clubman Archives - JCW Adventures

JCW ADVENTURES SHOP

Ali Mir — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 12:36:03 +0000

I am proud to announce JCW Adventures finally has an online shop which you can buy some MINI swag from which covers all three generations of the BMW MINI.

Here is a direct link to the website – JCW Adventures Shop

Official eBay Store – Official eBay Store

I have kept it simple with all three generations of BMW MINI Hatch with Model Designation vinyl decals all of which are available in Chilli Red, Jet Black, Thunder Grey & Ice White.

All 3 Generations of BMW MINI R50, R56 & F56 Decals

All these are available on the JCW ADVENTURES Store with free shipping within the UK and worldwide shipping available with a small additional cost.

Custom colours will be available at upon special requests at a small additional cost with all BMW MINI Generations & variants stickers coming soon.

Along with these all-new decals are the ever-popular R56 JCW & GP2 genuine carbon fibre exhaust tips as first seen on my JCW are back!!!!

This genuine carbon fibre exhausts tips can be easily installed within 5 minutes which simple tools and no drilling is required.

They are only suitable for R56 JCW, GP2 & R56 Cooper S with the JCW back box exhaust given they were developed on my JCW.

These exhaust tips have been designed for road use and show cars only either with a stock or sports catalytic convertor.

For those who have F-Series MINI JCW Pro Exhaust Remote, I have battery replacement available in the stores to get you back to disturbing the peace.

All shipping within the UK will be free, but international orders will incur a small shipping charge.

So if you have read the blog or followed me on social media here is a great way to support a free website that has been here to help any MINI owner around the world since 2012.

If you any questions free to message me at JCWADVS@GMAIL.COM or hit me up on the social media links at the bottom of the post.

Here is the link to JCW Adventures Shops – JCW Adventures Store & Official eBay Store

Thank you for the continued support, smiles, laughs, memories, hospitality, and MINI adventures.

Here’s to continued adventures wherever the open road leads to in 2020 and beyond.

As always it’s a MINI Adventure and try to keep up!!!

Ali R56 JCW Owner & JCW ADVENTURES Founder

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The post JCW ADVENTURES SHOP appeared first on JCW Adventures.

The BIG MINI Adventure: MINI TAKES THE STATES Part 2

Ali Mir — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 18:10:58 +0000

I woke to open roads of America waiting for my arrival as donned my JCW ADVENTURES tee shirt with my proud TEAM GB logo on the left side of my chest for queen and country. As I gather my stuff for the road trip ahead, I grabbed my first quick ride to the rise & shine aka breakfast meet point from a family of MINIacs who was glad to see me.
Thanks for the ride Montoya Family in MAX S Cooper!

I grabbed another breakfast burrito as I looked around at the MINIs thinking would be my next ride for the day (Don’t judge me as I loved them as we do not get it in the UK). While I was introducing myself, I decided to bring out the UK flag which I had brought along for everyone that I met to sign to take back as a memento. However, there is something special I have done with it, but I won’t tell you guys until part 5….
I spotted this understated black Cooper S, but my keen eye spotted the rumor JCW Pro exhaust at the time which I had seen online which was a leak of the accessory catalog which I had seen online before the trip. The only thing that was running through my mind is how can I get MINI USA to let me drive this car hmmmmm.

This next person is very important to the whole MTTS trip as she lights up our faces time and time again by waking us up and make us all a family for like. For those who have done, MTTS will know her name Desi is the hostess with mostess. Not only did she make fun of my accent and made me laugh but she was the key to getting this nomad from coast to coast by announcing that I would need a ride every day BOSTON OR BUST!!
Thank you from the top to very bottom of my heart.
She hooked up for my 1st MINI US owner ride with Richard who owns a very unique JCW Clubman which is one of the last few ever to be built. But this was no ordinary JCW by a long stretch as this barely run for this trip with just under 4,000 miles on the clock before the journey started with a lot of option extras. This is arguably the best from the factory spec’d clubmans I have ever seen with JCW & GP2 parts accessories added to make this one subtle, unstated classy modified R55 (Disclaimer – I have a soft spot for the clubman).

Again it was another pinch yourself moment seeing so many MINIs to what would be every morning of a minimum of 500 all meet up at one point for the next stop would be in another state/city. I would be eating, sleeping and driving MINIs for two weeks in a country that I saw in the movies.
Time to snap back to rally as I put my luggage into the back of clubby. This would truly begin my morning ritual of new MINI and new driver every day. I grabbed the route section aka the pace notes which makes you feel like a rally co-driver – Easy Left Over Crest 2 do not cut. So a different car and owner every day hmmmm like I have said before every car has history and every owner has a story. I had to ask Richard about his car history while giving an over why I would travel halfway around the world to this Pilgrimage of your journey with MINI USA owners.
Richard didn’t disappoint with his car history as he was a local around California so he a part of the MINI E project. The MINI E was an in the field electrical car worldwide program which started in January 2012 which formed the base of the development for the BMW i3. It did make me think that a MINI would be the perfect car to be electrified given its low weight and handling which fits the bill. It left me pondering as I am Track Marshall on the weekends at electric go karting track where the karts weigh around 200kg without driver and have a top speed of 35-40mph.
I asked why he brought a clubman and it seemed like he brought one for the same reasons why I would have one. The longer wheelbase, better ride, the barn doors, suicide door and that all important JCW badge. I compliment him on the subtle mods and getting one of the last few JCW clubmans in the world as the dawn of the F generations.

We did stop for short stop for fuel, and we did meet a few characters and MINIs which you will see and read about in due course.
Back to the route as we headed towards a MINI assigned photo opportunity at the Nevada Shoe Tree. The Shoe Trees may be the greatest embodiment of the American Spirit you can find on the highway (free of admission charge, anyway).

A shoe tree starts with one dreamer, tossing his or her footwear-of-old high into the sky, to catch on an out-of-reach branch. It usually ends there, unseen and neglected by others. But on rare occasions, that first pair of shoes triggers a shoe tossing cascade. Soon, teens are gathering up their old Adidas and Sauconys, families are driving out after church with Dad’s Reeboks and grandma’s Keds. Many inscribe messages on the sneakers in permanent marker — greetings, love poems, and life accomplishments.
The shoe tree blooms with polymer beauty. A work of art like this may last for generations, tracing our history by our sneakers . . . As long as the tree doesn’t die or get attacked by shoe tree murderers.
On Highway 50 near Middlegate, Nevada, a lone cottonwood stood, clotted with hundreds of shoes. One tipster told us the first pair was thrown during a wedding night argument by a young couple; later, their children’s shoes were added to it. Whatever its origins, the tree seemed to suck up all the discarded footwear in the county. Sadly, the tree was cut down by vandals on New Year’s Eve, 2010-2011 and another put in its place.

This photo opp allowed me to speak to Briana for a while she signed my UK flag which I brought along for everyone to sign as a memento of this trip of a lifetime as I watched sneakers fly into the air. Briana had brought along a mini MINI for MINI Adventure which was a direct clone of her MINI aka Nirvana.
What Richard did next did surprise me as he had the keys to his clubby and said you can drive…

I was like you sure given you have only just got it, and you only have 4,000 miles on the clock, and we were set to drive on the loneliest highway in the US to Wendover. I was apprehensive about his clubby given how new it was as I didn’t want to wreck his clutch or gearbox so early on with my poor gear shifting technique with my right hand (yes your steering wheel is on the wrong side damn it!!!!).
They were not lying about this being the loneliest highway as all I saw the asphalt on the horizon and nothing on besides the odd truck going the other way which was outshined by a pair of F-18 flying low into the danger zone MURRRICCAAAAA.

This wasn’t the last of the moments we would have as I did get to put my foot down in Richard’s ride as he told me to push on but also I spotted the soon be infamous ‘4 guys and 1 MINI’. These 4 lunatics wanted to ride coast to coast in one MINI but this wasn’t the best thing about them but who they were and smiles they would bring to everyone the trip.
WE SALUTE YOU
I believe this symbolised the community as a whole in the US who are a larger than LIFE set of characters who have been brought together for the love of this little car from the UK.
Along the way, I got see some sights that again have been donned to the movies such as freight trains which ran parallel to the road. I guess it is the opposite given the railways came first as it was these lines that allowed the US to be truly connected on the dawn of the industrial and steam revolution. Sadly there wasn’t any railway crossing for a Dodge Charger and Toyota Supra to race against.

It might be a small thing to US residents but seeing these freight trains in motion will be a memory that will stay with me. We did come across along with one on the move which resulted in us waiting over 2 minutes for this freight train with endless carriages.
We did drive through this small town along the way which to my knowledge was in the middle of nowhere but had a population sign of 100 if that. But when 500 hundred MINIs turned up we more than doubled the population. It bet it was a sight to see for the locals who were in shock. We were welcomed with open arms to this small town so much so the gas station in the town actually lowered the gas price so hundreds of MINIs could fill up. I did personally thank the lady owner for her generosity and gave an insight to MINI TAKES THE STATES.

Not far from this stop we arrived at our next state of Wendover, but this MINI madness will continue into the night for the first party get together. I thanked Richard for the ride and getting me going where I needed to be and putting some miles on one of the last R55 JCW clubmans in the world. But we were but back in the Danger Zone with this parked up Cooper S.

I freshened up and headed out with TEAM GB to the Historic Wendover Airfield which was active during WWII but most notable in these movies such as Con-Air and Independence Day. This gave me another chance to talk to US owners I had spoken to online via various forms.

I finally got to proper speak to Kyle Conner in person following talking to him on FB and appearing multiple times on MINIs on the mind.

But more importantly, I finally got to hear his highly modified Countryman in person. Let’s say it was worth the wait before I retired for the evening….

Carrying on the sense of speed Bonneville salt flats would be our next stop for the next leg of MTTS.
I walked across the road to the rise and shine event which opposite my hotel which gave me some time to buy some merchandise for MTTS. I brought an MTTS grille badge and few other for the keepsake of this transatlantic trip.
Another rise and shine hosted by the hostess with mostest which brought about my next ride with Andrea Jones who slightly reminded me of Emma from Lohen the UK MINI specialist.

Today’s ride would be an R56 MINI Cooper aka FELIX which has his own blog – http://felixgoesalltheway.blogspot.co.uk. The name might mean something to some people as Felix is a cartoon character from the silent film era. The anthropomorphic black cat with his black body, white eyes, and giant grin, coupled with the surrealism of the situations in which his cartoons place him, combine to make Felix one of the most recognised cartoon characters in film history. Felix was the first character from animation to attain a level of popularity sufficient to draw movie audiences.
I was slightly complexed when Andrea said it was a Justa??? I said what do you mean. I was let in on this term used in the US which means that it’s just a Cooper hence the slang term Justa. I was bewildered by this given my first car was MINI One which even more basic with a 1.4-litre engine with a monstrous 89 Bhp. I know a lot of people know I am obsessed with my JCW, but that’s only because I brought it to drive fast on road and track, but I don’t look down on people who drive lower powered MINI as you should only buy what you can afford. To this day, I still miss my MINI One as it taught me how to drive and started all this madness. Started from the bottom now we are here!

They do say everywhere you go take the weather with you…. Sadly stopped play for our salt flats fun as it rained through our trip there : / Undetermined we head on to the salts so we could say we were on the flats and drove on it.

