The adventures of our 1960 Mini, and our new MINI
I had missed a couple of local events, but today is our LocoBrits Meeting, and I decided to take Mini. I started her up – right away – and then drove around the neighbourhood, bringing the temps up.
I drove to our meeting in neighboring North Ridgeville – went well!
After the meeting, I showed the car to several members.
The ride home went well – had to make one fast stop, as vehicles ahead stopped for dear crossing!
MINITakesTheStates – a cruise from San Fran to Boston for BMW MINI’s – was scheduled to travel through NorthEast Ohio on US6, and our plan was to join in there in our home city of Avon Lake.
see http://www.minitakesthestates.com
On Wednesday – after I went to the gym, I came home, ate lunch and began to prep Mini (1960 BMC Mini 850):
Check tyres; torque wheels, top fluids, clean interior windows, wash, clean exterior windows, and a bit of finishing wax. We raced up to Speedway to fill with CAM2 – but it was closed – so we went down to the Shell on Lake and Moore, and topped up with Super Shell.
Then we waited for the cars, and waited, and waited…
At 5:30, we gave up, went home, and jumped in the 2009 MINI Cooper S Convertible.
As we drove down Lake Road, we saw groups of people – some in lawn chairs with family – waiting for MINI’s: they waved, and we waved!
(N.B.: they would be disappointed, as – due to time problems – nearly all of MTTS took SR2.)
Got down to R&R country!
The parking attendant – in shirt and tie – must have been amused at the sights, as many cars were customized and individualized! (see pics, below)
We picked up our credentials and swag bags, and went in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
When inside, we found why we did not see the pack: bad roads in IN had slowed then down, and they took alternative routes to downtown…
The event was well done, catered by Executive Caterers with servers swarming around in tux shirts and ties.
We met many Cool people
And at ‘ the end of the day’…
A great time was had by all. (We went back home, but the pack moved on.)
In the morning, a rise and shine event was held, and off on the next leg – Buffalo via Pittsburgh.
Photos from Buffalo
I continued to follow the event on FaceBook
N.B.: our 2009 was built by BMW; our 1960 by BMC – British Motor Corporation
The above is a perspective on size!
I did nothing on Mini from May29 thru July 7, as we we preparing for our Russian trip, on our Russian trip, and then recovering from the trip.
On July 8, a health issue appeared, and I spent two days in hospital, and then slowly began getting back to speed.
On August 1st,I got some inspiration:
I learned that MINITAKESTHESTATES will come through Avon Lake on August 6!
So today, I got to work on Mini – more than two months!
So I moved Mini into the driveway, and cleaned the floor. I then started him up – no problem, and after he was warmed up, I cooked dinner.
Chuck Linick came over with his 63 Traveller, and we took Mini for a cruise – fine.
Back home saw no oil leak, so onward!
Observation on ride height: leave alone for now.
I shall:
1) check wheel torques
2) set tyre pressures
3) check oil and HOH levels
4) test drive a bit
6) top up fuel
Ready to go!(?) for MTTS!
Motivation
Mini 