GreenCactus

They also check to make sure you've removed everything from your car. Literally, EVERYTHING, including floormats. I leave the rear floor mats and the boot liner, but everything else comes out. If you haven't already, getting a plastic bin to put everything in is a good idea. If it rains, you don't want your stuff getting wet. (I learned the hard way.)

Plasti-dip stripes? That's really cool!! They look great. :top:

I have a battery-operated power washer. I've never used it, but in theory, I could use it in the garage. I usually just go to a touchless car wash to get the worst of the crud off. If it gets above 50, I'll wash her myself.

Cricket sat at the port for 3 weeks. It was unusual and awful to wait, knowing she was here but not here.

Before MTTS he was also at MINI United, so he hasn't really had that much time since MOTD. That's not an excuse for not at least getting back to Mark, though. We ordered our original DCMM grill badges through him and they took forever and there were lots of delays, which is why we switched vendors.

I bought them from MINImania.com - I'm not sure of the brand. The install went just fine. I think I might have been their first airhorn on a MINI install, but they did a great job. The horn has stopped working, but it's because of horn, not the work. I just bought a new one, it's a FIAMM. It's two decibels louder than what I had myself. I plan to do the replacement myself, since the wiring is all in place.

I'm not Dan, but his shop installed my airhorns a few years ago. I supplied them, though. Not sure about the VA inspection, Cricket is registered in DC.

Could you drive if you had an automatic? Cricket might be willing to help you out...

Good plan! Keep the beer locked in the room with YOU! Celia and I can then make our escape. :hahaha:

Oh no, not picking on you at all! It's a joke on ME. I don't like to sleep with the window open because I can hear "animal" noises outside and one might be a bear. Eek!

or make Celia sleep next to the window. They'll get her first! :hahaha:

They're not. While there ARE bears around, this a joke that has gotten out of hand. I've decided just to run with it. However, for the record, I'm no more afraid of bears than anyone else should be.

Katie - Do you see this? Why don't we have one of those?? :sheep:(There's no bear emoticon, the sheep will have to do)

Even then, it only works if you have Verizon, and I think only 5 people can use it at a time. I thought I would really struggle with being that disconnected. I don't, at all. I think it's part of the reason I enjoy it so much. You really are in a different reality when you're there.

It doesn't go away. Ever. Ask Katie. She's been to all 10 MOTDs and she's just as excited as the rest of us. :top::stupid::motor: Over-prepared? Unless you take 1/2 of your house because you're afraid cabin = wilderness, you'll be fine. Trust me, you don't need the lantern. (a regular flashlight is a good idea though!) However, don't forget your bear bells!!

I'm not naming names, but there was someone who took more shoes than I did this year...

Don't rely on Fontana to call you. Even you're on the waitlist, call them every week. Maybe not right now, but after the first of the year.

until MINIs on the Dragon 2013!! :motor::motor::motor::motor::motor::motor:

You can't use the oven in your kitchen?

Congratulations!! I hope to catch up while you're here!!

Andrew - sometimes accidents happen, it doesn't mean one doesn't greatly love or appreciate their car. There's no reason to be rude towards a fellow MINIac who is simply asking for solid advice.

I had mine repainted last winter at Like New Detailing in Falls Church. They charged me $300 for all four. I had curb rash on one of them and they fixed it.

When I lived in Illinois, they had the treadmill for emissions too. They did not secure my car properly and she "jumped" off. No damage was done, but it was really scary to watch. I was too upset to even yell at them. DC does the OBDII scan for emisisons. They did away with the safety inspections a few years ago to cut back on costs.

I think most people go to Passport MINI in Alexandria. I believe they offer state inspections for free (not sure, though).

I'm going to need to replace Cricket's brake pads soon and I'm not sure what my best option is. Right now, I have the Hawk Ceramics (aka Performance) pads. They offer another option called Hawk HPS. From what I can tell the HPS pads are more agressive - so they'd be better for autocross, but they aren't a "track pad". I'm open to using another brand, but I've been happy with Hawks and they don't create much brake dust. Any thoughts?