It was a little surreal knowing that so many people on this leg of the trip had never driven in the rain?!?! How??? Bloody rains all the time in the UK anyway my other alter ego of RALLY ALI was on hand to help my driver for the day to adjust to driving in the wet *insert pace notes* – a big jump over crest do not lift. I said it’s exactly the same driving in the wet just lower your speed to adjust for lower grip levels and use your wipers accordingly as you need to see where you going. At this point, I was just easing her into the environment and making general chit chat to mellow the mood in the cabin and finding out what she knew about driving techniques.
We arrived at our wet destination which seemed to look like icing on a cake as the salt flats were saturated with the heavy rainfall. But nothing has ever stopped a BRIT from doing what they wanted to do so we drove on to the salts to say we were there and on it. With that ticketed off the list, we headed back on the blacktop as we pointed Felix to our next destination in search of sun and blue skies.

This gave me a chance to teach Andrea some driving tips such as double clutching. I had to do this all the time on my R56 MINI One, so it was time for me to give this Justa a fighting chance in real world driving in the states.
What is double clutching?

Double clutching is when the clutch pedal is depressed while shifting to neutral to match engine speed to the intended gear and vehicle speed, and again depressed for shifting into gear.
This is something you would if you were cruising in 5th and wanted to drop down to 3rd smoothly and pull away rapidly without upsetting the car with a harsh downshift which puts unnecessary strain on the clutch and gearbox. This skill allows all the engine power to be fully utilised on the downshift, so there is no pause in the power delivery which will give you those brief few seconds head start on anything in your or behind you.
We made a brief stop in Helper for a photo op with Alex Rose in her Cooper S who was going all the way as well.

Further, ahead we didn’t realise Alex’s MINI would hit some trouble as the engine management light came on. Like a good co-pilot, I brought my OBD reader for set occasions like this so I could help any MINI owner the best I could. I thought I a MINI broke down on engine fault maybe I could reset and keep it moving till the next safe point. I did work out what was wrong with Alex’s MINI as the thermostat broke which resulted in the engine management light to come on. This was later confirmed by a MINI technician who was one of the support vehicles for this trip.
On a lighter note, the sticker on Felix to this day still makes me giggle.

But later I was on an acid trip after looking at this Clubman.

After I regained conscience and enjoyed my free drink courtesy of MINI USA from Papa Joe’s stop & go we headed back on the road to get our free car wash as did drive on the salts which will eat way at the car.
This automated car wash was like no other I had seen before compared to the ones in the UK. So you can imagine I felt like a 5-year-old all over again going through a car wash for the first time.

From there I was dropped off at my hotel, and I thank Andrea for the smiles on the trip, and I would catch her later tonight for car lovers wet dream as we drooled over someone’s private car collection.
After I had freshened up at the hotel, I drove the Countryman All4 which gave me a chance to see what an Auto All4 S would be like. As everyone else wanted a drink or was tired and given I have never drunk in my life I would be designated, driver. Sooooo All aboard the SS Countryman with Captain lets get a move on. I got the knack of climbing into the wrong side of the car to take the wheel of this machine on the freeway at night which is secretly something I wanted to do for a long time as my childhood playing need for speed and midnight club fills your imagination with so many things.
As we hit the highway to the event destination of Allen Unique Autos, it started to rain and when I mean RAIN I said it as the wipers could not keep up the downpour that slaughtered us in the convoy we connected to. So much so the Countryman did briefly aquaplane as we came off the highway, but I caught it, but everyone thought I was drifting or messing around lol. On a side note to everyone that I do take my driving more seriously when I have passengers on board given I am responsible for their lives as well. I stick to every rule in the book and make everyone feel at ease as I drive smoothly to arrive at our stop on time, but upon request only I can show you a move or two ; )
We arrived safely at our stop that turned me into a five-year-old in a candy store. The sheer vast assortment of cars. I will let the pictures do the talking.

Each car had it’s own mark whether it was a stock to original spec or customised to the owners liking. Like I have said before every car has a story behind it….

MINI Beach Car – Only 15 ever built with one owned by the Queen
Fiat had a successful beach car named the Jolly, so there was clearly a market for a leisure vehicle. Austin commissioned a run of ‘Beach Cars’ between December 1961 and March 1962. 15 examples were made during this period, all Export models with left-hand drive, though there is at least one right-hand drive version known to exist in the UK. 13 of the left-hand drive examples were sent to the United States, where they severed as dealer and distributor promotional vehicles.
The design of the Mini Beach Car, also known as the ‘Riviera Buggy’, was similar to the Jolly, with no doors, no B-pillars, and interior seats made of wicker. The Beach Car were built by hand in-house at Longbridge’s Experimental Department. Four of the fourteen left-hand-drive Beach Cars were finished in Surf Blue with a Snowberry White roof.

One was sold in 2015 for $184,000 at auction.
All these cars were owned by a single person and more importantly by a woman. I salute you!! It’s a shame I never got to meet this person as they wanted to remain anonymous as I wanted to know the history about they were brought, the restoration and why they were modified in certain ways. Either way, thank you for sharing your car collection as I don’t think I will ever see these cars anywhere else.
This evening entertainment concluded and I drove everyone back to the hotel and pondered who would be a ride for tomorrow and what cars we would see along the way.

It was the same routine that we bundled all the bags in the countryman and I would squish into the back seats with a suitcase bigger than me on my lap. Why would you want to change that when it works so well??? (sarcasm). But honesty it was a laugh minus the weight on my thighs.
It was back to last night’s venue as today’s we would heading towards Albuquerque in New Mexico but first without any foods and morning raffles. Sadly our hostess with the mostest didn’t have any clean jokes, so I gave one of mine.
What happens when Batman sees Catwoman?
The dark knight rises
NANANANAAAHAHAHAHA

I did get the mic taken away from me lol I was auctioned again this morning, and this time my ride would be modified R56 MINI Cooper S owned Ross Kopp who was the plastic dip to look like Starsky and Hutch car.
Sadly there was no sliding across the hood today. But walking over to his ride was one of fascination as I saw the half roll cage with go pro and bucket seats which brought a cheeky grin to my face #BecauseRaceCar.

I loaded my suitcase into the back and noticed the MINI UNITED 2012 sun blind and I was like Huh?? You have been to MINI UNITED in France in this car??? Ross was like yeah I move around a lot of work! SMALL WORLD!!!! I guess I probably walked past your then without realising and he was not shy of the track action has he been around the Nurburgring : D
From then on it was talking car mods and what he hadn’t done to his MINI as I brought about the questions about suspension and mapping as I have been looking this for a while. Ross did say his S was running about off today given the altitude coupled with the poor fuel in the state didn’t help as high ethanol percentage isn’t well suited to the map he was running.
Me personally I have never bought into the notion that some guy with a laptop and dyno can approve over what a modern OEM manufacturer with a vast amount of money, time, driven countless miles and R&D has been done to make stable ECU map work anywhere in the world regardless of the climate or conditions. You can screw more power out the engine but what about the other components like the clutch, gearbox, cooling, brakes, etc. Everyone rarely even things about. Then people wonder why their car keeps on breaking when they take it beyond the tolerances there is a fine line between RACE Car and Road car as POWER isn’t everything and this is another key point why you buy a MINI for the Corners.

This why the conversation continued into what suspension are you running and how did you set it up?
Ross’s S was sitting on KW V3 with camber plates which were perfect as I loaded a shed load of questions as I wanted to ask about. I enquired about the chamber rates, compression and how long it is sitting to getting a better picture of how to setup mine. He had worn down his S to around 30mm with added negative chamber for better turn in. Straight away I could tell the ride was a lot better and how planted it felt as you could say the ride was firmer. The things it’s not intolerable in the sense you would tell it was smoothing out the ride a lot better than stock suspension as it wasn’t crashy or unstable.
I was sold on getting coilovers after I sat in Ross’s MINI but I knew I could only for the best in the marker KW as it didn’t want to compromise on quality but that would come with a price so the saving fund would begin for the KWs.

Back to the road trip at hand and we heading toward Russell Stover Candies for some free chocolate!!! So this would be our first stop but not really be being a sweet tooth chocolate fan but I did get interviewed by the MINI USA film crew, and they handed me a go pro and hand mount to film my adventures. I was more interested in getting back to checking out the winning ‘The New Originals’ competition car.
MINI USA held a contest called “Final Test Test Drives” and asked fans to design their very own MINI Cooper S. The winning design, “DeLux” by Alex Coyle, will head to New York to go on display and support the launch of the new MINI. Her design won the competition by getting the most votes online.

‘Lux’ is the root meaning of ‘light,’ explains Coyle. “After I went through all the options I had available to customise the car I went for all the bells and whistles and created what I call a ‘Deluxe’ model. The result was ‘DeLux’”.

So it was back to the road trip heading down 550 into the twisties and mountain passes to Albuquerque. The roads didn’t disappoint, and the weather was perfect for the occasional stop for pictures and appreciate of mother earth.

Again it was something out of the movies for me as we hit this small town amongst the mountains to what seem liked settlement for workers in years gone by.
While we were enjoying the twisties and smiling, we didn’t realise what was happening in front us as the road was shut down. We found through friends and calling each other that there had been a head-on collision with SUV and RV resulting in a fatality resulting the police closing down the road both ways.
I was a quiet moment of thought for me as the harsh reality set in that someone lost their life and open road has many dangers seen and unseen.

After we had waited a diversion was created off the road through a country club and golf course which pop us out further down the road. It was time to make some time up in the twisties but Ross’s MINI wasn’t playing ball as it began to run rough resulting in us back off and cruising the rest of the way.

Our destination was Sandia MINI and we arrived promptly to enjoy their hospitality as they were paying for dinner tonight and they did put on quite the spread & BBQ. But sadly there wasn’t a veg or fish option I opted to go across the road and dine with Phil to catch up his adventures.
We joked and laughed over dinner sharing each others stories and asking Did you see that or this? But it has left me in the sense of reflection after I opened my fortune cookie.

SET THE RIGHT EXAMPLE. IT WILL INSPIRE OTHERS
To this day I still think those are words are still actually sums up what I try to do on a daily basis. There is something inside me that likes making people smile, happy and teach them what they need to know and hear. I love finding out that I am the reason why someone did something, and it improved them. I guess it’s a sense of accomplishment and pride that money can’t buy. It makes me proud and smile every time I hear good news about my friends and family : )

On that note, we headed back to our hotel across the road and got our forty winks. The adventures will continue in Part 3….
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The post The BIG MINI Adventure: MINI TAKES THE STATES Part 2 appeared first on JCW Adventures.

The Digital Divide: MINI VISION GT Review

Ali Mir — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 19:14:24 +0000

Technology has evolved so much now its very much part of our lives and who are as a person as we move from reality to the virtual world. Electronics have integrated into cars to relay information to the driver to make life behind the wheel simpler and safer. The modern car is become a more of tool in the transporting people from point A to B but to a MINIac its a place to call ‘Home’.
The PlayStation was my ‘Home’ before I could drive. The PlayStation was my escape from the real world but I have grown up with every generation of this game console and remained a PS owner only. I would play endless of amount of PlayStation classic such as Crash Bandicoot, Metal Gear Solid, Wipeout, Driver, Tekken and most importantly Gran Turismo. Gran Turismo was my little nirvana of high octane adrenaline racing as I couldn’t reach the pedals at 11. In this world I could lose myself as I could go racing after completing B & A licenses for racing where you would start with a revtastic Honda Civic. That Honda was your stepping stone to learning the racing line and keeping momentum in the corners to catch up with the computer as often most you were up against faster cars but the AI back then wasn’t too clever.

