Hi MINI Pilots

Come August, a number of clubMINI members are going to be taking their MINIs to the snow. :D :D

Now that interest is growing, clubMINI is proposing a extra special run for August.

If you have never skiied before, Perisher Blue is the best place to learn. Our accommodation is so close to the lifts, it's scary, with the beginner's runs outside your door. For the experienced, you have the largest linked skiable area in the southern hemisphere, with a great balance of green, blue and black runs.

For those who ski like they drive their MINIs, there are also a number of double blacks thrown in for the fun of it. :D :D

If you are interested in joining this MINI convoy down through Canberra and up into Kosciusko National Park, PM me.

There has been some interest from a couple of Sydney MINI pilots to also join in. What the heck, if you own a MINI, live in Oz and want to join in, PM me and I'll try and find you a room as well.

Brief details are as follows:

5 nights on-snow accommodation at Perisher Blue with car parking.
Sunday 1 August 2004 - Friday 6 August 2004

Studio apartment with cooking facilities $995 p.p. twin share (or purchase a meal package, if you don't want to cook)
Hotel room with Breakfasts and Dinners $1055 p.p. twin share

Each room has a queen bed and a single, so there is always an option of a third person at a slightly cheaper rate.

Open lift passes are $358 for 5 and a half days
Open lift and lesson passes $455
First Timers lift and lesson passes $340

For info on child care, ski hire etc, visit www.perisherblue.com.au (http://www.perisherblue.com.au/)

For infor on the accommodation, visit www.smiggins.com.au (http://www.smiggins.com.au/)

A deposit of $995 for the Studio Apartment or $1055 for the Hotel will be required to hold you a room.

Hope you can join us.

Well both M1n130 and myself are in :) We are both taking the wives and kids too. I hope there is a studio left when we get back from skiing :eek: :eek: ;)

So has anyone experienced the effect of snowchains on MINI rims?

I'm interested but its early days yet.

So has anyone experienced the effect of snowchains on MINI rims?

I'm interested but its early days yet.
Ken has all the info on that.

Unfortunately we must take Kelvin to the snow to fit all the kiddy-kit in :eek: ;)

So has anyone experienced the effect of snowchains on MINI rims?

I'm interested but its early days yet.
Even on the 195/55 16s with the slimmest chains I could get last year, the chains took the paint of the struts. No damage to the wheels or tyres.

I have a call into RUD snow chains. They have a new style out that doesn't go around the back of the tyre.

They can be fitted to 195/55 16s and 205/45 17s at least. The only problem is the requirement that there be a minimum 30mm inside diameter "hole"on alloys where the head of the stud sits. (Not the hole where the stud goes through the wheel to the rotor, but the indent which the head of the stud sits in.)

My OEM 5 spokes have the room, but my 17s are aftermarket and only have 22mm. I am guessing at the moment, but since the OEM 16s appear to have a deliberate 30mm, then the 17s might too. I'll have to have a look at swamos's on Thursday night.

Other option to driving the MINI to the accommodation is to leave it at the car park at Bullocks flat and catch the SkiTube up. I used to leave my car there some years back without any trouble.

Anyway, I still have a couple of rooms that are being held for another week, before I have to let them go.

Even if it is not with this group, you'd better make a decision quickly if you want to stay on-snow. Once Easter comes you are unlikely to find any on-snow rooms during the peak snow season.

Hopefully, I will have a new job by then and will see you there.

I just had to post something so the tassie run was not on top of the list for a while, after 10 months of "book now!" I can't take it anymore!!! :D :D :D

Have fun in the snow guys :)

Hi MINI skiers,

The snow and holiday show is on in Brisbane this weekend. This is usually the weekend where all the peak season rooms tend to be booked out.

I rang Smiggins Hotel and Chalet Apartments today. They have 2 rooms left for the week starting 1 August.

Anyone who has been undecided, this may be your last definite opportunity. From then on, they will call me if they have any cancellations, but won't hold rooms without deposits.

Hope you can join us.

Come on you lot, surely someone else is keen ?? :confused:

It's going to be a blast :)

Hi MINI skiers,

The snow and holiday show is on in Brisbane this weekend. This is usually the weekend where all the peak season rooms tend to be booked out.

I rang Smiggins Hotel and Chalet Apartments today. They have 2 rooms left for the week starting 1 August.

Anyone who has been undecided, this may be your last definite opportunity. From then on, they will call me if they have any cancellations, but won't hold rooms without deposits.

Hope you can join us.

