man, not interested at all. As I said, I was shopping for a R53 JCW on purpose, I had one, loved it and missed it. Now my wife already has forsaken the E30, she wants the Mini registered and insured tomorrow, which means the E30 is coming off the road for major renovations which I am not ready for. So it is going to sit for while.
Back on topic in off topic, I hope to scoot to a leg of this event next year. It looks like a blast. May sneak up to Mini's on the Dragon next spring too.
MTTS is every other year, just FYI.....so not till 2018 after this one.
Quote from: MiniDave on July 14, 2016, 01:22:39 PM
MTTS is every other year, just FYI.....so not till 2018 after this one.
2 Years out? Even better. I may do whatever leg comes close to FloRida.
I just started following this Chiver on Instagram. He is going the entire way in a interesting plasti dipped Coupe.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/Screenshot_2016-07-14-20-31-44_zpsueq0ptu2.png)
Seems he is trying to raise awareness for a cause, I am still trying to figure out what exactly that cause is. I might just be too busy and missed where he states it.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/Screenshot_2016-07-14-20-34-12_zpsxafdpalb.png)
A KC MINI Club contingent is heading out this am to meet up with the Tour in Minneapolis tomorrow, I'm sure my FB page will have plenty of Buzz sightings on it tomorrow!
Today the VP of Mini USA asked for a ride in Buzz....
Jim, the MTTS in 2018 will probably start on the West coast and finish on the East, since they started south and east this year they may finish "north" next time, that's kinda been their pattern.....nothing will be announced tll late next summer at the earliest, maybe even after the first of the year in 2018.
Did he sue him after because it's a mini? :-\
Nah, they embrace their past, they don't discriminate like many of the Mini folks do about the MINI.
The way the R53 folks complain about the R56 and F56 reminds me of when the 911 first came out, and it was even worse when the 924 and 928 hit the market...then you should have heard the wailing and gnashing of teeth when Porsche announced they were going to make a *gasp*.......... SUV!!!!!
Quote from: MiniDave on July 15, 2016, 11:08:57 AM
Nah, they embrace their past, they don't discriminate like many of the Mini folks do about the MINI.
The way the R53 folks complain about the R56 and F56 reminds me of when the 911 first came out, and it was even worse when the 924 and 928 hit the market...then you should have heard the wailing and gnashing of teeth when Porsche announced they were going to make a *gasp*.......... SUV!!!!!
For the record, I buy what I like to drive, I have heard amazing things about the newer Minis and how well they drive. They are just not my style, if I want something big, I drive my FJ Cruiser.
If I was shopping for a Porsche 911, and I did, I decided I wanted an Air cooled one, then I decided I wanted a Turbo 930, then found out engine life on them suck (3 failed PPI's later) then decided on a hot rodded 911, which happened to be a 1980 SC with a 1990 3.6 stuffed in the back and tuned nicely for over 300HP.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/DSC_0015-1.jpg)
I am not interested in a modern Porsche 911 model, I do however love the Caymans and will own one someday.
The Cayenne, I was excited to see what Porsche would do to make a SUV, they did not disappoint.
I love all cars, I make jokes about certain cars, yes, the new Mini's out should be called Maxi's there is nothing Mini about them anymore. It is all in jest, I was making jokes earlier in this thread because I knew I had a Bini on the hook and was about to purchase it.
I could not give two shits what anyone else loves or drives, I just buy what I want and drive what I want, and sometimes you may have a car that makes me want one too.
... and yeah, I am one of those R53 guys, when the car kept growing they lost me. I was going to grab a newer Turbo model Mini but just could not get myself to like how it has grown. Anytime I see a 1st gen Bini on the road I smile. I love the look.
My first JCW
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/mewminisig.jpg)
Oh and one last thing, I am what Mini owners hate, I was a Bini owner first then got a Mini after the Bini.
In case you cannot tell, I am not a Mini purist by any stretch. Again, just drive what interests me at the moment, from Mustang GT's to Porsches to RX7's to Mini to whatever shiny thing I see next.
A Nissan GTR (Godzilla) is on my radar, as is Lotus Elise, and whatever new Rotary Offering Mazda is conjuring up. Unless it is as bad looking as the RX8, I liked that cars drive, was not fond of the looks.
