[velveteen_mini]

I am assuming that Faster, Tobias did not make the show because he was glued to the hotel room TV watching England and Portugal play soccer.

Mom's MINI thinks he may have blasted by her on the Coq on the way home. He was planning to come back with my group but we never saw him. We know he was headed to Victoria.

The show was good. We had a showing of 6 new MINIs and 2 original MINIs plus one teeny weeny Mini. I hope they hold it again next year. The future of the show is in doubt but, once they regroup from the tragic loss of Gerry Hastings, we hope they decide to continue, even if on a bi-annual basis. Gerry Hastings Memorial Rally in the Valley?

[faster,Tobias!]

After receiving a call today from SYZMTRS I thought I had better stop by an internet cafe and check in. Thanks for the concern, but reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated !! Kathy, you nailed it; I was stuck in front of the telly watching that 'orrible match, which went far longer than it should have. So when it was all over at about 10.45 I thought it would be too late to get the car in the show, so I went and had breakfast. I did attend the dinner that night, but you were all absent - I can't remember which of the MINI's won the show, though the Quicksilver one placed third. And I did attend the autocross the next day, placing first in the 'modified' class (ok, there was only BLKDINAN & myself in the modified class)
And yes, I passed Mom's Mini on the road and I slowed down and waved, but she must have been concentrating on driving.
Cheers.
p.s MINI drivers in VIctoria do not wave!!

[krishelle999]

Okay Tobias - your MINI made you do it!

Here are some pics from the RITV. My first time playing with the gallery - so hope this works.

http://www.mini2.com/galleries/showg...=1823&ppuser=0

[velveteen_mini]

The pictures turned out well .

From what I heard, Jim and BlkDinan placed first, I placed 2nd and now I hear Quicksilver placed third. I am waiting to see the official results on their website.

Sorry you missed the show for a soccer loss. Wish you had dropped by anyway but I guess your stomach was growling Congratulations on the autocross win.

Vancouver drivers are hit and miss for waving too. It used to be better before MINI aimed at the mass market. Now there are a lot of "just commuter" cars out there with people who think we're insane for liking our cars this much.

[TouringComet]

Quote: Originally Posted by velveteen_mini

I hope they hold it again next year. The future of the show is in doubt but, once they regroup from the tragic loss of Gerry Hastings, we hope they decide to continue, even if on a bi-annual basis. Gerry Hastings Memorial Rally in the Valley?

I think that would be wonderful.

[beken]

Wow! He's alive! Glad to know you made it. You're right. Victoria drivers do not wave much. I'm wondering if there are any Victoria drivers on MINI2. Anyways, I'll be fighting the ferry line-ups early next month as I'm going camping on the island.

I would have liked to have met you, Faster Tobias.

OH...I paid my speeding ticket fine today. I got lasered doing 141km about 20 minutes outside of Merritt on my way home. There goes the track day tuition. But I can't complain. It's the first time I really wound up my MCS and just let er rip. Only to have a 300C blow by me. I was doing about 160km/h at the time. At least they got the big Chrysler also.

Attached is a view of the highway about 1/2 hr before I got nailed.

[BLKDINAN]

BLKDINAN and I made it all the way to Portland and back without a speeding ticket. I had heard that the only revenue generation in the small towns is via the Sherrif's Department so I heeded the warning. I went to Rasmussen MINI in Portland and was really impressed with the dealership and high quality MINI publications. They have a 1967 Mini Cooper S in mint condition in the showroom. I was able to pick up a centre tray, trunk saddle bag, glove box organizer and a new mug - no sales tax in Oregon which is very nice! See you on the next drive.

[xtremepsionic]

I couldn't make it to the MINI meet at Penticton due to schedule conflict, but I did make it down to Penticton a couple days later and had my own "Rally in the Valley"

http://www.mini2.com/forum/general-d...ml#post2527649

Actually its better than that, I had a twsties filled 5 day road trip alone to BC!



It was so much fun I'm really considering just moving to BC so I could drive on those roads more often.

