none of the above since it's a verb not an adjective

In the mother country, it is a noun from the North...kinda like our clod. N.B. I did not succomb to the obvious there as I am taking nice pills for 10 days.

On a semi-serious note, does anyone think that we strayed from acceptable driving behaviour on Saturday...terrorizing residential areas and such? I think we did well but would like to hear other's comments. Any other coments are certainly welcome. You can hold the one's re a planned lunch time as that was pretty obviously a weak point. We learn by doing.

On a semi-serious note, does anyone think that we strayed from acceptable driving behaviour on Saturday...terrorizing residential areas and such? I think we did well but would like to hear other's comments

I think it was a hair fast. But then, I always seemed to be near some of the more spirited drivers (CapeCodMIN, for instance - I don't think he will shy away from admiting he is a spirited driver). I think getting those who want to slow way down before some curves to get some space, then go flat out for 30 seconds at the back of the pack would have made a world of difference.

I'm not really complaining too much, as I enjoy driving quickly. But I did have a few "moments" where my worn tires were getting close to their limits... something that shouldn't happen if you are driving a MINI with "acceptable driving behaviour" :)

I'm undecided on the "blocking the road so we can all make a left turn" move. I think I'd rather make the left turns "legally" and then regroup just after the turn, a coordinated group move from the shoulder to the travel lane is less obnoxious than blocking a road and blowing through a stop / yield / whatever.

I did try to get to the back of the pack, I think a mention for those who want to lag and catch up from time to time at the pre-drive meeting would be helpful in the future ... peoples first reactions usually lead them to beleive fast in front but in these cases I think fast in back works better.
As for blocking I like it, yes technically it is illegal but it is safer then people trying to squeeze in front of non MINI's to stay with the pack (it hapens). Pulling over sounds nice but it can ruin the flow very quickly and has made some run's I've done in the past not as fun as they could have been.

I think the blocking is an acceptable and safe way to go. It may seem a bit obnoxious but it's not uncommon.
I didn't think the speeds were excessive. While I'm guilty of preferring spirited driving I try to maintain a balance and not do it in the residential areas.
It seems my name has come up regarding "spirited driving". If anyone feels I was driving inappropriately at times or behaving differently than at least 30% of our group please contact me in a private forum to discuss or flame me. I know there were at least 5 of us who were thoroughly enjoying being at the back of the pack and waiting for some running room in the twisties.

Regarding the event planning: no complaints from me. I think you all did a super job.

I didn't think the speeds were excessive. While I'm guilty of preferring spirited driving I try to maintain a balance and not do it in the residential areas.

Appologies if I made it sound like I was saying you were driving in a spirited manner in residential areas. That was not my intent. I singled you out because A) I was driving within a car or two of you for most of the day and B) I figured you would not be bothered by my mentioning you by name... your personality, as I know it, makes me think you wouldn't be bothered.

As I said, I enjoyed driving at the pace we did... so I'm as much to blame as CCM if others weren't happy with the pace.

I think the drive went very well ... I was particularly impressed with the first section, when I was towards the back of the pack, and could see how well it was being led to make sure the pack stayed together.

For the first section I was a couple of cars behind GOMINI and watched amused as that car seemed to stall out on a number of tight turns, only to be recovered at the last moment ;)
For the later sections, I moved up nearer the front of the pack.

There really were not many truly residential areas anyway, and I did not notice driving too fast at any time ... this is a problem I am aware of for a drive around Cape Ann, due to the very many people that live down here.

GMINI03 - I think your suggestion is best. I remember reading the heated discussion on MINI2 a while back, about how to do drives, and one clear pointer was that cars at the back need to drive more spiritedly than cars at the front.
If this is explained before the start, people can choose their starting point.

John, Rick - your planning, route and leadership of the pack was perfect ... and I loved your local scenery.
May MAMA welcome us all with open arms again soon.

