The first 100,000 miles - click on thumbnails for bigger pictures

[snid]

The biggest impact my MINI has had in the first 100,000 miles is the giant number of people that I have met because of it. The MINI community is amazing!

Having said that, most of these pictures will probably not have many people in them. :: I guess that will be the goal for the next 100,000 miles - more pictures of the people.

My first mini2 post - posted on the day after my 30th birthday:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/delivery-...tml#post162946

I picked up my Cooper on October 12, 2002. Here's the first picture I took of it:


Only a few weeks later, it was already time to try to find snow tires for it, which was a little tough as there weren't that many MINIs around back then. After a few missteps, I was successful:


November 16, 2002 I went on my first MINI run... it's chronicled by Ian (GBMINI) here:
http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive...ander_mi.shtml

On the drive home fromt that, I got my first "winter" driving experience in the MINI, and I discovered just how useless the stock windshield wipers are in a freezing rain storm:


A few days later, November 18, 2002, my MINI got its first blanket of snow:


To begin 2003, it got a snowboard carrier for the roof rack:


Mid April, 2003 was the first time I did a real "detailing" of a car:


Early May, 2003 my Cooper went on its first boat ride:




There was also a preview of The Italian Job, and the first picture of my Velvet Red with another Velvet Red:


Again Ian comes to the rescue with the documentation of the event:
http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive...an_job_1.shtml

I started the mods with a Whalen shift knob and getting my iPod connected to the factory stereo, with some electronics help from Gavin (GadgetGav) as this was before the official aux input was available:


Only obsessive MINI owners document the first scratch on their car (May 12, 2003):


On June 3, 2003 I ran my Cooper into a moose:














So I was without my MINI for the first MINIs on Top in June 2003, but the loaner VW Beetle from the body shop made the trip:


July 1, 2003 I got my Cooper back from the bodyshop (with damaged wheels that also eventually got replaced).

Early August 2003 saw some more audio equipment installed in my car:

[Baz F]

Congratulations.
Heres to the next 100,000.

[snid]

Only 20 images allowed per post, so I'm splitting things up...


Late August 2003, and my MINI braved the "floating bridge":


And it made its trip farthest from home - to Annapolis, Maryland:


September 2003 and it made its first appearance at a car show, The British Invasion in Stowe, Vermont:


Why not throw in a picture with some people in it:


October 2, 2003 and winter #2 appears:


And the first MAMA run:


It took until November 2003 to get the first "second annual" MINI event - the second MINI Meander:


Winter isn't kind to cars:


Mid April, 2004 - living dangerously by putting new summer tires (first replacement set of summer tires) on while there's still some snow around in the mountains:


Driving lights were installed in late May, 2004:


MINIs on Top again in June 2004, and I didn't take many pictures:


July 2004, some of my favorite things... my MINI, my god-daughter, and the rubber ducky Ed (maxamini) gave me:


Another amp and the JL Audio stealthbox went in in July 2004:




I got my first polarizing filter for taking pictures in July also:

[snid]

Late July 2004, more audio stuff:


July 30, 2004 MINI-MOT run in Worcester, MA:


British Invasion 2004, another Velvet Red MINI:


October 18, 2004 - thie MAMA covered bridge run:


December 30, 2004 - skiing with Annette (NoNo) and Ed (maxamini):


February 2005 - more snow:


March 2005 - one of the many snowboarding days my MINI has taken me to:


April 2005 - fisheye:


June 2005, summer tire set #3:


June 11, 2005 - first time trial in my MINI. I had no plans of getting into autocrossing / track days when I bought the car, now I cannot get enough.

June 20, 2005 - MINIs on Top #3:


July 8, 2005 - JCW suspension upgrade:


July 31, 2005 - first track day (no picture of my car, though):


British Invasion 2005:


March 31, 2006 - roll bar gets installed in the car:


April 29, 2006 - new wheels and tires for the track:

[snid]

June 16, 2006 - MINIs on Top (again):


July 29, 2006 - camber plates installed:


I'm sure I missed a whole bunch of stuff. All I did was go through my photo library to remember what happened when. There are a bunch of track days that aren't listed because I didn't take pictures at them.

Missing include pointing out snow tire set #2, summer tire set #3, track tire set #2 (yes, that makes 8 sets of tires that have been on my car). Borla exhaust installation, sway bar installation, numerous windshields, electrical tape mod to try to avoid frozen doorhandles, the flatbed rides due to transmission failures, and who knows what else.

Per site guidelines, images were made clickable thumbnails... or go here for the whole set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snid/se...7594268915268/

[Checkie_checkmate]

Amazing story of one little mini!

Congratulations, you are one proud owner

[dakini]

! it's as many pics as some parents take of their kids!

congratulations on hitting 6 digits! and here's to years and years more motoring smiles!

[AprilWhine]

Congrats Snid! I still love the Velvet Red (brown) MINIs.

[LMB]

Congratulations.

What a great story. Thank you for sharing it.

[Foxy Mini]

Great story. Here's to many more years!

I love that colour MINI. Looks fab with an aero kit too

[yellowmininy]

Cheers, Jason, and on to the next 100,000!

[DeadCanDanceR]

Great thread Snid! Congratulations on your MINI's 100,000!

[GadgetGav]

I just passed 40,000 in mine, a long way from catching you..! But then, a trip to the dealer doesn't involve an overnight stay for me. Happy to see my iPod interface made it within the first year
Here's to many more motoring miles.

[ScottyB]

Thats some serious limeage Jason

Long may it continue!

[Smurfn]

Congrats Snid

Great story and photos