Fast forward to the future and the Gran Turismo series by Polyphony Digital since 1998 has sold over 72 million copies with the game its 6th iteration exclusively to the Sony PlayStation. The brand has won the hearts and minds of gamers and petrol heads as it is still seen as the ‘Real Racing Simulator’ as the brand expanded into the real world. This first happened in 2002 where Gran Turismo creator and series producer Kazunori Yamauchi attended SEMA to judge exhibitors to give them a chance to have their car featured in a future version of Gran Turismo as a drivable vehicle. It didn’t stop with the after market world as GT brand was invited he prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to present the Gran Turismo Trophy – an award “to support those who make efforts to preserve irreplaceable, precious automotive culture for future generations to come”.
This shows how the brand has very much come a big part of the automotive world in show scene but it doesn’t stop there with the GT series sponsoring the Pikes Peak, 24 Hours of Nurburgring etc. Kaz the game creator doesn’t shy away from racing in the real world either as he is through and through petrol head as he races in various championships under the GT brand with his most prominent being the 24 hours of the Nurburgring in a modified Nissan R35 GTR.
Japanese manufacturers have often capitalised off the brand for marketing and tapping into future owners as they understood at some point these gamers will grow up to buy a car. Nissan has done this most effectively with Nissan Skyline which is now known as the GTR in its current R35 form. The official unveiling of the GTR was done in the real world and in the game at the same time giving the chance of the gamers to attempt the lap shattering record time on the Nurburgring of 7 minutes 28 seconds back in 2009.

Nissan didn’t stop there instead it went straight after the players to start the GT Academy is a driver discovery/development program initiated in 2008 through a partnership between Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Polyphony Digital. This was competition to see if gamers could be turned into real racing drivers to compete in GT3 racing series. The digital divide was truly broken as winners of the Gran Turismo Academy include Lucas Ordóñez, Jordan Tresson and Jann Mardenborough have all gone on to compete in professional real-life racing with great success.
Taking the racing line back to MINI who have teamed up GT to unveiled the MINI Vision GT Concept which is essential the forth coming MINI Clubman in its JCW form.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYyjj_7osdo
This digital concept is giving us an eye to where MINI will be taking the Clubman as the all engines, platform and JCW will provide. It was interesting to learn that this concept has a four wheel drive with 395 Bhp with 0 to 62 dispatched in 3.5 seconds. This MINIac has a sequential 6-speed transmission directs engine power to the permanent all-wheel drive system, guaranteeing optimum power transmission at all times, while gear shifting is achieved using wheel-mounted paddles. Fully adjustable dampers at the front and rear ensure an optimum connection with the road. The maximum speed is up to 290 km/h dependent on gear ratios.
This is not the first time MINI has added four wheel drive to the mix the Countryman being the first with All4 with great success as the uptake has been significantly high which is why most likely the forthcoming Clubman will get All4.

Looking at the concept there is a lot to like with the flared arches, front and rear carbon fibre splitters, roof spoilers and racing inspired black X headlights. The elliptical X headlamps are a hark back to the past of long-distance racers which masked their headlights to prevent the headlamp glass from splintering to avoid broken glass on the track. Sadly MINI didn’t give this concept an interior so there is no sneak peek into seeing the new Clubman interior.

Looking at just makes me hope that MINI build a touring car version of this car to take racing as it would be great speculate to see MINI having David and Goliath battles to make its way to a podium finish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfGHKqL3-iw
Given this a digital car only as of yet it would only be fair for me to test this MINI to its limits on track. Time to step into my bedroom for surreal review of the MINI VISION GT concept on my PS3 as for once I am not bonded by rules of the road. Rest assured I am no slouch in the digital world as the hours I have put into the GT series through the ages but this allows to me give a comparison with previous generation MINI model which are front wheel drive.
You have been pre-warned as I do like to drift and tease the competition when I am winning which is quite often than most as I know my lines, I am patient and I know exactly when to make my move.

If your game here is my PSN: AM_AUTOS
The track I selected to review this car is the High Speed Ring in GT6 as which is a well know track I know and often use to fine tune my car collection in the digital world. The High Speed Ring gives you a good indication of how the car is at speed whilst fast corners and S corners allow you see the grip levels and corner transitions the car makes under throttle, direction change and braking. This gives me a base line on how to fine to the power levels and suspension setup to dial in toe in and chamber or oversteer to my liking.
With any race I do I always switch off the traction complete and just have the ABS set to normal to stop the brakes from stop locking up and gear changes are left in auto with opponents turned to the professional level. I opted to get the GT in the obligatory red and black JCW colours as this brought out the carbon details and key design features, there was no option to go DARK KNIGHT.

I hit the GT’s original test track of the High Speed Ring and the GT concept doesn’t hang out on the back straight as we hit a high of 160mph going into the left high banked turn. There is alot traction from the four wheel drive but it seems to under steer when pushed hard as it refuses to turn as it just gentle turns giving you worrying moments of we are too close to the barrier.
To quell the under steer you have to bring the speeds right down which is annoying when your racing as you have to opt for the slow in and fast out technique. The brakes are good and strong even with all the systems off as there is no squirming under heavy braking but again the four wheel drive system doesn’t allow any rotation or mid corner adjustments. This leaves a poor after taste which isn’t MINI go karting touch but some four ringed quattro numpty mobile as I expected a rear wheel bias on the four wheel drive system to give you some fun.

I tried numerous techniques to get the back end to rotate or get any adjustments but it doesn’t allow you at all as did the Scandinavian flick, floored the accelerator mid corner and the only thing that did it was gripping the hand brake which would send into a 90 degree slide. The slide would be short lived as soon as you got onto the power to control it as the throttle would just as equally as violently bring the car back into the straight just to tell you ‘NO I AM NOT BUILT FOR FUN’.

Told you I know how to drive ; )
Through the S bend the transitions of the car was poor as direction change was soooo slow which resulted in quick slam on the brakes to get speed low enough to get more turn in. You had to be on the brakes the for the next corner otherwise it would just under steer into the barrier as the four wheel drive system doesn’t allow any rotation or adjustment which is why I had to adopt the slow in and fast out technique.
I posted a quick time of 1 minute and 9 seconds around the circuit which is league well above any hot hatch, MINIs have always punched above their weight and easily holds it own. However there was no enjoyment from this feat as it was more of relief when I saw the chequered line as I hated driving it. In comparison to a R56 MINI Cooper S specd to because race car level (coilovers, semi slicks, bigger brakes and uprated engine to 254 Bhp) is a whole 6 seconds slower at 1 minute 15 seconds but is whole load more fun as you point and shoot at corners. The driving experience is better in the front wheel drive R56 as I can adjust mind corner and have a better sense of grip levels but all considering the R56 power deficit of over 40 Bhp which makes a huge difference in such a small car.

Looking at the overall benchmark of the VISION GT it holds own in the real world as I have lapped the circuit in completely stock Jaguar XKR-S at 1 minute 11 seconds and Murcia’s new C7 Corvette Z06 in 1 minute 8 seconds both wearing semi slick tyres with no electronic nannies. Both of these rear wheel drive powerhouses have at least 400 Bhp which just shows how much better MINIs are at putting the power to the ground and making the most of the corners.

The VISION GT as race-car does what it was built for to post the best time lap time possible. It has achieved this to the sacrifice of the infamous go karting handling for outright traction with the four wheel drive system. I am just hoping the forthcoming Clubman JCW gets the VISION GT racer look without the four wheel drive numbness.
Review Score 3/5
The VISION GT hits every apex as a race car but washes wide at retaining the MINI go kart handling at the price of four wheel drive traction. This might be a concept but many of MINI concepts aren’t far from reality to car you will own, meaning the forthcoming JCW Clubman will receive four wheel with more power and touring car looks.
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The post The Digital Divide: MINI VISION GT Review appeared first on JCW Adventures.

Summer of Speed: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2014

Ali Mir — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 20:43:00 +0000

The summer marks days were car covers come off, supercars are fired up and modded car take off their winter wheels for what is show season. Droves of car lovers all converge on Goodwood: Festival of Speed to what is the Mecca of all car shows. Lord March opens his gates to his estates to all car manufactures to take on the hill climb, rally stage and build the show stands for their latest greatest models for the general public and super elite to order.

My Journey to this Mecca began with a message from MINI UK saying they would like to reward me for being a dedicated MINI Fan.

A message later and I was sent tickets for the FOS and packed my JCW duffel bag towards London for my overnight stay.

I arrived at the Goodwood estate in good time and missing the morning madness rush plus I was allocated nearby parking next to the super car paddock courtesy of MINI.

The car parking is always full of eye candy

To my amazement there was a Mclaren P1 amongst them all adoring this lustrous candy red paint with black and carbon accents

Have a guess where my 1st stop was…

Yes straight to the MINI stand to meet the Team and see what was lurking on their stand

The F56 JCW concept first shown in Detroit was sitting proud behind its own area with glass window showcasing its key features such as 6 pot brakes.

I was given permission to go over the barrier to look around the JCW concept in detail. The more and more I looked at it the more I love it especially given the 2.0 litre engine will be pumping out at least 220 bhp.

There were alot of GP2 nods with the rear diffuser & spoiler, lowered suspension and winglets on the rear arches. My eagle eye spotted that the concept was riding on KW coilovers which I highly doubt will make it production (we can all live in hope? But I have driven a lowered F56 S with the JCW Tuning Kit with JCW Suspension).

I am just hoping the paint scheme comes to production or something similar with a matte/satin finish for my dark knight presence.

Whilst I was mesmerised by the JCW concept and turned around to see Rally legends Paddy Hopkirk and Ranni Roma to stroll on by. The MINI team told me to come over to take picture with them to which I declined saying ‘ I am just a bloke with a car ‘ but they still persisted in making me have some photos with them (I am not moody the sun was in my eyes).

Two of my good friends & loyal supporters Mr &Mrs Thomas arrived for us to catch up and take some more pictures with rally legends (The own a GP1 & GP2 – Fun fact – Their honeymoon was driving their GP1).

Moving inside the MINI Stand were two F56s with three flat screens ahead of them playing the Goodwood Hill climb on Gran Turismo 6 using the F56 wheels and pedals!!!!

You can kind of guess what happened next as waited my turn to put in a time. It was slightly surreal playing GT6 sitting in a MINI as I am used to playing GT6 with GT Wheel sitting in my gaming chair coupled with 5.1 Dolby surround sound.

I awaited the count down of timer on the screen to see that I would be driving a R56 Cooper S up the hill climb to a course I am very familiar with. I roared off the line and pressed the flappy paddle to catch second and held the revs near the redline for the first corner and snatched 3rd as I left the first small corner leading across the back straight going past the Goodwood crowd stands and estate.

There was time for concern as I pressed the brake pedal as there is no feedback from it given the break servo was switched off! Yes I know I was in the digital world but it was eye widening for a moment as you had press your foot all the way down to get the digital MINI to break without embarrassing myself in front of woman who I told I am good at this game. I finished the course in good time with a respectful time of 54.241 seconds in a bone stock R56 Cooper S on comfort hard tyres (Gran Turismo players will know how shockingly back those tyres are).

Back to the real world there was a whole raft of models with the JCW Roadster, Facelifted Countryman Cooper S & JCW Paceman and the all new F56 Cooper S

The LCI Countryman in Jungle Green just looks amazing!!! I am waiting for someone to buy one and HULK theme it

To the right the countryman was the Dakar trophy for MINI winning with an 1,2,3 podium finish in this gruelling off-road endurance race which runs through Argentina, Chile and Bolivia with 13 stages (each stage is about 500 to 560 miles). I need to add MINI was won this event 3 years running not bad for the Countryman rep worldwide.

