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July-August '07:
The summer of 2007 promises to be one of the best yet for MINI aficionados, with scads of MINI events scheduled and the promise of great weather for motoring. To help kick of this season of MINI motoring we've put together our biggest editorial package ever. Here's a synopsis of this issue's highlights:
In our lead feature, Editor Gary Anderson details the story of Stoopidgirl's ride and the carriage of the Future Queen of Nebraska, in a story called Pink Ladies (page 26). There are passel loads of female MINI owners out there and this story highlights two of them and their rides. Yep, the colors are hot pink, the girls are cute and the cars are cool. Publisher Barry Brazier aptly captured it all on his digital camera for your delight.
Next up, writer Molly Bunton and photographer Mark Scheuern enter The Alternate Universe of the Dragon (page 30), and report on the 5th annual running of the MINIs over the The Dragon's Tail in East Tennessee and North Carolina.
One of the great things about the MINI is that it is a virtual canvas for the customizer and in Bespoke Minis (page 34), editor Gary Anderson discusses the trend of ordering custom packages and designs for their new cars -- often straight from the factory. No longer are MINI owners content to order a few option packages to dress up their vehicle. Instead, they prefer to cough up the cash to get a truly unique and one-of-a-kind vehicle.
In this month's cover story, Competition Tradition (page 40), our very busy editor, Gary Anderson, again hits the keyboard keys to bring you a story about Texan Robert Smith's twin Minis. One is a museum-quality, rally-ready replica and tribute to Paddy Hopkirk's Monte Carlo-Winning car, called "Little Red" and the other is "Big Red," a 2006 Cooper S with Union Jack roof and done up as a modern version of the Monte Carlo winner. Both see regular competitive action and the story is great reading for both classic and new Mini fans alike.
Following on page 46, our in house automotive historian and Senior European Correspondent, Graham Robson, details The Birth of the Mini-Cooper and busts a few myths about the origins and development of one of the world's most famous cars. As usual, Robson has meticulously detailed the facts and provided some great early photos from his voluminous archives. If you are interested in Mini heritage, this is a must read article.
East coast MINI owners often take a weekend to drive the Tail of the Dragon, but getting to the storied road often means miles of boring freeway travel. John Loxton had a different idea. Why not find a new route to this famous drive? In Taking an Un-Interstate to the Dragon (page 50), Loxton discovers the delights of back road cruising on the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway and takes you along for the ride in this Mini travelogue.
In our Parts & Service section, Online Editor Peter DuPre (Hey, that's me!) visits Out Motoring, an Ohio based aftermarket accessory store, in Boutique Business (page 60). Not just your usual store, this web dealer is just the type of business MINI owners like to frequent. It has upfront polices, fair pricing and the owner also designs his own unique aftermarket parts.
If you are looking to make your MINI more powerful, then you'll want to read Technical Editor Matt Richter's treatise on horsepower and torque. In Why all the Fuss About Power and Torque (page 62) Matt explains exactly what these two terms mean, details their effect on the drivetrain, tells you how to find optimal shift points, explains what torque and horsepower curves mean and does it all in an easy-to-read style that will give you all the knowledge you need to get the most performance from your MINI.
Gary Anderson and Matt Richter also tell you all about how Improving Throttle Response with a TSW Engine Torque Damper (page 74). If you've read the previously mentioned hp and torque article, you'll immediately understand why installation of the product is a good idea. Our two how-to wizards detail all the steps for eliminating the perils of torque steer.
Following up in the tech corner, Gary Anderson (does this guy ever sleep?), Stephan McKeown and Matt Richter take their MINIs to the test track to test out three different aftermarket suspension systems. Their experiences are detailed in What Have We Learned About Upgrading the Suspension? (page 66) and you get to benefit from their time and knowledge without having do trial and error engineering.
Of course, adding performance suspensions with custom wheels/tires usually means that while handling is up, so are interior noise levels. Nothing ruins good music and passenger comfort faster than too much tire, road and wind noise, but Stephan McKeown has the answer. In I Can Hear You Now (page 69) Stephan explains how sound dampening works and how to accomplish it with step-by-step photography that reveals all the secrets to silent running.
According to Gary Anderson, a clean engine is a happy engine and in Detailing Under the Bonnet (page 76) he gives up trade secrets for keeping the engine compartment clean and shiny. When he isn't busy editing MC2, Gary restores vintage cars, exhibits in concours, and does vintage racing, so he knows all the tricks and tells you what products work.
Speaking of working on your car, how do you know what tools you need? In The Right Tools For the Job (page 78) Peter discusses the issues of tools and equipment, telling you what you need and why for doing the job at home. You may think that box of old wrenches and a tire jack are all that you need, but read this and you'll understand why it is important to make sure your garage is properly equipped.
Whew! That's a lot of real hard core MINI reading, but we're not done yet. We've got six pages of readers rides, tips on touring with a group, a fun story on So Cal MINI Maniacs, club and event news, MINI news, project car updates and more... Plus, there are all the usual columns by Barry Brazier, Gary Anderson, Mini Cindy, Matt Richter and Graham Robson. Yes, Issue #9 is jam packed with so much info that you actually may need help picking the magazine up. Enjoy! ~ Peter D. DuPre, MC2 Online Editor.
* Note: Mail delivery takes about two weeks to reach most readers, but for some subscribers it can be as long as 3-4 weeks from the mailing date before they receive their copy. So don't panic if you don't get your issue right away, but if you haven't received your copy by the end of July, notify us by clicking on "Lost/Damaged Copies" under "Contact" at the left, and we'll send you a replacement copy or notify you by e-mail if we have a question about your subscription.
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