Hi, my name is Jim and I like cars, it has been 4 days since I purchased one.
I recall seeing the coupe. Looks wicked with the flat black finish.
Jim, I think we all fit your description - we all like our cars - no matter what brand - and all have a fond, soft spot for Minis/MINIs - I had an '03 JCW and now have an 09 Clubman S that I ordered new. I've been looking at Cherokee's lately!
Anywho, back to MTTS....
today they left Green Bay for Mini-apolis, where our KC contingent will meet up...some KC folks met then in St. Ignace and some in Green Bay so I've been getting Buzz sighting messages from all over Facebook now! They all look to be having a blast! Justin is only planning to go as far as Sturgis before heading south to Texas again but that will be about 4-5K he's driven in Buzz for this trip!
Also, it looks like at least one other classic has joined up....
Heading across the flat plains of western Minnesota today, going to Sioux Falls, then on to Sturgis tomorrow - that will be a LONG day tomorrow, driving across the entire state of NoDak......weather is perfect Justin says, 72*, clear skies with a few fluffy clouds.....
Yesterday my friends took a pic of the crew taking a pic of Buzz as he drove along the route...... ;D
I hate to jinx it for Justin, but I'm encouraged by the fact that there hasn't been one shot of Buzz with the hood up!
Wish it would have been that cool for the day I drove. It was 99 degrees that afternoon. But it was a good time and I enjoyed doing it. It will not be on my to do list again for a long while though.
On roads like these those ultra tall gears I put in Buzz really pay off - 3500 @ 75 mph is a good cruise rpm
Quote from: Willie_B on July 17, 2016, 01:19:10 PM
Wish it would have been that cool for the day I drove. It was 99 degrees that afternoon. But it was a good time and I enjoyed doing it. It will not be on my to do list again for a long while though.
Are you doings Guido's classics only run in October in Tennessee? Weather will be much cooler.....
Quote from: MiniDave on July 17, 2016, 01:27:53 PM
Quote from: Willie_B on July 17, 2016, 01:19:10 PM
Wish it would have been that cool for the day I drove. It was 99 degrees that afternoon. But it was a good time and I enjoyed doing it. It will not be on my to do list again for a long while though.
Are you doings Guido's classics only run in October in Tennessee? Weather will be much cooler.....
Yes. Already have the hotel room reservations made. But just found out I have to work that Saturday so I will miss that day. Will head back home too early that morning.
Guess where MTTS is today? 4.gif
This may be the end of the tour for Buzz, unless he's changed his mind he'll be heading back home to Texas now, on the way he'll be driving thru the same sort of temps that Willie B did on his trip to Abbotsford last summer.....but he doesn't have a "cool seat". Hope he does OK. Hope Buzz does too, but he said on the hottest days he only saw 190* temps with the aux cooler open so I think he'll be OK.
Montana! Just like the Energizer bunny.......still going!
Now that I look at the MTTS map he'll probably do at least one more stop with the Tour - Cheyenne Wyoming - since it's "on the way"
I used three bags of ice in the first day of MTTS in the cool seat. It did the job and at least kept me from sweating.
Well, Justin and Buzz made it home to Texas tonight, road weary but with absolutely no issues.
(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13718702_1647121115508647_8148981782500651723_n.jpg?oh=35310fa9158269417d9ac4c856843eea&oe=58196FBF)
Awesome, what a great trip!
I hope I can do this someday too.
Thanks for keeping us non facebook types posted.
Justin says he drove just over 5K miles on this trip alone, plus he did over 4K before he went just to get confidence in the car and himself driving that distance, so he's done almost 10K miles in Buzz since March! I did about 10K too, before I sold Buzz.
So much for classics being unreliable......
Someone does not use Haggerty's insurance.
I do not either, I looked into insuring as a classic / collector and did not like the rules. The rules are for sad cars that sit and are never driven.
I use Grundy, they don't restrict the miles either......I don't know who Justin uses.
Follow up to Buzz's adventure on MTTS, he only used less than a qt of oil in the 5K miles driven, never ran hot even in the mountains or coming home in 100* temps (he did have my aux cooler open on the hotter parts of the trip) and had no mechanical problems whatsoever.
He's now in the planning stages to do MTTS 2018 and go all the way!