Moving outside the MINI world I had seen this concept car on fast lane daily and on automotive websites called Eau Rouge Concept. Its name alone is sexy but let me tease you more as this Infiniti model (Nissan sub luxury brand) with an a candy red paint which hides underneath its hood a 500 Bhp Nissan GTR engine with four-wheel drive saloon madness. Yes I said Saloon! Its GTR with four doors and a boot

Now you take the wife and kids and scare them senseless on the family trip to the Zoo

I love the F1 nods on the bodywork and aero and especially the carbon fibre trimmed bodykit with 21 inch forged wheel filling the arches

Now Just build it!!!

Moving on to a first with no pun intended is the Koenigsegg One:1 which weighs only 1340kg and has 1340 Bhp making it the first full megawatt of power production car. Top speed is around 273mph, it’ll go from 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds, 0-300km/h in about 12 seconds and 0-400km/h in 20 seconds.

To achieve this neck braking speed the One:1 is made virtually all from carbon fibre from the bodywork to the wheels with titanium throw into the mix for the exhaust system. Yes you heard me right the wheels are made from carbon fibre with them only weighing in at just under 6kg (13lbs) even though they are 19 inch wheels with a 10 inch width.

Only six are being built with them all sold at a cool £1.67 million each with two coming to the UK & four heading to China (Finally a hyper car that wont live in the middle east instead turning up your rear view for you to wet your pants)

Hybrid supercar of the moment the Porsche 918 Spyder in lustrous deep blue paint

Next up was a concept from the digital world of Gran Turismo which I drove before seeing it. Lets says the short wheelbase makes it frisky little car on the limit but a hoon to drift around bends. The Golf GTi Vision concept has a twin turbo V6 churning out 500 bhp which is delivered to the road via four-wheel drive which rockets it to 62 in 3.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 192 mph.

I saw the new M3 in hardtop & droptop form and I have never felt so underwhelmed by an M car which is supposed to pinnacle of BMW brand as the M Division pump up the normal 3 series to be weapon for the track. Then they went and destroyed the name of the M3 making the four saloon version called the M3 and the coupe version the ‘M4’.

It feels the M division had their hands tied back this time around with emission laws, accountants and board member dictating on what could and couldn’t be done. To me it doesn’t look or feel special enough and the M3 was never meant to be a sleeper car ever!

Now to star of the moment as Jaguar, It seems they can’t do no wrong as they went and built the Project 7 car.

The F type is stunner anyway and giving it the racer D-type look is just asking for people to lust after one and that’s all before you fire the beast up.

Now off the land of the rising sun and GODZILLA!!!!

Nissan brought along their GT3 GTR with a V8 nom nom

Away from the because race car was the future concept version of the GTR

From what Nissan PR guy was iterating in his talk that GTR wont be much more powerful but instead be a lighter car with a raft of aerodynamic madness to defy the laws of physics.

This is another car which will be available in Gran Turismo 6 to drive

Now off to see Ze Germans who brought a whole raft of AMG madness and their concept car for Gran Turismo

The Mercedes Vision GT seems to be more design study with its Tron like appearance as the grill is all LED lights which change to different configurations with the body being constructed from aluminium and carbon fibre.

Stance nation will rejoice with rims on the concept are forged centre locking concave wheels that bulge out then come in. These marvels are wrapped in the tinnie tiny tyre profile of 10 with fingers gap between the arch and tyre.

That poke tho

Next up is an acquire taste from Lexus which is the RC F which is a follow-up to the underestimated gem IS F

I have soft spot for the IS F given its pedigree, understating looks and V8 block – Its good be different

Back to the RC F is unmistakably a Japanese designed car which seems to be styled using a samurai sword with its angular and pointed lines. The side flanks and rear end are unmistakable which gets me all amped for getting older in life as the kids and wife turn up meaning I don’t have put away the need for speed.

This coupé houses a naturally aspirated 5.0 L V8 producing over 450 bhp with 520nm of torque on tap. The RC F will come in two specifications: standard RC F at £59,995 or the RC F Carbon from £67,995

The carbon edition is one to get as you get a carbon fibre hood, roof and rear spoiler with more go faster parts such as a diff and forged wheels

WELL DONE LEXUS!!!! Ever since the IS F i have taken notice then you built a car that I want in my dream garage the monstrous V10 LFA

Who ever you have employed or listened to keep at it!!! Wait for me to get old as I am getting one

MURCIA was present with the all new Mustang which will be available in Ford dealers in UK as an official car instead of being grey imported

Its gonna be interesting seeing a mustang in my rear view then seeing him be tiny dot when I hit the bends : p

Pistonheads brought along the fan specd M4 for the petrol heads

A special but seemingly unstated BMW M5 30 Jahre edition which marks 30 years of the M5 so it has bumped power to 592bhp with competition pack upgrades but comes with a batman approved Frozen dark silver paint (only 300 will be made).

Next up is most ridiculous jacked up marketing derived car ever the Infiniti FX Vettel edition. I say this because it’s a normal FX with a new exhaust, 30bhp more, F1 inspired carbon trim and badges which bumps the price from a normal £58,000 to £100,000. Just go buy the new Range Rover Sport or Porsche Cayenne GTS

Fresh from the nurburgring is the fastest front wheel drive car around the green hell the Renault Megane RS Trophy R. It set a blistering time of 7min 54.36sec which is mind-blowing given it’s a hot hatch with 271 bhp with plenty of space and practicality.

Here are some details on this track weapon:

Its 100 kg lighter than normal car with most of sound deadening gone, rear bench removed, no air con or radio, rear wiper delete, single piece recaro bucket seats, new Ohlins adjustable dampers, front composite springs by Allenvard, a new, lightweight Akrapovic titanium exhaust system, mechanical differential and a set of super-sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

Renaultsport will offer an optional Performance braking kit (larger discs, 3kg lighter) and a lithium-ion battery which saves another 16kg.

I am sure you get the picture

Here is an Abarth to worry the GP2 on track the italian scorpio the Abarth 695 Biposto this sub tonne is lethal with 190bhp being developed from an 1.4 litre engine which stings 0 to 60 in 5.9 seconds!

The Italians have gone mental with this one thinned down the doorskins, carbon door panels, polycarbonate windows, titanium roll cage, lightweight bucket seats, sticky compound tyres, forged wheels, four pot brakes, removed the rear bench, Akraprovic exhaust, racing dashboard, carbon cold air intake and dog ring gearbox.

The 595 Biposto is the only street-legal production car fitted with a quick-shifting ‘dog-ring’ sequential manual gearbox.

Makes you thing twice how hardcore the GP2 actually is actually scrap that it makes the GP1 look like a lazy boy chair with wheels

It’s a sell you kidney price of £30,000 base and you can spec certain things like the racing dashboard which add to the price

But think of it this way, its one of those car that will never be built ever again

The mad hatter pike peak cars

Rallying legends of different generations but all around giant killers

Some because race cars

This arguable the best part of Goodwood as it makes the uber exotic cars which you will never see or hear

Jay Kay’s Green La Ferrari which was delivered to hit two days before and he ran it up the Hill climb

LEGEND!!!

F12 not special enough for you?? Why not tell Ferrari and they will build you a one-off roadster based on one

Ferrari F12 TRS

Its been reported it cost the owner £3 million to commission the vehicle meaning he could have 3 La Ferraris

The underwhelming Lamborghini Huracan in Matt Black which is a reverse from the sexy Gallardo which I drove when I was 19!

My dads mate brought one and let me drive it!!!

It was a rare one given it had a open gated manual gearbox (only 300 were made with a manual of the 14,000 built)

Pagani Huayra in candy paint red with carbon touches

Spyker B6 Venator – One of the best interior ever making it another car for the dream car garage

King of the hill Nissan GTR Nismo made its official UK Debut with 591 Banzi horses with G Forcing neck breaking 2.7 second 0 to 60 time.

This put the GTR in hypercar league making it quicker than McLaren F1 to the dash to 60 while its one of fastest production cars around the green hell at 7 minutes and 8 seconds (It’s the fourth fastest – Two Radicals and the Porsche 918 Spyder).

All this madness comes in at only £120,000 still making it a bargain compared to the 918 Spyder or any other super or hypercar

I went weak at the knees for the Lexus LFA – One of my favourite cars

Track only Lotus Elise Cup-R

The crowd controlling G63 AMG 6X6 an utter-pointless car which makes it even cooler

This year was Maserati’s centenary celebrations so they brought along a fine selection of present and future models

The Ferrari Enzo based MC12 with airbrushed paint job

Maserati Alfieri Concept

The name Alfieri is homage to the engineer who founded Maserati – Alfieri Maserati

This design concept is actually looking to into production and will be future design language for all new Maseratis

Maserati Gran Turismo MC Stradale

A forgotten but dear to my heart the TVR Cerbera Speed 12 – This is the only road going model ever made!

The Speed 12 weighs in at 950kg and has a 7.7 litre V12 churning out 820bhp & 650 ft lbs of torque, which means a power to weight ratio twice that of a Bugatti Veyron. It was detuned and restricted to 820 bhp as it deemed unsafe for the road by Peter Wheeler who was TVR’s owner at the time and then cancelled all orders for the car.

The actually output is 1,000+ which broke TVR’s dyno as the team was aiming to beat the McLaren F1 into a plump as they bolted together two V6 engines hence the name Speed 12. Not bad for a car that was built-in 2003

I secretly wish TVR would be brought by someone who could bring it back to its former glory days

Something for my American followers

Dodge Challenger T/A

Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

AMC Mark Donohue Javelin

Thats marks the end of what I saw on the day as I spent around Goodwood: festival of speed.

Thank you to MINI UK for the tickets for Goodwood and the whole social media team making me feel welcome

Just before I go here is a little video for you guys

My friend and fellow MINIac Philip Casper aka The Blue Ghost who I finally met during my travels of the US for MINI TAKES THE STATES 2014 called me out to ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

Here is my twist on the challenge

The post Summer of Speed: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2014 appeared first on JCW Adventures.

MINI Roll Call

Ali Mir — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 17:58:17 +0000

My website has been a successful because of everyone who reads, comments and follows me.

I have hit another milestone of 15,000 views early this year

But like my JCW I am forever evolving and becoming better, stronger and faster.

But this time I need your HELP!

I want to know you opinions on what you LIKE & HATE about the website

I have set up up an anonymous comment box so you can help with the direction of the website. It will be undergoing a revamp to celebrate the 2 year anniversary and my JCW turning 3 this year.

The JCW will be undergoing some modifications soon…

I mean exactly what I am saying when I ask for your opinions on the website, so be as nice and nasty as you want…

Before that here are my plans for the website this year

Reviewing the F56 & All of R56 Model range
Charity Run – Its time to give back to the world
MIR RUN II – This is my own MINI run I plan over the UK
Manufacturing my own line of MINI Car parts
Instragram Meetup – 3 Meets in the year
Track Days
More videos – An insight into me and the JCW
Competitions/Giveaways (It will be open to everyone worldwide)
MINI Factory Tour
Behind the scenes of MINI & tuning specialist

Here is the link to the anonymous comment box to leave your advice and criticisms

Anonymous Comment box

Next Blog Post: Castle Combe Circuit – Track Shenanigans

Comment, Like, Subscribe, Follow or Tweet me

Twitter – Mr_M1R

Instagram – d4rkhorse

Youtube – AMAUTOS7

The post MINI Roll Call appeared first on JCW Adventures.

