[Paul]

Planning a quick lunchtime spin in the Milton Keynes area (as we do from time to time) I decided to stick a DV video recorder under the passenger head rest and record the trip.

The results are online, it's just me, in my 'S' blasting around the local roads (mostly country lanes) for about 25 minutes!

Links follow:

www.mini2.com/video/mk_lunch_high.wmv Broadband --> Streaming about 27 meg!
www.mini2.com/video/mk_lunch_low.wmv Dial Up --> Streaming about 9 meg

Excuse the rattling sound that comes and goes, it's something to do with the camera I'm sure, but cant figure it out!

The larger file is worth if it you can get it quick enough on your net connection, you can actually tell the difference between cars, trees, the road and other objects at the higher resolution!

I'll try and get some .mov (quicktime) versions done soon too.

Quicktime:

http://www.mini2.com/video/mk_lunch_big.mov (40 mb!?) and http://www.mini2.com/video/mk_lunch_small.mov (17 mb).

[milliethemini]

Very nicely done, Paul!!! I'm sneaking a look at it while working

Okay, just watched all of it. Is it my imagination, or did some bloke ahead of you start speeding up as soon as he saw you in his rearview mirror? You sure blew by him when you got the opportunity

[Paul]

You watching the little vid or the super-sized?

If anyone watches it more than 2/3 through, you might notice a white van that moved over and almost squished me as I overtook!

[AmRov]

Great "riding" with you, Paul! The English countryside is cool. But as an American, I have to say that riding on the "other" side of the road is a bit unnerving. I literally almost screamed when you passed by the first car! The engine noise is very cool. The rattling/tinkling noise is odd, though...

[AtomicKiwi]

Yes, please get it up in Quicktime, because those didn't work for me. I got audio, but no video.

[Aurel]

Ok .. really cool .. on first impression, i was freaked out becuase:

1. I forgot you were in the UK and you were on the other side of the road
2. There was no steeering wheel
3. it was sunny out ... and that was really what made me think you were NOT in the UK

[Cold Side]

Just watched all of it, it was great. Especially when you overtook.

I went to my dealer today to have my MINI repaired and he had a cancelled order for an IB Cooper S. Now I've watched that i'm practically getting out my cheque book, the roar of the supercharger.

I don't like reality TV but I could watch movies of people driving all day.

[AmRov]

Watched more -- this is oddly fascinating. I saw the part now about the van -- ouch! Boy, you kept quiet, though! (Where's the part where you're singing to the radio? )

Would have liked a view of the speedometer -- were "we" ever speeding?

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by AmRov

Watched more -- this is oddly fascinating. I saw the part now about the van -- ouch! Boy, you kept quiet, though! (Where's the part where you're singing to the radio? )

Would have liked a view of the speedometer -- were "we" ever speeding?

Kept quiet, you couldn't hear my sharp intake of breath over the rattling and everything else!

Speeding? Moi? Tsk tsk...

It was a bit of a spirited drive, I'll admit that.

Sorry for freaking you guys out, maybe I should have put up a mirrored version too?

[AmRov]

I think the parts I liked best were when the road clearly said "Slow" and suddenly you hear the whine of the supercharger as Paul stomps it! hee hee hee! (I think I understand now why the speedometer is not part of the picture ! )

Thanks for the experience! That may be the closest I come to "driving" through the English countryside any time soon.

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by AtomicKiwi

Yes, please get it up in Quicktime, because those didn't work for me. I got audio, but no video.

Working on it as I speak. I actually prefer quicktime but only have a PC at home and it's a bit more complicated with that than just using i-movie!

[the W'rkncacnter]

Quote: Originally Posted by AtomicKiwi

Yes, please get it up in Quicktime, because those didn't work for me. I got audio, but no video.

Agreed, I can watch it fine but windows media is - BLECH

QT, MPEG-1, MP4, or AVI would all suffice.

Cool video though Makes me want my MINI even more!

[ohmab]

Paul, THANK YOU!!!!! That was just what I needed! I am having pre-buyers remorse. Too much time to read everything every written about MINI's (good and bad ) Starting to worry from information overload that the build quality/reliability will be an issue on my future '05 MCS, even (please forgive me) test driving an RSX. NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING compares to the MCS! of course all you guys already know that! Thanks again! It really did make my day!!!

[Fullupo]

They are the sort of roads minis were made for! I always choose the option on my sat nav that takes me on the 'shortest route' not the fastest as that way it usually takes me on some lovely back roads. Wooohoooo! You americans dont know what your missing!

[obehave]

Very nice Paul.
Sure do wish I had that much fun country road to drive on. I have to drive at least 20-30 miles to get that and even then there's still more cars on it.
The noise was probably the seat rubbing the camera body. That little condenser mic picks that stuff up well.

[obehave]

OK?? What's up with all the trucks being white

[Paul]

Quicktime might not be ready for a while.

Aren't all vans everywhere white?

[kdudley]

VERY cool. Great car, great driving, great roads and great scenery. I am jealous on all four counts!

[msenkbeil]

Nice flick, Paul. The camera does a nice job for just being stuffed in the headrest... I thought you had one of those special mounts to make it so steady.

Some of those roads are so narrow, I thought they were one-way. You couldn't nod off at the wheel with those small margins of error standing between the safety of the road and the ditch.

Thanks for posting the video!

[EBMCS03]

NICE... that looked like fun! thats for sharing...