The sandy roads, if you can call them roads, were riddled with tree roots and punished the MINI (and us) with each bump. Turns appeared out of nowhere, many of which I would have missed completely if it weren’t for my friend and excellent navigator, Francis Schurgot.

It was his keen eye, squinting through the rain and into the midnight darkness of the New Jersey Pine Barrens and cranberry bogs, that got us through the insane fun that is the PBX Rally back in Nov. 2004.

I learned that night that one should never underestimate the value of a co-pilot. There are times when you simply need someone else on hand to assist.

It would seem as though “billoon45” learned the same lesson as he attempted to…well, just watch and listen.

“Darnit. That’s the last thing I need now.”

“Oh great. I’m becoming trapped in the balloon. Oh I hate this.”

“Drat it. That’s why I need a spotter.”

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After months of resisting as a MINI owner, I’ve finally succumbed to the dreaded Kimmelshue Disease.

KD, named after Chris Kimmelshue, who suffers from a particularly tragic case of the disease, ravages the mind and body of the auto enthusiast, leaving the car owner with the complete inabilty to leave a car as-is. Once the disease takes hold, owners begin to seek out ways to modify their car. It usually starts with something small - anything from a simple accessory for the interior to a new cold air intake. As the disease progresses though, the mind is consumed with “improving the vehicle”.

KD is infectious and is spread through close contact and is usually passed from enthusiast to enthusiast at “tech days”, “pulley parties” or a simple day in the garage with a friend.

Recognizing the symptoms early and communicating with family and friends is helpful in slowing the progress of this disease but sadly, there is no cure.

Last Sunday, while I was detailing the new truck, Jerry, my neighbor, pulled up in front of my house in his truck - the same make and model as mine. After the obligatory “that’s a nice truck you’ve got there”, he offered to sell me a set of chrome Westin nerf bars. The set I had been looking at normally runs around $350 - $400. Jerry had a barely used set for sale for only $125. He said he had them on the truck for a couple of months but didn’t like the way they looked and they got in his way getting in and out of the truck.

I jumped at the offer and picked them up last night. When I got home though, I realized that I was infected. It’s all I can think about…cold air intakes, bull bars, PIAA and HELLA lights. I’m sick.

My name is Tripp Fenderson…and I have KD.

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‘Tis done.

My friend Glenn, Sales Manager at McGeorge Toyota, and I wrapped up the deal yesterday afternoon. In a few days, the MINI will be back on Crown’s lot for sale.

Yep, the MINI is on its way to a new home and I’m the proud new owner of a Toyota Tacoma 4WD SR5 Double Cab. Guinness would have loved it and while Porter is enthusiastic, she’s still getting a feel for the best way to drool out the window.

Teagan, who was pretty attached to the MINI, had some choice comments about the new truck:

“I think the truck is faster than the MINI, Daddy” [hmm. No…I don’t think so - but it is fun.]
“Porter likes the truck more than the MINI” [No question about that, Teagan. She loves it.]
“I’m high in the truck, Daddy - and my feet don’t even touch the back of your seat.
“We can drive on the beach in the truck!” [Yeah. Hatteras or Bust. I guess I shouldn’t tell her about driving the MINI in the PBX Rally.]

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No surprise really…

In its first year since launch, the MINI Convertible has received the top award in its segment in the latest Strategic Vision Total Quality Index (TQI). The MINI Cooper Convertible was the highest scorer in the Convertible Under $30,000 segment in this year’s index and is the third year in a row a MINI has received top segment honors in the TQI by the San Diego-based research firm.

“The MINI Convertible offers a perfect blend of product substance, premium quality and overall value - and of course, the best of open-top motoring fun. The results of this survey further supports what our customers have been telling us through their purchase decisions.”

- Jim McDowell, Vice President, MINI USA

Source: autospectator.com

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We took a late afternoon drive today through the city and over to twisty Riverside Drive.

Teagan donned her visor and shades while Ariel went topless. Perfect day for a drive.

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Whlie the MINI continues to set the standards for innovation and design for new cars, it is sweeping some second-hand awards as well.

This week, Auto Express Glass’s Guide handed out the top-rated awards and it’s the MINI that has scooped the ultimate accolade, the Used Car Of The Year award.

While there is much debate about how Sir Alec would have reacted to the new MINI, the old man would certainly be proud of this.

The MINI also retained its crown in the Sporting Car category for the Cooper S, and won a Special Award for the second time for the MINI tlc servicing package.

Importantly, though, this is the second year in a row that a UK-built car has claimed the award (the Swindon-built Honda Civic won in 2004), underlining the quality manufacturing standards being set here by volume car makers - a welcomed change from the past I might add. If you’ve driven a British-made car in the past, you know about the love-hate relationship that comes along with it.

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Twelve races are spread across six double-header weekends. Oh yeah….

The John Cooper Challenge - the popular one-make MINI race series - has celebrated its selection as primary support race to the prestigious British GT and British F3 race card by securing an unprecedented number of return competitors, a packed grid and extensive TV exposure for 2005.

The 2005 season will be the Challenge’s fourth. Twelve races are spread across six double-header weekends at selected rounds and venues from the GT/F3 calendar. 26 drivers are lined up to start the 2005 Challenge at Donington on April 2, 15 of whom competed last year.

All twelve rounds of the Challenge will be filmed for broadcast as a stand-alone 30-minute show across Sky Sports channels - and hopefully made availble on DVD for those of us in the USA.

The grid will comprise eighteen 133bhp Works MINI Coopers and eight 210bhp Works MINI Cooper S, the latter benefiting from a 10bhp power hike in line with its road car equivalent.

John Cooper Works Managing Director, Mike Cooper, who created the Challenge in 2002 as a tribute to his late father’s longstanding association with Mini and motorsport, is thrilled with the series’ elevation in status:

‘It’s fantastic news that for the fourth year in a row we’ve got such a full grid weeks in advance of the season start. We’re all hugely excited about this season’s changes and can’t wait to get started.’

Source: carpages.co.uk

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