Henry from Colour Tech South Motorsports Photography has done it once again. I received my photo CD from Homestead last week (not even a week after the event) and the pictures taken were awesome! Thanks Henry. I went ahead and added them to the Homestead Track Gallery. Enjoy!
After a blazing hot weekend in South Florida at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, I am happy to report that all the MINIs that participated came home in one piece. A great time was had by all. Huge thanks to all who came out to support us! A special congratulations to our very own CooperDrew who kicked some “you know what” out there on the track for his first ever track weekend! Drew – you made us proud! Here is the first of the videos from the weekend. I also posted the first set of photos. Enjoy!
This week, MINI.com unveiled their official MINI Clubman website which features a very slick computer-generated MINI Clubman that you can rotate and zoom in on to see various aspects of the vehicle without any “camo-tape”.
To add to the hype, various sites around the net have posted official photos of the Clubman ahead of the press embargo. I must say that if anything, the photos have made me want to test drive one :).
[ MINI Clubman @ MINI.com ]
[ Leaked Photos of the MINI Clubman ]
If you have been in New York in the past month or so, you just might have seen this awesome ad campaign while traveling through Times Square (click the photos for larger versions):
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Special thanks to diedhairbri and TampaMCS for these awesome shots!
MINI Press Release
Munich/Amsterdam. Putting in a perfect performance, Jeroen Bleekemolen (Aerdenhout/NL, Team ProSieben) rounded off his guest appearance in the MINI CHALLENGE being held this weekend as part of the MINI United Festival in Zandvoort (NL). After his win in yesterday’s race, the local Dutch hero and former DTM pro came out top in today’s heat too. “Being part of the MINI CHALLENGE has been a great experience. It was amazing fun,” said the victor. “To win today was enormously difficult. I had to fight forward five places,” Bleekemolen said – he had started in sixth place.
Alexander Burgstaller (Munich, MINI Germany) was one of those Bleekemolen overtook. The MINI CHALLENGE ambassador was happy enough with second place as he crossed the line, though. “My first podium position of the season – I hope to go on doing more of the same,” said Burgstaller, who won the MINI CHALLENGE in 2004.
Continue reading Double Victory For Jeroen Bleekemolen @ The MINI Challenge In Zandvoort (NL)
MINI Press Release
Munich/Amsterdam. Just a few hours after Jeroen Bleekemolen (Aerdenhout/NL, Team ProSieben) gained pole position in the qualifying in Zandvoort (NL), the local Dutch hero had reason to celebrate yet again: the former DTM pro put in a perfect start-to-finish lead in the first MINI CHALLENGE race of his life! “I’m really pleased. Especially because it was such hard work to defend my position – that makes winning so much more significant,” said Bleekemolen after the race.
During the 30-minute race held as part of the MINI United Festival, only Ben Spouse (Munich, Schirra motoring) managed to keep a tail on the flying Dutchman. “I was always hot on Jeroen’s heels, but I just couldn’t manage the crucial attack,” said the Englishman. Spouse had put in the second-best time in the qualifying and explained afterwards why he had been so fast: “The undulating and winding profile of the race track is well suited to my very soft driving style. Here in Zandvoort you sense the typical MINI go-kart feeling much more than elsewhere.”
Take a look at the following link for the first real photos of the MINI Clubman without any tape hiding details of the car. I have to say – the back end of the car is not bad. I like it much better than the R56 back end actually. The split exhaust looks very sharp. The only thing I am not so sure about is the silver down the sides of the back end. I wonder if you will be able to get that part of the car in body color, while still being able to get a contrasting roof. We will have to wait and see.
Those attending MINI United may just get the first look at the new MINI Clubman. According to MINI2.com, Autovisie.nl snapped some great shots of a fleet of MINI Clubman at Zandvoort where MINI United is set to take place:
Autovisie have some great shots of the MINI Clubman on the website, taken at the Zandvoort Circuit in the Netherlands where, apparently, MINI employees were getting familiar with the ìOther MINIî ahead of itís full launch to the media and public later this year.
Zandvoort was also the location of the Driving Dynamics Workshop held by MINI in July last year for a select group of Motoring Journalists where MINI2 took footage for several photo and video exclusives of the second generation MINI.
This weekend Zandvoort also plays host to MINI United, however according to Autovisie the cars where taken back to Munich on a trailer when play time was over. Full report and photographs are available on the Autovisie website here.
Now how much you want to bet they left one or two Clubman’s around Zandvoort for some MINI United happenings?? Hmmm…
[ MINI2.com ]
[ Autovisie.nl ]
As I told you in my last post, I was out at Moroso Motorsports Park this past weekend cheering on some MINIs from our local group (Sunshine MINIs) during an HPDE (High Performance Driver Education) event. There were not enough slots for me to run with them, but I did manage top get out there for some 90+mph “parade” laps :). I took a bunch of pictures and video, but my favorite has to be this shot:
If you click on the photo links below you will also notice I created a new Track Time gallery for track photos to be posted. So if you have any cool photos of your Mini on the track, send them in to site.gallery01 @ motoringfun.com. I will also try to post some video shortly once I get it off the camera.
Next up – Sebring (May 19-20) with PBOC (and then with Phil Wicks in June!). You may have noticed I created a Track Day Countdown in the upper left hand corner. For all those coming to Sebring this month, that one is for you!
What happens when you take a MINI Cooper and cover it with one million Swarovski crystals in 50 shades of color? Probably the world’s most expensive MINI! CarScoop posted up pictures of this amazing creation.
The characterization ìbling-blingî is definitely an understatement for this Cooper. Dubbed ìAmerican Iconî, the glittering MINI is the work of CrystalArt and itíll be on display at the upcoming National Stationery Show, May 20-23, at NY Cityís Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. It features over one-million Swarovski crystals in 50 different shades of color. Each crystal was scrupulously hand placed and it took four people 6 months to complete. The designs on the car portrays American scenery and symbols including The Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore etc.
[ A MINI Cooper Adorned With a Million Swarovski Crystals! @ CarScoop ]