Hi,

Miracles do happen ;)

I have actually managed to arrange a week off work :D :D

I will PM you KenHenry, with details but count us in ;)

Robbo

So has anyone experienced the effect of snowchains on MINI rims? Just realised there may be another option for the chains. I noticed in the latest GO MINI mag, an ad for billet alloy spacers with a machined spigot ring to suit the OEM wheels.

These were available in 10, 15 and 23mm thicknesses, from memory, and reasonably priced. I think even the 10mm spacers would provide sufficient clearance for ordinary ladder chains, but I will have to follow that up.

I wouldn't drive from Bris to the snow with the spacers fitted, but would have no hesitation fitting them in Canberra, Cooma or Jindabyne, just in case NPWS requires the chains to be fitted.

I always hire my chains from BP Jindabyne.

I am still waiting on RUD regarding their new chain style. Since I drive down every year, I'd probably end up buying a set.

http://www.rud.de/de/01_schneeketten/01.01_schneeketten/01.01.01_produkte/images/p_centrax_p.jpg (http://www.rud.de/en/01_schneeketten/01.01_schneeketten/01.01.01_produkte/c_left.php?category=1&product=1)

BTW, the Mont Blanc MINI roof racks are now available in Australia. I know Autobarn in Bris sells them. Removable and no holes to drill.

http://www.skidrive.co.uk/images/catalogue/bars/newmini1.jpg

Hi,

Miracles do happen ;)

I have actually managed to arrange a week off work :D :D

I will PM you KenHenry, with details but count us in ;)

Robbo
Robbo,

Really great to have you on board.

Robbo,

Really great to have you on board.
:cool: :cool:

Hi,

I spoke to the people at Smigs today and have confirmed my booking :)

I dont think my suspension set up with coil-overs, lowered and stiffened suspension, huge amounts of negative camber was optimised for driving in snow :eek:

Cheers

Robbo

This snow chain thing is frustrating. I wanted to buy my set. I have been through this exercise with other mini2 users last year. In the end I took the 4WD up the snow.

I have called a number of snow chain suppliers in Victoria. Not much help. I even found the model number (which is 155-46) for the RUD Centrax to fit the 17" on the mini. It sounded like they did not want to sell it to me. They said its for Europe and the have special snow tyres and should not be fitted to our tyres in Australia.

Well do for finding someone that stocks the Mont Blanc roof racks in Australia. Again I have been looking for them in Australia.

ShermanM

I have called a number of snow chain suppliers in Victoria. Not much help. I even found the model number (which is 155-46) for the RUD Centrax to fit the 17" on the mini. It sounded like they did not want to sell it to me. They said its for Europe and the have special snow tyres and should not be fitted to our tyres in Australia.
Stuart at RUD Australia had no problems, and advised me it would take about 2 weeks after ordering. I am not at home so can't access his email. PM me and I'll send you his email address.

I spoke to the people at Smigs today and have confirmed my booking :)
Great news.

I dont think my suspension set up with coil-overs, lowered and stiffened suspension, huge amounts of negative camber was optimised for driving in snow :eek:

If you have no choice, you've got it easy - take the M3. I've got to take the track tyres off the 16s, so the run-flats can go back on, so the chains will fit. Then put the track tyres back on the rims when I get home and rebalance. I hope I can last 3 more sprint days before having to flip my tyres left to right on the rims.

Anyway, looks like I might be the only MINI in the carpark on the MINI snow trip :) . There's no way Black Betty's supercharger is going to miss out on that alpine air.

Great news.



If you have no choice, you've got it easy - take the M3. I've got to take the track tyres off the 16s, so the run-flats can go back on, so the chains will fit. Then put the track tyres back on the rims when I get home and rebalance. I hope I can last 3 more sprint days before having to flip my tyres left to right on the rims.

Anyway, looks like I might be the only MINI in the carpark on the MINI snow trip :) . There's no way Black Betty's supercharger is going to miss out on that alpine air.

Hi,

Yeah, the M3 19 inch chromed rims would go really well with chains :eek: 252kw of rear wheel drive mayhem in the snow :cool:

Only one problem, I Sold the M3 about a month ago :eek: :eek: :( Long story.

Realistically, I doubt I can take the mini down, especially if Maxine is coming. 3 people + skis and ski gear into a mini doesn't fit :) We will probably take the 4WD.

