It’s Just a little dirt
Hit 270,000 on the odometer last week. The thousand miles before included some great trips, including one out to Southern California to wish SCMM a happy 10th birthday and a trip out to the drags here in AZ. I didn’t run, this time, but am seriously considering it before they close the track at Firebird Raceway.
Also, much more recently than that, I drove a friend out to the Peralta Trailhead in Arizona. He fancies a long hike and was out for almost 48 hours enjoying the Arizona mountains. He cut his trip a little short due to a very uncommon rain pattern. It’s been raining in AZ for almost 4 days straight. Very strange.
The road to the trailhead was your typical unmaintained county road. All dirt, mostly washboard, very much due for a grading. After a few days of rain, it was nice and muddy, also being made up, in sections, of red clay.
We already know that the MINI is great in the snow, but did you know it’s pretty ok in the mud too? Sure, I had to turn DSC off more than once to keep the tires spinning and momentum going, but Roxy pulled through like it’s what she was born to do.
Don’t be afraid to drive your cars! Get them dirty, take the road less travelled. It’s a machine, and it’s what they are meant to do. What they were built to do. What they like to do. Enjoy the slide show of a very dirt MINI below.
I owe you guys more stuff. About the drags and upcoming events. Stay tuned!
…And to All a Good Night
What a crazy year we’ve had, right? AMVIV was amazing, MTTS was off the chain and I heard the Dragon was a total blast yet again! I expect next year to be almost equally crazy.
This year was MINI’s 10th anniversary. 2013 starts everyone else’s. SCMM turns 10 next month, which makes me super proud. I know a bunch of other clubs are celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2013 also. Exciting stuff.
This blog has actually been around longer than 10 year, just. Back on September 14th, 2002 dbmini came to life. Not as dbmini at that time, but it was a MINI blog.
Then there is the car. The reason we are all here in the first place. I actually started my MINI adventure on 12/31/02 with a BRG/W MCS for those of you that remember that far back. I took delivery of Roxy in March of 2003 and haven’t looked back! She actually turned 10 back in November, and I missed it.
Stick around, I think 2013 will be a lot of fun!
Merry Christmas to all!*
*Insert your holiday of choice where applicable
From the Archives
Figured since I posted something from the archives for this weeks show, why not share something here, too! This time, it’s the above image that I found on the server. That’s me at Pahrump Motorsports Ranch back in 2004 (I think). One of my first experiences on the track and the weekend that really sucked me into it.
The photo was taken by ace MINI photog Juan Calderon, who is the only person that I’ve ever met that could take a better photo of Roxy than myself.
I would very much like to do this again. Maybe someday soon. I think Roxy has 1 more track weekend in her.
Repair log: 100 miles later
Barely 100 miles since the last update, Roxy decided she wanted to ride on a tow truck again. I’m not sure why she fancies that, but she does. Most of the time there isn’t anything I can do about it either. This time was no exception.
Pulling out of my office parking lot, right side (passenger) axel decided to go AWOL. For those of you that haven’t had the opportunity to experience this, it’s not pleasant. The noise that is made makes it sound way worse that it really is. Same with the vibration. Truly awful.
So, tow truck ride over to Eurotechs. Jerry got her up on the lift and saw the problem (best Adam Savage impersonation goes here). Called his supplier to get a replacement, ordered lunch and had me back on the road in short order. No harm, no foul.
Bonus, and I’m not sure it’s related, but I can again shift into first gear without having to do any crazy contortions. She had been making a crazy grinding noise in the morning too, and that seems to have magically gone away.
Repair log: 267,088
The latest in a long line of the things it takes to keep a high mileage car alive and kicking! This week was the replacement of the parking brake assembly. Not the cables, those are fine (I live west of the Rockies). The part that broke lives inside my car, under the rear cupholder. There is yoke that connects the handle to the cables, and on that yolk, there is a piece that broke. Of course, I couldn’t just replace that one part, I had to replace the entire assembly.
Took the opportunity to replace the boot and handle while I was at it. Or rather, while Jerry at Eurotechs was at it. I tried to perform this repair myself, being cleared by Jerry because I can handle a fuel pump replacement. My frustration level with this repair rapidly exceeded what I’m comfortable with. Too much pulling with nothing happening mostly. And, it turns out that my tool box is a bit light.
At any rate, I’m now an emergency stopping fool! And Roxy doesn’t roll away when parked, which is a bonus.