HMMM..Mud didn't have any spirits before I drove, maybe a necessity next time. IMHO I believe the trip went well, as we traveled from Port. NH to Manchester with 3, then 5 cars it is much easier to stay together. Once you get in the 10-20 range it is quite clear that staying together in an area where only 1 or 2 are familiar is a tough task. The "blocking" is somewhat from respect to the group trying to stay together. We have done this for years with motorcycles and even in the USAF crossing roads. At that time is was "One on my left, one on my right, 2 road guards post". Every where where I "Posted" I saw signs from the drivers waiting with smiles, not one got agitated and even they waved. I think that the car in front and one in the back that knew the area was a great idea.....as it showed at the end when 3 of us got lost beind a couple of doofus truck drivers. As far as the back it was enjoyable even in front of Steve. I knew exactly what he was doing and I did the same. In the middle of towns no one was driving erratic out of respect for the town folk.

My thoughts only and my wife didn't ***** about any of it. Thats a great thing:)

Pin, what are you geting for a Sunroof cover? I hope not my idea we talked about. I am thing of ordering another one....just kiddin

you miss smoothing the wrinkles already Mud?

Pin - you still planning on doing the aux lights? PM me if you want a hand with install I'll drive up one weekend when you're ready

My initial hope was to use three MAMA members familiar with the area to do the route planning. That we we could have used one leader, one follower, and one in the middle of the pack to help regulate speeds. As things unrolled John and I were the only ones available to drive the preliminary route. Next time we might want to consider breaking up into two smaller groups based on desired driving style.

Anyway the event is over now...so on to future planning. Any ideas for a (shudder) winter run and/or get together for our group??

MudBud, GMINI03,

Hey guys,

I ordered an EB/WH small check with a large red "S". Laurie my design assistant LOL, liked Mud's Flag and we decided to make something different.

The aux lights will be my Christmas present (Don't say anything, even though I have to order them it's supposed to be a surprise.) I am planning to do them in January when Indy is tucked away for the winter. Gmini03, thanks for the generous offer.

Pin

We learn by doing.

Each event gets better.....Less folks get lost, irritated at others driving...more people go away feeling good about the day....

As someone who also enjoys a bit of spirited driving, yes I too was right behind CCM (with no pulley or intake :D :D :D ) The idea of "our kind" being in the back of the pack is a good one.....

It seems each time there is a "drive" new ideas surface that can be used to make the next drive even more enjoyable for everyone. There was a thread about driving way back....Is there a place to post ideas that have worked for those newbies organizing an event?

Ian, where was that other discussion?
GMINI, any ideas where this could be put?

No complaints about the route or the overall speed.Lunch stop could have been better planned however. We started out at 7:30a.m. and our tummies were growling.No problem with the speed on the twisties,as long as the car in front didn't wipe out I knew I could make it.

Ian, where was that other discussion?
This was discussed here in the NE forum a while back:
rally etiquette (http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36983)

There are other threads that pop up regulary discussing similar subjects - generally a thread starts because someone on a drive/rally was upset by the speeds:
Bad rally etiquette (http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26156)

I can't find the original thread that I read and linked to - it might have been removed due to "excessive" discussion.


I hope we don't have to split into groups to drive around ... is there anyone that was actually troubled by the weekend speeds? I always expected that it would be *me* that was the softest in that regard :confused:


PS:
Keith - did you get my email reply about Blogger? I was not sure if the attbi addresses still worked ...

I think getting those who want to slow way down before some curves to get some space, then go flat out for 30 seconds at the back of the pack would have made a world of difference.




I thought we were at the back of the pack. Should I apologize?

I tried to stay at the back but a few times road blockers and missed turns people ended up behind me

Ice,
No apologies needed from you in my opinion :)
When you were #2 in front of me, you were a perfect driver (as I mentioned to you) ... then later you went to the back of the pack where presumably you had fun?

When MAMA does its next event, we will all know where we want to drive - front, back, not behind GOMINI ;) ...

I think next time if this is brought up during the driver's meeting and everyone is aksed where they wanna be/how they plan to drive everyone will know when to get in line also. The tendancy for most, myself included is faster out of the arking lot the better but if we know who needs to be where we can get everyone in order right from the start

ARGH! I take it all back! :) I've been told by friends that I have some sort of a "lack of confidence" problem that is really more like an "always worrying what other people are thinking" problem. I guess this is just a manifestation of that.

Nevermind.

LOL Jason, I don't think it is just you.....meeting new people for the first time and how they will react is what a lot of people think of.....as some know me for only a short period of time, I am me and ya can't change that so have fun with life and be safe while doing it. Are you coming to teh Peabody run if we have it?