Goodwood: Festival Of Speed 2013

Ali Mir — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 13:39:39 +0000

The biggest and fastest car show of the year is here with the numbers to match with Porsche 911’s 50th, McLaren’s 50th, Aston Martin’s 100th, Lamborghini’s 50th, WRC’s 40th, Le Mans’ 90th and of course the 20th anniversary of the Festival of Speed.

The centre stage was set already for these top marques to strut their stuff on the certain to get a look from lucky 5% of the world’s population who can afford them whilst the rest if us mere mortals sat there like patting dogs.

2009 was my 1st visit to the show in my JCW after it had been run in but this time I round my JCW has had alot of MINI adventures and is well know and adored by MINI owners across the globe.

I always get told by my work colleagues or people who know me that MINI should make their brand ambassador as fully distilled in lifestyle that is MINI. I am not gonna lie the JCW is always a talking point and some how I always wriggle in my MINI to any topic so I am really a self-confessed MINIac.

99.9% of any of my social media posts are about my MINI so it wasn’t hard for MINI UK to pick up my obsession so much so I was invited to attend the Festival of speed as a VIP guest and bring a few people with me.

I keep in regular contact with Christine all the time as we a good catch up and giggles on the weekend. I told her I managed to blag some more tickets for Goodwood and whether she would like to come with along with my younger sister and little brother.

She accepted and the stage was set for her to go her first festival of speed. We met up at a service station near by Goodwood estate so we drive in together in convoy. As we drove up together we met to what seemed like the sultan of Brunei’s car collection had come out to see who their new friends would be.

There were a lot of Porsches as we drove and parked up into our VIP parking. Here is a fun fact for you all – 80% of all Porsche 911s ever made are still on the road.

As I previously said the number of exotics, super cars and legends of the automotive world was staggering number but wait a second we were still in the park.

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As we passed all the tasty exotics we were met with race cars legends ranging from rally cars to Le mans racers with the infamous Martini livery.

Bentley was showing off its return to Le mans bringing its two race cars which ran in the race in June (They weren’t washed).

Too be honest I think they were trying to show off as they brought their recently unveiled GT3 race car.

Porsche wasn’t too far behind all staged up with its race winning cars. Don’t quote me on this one but Porsche has won the most races overall in motor sport.

Then I spotted the uber rare M1 racecar which really got to perform on the track as race series it was built for stopped so BMW was left with a big bill. It was a troubled birth to begin with as Lamborghini was commissioned to build the cars for racing but conflict arose so BMW made the cars themselves. This BMW rarest car as road going cars were made due to homologations to which 209 were built.

Remember I told you all about Bert???

Yes Bertie that small little Mini cooper sport well it might be small but its mighty. Ian his owner decided to put his Mini in competition to win centre stage at the Goodwood festival of speed on the MINI stand.

Your never gonna guess what happened?

That little guy, no not Ian! Little Bertie won the competition and the minions from MINI gave him the call to tell him they would coming soon to pick him up.

Ian was given a loan car for the duration that Bert would be away which was amusing given Ian recently picked up his 5th MINI – Cooper S

You can clearly see he was jealous of my JCW colour and decided to copy me but give his own twist on the interior with toffee lounge leather. He has given his new MINI the name of chewie because it reminds him of chewbecca from star wars (He has a little plush toy to match which sits in his cup holder).

Bert was picked up bundled into a trailer for transportation to be detailed for his BIG day out on the MINI stand for the Goodwood festival of speed. Ian was given VIP hospitably by MINI UK whilst Bertie was under their car with photo shoots and very famous racing driver Paddy Hopkirk coming down to say Hi.

What do you mean this isn’t the 3rd Gen MINI??

I wasn’t gonna let Ian have all the fun!!! As we all know why you buy a MINI is to have fun behind the wheel. So we parked our bums in some of the MINIs line up of model with me looking at the JCW paceman thinking it need more power while my sister was dreaming of drop top posing in the Kite blue coupe. Little Adam was more bothered about jumping on the MINI bumper cars!!!

Yes you heard me right MINI bumper cars. Plenty of go with no need for insurance but the potential of mess hair and shaken brain topped with a BIG Grin on your face.

Well I let the kids so first as I didn’t want to show them up with my epic driving skills as I am gentleman racer which has nothing to the lovely ladies working on the MINI stand *PROMISE*

Little Adam was enjoying himself with the wind in hair and road rage activated. I guess you have to start from somewhere.

We weren’t the only loonies who wanted to join in on the fun as the whole Wacky racers crew came down to settle the score once and for all.

It was across the way to the BMW stand where M was the word with the M5, M6 & M135i taking front stage with the all new 435i M Sport lurking upstairs in the owners lounge.

Next is the upcoming sensation of 2014 the Alfa Romeo 4C with its light weight carbon fibre tub with 240 BHP rear wheel shenanigans which will see the brand win back heart of enthusiasts worldwide.

Remember you not a real car person until you own a Alfa….

There are a few brands which I hold dear to the petrol filled heart – MINI, BMW, Lotus, Porsche, Mercedes, Lamborghini and Pagani. So you guys and girls can now imagine what my ultimate seven-day car garage would look like.

I love the lunacy of the AMG marque as its like going out on a date with axe murderer in pinstriped suit. You know it looks dapper and will show you a good time whilst its drunk but it has all the power in the relationship, however don’t fall asleep before it does as you might not wake up.

Which neatly brings me on to the V8 C63 AMG which will be last hurrah for the V8 as the V6 twin turbo arrives in the next C Class AMG

I wouldn’t mind have a 507 Edition C63 AMG

Black Series, enough said…

You have all heard, watch and read about the Mercedes new offering in the hot hatch market with the CLA & A Class AMG.

I am not sold on the CLA visual appeal as it looks the designer finished his final look and some backed into the clay model. On the other hand the A class is the looker of the bunch and interior is beautifully finish with nice touches here and there but whatever you do not buy it in south sea metallic blue.

Its staggering how AMG’s first attempt at hot hatch market with 2 litre turbocharged engine that produces 360bhp and dispatches 0 to 60 in 4.6 seconds making it the quickest hot hatch you can buy.

You have seen it on Top Gear when Jezza took out this electric beast around the track with 4WD, 740bhp & 738lb ft – 0-62 mph in 3.9 secs , 155 mph, 155-mile range, 3 hr fast charge and 2110kg. Weight for the price tag – starts at €416,500.

SLS AMG Electric drive

As we headed out the Mercedes booth the red arrows had begun their display over head in formation and showing why they are the best at what they do.

The Italians didn’t like to be out shined by anyone and the prancing horse was out in force with the V12 F12 Berlinetta with the ludicrous 730bhp going to the rear wheels only. THE BRAVE MAY ONLY APPLY…

Ferrari had brought their ‘Entry’ level super cars with them

The land of the rising sun was there with some OOOOOOHHHH DRRRRIIIIIIIFFFFFTOOOOOOOOO ACTION with the Toyota GT86

If you ever wondered why I say AHHHHH DRIFFFFTTOOOOO –

Here is what is happening in my head when I say it

Here in Great Britain we have our gentlemen racer and when we do drive ONE must take their time and enjoy the opulence. Once conditions are clear one puts down their right foot like a sir in the RR…

Wraith is the most powerful Rolls-Royce in history. Behind the deep-set Pantheon grille sits a potent 6.6 litre, twin turbo-charged V12 engine. Delivering 624 bhp with 800 Nm of torque, it powers from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Even with this formidable power, Wraith is every inch a refined Rolls-Royce with electronically controlled air suspension that creates the signature ‘magic carpet ride’.

If that much power wasn’t enough the land speed legends were soaking up the rays in the sun

The festival of speed is called this for no reason as there is little squiggle of tarmac called the Goodwood hill climb were the money is object supercars and exotic battle it out for the coveted King of the hill.

The first hyper car I was the Koenigsegg Agera whilst humming away at its idle with an AUDI R8 GT behind it taking in the exhaust fumes of Sweden’s finest.

The line up front was too bad either F12 on pole, Careera 4s and waving the British flag the Noble M600

The Mclaren boys were up next with MP4-12C, MP4-12C GT and the successor to the McLaren F1 the P1 was there to flex its power & F1 tech.

We moved from the new boys to the old but still gold warriors of the tarmac

It wouldn’t be true car show without a Bugatti

The V12 7 litre Jaguar XJR-9 Group C and XJ13

Ferrari 512 and 25O GTO

An early 911 in race spec

For my MERICA the Camaro

I had never heard or seen this BMW before but it hell is it a looker -1958 BMW 507

It was only fitting if there was an Mclaren F1 if its offspring were here

Salmon pink Bugatti Veyron – not sure what to think of it

Uber rare and under appreciated Porsche GT1

Still my all time fav the Ferrari F40

Mercedes 540K spezial roadster

Lamborghini countach (The word Countach is italian slang word to describe a hot chick)

This was Porsche’s show so this year its was their sculpture dawning right into front of the goodwood house

Take a good look at this line up as this is all the models Lamborghini has ever made

As you all know we don’t truly group as all that happens is that our toys just get more expensive. What happens when I say this …and now here they are!!!! The most daredevil group of daffy drivers to ever whirl their wheels in the WACKY RACES. Competing for the title of worlds wackiest racer. The cars are approaching the starting line.

Back to BIG BOY toys with the track star that is the 993 GT2

930 turbo flatnose called Flachbau in German, straight from the factory was offered as the ultimate 930 Turbo, the this model had an upgraded body and a 330 bhp engine. Costing nearly double the standard model, the Flachbau was rarely ordered. Before 1986, Porsche had offered the Flachbau body option out of its customer service department known as Sonderwunschen.

Despite the panels being slightly heavier, they were modeled after the 935 race car for top speed. The conversion required extended rocker panels, wider rear flares with scooped vents and flip-up headlights up front with functional louvres allowing a top speed of 171mph.

The Revtastic V10 Lexus LFA in the perfect colour – pearl blue

Nismo felted 370z

Track focued Jaguar XKR-S GT – that rear wing is not very jag like

Running Jaguar concept called Project 7

Aston Martin’s present to itself the CC100 speedster (Only two existence – 1 for Aston and one for deep pocketed customer)

Zeee Germans weren’t too far behind with their black magic SLS AMG Black series

Morgan Aeromax which was supposed to be a one-off but 100 were built given customer reaction (Hamster from Top Gear brought one – think it got written off in a 3 car pile)

Epic Clapton’s one-off Ferrari specially built homage to the 512 BB to which he has owned 3 but that’s not the only 3 to the story as it has been reportedly costed £3 million.

F12 berlinetta & 458 Italia spider

Another Italian stallion the Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale

Ruf GT5

The under appreciated Spyker C8 Aileron

Koenigsegg Agera

Close one of the M4-12C GT

Pagani Huayra

Peugeot Onyx concept

McLaren had its own stand with its road & race cars

Long tail Mclaren F1 in Gulf livery

Mclaren F1 LM

Mclaren P1

Formula 1 Mclaren

Porsche had its usual stand and grass area for the off road experience. The stand had all the Porsche through the ages.

That wraps up the day I spent at Goodwood with my veins filled up 99 octane fuel, my lungs filled with exhaust fumes and ears vibrating to the sounds of revving engines.Till next year Goodwood…

Next Blog Post: MITP 2013 – 1/4 Mile Heaven

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The post Goodwood: Festival Of Speed 2013 appeared first on JCW Adventures.

