A Mini Road Trip Nov 13, 2006
HSR was at Daytona International Speedway this weekend, so we figured we’d drive the Mini to the track--a mini road trip, if you will. Okay, so really the track is only about 15 minutes from our offices, but it was still fun to tool around the paddock in the Mini. Afterward, we stopped at Chick-Fil-A, where people seemed to dig the little car.
Mini-lovin' Apr 10, 2007
The Mini got lots of attention today. It got a bath, it took us to dinner, and it was driven all over town. It now also sports a super-cool “safety drive” sign that we got while on a recent trip to Japan.
It got on the cover of an issue, too. Cool, huh? The Mini has also been making some appearances over at CarDomain.com.
More Mini Wheels Nov 28, 2007
Our editor has a thing for wheels. Just does. There's no real valid explanation. A week ago a reader, Burt Richmond, asked if we knew anyone who wanted his old Innocenti 1001 wheels. He didn't have to ask twice.
Getting a Carl Heideman Tune-Up Jan 24, 2008
Carl Heideman came to visit us earlier this week, and while here he took a look at the Mini. The good news: He proclaimed it a good, solid car. A compression test yielded more good news as all four cylinders were between 155 and 170 psi.
He didn't like our engine's mid-range flatspot, though, so he worked to cure it. Our distributor exhibited no obvious problems and the vacuum advance tested okay, so he simply installed a Pertronix Ignitor and fresh NGK plugs. He then set the ignition timing to 20 degrees of advance at idle along with 33 degrees of total advance. We started the day with 15 degrees at idle and 28 degrees total. The car seemed much happier.
He then checked out our carbs. He found no leaks around the throttle shafts, the chokes were operating correctly, and both carbs were in synch. After a test drive, he richened the carbs just a tad for better tip-in performance. Now that the car is just a bit nicer to drive, it has come to the office a few times this week.
After leaving, Carl helped us write up a shopping list. Our upper radiator hose is looking a little tired, and some of the fuel lines should be replaced. While we're placing that order, we'll also get a new valve cover gasket. That should help keep things clean under the hood.
Let's Motor Feb 11, 2008
Now that the Mini is singing like a champ, it got plenty of fresh air last weekend. It visited several parks, went for a drive through the woods, and even took a run up I-95. Not one issue cropped up.
The car was also photographed about 400 times for an upcoming feature on using classics as daily drivers. Look for this story in Issue 132 of Classic Motorsports.
In other news, our Mini parts arrived this week. We now have a period-correct shift knob, correct window cranks, new upper radiator hose, and some assorted seals and gaskets. The puppy did not come from Mini Mania.