Yeah well. I'm NOT me. And that's not any easier.

LOL G...go SOX.....4-0 Top of 4th

Happy Retirement Clemens what a perfect note to go out on if the Sox hold on to win :D

I'm not watching anymore. It saddnes me to see the yankees down.

Glad I'm not a gambler.

LOL G...go SOX.....4-0 Top of 4th
Tension ... ... ...

someone mentioned earlier road rules and such ... heres the link http://www.mini2.com/forum/announcement.php?f=582

Are you coming to teh Peabody run if we have it?

More than likely.

And, maybe I don't take back all the comments I made... A request was made for people to post how they felt about the driving habits during the day, and I did... or, at least, something close to what I thought, maybe tinged a little to the conservative side assuming there would be someone more conservative than I, and that person would not respond to the request for whatever reason.

It's like this: I (the real me, not the person more conservative than me) do think we went a little quick at times (away from residential areas) - the thought "Gee, this is faster than I would drive this stretch of road by myself" would run through my head. Quickly followed by "Gee, this is fun!"

In "residential" areas (defined by me as places where the posted speed limit drops), I did find myself going over my personal "speed limit + 5mph" rule, but that may have been due to the "accordian" effect of group driving. I did follow my personal speed rule through one slow speed limit section, I think it was a 25mph school zone, and found I was losing ground on the pack. Yes, it was Saturday, so the school zone was "iffy". But, that's my habit (speed limit + 5mph in slow areas) and getting into the habit of ignoring that rule would be BAD for me. Trying to figure out what day it is to see if I can speed or not is dumb. Sorry for getting close to a PSA for a bit.

The next day, I found myself driving local (to me) roads faster than normal. Once I realized that, I slowed down to my usual speeds. So, that sure sounds to me like the speeds we were travelling (or, I guess I should say, I was travelling) were too fast during the organized meet. But, I'd probably go that fast again in a similar situation.

Not a very definitive answer, I know. But, what do you expect at 1:00am?

Hopefully, no one will take offense at this post...

all points of view are worthy of respect, Jason. We're all different and we all like to drive different.
My way of thinking is in the more populated residential areas to respect whatever the leader is doing, generally speaking the leader is the one who knows the area best and should have an idea what is right and safe for that area.
The only thing I was disappointed in through out the drive was lack of us of the radios. I dunno if not many people had them at this meet or not or what the deal was but in past meets we've used the radios to relay info from one end of the pack to the other. Things like 'slow down populated area ahead' or 'pedestrian on left ahead becareful' or especially on narrow roads where people tend to use the 'center' lane 'caution truck heading your way'. There was a few times I was surprised by things that normally doesn't happen. The radio can also be used if one(or more) member(s) in the group get lost, miss a turn, get stuck behind traffic or feels we need to slow down. For those uncomfortable holding the radio and driving I've found clipping it on the seatbelt and letting it rest on my shoulder works (ala policeman style).

Gene

The only thing I was disappointed in through out the drive was lack of us of the radios.... For those uncomfortable holding the radio and driving I've found clipping it on the seatbelt and letting it rest on my shoulder works (ala policeman style).
Gene

I had my radio and so did a few others. We agreed on channel 5, but I could never pick anyone up--- nothing, but static....we didn't test them in the parking lot though which is a good idea.

Gene, thanks for the tip about using the seat belt for a radio holder--I've held mine while gripping the steering wheel--which is certainly less safer and than the seatbelt...

It's important in a driving habits discussion to remember that it is just that---a discussion---and as we learn more about all this and each one will get better....The problem is that enough time passes and we forget all the good ideas that came about after a discussion of the last one....think I'm going to keep a list on my desktop and jot down ideas from runs to read through for the next time....

Hey, when is this MINI Peabody event? Can I come? Events are posted there and nowhere else to keep numbers down from what I've heard.....

We attempted using ours but do the nature of the terrain
it was more or less useless. Heard a few messages and
transmitted quite a few times but for the most part all we
got back were garbled replies or static. Knew this would
probably be the case beforehand based on information
from others in the area but thought it would be worth a shot.

Handheld CB's might be a consideration for the next time
although they would probably be limited to line-of-sight
due to the nature of solar activity that has prevailed for
the past few years.

(or how about a mile of string and two dozen Dixie Cups :D)