Continental Brand Experience: The Contidrom Part 2

Ali Mir — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 16:13:31 +0000

It was the calm before the storm after the mornings antics with look into the future tyre tech. It was time for some food and Continental didn’t disappoint with various array of food and drinks to please your appetite. It seemed I had brought the weather with me to Germany as it beginning to rain : / All fuelled up! Team Red headed out to our next station called ‘False Economy’ which showed you the difference between a Premium Vs Budget tyre. The first half of our group headed out to drive the BMW 118i fitted a budget tyre then on ContiPremium Contact 5s to feel the difference first hand.

Whilst they were out hooning on the rear wheel drive BMWs my half of the group was learning about how continental develops a tyre from the compound to the thread pattern and all the research and development that goes into the process.

I asked the question – What if I or tyre company copied your thread pattern would it perform the same or better?

Reply – Even if you copied the exact thread pattern, the compound of our tyres is very different and that’s where our extensive R&D developments goes into

I have always been a preacher about buying good tyres and brakes as these are the only things that keep you on the road. People forget that contact patch between you and the road is only the size of your palm. It was our time for some rear wheel drive shenanigans in the white BMW 1 series and they were fitted with cheap import tyres. I mounted my Go Pro 3 to the back window to showcase my driffftttoooo ability whilst on the wet handling track. I jumped into the driver’s seat unaccompanied and put the paddle shift gearbox and car into sport mode.

We followed a pace car upfront with radios on board which talked us through the lap and how to push the tyres to the limit to feel the difference. To be honest I was being a right yob with me hanging the back out on every corner for a continuous drift.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY7C_gZmVf4]

It was laughable how easy it was to induce over-steer all the time with the cheap import tyre being very loose in the wet handling track and gave no confidence what’s so ever when you pushed the car. When you reached the limit of grip you were met with snap on over-steer which is fun on track but deadly on public road.

All these characteristics are stupidly fun on a closed track which makes you wonder why doesn’t someone offer a track day like this?? Joking aside these handling threats of the tyre would deadly on the open road. Still grinning from ear to ear fun, I suction mounted the Go Pro to the grey BMW fitted with ContiPremium Contact 5s to see how Continental’s tyres could fare better even with the worsening wet track. Into the first corner the difference was evident with the BMW front end would not wash into under-steer and the rear end refused to swing out as I mashed the loud pedal middle corner.

I was being a right lunatic to get the BMW to over-steer as I had to go specifically out of my way to do it. The difference with the Conti tyre was it told you exactly before it let go whilst being controllable.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/wreXP1uB9WY]

It was a no contest between which tyre you would buy.

Tread carefully was the next station which was designed to show you how much a difference tread difference can make

We would drive 3 VW Golfs with different levels of thread – 8, 3 and 1.6 mm at different speed starting at 60 kph (37 mph) then 70 kph (43 mph) and finally 80 kph (50mph) to see the difference. My Group elected to learn the theory behind changing your tyres at 3 mm opposed towards the legal limit of 1.6 mm. 1.6mm is the legal limit for tread depth on tyres. But tests show that at this tread depth, tyres are only performing at 55% efficiency, meaning stopping distances are greatly increased in wet conditions.

We learnt about how the efficiency of the tyres decrease when the thread reduces and about the structure of the compound, side walls and thread pattern make a difference. With the theory dusted off we head towards the car to which there were two people per vehicle because it made easier to switch seats.

I was joined by the motoring journalist queen aka Geraldine Herbert the founder of wheelsforwomen.ie who has written for newspapers, magazines and websites including the Sunday Independent. It was an honour having her on-board and we had some good discussions about the event and wider car industry. My driving skills had to be at their A game with her on board so no pressure at all. We entered the first car which had 3 mm thread and went around the oval track building our speed up to 60 kph and keeping it steady at that speed whilst we drove through about a 2 metre long patch of standing water. At 50 kph there was a slight slow down in the vehicle but nothing that really phased the tyre.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/S3MX67L-XmQ]

Next we built up 60 kph and felt the car slow as you noticed the tyre was trying to move the water but with a slight struggle. Once again we ramped up the speed and noticed the car twitched by it moving it to the right which was nothing uncontrollable. It sort of felt like torque steer with reduction of speed of about 5 kph. The Golf fitted with 8 mm tyres was up next so everything was going be fine due to the thread depth and it was true. The car never struggled with the standing water at the different speed and the only teeny tiny difference that was felt at 80 kph even then we were pointed straight ahead.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/tNq0R1e9fQE]

Next up where the 1.6mm tyres and me and Geraldine gave each other that look, were we we going slide into the barrier plus she elected me to do it first such a Lady. Sadly at this time we were being rushed as our allocated time at this station was coming to a close.

Therefore we dashed into the other Golf and began our first run at 60kph and as soon as we went through the stand water the car aquaplane. It felt like the car was being pushed sideways I was temporary stunned by how the car acted but my reflexes kicked in with me adding opposite lock to steer the car through the cones. We looked at each after it happened and we were like ‘WOW, are you OK?’ Then the radio crackled again saying we need to speed things up so we were moving up the speed to 80kph.

You should have seen my face, WHAT!! An extra 20kph (17mph) we are going hit the barrier at this speed or I am going spin it front of all these motoring journalists. Great I am gone tonight’s topic of laughter at the bar.

We went back around again and I held the speed steady at 80kph and in the corner of my eye I saw Geraldine clutch the door pull so I told her ‘I got this and you got your seat belt on right?’.

Around the bend we went on to the stand water and everything went into slow motion with the car being violently throw to the right like we had just been T Boned by another car.

My fingers buried into the contours of the steering wheel as reacted to the aquaplaning and I meet it with an equal force to correct the car to stop it under steering into the barrier. I caught the car and the grip returned the dry asphalt so I powered it out the cones in front of me. I looked over and said ‘I genuinely thought we were going hit that barrier as didn’t think the front tyres would regain grip’. We were in slight state of shock with the adrenaline still pumping for a while after that encounter. The message was clear from this test – change your tyres before or on 3mm thread is only left

[youtube=http://youtu.be/BH0fp6xnqgI]

We have been drilled in by the theory test and motoring laws saying 1.6 mm is legal limit. Therefore we have been miss education to change the tyres when its close to legal limit which is completely wrong thing to do. Next up is all the track time madness I have spoken and promised everyone by telling them to wait for Part 2.

We arrived at the next station called ‘Driving Performance For You’ where there was a line up of some tasty cars – 2 x Audi RS3, A Class AMG, BMW 335i, Porsche Panamera GTS and a Porsche GT3 RS.

I looked at these tasty motors and thought – ‘Oh yes time for some track action and they are not my tyres’. Someone had to come over to shuffle us into the white tent for the briefing about the performance tyres made by Continental. We were shown the Sport Contact 5s, Sports Contact 5P and Conti Force Conacts with the 5s being for a fast car/road tyre and the 5P being more of a lower profile track orientated tyre which can be used on daily driver but wont grip as much in the wet as the 5s given the thread pattern and compound.

The Force Contacts are a track bias tyre will with them being lower profile and the compound being suited to a dry track but they were still street legal if you wish to drive around on them a daily basis. It was ironic as this was the dry handling track but it was wet and still pouring down. So I wasn’t sure how to handle the cars on a wet track with ridiculous amounts horsepower on a track I didn’t know.

First up was the Audi RS3 and strangely Geraldine came with again after the ride in the Golf, I guess my recovery of the aquaplaning impressed her.

I mounted the Go Pro to the back window and enter the larger leather bucket Seats of the RS3 which were very comfortable. I fiddled with the seat and adjusted the autobox to sport and put the car into sport mode and eyed up the line the track and listened to the instructions coming from the walkie-talkie.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/FeIblDwvBZg]

This was my 1st time in the RS model and everyone raves on about them but I honestly don’t like Audi’s at all! I actually loathe them with them all looking the same with them just being a longer and shorter of themselves with their boring driving feel and input. I wanted to keep objective so I set aside the my dislike and I hunkered down in the RS seats and gave the throttle a few blips to hear the exhaust note which was nice. Off we went following the lead car a black BMW 335i and mashed the gas pedal as soon as we left the lay-by area with the four-wheel drive hooking up and all 335 ponies from the forced induction 2.5 litre TFSI engine propelling us forward with a jot to push us back in our seats.

I went into the first bend all cautious as I wasn’t sure about the how the car would handle in the wet but I soon realised that you didn’t have to do anything but press the loud pedal as the car did everything and all that was left was for you point the thing in the right direction.

The Audi was quick with it reaching 140kph on the back straight but my god was it boring it drive with no feedback to the wheel at all. I could have driven it one hand and texted my mates to telling them what I was doing and take a few snaps whilst I was there. I left the AUDI unimpressed by its driving feel and here is my summary of the car – If you want a point to point fast car the RS3 is perfect, actually it should be THE getaway car of choice if you want to rob a bank. If your after driving involvement, road feel and laughs then don’t buy it, sure it fast but it’s so uninvolving I would rather go shopping for door mats. Into the much incapacitated A Class AMG which had nice subtle menacing look from the outside and was very tasty inside. SLS AMG air vents and carbon fibre look dashboard with some nice subtle red accents around the cabin. So far good, I looked to the console to turn everything on to get it to sport mode which took a little longer than I like but minor grumble given the performance on tap.

Now I would have another 4 wheel drive vehicle but with 2 litre four banger developing a laugh out loud 355 BHP. Again this would be my first time driving the hot version of normal Mercedes as I had only driven the C Class CDI C220 a while back.

I have always wanted to drive an AMG given how loony the division is with copious amount of power they extract from engines and the noise they make which sound like the heavens have opened up and THOR has arrived. Again I blipped the throttle to her what she sound like but it was slightly muted but I wasn’t sure about the reason given how new the car was but meh.

Off we went around the track again with me being directly behind the lead car so I could push on more as we would setting the pace of the other cars behind us. Straight way I felt the AMG feel more eager to rev and pull harder in the corner but I didn’t like the driving feedback but it was significantly better than the RS3.

I had a lot more fun the AMG with the feedback and it was more playful with it reaching 147kph on the straight way which made me wonder what it would be like in the dry.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/iLgSGMz8RrU]

I left the AMG impressed as this was their first proper attempt at hot hatch and I would definitely recommended one over the RS3 as its faster and roughly the same price – WIN WIN!! Next up was the blacked out BMW 335i which looked menacing as hell and me being brought up in BMW and owning a 323i for a while I looked forward to testing performance variant of the 3 series. Into the 335i I went with a big grin as I knew some sideways drift action would have happening with the rear wheel drive power.

It’s very dangerous coming out four-wheel drive vehicles as you got used to giving the car full throttle mid corner. This pre mindset was evident in the first corner where I pressed the loud pedal mid corner resulting in the back-end of the BMW going into 60 degree slide then finally me realise and catching the slide with opposite lock and powering out of the corner.

I looked over to Geraldine and said ‘Do not worry I will make sure we will stay on track as I know you have two kids but I will be pushing it hard’. I proceed to get use to the 335i making sure I was getting the most out of the turbocharged 3 litre in-line six developing 300bhp and 300lb ft of torque to tail happy rear wheels. It was quite tricky getting used it due to the conditions of the track and the seat time I would have.

