Edge

WOOHOO! November 2 will be only 6 months to go!

Yes, I heard about that too, even watched a video on it - it's been on a bunch of sites, including CNN (link with video). It immediately reminded me of Sunday. ...and all they had to do was keep turning right! (or keep turning left)

Done. (at least for me)

Sounds like a big clue to me.

It's a shame that vBulletin doesn't really support tables - if it did, I'd transpose all of the MINI times into here for everyone. Oh well.

The Lotus was WAY WAY off course the first few runs - as in... shortcutting entire sections of it. Finally one of the experienced folks started to ride with him and kept him on course. It didn't help that he arrived late and missed the course walk (I think). Beautiful car. Having been lucky enough to have driven one, I was envious to see it.

Here, here! After the very early start, long drive to Waldorf, the many hours working the course (and waiting), autocrossing, a long lunch (fun though!) and the long drive home, I am completely shot. A 2 hour nap after getting home helped, but I was still useless the rest of the day. Next time the afternoon session with brunch beforehand! :top:

Oh, OK. Yeah, I joined the BMWCCA today to get the discount, since I figured I'll probably be autocrossing multiple times in the next year, so I might as well be getting the extra member discount. I didn't realize non-members couldn't go on the waiting list. Sorry! :embarassed:

:top: Book it anyway! It said it was sold out for me too, when I did it earlier today. It said I was on the "waiting list", but yet my name is still listed on the attendee list. I'm still going. If I don't get to do it, oh well... I will have fun watching and cheering my friends on, and next time I'll sign up earlier. :embarassed:

Deadline for the $5 off online registration is midnight tonight! You may want to do it now.

I'm not Etherpool, but after looking at the list that explains the vehicle classing, I have to say that I think all of you DCMM ladies belong in the Tuner class. Suspension mods (including just a rear sway bar), engine mods (including an R53 pulley or a CAI), or even something as simple as a Schroth harness will automatically push you into the "Tuner" class. And Daniel... you and your GP definitely belong in the Tuner class too, IMO. Your GP may technically be "showroom stock", but has the JCW suspension, JCW tuning kit, and a whole bunch of custom/specific body panels. It's a special edition - IMO it should either be Group 2 Tuner or Group 1 Stock (where other "special edition" models are like the BMW Ms). Now, I'm not just saying this from my armchair... I'm seriously considering joining you all on Saturday morning, in spite of the fact it's so darn early and all the way in Waldorf, MD. If I do, I'll be registering in Group 2 Tuner, even though almost all of my parts are "OEM", they are still far beyond a factory/stock Cooper S. :embarassed: I've only ever autocrossed in my Mustang, a handful of times in the late 90s (with the Mercedes club, actually!)... it's been a long time, and I only did it for fun, not competitively. I had a great time though, and I'm sure it will be even better in the MINI!

Welcome Steve! I hope that you make it to some events really soon! Sorry about 2012 not being on the list of model years to choose. Fixed. :angel:

Nope, and I had the exact same thing as you - the "Shepherd's Pie" (i.e. Cottage Pie). Sorry you're not well - get better fast!

Thanks Ali - yes, this event has the guest RSVPs disabled because we wanted to help ensure people realize that this is a members-only event. It's too late to reconfigure it to allow 1 guest RSVP (for spouse/SO use), changing it now would wipe the current RSVP list! Thank you for updating to ensure we include Mark in the count! :top:

Craig - I had already planned on it. It's also why I put an entire can in both the vacuum tube and the gas tank!

I just bought 11 more cans of Seafoam at AAP. The sale ends in 4 days, and 6.99 is 30% off the usual $9.99 price. Time to stock up! After the sale is over, the 1 gallon big cans will become the better deal again ($59.99 each). You could say that I'm a convert. :angel:

Catalina - it's the mail slot-looking thing on the bonnet of every Cooper S and JCW MINI, including yours.