[MRC2K6]

Let me be the first to congratulate you xtreme. Your trip sounded great, but your story writing is even better. Hilarious ... and great pics too

[velveteen_mini]

Well done! Sounds like you had a great time. Maybe if you can do it again next year, you can meet up with us at Rally in the Valley in Kelowna.

What camera are you using? I'm assuming it's digital? (I'm in the market for a digital SLR)
Your pictures were great.

[xtremepsionic]

Quote: Originally Posted by velveteen_mini

Well done! Sounds like you had a great time. Maybe if you can do it again next year, you can meet up with us at Rally in the Valley in Kelowna.

What camera are you using? I'm assuming it's digital? (I'm in the market for a digital SLR)
Your pictures were great.

Oh it wasn't the camera at all, I'm just a genius Just kidding. The camera was a Canon D60, I used 3 different lenses, sigma 17-35mm, Canon 28-135 IS, Canon 70-300mm IS

The trip was just awesome, I'm glad I didn't meet any cops on some of those mountain roads though, they wouldn't have liked the speed as much as I did.

[beken]

Quote: Originally Posted by xtremepsionic

I'm glad I didn't meet any cops on some of those mountain roads though, they wouldn't have liked the speed as much as I did.

I know what you mean. But on the same weekend you were there, I got a ticket that cost me $170 for doing 141KM just outside of Merritt. I was doing over 160km earlier so $170 for some wide open throttle track time (once only) was worth it.

I was going the other way....I don't think we passed each other but I certainly would have waved at you if we did.

[xtremepsionic]

Quote: Originally Posted by beken

I know what you mean. But on the same weekend you were there, I got a ticket that cost me $170 for doing 141KM just outside of Merritt. I was doing over 160km earlier so $170 for some wide open throttle track time (once only) was worth it.

I was going the other way....I don't think we passed each other but I certainly would have waved at you if we did.

You were on 97C going the other way into Merrit I take it? I did my top speed runs from Ashcroft to Merrit, so not on the same stretch of highway, but its not like I slowed down a whole lot from Merrit to Penticton either.

[Mr Grean]

Quote: Originally Posted by beken

I know what you mean. But on the same weekend you were there, I got a ticket that cost me $170 for doing 141KM just outside of Merritt. I was doing over 160km earlier so $170 for some wide open throttle track time (once only) was worth it.

I was going the other way....I don't think we passed each other but I certainly would have waved at you if we did.

I don't see how you got a ticket that price...should have been either $138 for 1-20 kms over, $196 for 21-40 kms, $368 for 41-60 kms and $483 for + 61k. DON'T ask me how I know the prices!!!

[beken]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mr Grean

I don't see how you got a ticket that price...should have been either $138 for 1-20 kms over, $196 for 21-40 kms, $368 for 41-60 kms and $483 for + 61k. DON'T ask me how I know the prices!!!

You get $25 off if you pay it within 30 days and not try to fight it.

[Mom's Mini]

Sorry, faster, Tobias. I was too busy chatting with my girlfriend and didn't see you until I saw your back end. I'm normally a 'waver'

I had such a good time in Penticton and enjoyed meeting more Mini owners. Hope they have the event next year as it would be nice to return to the Okanagon.

[faster,Tobias!]