This is what made it way more fun than the Merc or Audi as you the driver had to work learn the cars behaviour and find the levels of grip instead of the electronic nannies and clever four-wheel drive vectoring power behind the senses.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/D4CshTGlb-k]

The BMW was the quickest on the back straight with an indicated 160kph but the brake pedal feel was worrying as the consecutive pounding was showing in my time around in the track. Minor grumble as this isn’t a fully fledged skunk works of the M division unlike the RS & AMG as I am sure the forthcoming M3 would have power slided to victory.

Time was now running short and I had to make a tough decision drive the Panamera GTS with Ferocious V8 putting out 430BHP or jump into the Porsche GT3 RS for some hot laps.

By the time I had decided to take the GTS some had nicked it from me so GT3 RS was awaiting me to dawn a racing helmet and to climb through the full roll cage to hunker down into the racing bucket seats. I gave the thumbs ups to the driver who actually worked for Continental on tyre development. Off we went and hell he could drive with his braking and feeding the power in and never letting the power being wasted even in the wet. Not once did miss a clipping point or apex and he drove the GT3 RS like the track was dry. The GT3 RS was fitted with Conti Force Contacts.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/ALeZOjvrGaU] [youtube=http://youtu.be/1Lc_arJouns]

I was told later he is very fuss about driving as drove the track first early in the morning and adjusted his tyre pressures then went back out again. When it rained during the day he took it out again to find the better line in the wet and adjusted the pressures again. I got told by the guys that Mercedes C63 AMG would have been out today buy didn’t due to the rain as it would be too lairy, plus the other day one person decided to leave the track in one and go off-road. Typical I have always wanted to drive one as well.

The next experience was up next called ‘Chill Out’ but I didn’t think we would be literary chilling out as we were taken into the where the winter tyres were tested. It was freezing in the testing area and we were told now how a winter tyre were made.

The silica is key to grip in temperatures below 7 degrees due to the properties of it being a soft compound and the tyres have snipes/groves to increase traction on snow or ice. Continental had a novel way of showing you the difference between a normal tyre and winter tyre with slippers.

Yes slippers!!! They had made slippers out of a tyre which looked amazing when you flipped them over – 1 slipper was a normal tyre and the other made of a winter tyre We all rolled out to get our slippers on to the long sheet of ice and you felt straight away when you stepped on the ice with one leg sliding forward to rip your trouser and your other leg staying put like it was glued to the floor.

My left leg had a mind of its own on the ice and it was good thing I wore slightly baggy chinos at the time.

The day was coming to close at 5 and we were all called back to the press room where last parts of the brand experience would happen. We would sit down and listen about Continentals history and developments/partnerships through a presentations.

We learnt how Adidas approached Continental for their expertise to develop a outsole with a strong grip ideal for trail and outdoor sports shoes. The first range of trainers with Continental technology was the Adidas SuperNova Riot 3, featuring Continental’s Traction Compound Technology – which allows confident grip on all surfaces and conditions. Continental has strong brand relations within football industry with sponsoring the UEFA Euro 2012, FIFA World cups and Champions league.

Now most recently with St. George’s Park, the national football centre in Burton-upon-Trent. The new partnership will see Continental Tyres become an ‘Official Supporting Partner’ of St. George’s Park.

With a focus on preparation for driving performance, the Continental presence at the National Football Centre will include a 60-metre indoor ‘high performance’ running track, a goalkeeping ‘stopping zone’ and a bespoke ContiWarmUp area to enable all players to prepare before a game or training session. I have personally visted the grounds and I was genuinely astonished how gigantic they place. You have to drive down a short road network and then it all opens out to Hilton Hotel and the training grounds with 5 areas of parking. Continental has been a partner in excellence with Mercedes-Benz World Brooklands by supplying them with tyres for both on and off-road driving experiences. The Brooklands site offers an interactive world full of the passion, heritage, values and innovation of the Mercedes-Benz brand. These include a wet circle and a 10-acre off-road course, a high-speed handling circuit and acceleration and braking strips.

I missed the chance at going to an event there as I have friend who is driving instructor who works at the Brooklands site. He messages me every now and then with pictures of what he will be driving today!!! I got jealous when he said I have driven the Black series AMG C Class and we have the SLS AMG Black series coming soon to which I will be putting it through it paces! : O

The final presentation of the day was about all the compounds that go into a tyre and how some are natural, synthetics, oils, rubber and how various elements are added to give the tyre compound different properties.

A tyre is a complex high-tech product made up of up to 15 different compounds. Each compound contains 20 ingredients and up to 30 different components. The tyre is not just made up of rubber compounds; engineers also employ reinforcing materials such as nylon, polyester, rayon and steel to perform varying functions depending on where they are used. For example, nylon and steel cords are used under the tread to restrict tyre distortion and minimise heat build-up in the tyre, whereas rayon or polyester is used in the plies to withstand the inflation pressure of the tyre.

The brand experience was over so we headed back into the coach and head back to the hotel to freshen up for all us to head back out to have dinner together. We went to a local restaurant in Hanover which was couple of kms away which was nice and where I spoke with other motoring journalist about the experience we had during the day and the other events they had been to. It was a pleasant way to end the antics over the 3 days. Thank you Continental for inviting me and I had good laugh on the experience and went away with in-depth knowledge about tyres and stories to tell for years to come. But don’t worry Germany I will be coming back soon….

Next Blog Post: Cooper S Roadster Review

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The post Continental Brand Experience: The Contidrom Part 2 appeared first on JCW Adventures.

Continental Brand Experience: The Contidrom Part 1

Ali Mir — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:35:16 +0000

This was the big one for me as I had never been to Germany before, let alone been invited to a press event at Continentals test facilities in Hanover.

I had written to Continental on the off-chance I would be able to see their facilities and they obliged by inviting me down to their Brand Experience and they would be paying for everything with flights, hotel etc.

I received their email back within 24 hours saying I was going which was fantastic given I would turn 24 and then 2 weeks later be heading to Germany : D

One week before leaving I would make a small trip down to Northampton to meet another MINI Looney – Simone aka Work experience girl and her unique R50 Cooper ‘Mimi’

I had only seen her MINI on instagram and it has always been amazing to meet my followers who are now like family to me.

Why is her MINI so unique given its Orciari Bodykit which I had never heard of or seen in my life

It’s now sitting on Coilovers suspension with Porsche D90s rims going on very soon

I have been into the ‘Low N Slow’ or ‘Hella Flush’ look as it’s not performance orientated but after sitting in her ‘Mimi’ I was shocked how good it rode. Thats the day my coilover fund began for GP suspension/B14 Bilstein as I wouldn’t mind my JCW sitting 15mm lower for better handling and ride.

I made a bet with Monie that if she got a certain job I would allow her to drive my JCW. Guess what she got that job : /

I hand her the keys after she beat up me and she loved every second driving my JCW at some speed around an industrial estate.

Had such a laugh up in Northampton with her & Matt who made me feel so welcome and it felt like we are like old mates catching up

It still amazes how my MINI has introduced me to the most amazing people ever!!!

Before I headed out I dropped my JCW off to Midlands Car Care to be detailed whilst away as too many cheap hand car & dealer washes had dulled the shine on the metallic eclipse grey paint.

I had seen Russ’ work first had whilst visiting him before to get quotations and recommendations on the work i should i get down. When I was down the local Phantom Drophead Coupe was there and it seems like every Ford Focus RS ever made gets detailed there

My JCW would be getting a full paint correction, dent/chip removal and C Quartz protection. I looked forwarded to the results when I came back and forecast was good on the day I came back – Sunny 16 degrees which is classified as take your top off in the UK

I got dropped off by one of Russ’ detailers in an Audi A3 which is sooo low we scrapped a few times on the drive back to my house.

I started on packaging everything and making sure everything was charged for trip as I wanted to capture all the moments and report back everything back to my readers. All done off I went to sleep

The day dawned and I had to catch this long tubey metal thing called a Train to London Heathrow. Wheeling my suitcase I took to MINI UNITED 2012 with my MINI Dog Tag on it I waited for the train to arrive so the journey could begin. It actually arrived on time and I settled into my seat and popped on my headphones to zone out House of Balloons by The Weeknd.

With the train stopping at Paddington station and then I jumped through the underground system to get to Heathrow connect line. I was hungry at this time and fancied some nom nom so off I head to search for a restaurant in London Heathrow – decided on this Italian cafe and ordered a tuna wrap with fries and some pepsi.

With checking time nearing I head back to check myself in and to see who I would be going with on the plane.

I met up with a few traders and motoring journalists in the departure lounge and introduced myself. There was a few from Ireland but this one guy called Sean was hilarious with him cracking jokes all the time and selling stuff as he seemed to know a guy for everything.

We boarded on the Airbus A320 and waved the UK goodbye for motoring testing shenanigans

A few hours later we landed in Germany and went through customs and collected our bags to be greeted by Mark aka Continental Man to usher us on to the coach to depart to our hotel.

Whilst on the coach it was interesting viewing look at Germany architecture with everything clearly being built to last with stone building and open green spaces around homes. Everywhere I look there were German vehicles with VW, Audis, BMW everywhere and odd Europe car. Their dealerships were MASSIVE I guess stock or choice isn’t a problem there.

Our coach pulled up Courtyard Marriott Maschese Hotel which would be home for our short stay in Germany. We collected our bags and we were guided to into the conference room to be briefed about our stay and given our keys to our rooms.

Once briefed it was time for some nom nom and I picked grilled salmon, steamed vegetables and slice of whole grain bread from the buffet and enjoyed the view whilst the sunset on the day in Hanover.

At this time I bumped into another one of my Instragram follower Martyn Collins who is actually a Motoring Journalist and owner of the original GP. We had some interesting conversations over dinner and all the events he had been to and then a whole load of MINI talk.

Later I retired to my room to dump my bags up in my room and put my cameras on charge for tomorrows Hooniganism. I head back to meet up with everyone at the open bar we had to talk and learn about motoring journalism. We had some great debates about the industry, how cars have changed over the ages and various press/launch events. Also for me to talk about my JCW and the shenanigans and events I get up to.

Whilst at our table and enjoying our drinks and laughing away, the lovely Lorna came up to me to ask if she could borrow my Infamous hat for some piccies. I obliged as I laughed but didn’t want to be in any pics given my hat hair. We talked for a while about what we would get up to in the morning on the Contidrom visit and she made it sound epic with the tasty motors we would driving.

It was prompt start in the morning with me heading down at 8:30 am for breakfast and then to collect my Continental lanyard with itinerary on back along with a press pack memory stick.

On to the coach to head Continental’s Test facilities called the Contidrom. We then taking into the briefing room to have some light breakfast snacks and juices. We were given overview of brands history and developments through their 140 years in business. We were spilt up in groups and I was in the Red group.

Immaculate VW Camper Van

Here are some Facts for you

Continental is more than just a tyre manufacturer

Continental is one of the top 3 automotive suppliers in the world
Continental is spilt into 5 divisions – Chassis & Safety, Interior, Power Train, Tyres and Contitech
Over 170,000 employees worldwide
291 Locations in 46 Countries

We were bundled into blacked out VW Transporters to our first station which was ‘The Future in Motion’ I thought this would marketing spiel but then after a short ride I saw VW Passat CC, Porsche Panamera and Renault Fluence EV all lined up the grass with Toyota IQ sitting by the white tent.

There was no messing around and we headed into the normal look Passat with a vinyl saying ‘Simplify your drive’ but once inside the dash was a LCD screen with buttons on the right. The tech guy spoke about continental makes various vehicle parts ranging from dashboards to ECU calibrations.