Actually, I made it to Advance Auto Parts tonight before they closed... so I'm all set, thanks Craig! Folks - the sale price at AAP is $6.99 (plus tax), and the sale ends on 9/28. I ended up buying 5 of the 16oz cans, plus another can of a different Seafoam product that comes with a spray nozzle. I don't know if the other product is any good, but I figured I'd buy it to check/test it out. I'll be bringing them all with me on Saturday. If people don't make it to the store in time, I'll gladly sell any of my extra cans for $8. I figured I'd just round up the post-tax price - consider it a small convenience charge for not having to go to the store yourself. Incidentally, they also sell Seafoam in gallon cans, but currently (with the sale) it's cheaper to buy 8 of the 16oz cans than 1 of the gallon (128oz) cans!

What's with the weird typing above the quotes? :stupid: If I can get my server patching done early enough tonight, I may try to get some tonight. Otherwise, tomorrow night.

You obviously skimmed... she already answered. Honorary SOTD - Skimmer Of The Day!

Shall I obtain some Seafoam beforehand? If so, where from?

I probably should join the Seafoam "after-party" too. I've never done it on my 6 1/2 year old MINI... I'm guessing it would make a difference by now. :embarassed:

...and my guess is: 7:23pm. I win!

I'm sorry to say it, but Ryan is not quite 100% correct on this point. If you go to the MINI Configurator (at www.miniusa.com) and build a Cooper S Convertible with the "Conical Spoke" or the "Black Star Bullet" 17 inch wheels, you'll find that yes, the performance tires are standard... but you also have the option of choosing All-Season tires instead, for no extra charge. That is one of the benefits of "ordering" a MINI to exactly your specification - you get to make choices like this. (Important side note: The other two 17" wheel choices ("Infinite Stream" and "Web Spoke") don't allow you to choose all seasons, so in that sense Ryan is correct - which 17" wheels do you have? Note too that all of the 16" wheels on the Cooper S have all-season tires as optional) Unfortunately, if you buy a MINI off the lot, you end up with the choices that someone else made when they ordered it (often times, the dealer themselves). If you're in this boat, and you didn't know the car was specced with the (standard) performance tires instead of the (optional) all season tires, then you didn't know to ask. Mind you, I'm in the Option 2 group, so I personally prefer the performance tires, but I can totally respect your desire for the simpler, lower maintenance of all seasons.

Cindy - it sounds like you have Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires, which are one of several tire models that MINI puts on from the factory. This is indeed a "Performance" tire - designed for better summer performance (i.e. both dry pavement and rain), but not for snow or even cold. As Craig said, they are also runflats, but that isn't the true source of your concern here... because you can also buy runflat all-seasons and even runflat snow tires! You would not be advised to continue using these tires when the colder temperatures hit. Performance (i.e. summer) tires are generally made with rubber compounds that are designed to be softer (and therefore more "grippy") at warmer temperatures. When the temp gets below 40-42 degrees, the rubber turns hard and brittle... and the tires do not grip very well any more, even on dry pavement! From my perspective, you have two basic options: Buy new all-season tires to replace your performance tires... and simply use the all-season tires - all year around. (If your performance tires still have lots of tread, you may be able to resell them to someone). Buy a second set of wheels - either new or used - and then buy snow tires to put on them. Store the second set at home during the warmer months (March/April through November/December), and swap the wheel & tire combo for the winter, storing your summer set until it warms up again. Note: Regardless of which option you pick, the choice on whether to buy runflats or non-runflats for the new tires is an entirely personal one. Preferences and opinions differ on this issue... but it's really an independent decision from the season-based decision. All 3 types (performance/summer, all-season, snow/winter) are available in both runflats and non-runflats. Now, option 2 is indeed a more expensive option up front, but once you've made the initial investment of an extra set of wheels and tires, the ongoing cost isn't any worse - because you'll still be wearing the tires out at the same rate (after all, you won't be wearing out the set that is in storage!). Note that some people who go for option 2 decide to get simple "steel" wheels for their winter set. They aren't pretty, but they are durable and inexpensive. My point here is that the extra wheel set doesn't have to be pricey. The benefits of option 2 are that you get much better tire performance year-round, by using tires that work best in those conditions. All-season tires, by definition, are a compromise - "Jack of all trades, master of none", so to speak. That being said, many people don't want the hassle of (or don't have the storage space for) maintaining two sets of wheels and tires, and for those people, the convenience of always sticking to the same set of wheels and tires is worth the reduction in performance. It's your decision on which way you want to go.