If I ever get my internet up and running at home (just moved) maybe I'll post an account of my 10 day trip a la Xtreme. It would be a lot less pictorial, as my teenaged son, the photographer, had a penchant for falling asleep. It must be an hormonal thing, because everytime he became motionless his eyes would close. And the rare time he was in the car and awake in true young man fashion he had no penchant for pretty pink sunsets and rocky vistas. On the plus side I have lots of pictures of cars from the RITV.
Excellent work there, Xtreme. If ever you become a communist revolutionary perhaps you could publish 'The Mini Diaries' Tobias logged a total of 3,552 km, taking me through the Crowsnest to Creston, up that same marvellous road that Xtreme chronicled, to the ferry, onto Penticton via Nelson - Castlegar - Midway - Osoyoos and the Rally In The Valley. I had a fun time there, and it was great to meet all of you and put some faces to the names, and I even found my fiery demise to be a source of amusement! Sean (SYZMTRS) was so alarmed he left a message on my cell telling me if I didn't call he was going to report me as a missing person It was a shame you couldn't make it Beken; I was really looking forward to seeing you and your car. Next year, perhaps.
After leaving Penticton it was onto Nanaimo to drop 'Sleepy' off at his mum's. And I had a very close call in what sounds to be the same location as you, Beken. I crested a rise in the road at reasonable rate of progress but in contravention of the Highway Traffic Act and BLAHHH!! the detector lights up with 'LASER'. I applied the binders post haste and...he didn't even shake his finger at me! Not a glance! The poor bugger after me, on the other hand, was not so lucky. I can imagine he was a little more than miffed because when I passed him a ways before he seemed to be doing the limit ('hey, let's catch up to the Mini - he'll flush out the police and we won't get a ticket!' DOH!!) Actually, the Passport must have paid for itself at least twice over on the trip, as the revenue generation was in full fill-the-coffers swing.
After a night in Canada's hippy capital I booked it down to Victoria. That was a frustrating drive! What is it with drivers taking up residence in the left lane? Pass, and then get the h.e.l.l. over!! I think the only reasonable solution is a roof mounted Exocet missile. Sadly, I can't find them listed in the MINI accessory catalogue, though I'm sure I could find some country that was formerly Soviet with a couple for (psst, psst, komerad, over here) sale.
Anyway, I had to repeat the drive on the number 1 a second time as I went up to Tofino - that road, from Port Alberni to Tofino, gets my vote for the best drive in Western Canada. What a rollercoaster I took some ribbing upon my return to Victoria because I never went to any of the beaches - meh! beaches smeaches. Give me tarmac
By the time I went up that bloody #1 highway a third time, to collect the sloth...son, in Nanaimo, I think I had everyone trained. At least when they saw me in the rear view they were polite enough to move it on over ('It's that freaking maniac in the Mini again, Doris. Eeek!').
After a three hour wait (ah, you gotta love leaving the island on a Sunday. Not!) for a ferry at the Duke Point terminal our plans for a leisurely return journey on the # 3 highway were scuppered, and we returned on the good old TransCanada. The good old congested TransCanada. The good old I-could-run-faster-than-your-mobile-home TransCanada. Sob, such fond memories...
Ah, looks like I don't have to post the account of the trip. I just did the abridged version!
ps. Mom's Mini - no problem. I was probably just a fleeting black shadow ('cos you were going sooo slow. Yeah, that was it...)

[krishelle999]

Ssounds like a great ride Tobias! Don't know which route you took from Penticton to the coast, 'cause taking 3 via Manning Park is sure a blast. I had my first real MINI road trip to Nanaimo last weekend - leaving Penticton area in crazy thunderstorms, lightening, hail.... and those performance tires definitely like the wet roads! Passed loads of people off to the side with flashers on, wash-outs, and even a lost load of lumber. But by Manning I had the top down. Love those mountain climbs and cliff side drives!

[British SD]

Quote: Originally Posted by beken

You get $25 off if you pay it within 30 days and not try to fight it.

Or behind door #3 Monty, is the option of $20 in Gas and a fun morning drive if you fight it and the cop does not show up.

I don't condone breaking traffic laws, especially when its dangerous infractions but Radar/Laser machines can be miss calibrated, pointed at wrong vehicle, etc. and since speeding represents over 90% of traffic fines but not 90% of accidents as well as the local juristiction getting a healthy cut that supports local town/city general services, many make a good arguement for regarding it as a cash cow that insurance companies salivate over with higher premiums as well.

My point is you have the right to dispute the alledged infraction!

[beken]

Sounds like Faster, Tobias had a wonderful time. I have to agree with you on the trip from Port Alberni to Tofino. I'm originally from Vancouver Island and still go back just for the drive. They've straightened out that highway from Victoria to Nanaimo quite a bit. It's not as fun as it used to be.

Thanks for the suggestion, British SD, but the truth is, I was speeding (though certainly not dangerously), so deserved the ticket. If I was close to the limit and he nailed me, I would have probably fought it, but I was way over. There's not a lot going on in Merritt. If one decides to fight a ticket, the ticket issuing officer WILL show up. Glad Tobias' detector worked. I should consider investing in one.

Great story. Good to know you made it home safely.