The idea was to showcase how continentals systems could fundamentally changed the cars feel and drive ability. Hit the prancing horse for sport mode the ride instantly firmed up, the throttle and steering became sharp and it blipped down two gears. I was shocked as I drove as car felt completely different as the body roll reduced and I felt the road more plus it made some naughty noises on the up shifts and down shifts.

As you can guess the feather turned the car into wafting car with the suspension absorbing the bumps the DSG box finding the higher gear to make it silent in the cabin with the throttle and steering slacking but still responsive to inputs.

Last but not least was the Flower button which ECO mode which made it near on impossible to stamp on the gas pedal as felt like it pushing your leg back saying if you press down on me again I will set off the airbag in your face.

This time I was chauffeured like A BOSSSSSS in Panamera which was fitted with Continentals air suspension which could drop and raise the height of the car by 20mm at a stand still or on the move. The difference was apparent from the back seat as we hit the oval track and when going over the varied road surface which included the lovely cobbled surface. Even its sport setting it wasn’t off-putting but you knew that it soaking the bumps well.

Next up was an education of the tyres & air pressures sensors on cars and most people don’t have clue what pressure their tyres should be and rarely check their pressures. Modern air pressures are lacking technology to be fair with them only ever telling you they are low when hit a certain threshold by then you wasted fuel and increased wear on a under-inflated tyre.

Continental developed at sensor which would inside the tyre which would rely information to an app or in-car systems to inform you of your tyre pressure and even send you a message if one tyre was loosing pressure. Another way of integrating it into the Toyota IQ would to have car flash or horn when the correct tyre pressure was reached when you fill your tyres with air. I would personally welcome this tech as I have come back to my MINI to find I had a slow puncture but having this system I could have been pre-warned about checking my tyre and even ask for mobile tyre fitter to come to my work to check or replace my tyre.

Now for a step into the Future with the Renault’s EV

A problem that has plagued all EVs is it range and finding a source to charge up. The idea of conti’s system was to increase the range of the car by shutting down systems within the vehicle on low power and the sat nav to take you charge or even the car to inform you inside or by a message the car is low on juice. The proposal wasn’t world change technology but a common sense approach of how to get driver home or safely to a charge without it dying out on you – As always the greatest ideas are simplest ideas.

Back into the transporters we went for the next stage called ‘Mixed Up’ where I would be in my element with MINIs on a wet handling pad.

I went to the right side of the door of the MINI to find no steering wheel, so I went to the other side of the MINI Cooper D. All 3 of the MINIs looked the same but when you saw the lower graphics down the side everything made sense -The idea was to showcase not mix tyres or makes.

Mixed Tyres – Continentals upfront and cheap imports on the back

The first MINI had Continentals with an Asian import tyre on the back. There was a radio inside the car and guy on the other end guiding you in what to do. It felt weird changing gear with my right hand but I wouldn’t need to change-up or down on the wet handling track. I built up my speed on the oval pad and the back-end slid out around 30 kph as I turned for some sideways Hoonage.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/KvqK-mWcrRc] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER18VuSq8Vo]

As much as I was giggling and holding the slide this would be dangerous on the public roads as they are not always smooth and there obstacles and traffic so the room to correct or recover from a slide is down to a bit of luck and driving ability.

The second MINI had the cheap imports upfront with contis on the back but this time the handling was the direct opposite with the massive under steer occurring with the only way to correct it was too slow right down to get it turn properly. It’s interesting to see how on these two tests how the continental tyre is doing its up most to keep you on the road while the import tyre is trying to kill anyway it can.

The last two MINI was fitted with either 4mm or 8mm continentals upfront and 8 or 4mm on the back. All I wanted to was it to get it lift off over steer and god how I tried but it refused me to even with a Scandinavian flick but the ESP kicked when I did that. The contis just gripped and gripped the harder I pushed with me literally falling on of the seat before I could reach the limits of grip.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/VCOxBXAKeAo]

After all this madness we went cold down in the white tent and they informed about the limits of grip and how continental develops it tyres – how the tread pattern and compounds make a difference. The clear advice from this test was not to buy cheap tyres and if you need to change only two tyres on your car make sure you put the new tyres on the back because in the event of you losing control of the vehicle you will be correct it more easily and your less likely to aquaplane.

If you compare 4mm continental tyre to 8mm import tyre on this test it clearly show how it still trying to keep you on the road while the import tyre is not even working when it’s at optimum thread. Therefore for the sake of £20-30 more per corner having better tyre is always best as it only thing that keeps you on the road.

Continentals crown jewel was up next, the award-winning AIBA (Automated Indoor Braking Analyser) which is the world’s first fully automated weather independent tyres testing facility. This was the only place where camera were not allowed given the technology in this room and we were the only people outside of continental who had ever been access to AIBA.

AIBA is housed in a hall which is 300 metres long and up to 30 metres wide. It allows fully automated unmanned testing all year around irrespective of weather with testing being able to done both in wet and dry road surfaces. The facility has the capacity to carry out 100,000 individual braking procedures on wet or dry interchangeable road surfaces at different temperatures hot or cold without human error for optimum precision.

I was astonished by how they could interchange the road surfaces at push of a button to a different road surfaces such as a poorly surfaced road or smooth autobahn service. If thought that was mind-blowing they accelerated the vehicles on high-tech roller coasters which can linearly accelerate anything from VW Golf to 3 tonne Truck from 0-100 Km/h (62mph) in 4 seconds.

I got a real insight into Continental during the first half of the day. This behind the scene look showed me how day in and day out continental tyres are doing everything to keep you on the road.

There is still more to come in the part 2 of my visit to the Contidrom and there is more things to come like High speed testing and shenanigans on track

Next Blog Post: Continental Brand Experience: The Contidrom Part 2

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The post Continental Brand Experience: The Contidrom Part 1 appeared first on JCW Adventures.

MINI MARCH

Ali Mir — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:47:23 +0000

The month of March is no ordinary month for MINI owners worldwide

WHY you ask because its MINI MARCH!!!

The fellow MINIac that is Andrew Singer started this MINI FEST of pictures being uploaded to Instragram this month of March

Thats 31 Days of PURE MINI MADNESS

Each day users upload MINI related pictures that are asked on the list of the MINI MARCH

Make sure you post up the hash tag of #MINIMARCH

If your a MINI Fan or owner join in the fun on Instagram

Mr Singer has been having some fun of his own recently having purchased a classic mini to make into the true Mr. Beanmobile

Its arrived just in time for Christmas : D

He didnt mess around and two weeks after taking delivery he began stripping her down for sanding and body work prep for the paint booth

The Force is STRONG with this one

Leaps and bounds were made in a few short weeks with it being fully painted

Time to add some wheels & rubber

This all being done for his my special needs son Jayden who along with his sister Dakota who are the biggest Mr. Bean fans ever.

Cant wait to see it all finished : )

There is still alot to come for March as my MINI Adventures will come into full effect with Surrey New MINI

But my 1st MINI Run of the year came not with SNM but Merseryside MINI & MINIs Unleashed

Here is a Sneek pic of things to come

Next Blog Post: Lohen Vs JCW Adventures

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MINI UNITED 2009: MINI’s 50th Anniversary

Ali Mir — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:04:56 +0000

Lets rewind a few years and reminiscence

Back to my Uni days where all the MINI Madness began

My Dad brought me my true first car

It was an REAL upgrade from my mum’s Honda Civic that I drove after I past my test

Lets say I wasn’t a good drive then with the only panel that was not dented was the roof once I was finished

My VTEC just kick in yoooo days were over!

I was handed the keys to my brand new Midnight Black R56 MINI One

There wasn’t much options on it and it had the 1.4L engine with 89 BHP

She sat on 16′ R94 Bridge Spokes and 0 to 60 came in at 10 seconds

Even thought she wasn’t the quickest, the handling was on another level and working the gears I was able to give a few quicker cars the slip on the bends

This is the car where I honed my driving skills and techniques like double clutching, rev matching down shifts and the ladies favourite hand brake turns

Forwarding a bit I just turned 20 and partied away night away with my uni friends

How I miss days where it was all partying and not having a care in the world

I found out that about something called MINI UNITED and that MINI would be celebrating its 50th Anniversary

This would be my 1st MINI Adventure and I don’t think I could have had a better start

I was sooo excited as it was it Silverstone and it would be my 1st track time & MINI event

I cleaned and waxed my MINI already for MINI UNITED

Before you all go mental about all the chrome – Chrome was COOL in 2009

At this time I hadn’t taken my MINI on the motorway or driven on the motorway for a great lengths so I was nervous about it all

Simon my close friend eased my through it all teaching me what I should be doing on the motorway

The closer we got to Silverstone the more excited i got with other MINIs flashing and horning as they drove past

I miss how back then when you saw another MINI they would flash & wave : (

We rolled up to the Silverstone gates and parked up to get our freebies

The 50th anniversary lanyard and bits where Uber cool making you feel that much more special for being there and owning a MINI

We jumped back into the car and drove over the hill at Silverstone to be greeted with sight of thousands of MINIs parked up from all over the world

I had never seen so many MINIs in my life

I parked up again and this time to the obligatory car and driver shot for memories sake

We walked around look at all the MINIs that come down

I was shocked to see so many foreign MINI with cars from France, Spain, Russia, Poland, Germany

We carried on walking spotting out Foreign MINIs and custom work they had done to them with the paint work

I saw this MINI GP with a Matt Black Body & Carbon Fibre roof wrap with Lime green viper stripes – Still not sure to this day whether it looked good or not

We came across this stage in the main area where MINIs would drive up and the owner would talk about their MINI & their story

There were two ladies from Russia who drove down and it took them a week and over 3,000km!!

Little did I know I would meet them again at MINI UNITED 2012

As it was MINI’s birthday!! It wouldn’t be right not to write it a little message

There was plently to with all with the MINI Merchandise shops and MINI Clubs to join

You could pull a MINI if you fancied

I was more of relaxed with the DJ playing some good sets

Back then one of past times was to DJ so I had to get a shot with DJ stand

There was one tent at MINI UNITED which drew my attention the most

I didn’t know that MINI did a one make racing series and it was amazing that you could walk around this area and look at all mechanics working on the cars

Never seen people move so fast working on car and they were all happy to talk to you as well

This got me all excited and I wanted a JCW – This was the day the saving pot for my JCW began

I was told you could race your MINI on the track which I jumped at it

After a safety briefing detailing over view of the track, racing line and safety we headed down to the track

My MINI was a little overpowered by the opposition

Simon didn’t come with me the first go around as he was a bit dubious of my driving but took some shots as I went around

The 2nd time around simon came around with and guided me on how to drive fast on the track. He had some track time before and had his fair share of fast cars ranging from fast fords to V12 jags

We managed to keep up with the coopers and you should have seen the grin on my face

This is the day Simon appointed the nickname of Rally Ali to me

After the R56 & I cooled down we headed back to look around the collection of MINIs on show

The Monte Carlo winning rally MINI was there with the MINI Challenge race car

Mr Beans & Paul Smith mini were present

But I loved this Girlie Cop Clubman

I had a fantastic day out and couldn’t wait till the next MINI UNITED

Still remember this event like yesterday and it always brings back many smiles & smerks

Early 2013 I bumped in my 1st Car & MINI : D

Still miss that MINI

I know a few of you went to MINI UNITED 2009 – Why not share your memories in the comments

Next Blog Post: MINI MARCH

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The post MINI UNITED 2009: MINI’s 50th Anniversary appeared first on JCW Adventures.