As far as your wheels go, if you want to save the hassle of changing tyres, you could drive down to Sydney on your 17's, and change them for my 16's in Sydney, and take those down the snow, and then change back on the way home ;) My rims are pretty trashed anyway from the brake dust from the track pads, so it doesn't bother me. We have to see at least one mini down there :D

Cheers

Robbo

As far as your wheels go, if you want to save the hassle of changing tyres, you could drive down to Sydney on your 17's, and change them for my 16's in Sydney, and take those down the snow, and then change back on the way home ;) My rims are pretty trashed anyway from the brake dust from the track pads, so it doesn't bother me. We have to see at least one mini down there :D

Cheers

Robbo
Robbo,

Thanks, I may just take you up on that fantastic offer.

I will wait though and see how my track tyres go.

There are no sprints in June, only April, May and July. With only 3 sets of 5 laps for each month and a shorter circuit than your's, I might get away with only having to flip the tyres on the rims after the July meet. If so, I might just get the runflats fitted for the trip and have the track tyres re-fitted when I get back, for the late August sprint.

The runflats only have 3000km on them. I finished running the car in on them on last years ski trip. The only reason I kept them was for the snow trips and if I don't use them they'll just go hard.

If they need to be flipped before then, I would greatly appreciate your offer.:)

Cheers

Ken

Is anyone else coming to this?? Is there any chance that you could still get accomodation even if you wanted to come.

It's sad for everyone else, but i reckon we're going to have a ball :) :D :D

Is anyone else coming to this?? Is there any chance that you could still get accomodation even if you wanted to come.

It's sad for everyone else, but i reckon we're going to have a ball :) :D :D


Hi,

Come on fellow mini2ers, come along and join us on the ski trip We are going to have a great time :D

By the way Swamos, you better be on your toes, with regards to mini knowledge. My daughter, Katie, is a mini freak, and knows more about minis than most sensible people on the planet. The fellow participants from TasMinia can attest to her knowledge for all things mini ;) By the way, she will out-ski us as well :(

Robbo

Hi,

Come on fellow mini2ers, come along and join us on the ski trip We are going to have a great time :D

By the way Swamos, you better be on your toes, with regards to mini knowledge. My daughter, Katie, is a mini freak, and knows more about minis than most sensible people on the planet. The fellow participants from TasMinia can attest to her knowledge for all things mini ;) By the way, she will out-ski us as well :(

Robbo
I am really looking forward to meeting you and your family. :) I think everyone is going to have a great time. I have visions now of Charlize and Lucy tearing the ski lodge apart. It may actually be safest to be outdoors :eek: I don't doubt that most people are better skiers than I am. I do have more kinetic energy than most of them though, so they better get the hell out of the way :eek: :eek:

Does your wife ski??

I am really looking forward to meeting you and your family. :) I think everyone is going to have a great time. I have visions now of Charlize and Lucy tearing the ski lodge apart. It may actually be safest to be outdoors :eek: I don't doubt that most people are better skiers than I am. I do have more kinetic energy than most of them though, so they better get the hell out of the way :eek: :eek:

Does your wife ski??

Hi,

My wife (Maxine) does ski, but at a very gentle pace ;)

Robbo

Is anyone else coming to this?? Is there any chance that you could still get accomodation even if you wanted to come.
Sorry folks, been out of action for a while.

Earlier posts have Smiggins Hotel details. If there is interest, give them a call. If no luck directly with the hotel, PM me, and I will see what I can wrangle.

Cheers.

Hi,

Whoohooo :D

There is lots of snow for this time of the year ;)

Keep dumping :D

Robbo

Robbo,

Yep, looking like a great season.

If you know anyone else that wants to share a room, the situation has arisen where I have now got a room to myself. I will be passing through Sydney on the way, if someone wants to join in.

Hi Folks,

All reports so far are indicating the best Aussie snow season in 25 years.

I just got a call from Smiggins Hotel. They advised they have just had a cancellation for 3 rooms in the Hotel.

If there are any late starters that want to join Swamos, M1N130, Robbo MCS and myself, just contact the hotel. The link is in the first post.

BTW, here are the first pics of the Aussie Mont Blanc Mini roof rack with the soon to be released "Aero Bars", instead of the noisier square section bars.

These are cool, no holes, 5minutes to take off and 10 to put back on again.

It looks as though we may be going in tht MINI too :eek: :eek: :)

Snow skiing in Australia? Is that for real? What an oxymoron.

Oxymorons ?

No that's what we call bullish Brits that can't figure out that Australia has snow fields. :D

In fact, Australia's skiiable terrain is greater in area than that of the Swiss Alps.

Oxymorons ?

No that's what we call bullish Brits that can't figure out that Australia has snow fields. :D

In fact, Australia's skiiable terrain is greater in area than that of the Swiss Alps.
I never knew that, I could understand having snow high up the mountains....Interesting, I might have to go to Australia to go skiing. :D