tracdoc, looks like you guys are about 15 to 20 miles from Virginia International Raceway -- that must be cool for a racer, considering that VIR is one of the best road courses in the country. I assume you're racing SCCA; what class are you in with your MINI?
Ordered my Mini Cooper!
- Thread starter Boondox
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Junkman
Super Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( They just had it on Regis and Kelly about 1 month ago and it was a 2 seater. There are 2 humps behind the head rests similar to the old Cobras. I think they said it is going to be available summer of 2005. )</font>
MTD is making record progress in perfecting a reliable car with a mower deck option. Sure wish that I had seen that episode of Regis & Kathy. A two seater MTD is certainly going to keep TBN families at the cutting edge of technology.... Gerard, are you going to be the first one on the block with one in the shed?????? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
MTD is making record progress in perfecting a reliable car with a mower deck option. Sure wish that I had seen that episode of Regis & Kathy. A two seater MTD is certainly going to keep TBN families at the cutting edge of technology.... Gerard, are you going to be the first one on the block with one in the shed?????? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Egon
Epic Contributor
It's not the leaks but " The King of Darkness " that really count.
Think all is well now! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Wouldn't mind owning one.
Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Think all is well now! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Wouldn't mind owning one.
Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
tracdoc
Platinum Member
Hi OkeeDon,
You hit the nail right on the head! We live 17 miles from VIR, and it is indeed one of the finest courses and facilities we have ever visited. We are very happy to have it as our "home track."
VIR, as you probably know, fell on hard times in the 70's and was closed, and turned to farmland. Two real estate wheeler dealers bought it in the late 90's and resurrected it. They run it like a golf club, except for car nuts instead of golf nuts. We pay an annual membership, and we can then go out on the track on all the members' days. It's top drawer--garage for corner weighing, big gourmet lunches, etc. They even opened their own hotel on the grounds. The only club I have heard of which is similar is in IL (?), and they apparently have member days every week. At VIR, it averages once every 4-6 weeeks, since the rest of the time the track is booked by clubs and driving schools.
My better half is the pilot on this gig. After we hung up our racing leathers (125 cc GP bikes), she still had the speed craving, and the Mini is a gas to drive. She's got her SCCA and NASA tickets, but right now we're doing mostly BMWCCA and NASA events-- a total of 12 this season, so we'll be pretty busy. We were running in J-prepared last year, but with the mods we've done over the winter, we transitioned to D-modified this season.
As we are learning, keeping a race car up to snuff is a lot more work and a helluva lot more $ than race readying two all-out GP road race bikes, soooo... unless/until we get sponsors, I need to be crew chief/mechanic, and get my driving kicks on member days at VIR.
You hit the nail right on the head! We live 17 miles from VIR, and it is indeed one of the finest courses and facilities we have ever visited. We are very happy to have it as our "home track."
VIR, as you probably know, fell on hard times in the 70's and was closed, and turned to farmland. Two real estate wheeler dealers bought it in the late 90's and resurrected it. They run it like a golf club, except for car nuts instead of golf nuts. We pay an annual membership, and we can then go out on the track on all the members' days. It's top drawer--garage for corner weighing, big gourmet lunches, etc. They even opened their own hotel on the grounds. The only club I have heard of which is similar is in IL (?), and they apparently have member days every week. At VIR, it averages once every 4-6 weeeks, since the rest of the time the track is booked by clubs and driving schools.
My better half is the pilot on this gig. After we hung up our racing leathers (125 cc GP bikes), she still had the speed craving, and the Mini is a gas to drive. She's got her SCCA and NASA tickets, but right now we're doing mostly BMWCCA and NASA events-- a total of 12 this season, so we'll be pretty busy. We were running in J-prepared last year, but with the mods we've done over the winter, we transitioned to D-modified this season.
As we are learning, keeping a race car up to snuff is a lot more work and a helluva lot more $ than race readying two all-out GP road race bikes, soooo... unless/until we get sponsors, I need to be crew chief/mechanic, and get my driving kicks on member days at VIR.
<font color="blue"> Gerard, are you going to be the first one on the block with one in the shed?????? </font>
You'll be the first to know Junkman. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
You'll be the first to know Junkman. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Junkman
Super Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I believe the price is only going to be around $20,000. Rather cheap compared to the others you mentioned so it may attract a broader market. )</font>
$20,000 for a MTD??????? that is outragous....... are they going to use real steel in the body or is it going to be like the rest of there plastic look alike brands and models????? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
$20,000 for a MTD??????? that is outragous....... are they going to use real steel in the body or is it going to be like the rest of there plastic look alike brands and models????? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
OP
Boondox
Elite Member
- Joined
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- Messages
- 3,871
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- Craftsbury Common, Vermont
- Tractor
- Deere 4044R cab, Kubota KX-121-3S
For those of you not familiar with the process, when a Mini is ordered you get a production number that allows you to track it thru the manufacturing and transportation process. It's an absolute blast, and I wish we had something similar for tractors.
Anyway, Nugget (the little yellow car has a name and a VIN already, the full name is Ernest T Nugget) entered production last Thursday in Oxford, UK. The body is nearly complete. Next it gets painted and then on thru the assembly line where he'll come to life. He is scheduled for completion by May 4th at the latest, with us taking delivery about a month later.
In an ironic twist, most Minis are ordered or built to stock with the upgraded Harmon-Kardon stereo package. I elected not to upgrade since years of gunfire have left me unable to hear the high notes anyway. Well, our production date was moved forward a month because of a fire at the HK factory that ruined much of the inventory needed for the upgrade. So thousands of Minis scheduled for production were pulled off and set back for lack of parts, while those like ours with the regular (and very good!) stereo system were moved forward. First time in my life hearing loss worked in my favor! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I just can't wait for delivery, and might want to visit TBNers within a couple hundred mile radius just for the excuse to drive! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Pete
Anyway, Nugget (the little yellow car has a name and a VIN already, the full name is Ernest T Nugget) entered production last Thursday in Oxford, UK. The body is nearly complete. Next it gets painted and then on thru the assembly line where he'll come to life. He is scheduled for completion by May 4th at the latest, with us taking delivery about a month later.
In an ironic twist, most Minis are ordered or built to stock with the upgraded Harmon-Kardon stereo package. I elected not to upgrade since years of gunfire have left me unable to hear the high notes anyway. Well, our production date was moved forward a month because of a fire at the HK factory that ruined much of the inventory needed for the upgrade. So thousands of Minis scheduled for production were pulled off and set back for lack of parts, while those like ours with the regular (and very good!) stereo system were moved forward. First time in my life hearing loss worked in my favor! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I just can't wait for delivery, and might want to visit TBNers within a couple hundred mile radius just for the excuse to drive! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Pete
_RaT_
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2000
- Messages
- 5,813
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- Peoples Republic of Northern CA.
- Tractor
- Kioti 3510-SE HST
<font color="blue">While the original Mini was indeed British, the redux is German, though "country of origin" is still the U.K., since the cars are put together in Oxford.</font>
So does that mean this car is assembled in England or is it also made in England. Interesting car.
So does that mean this car is assembled in England or is it also made in England. Interesting car.