We add another car to the trip! :)

Well only two more sleeps until heading off on the adventure tour to MMW2011. We now have 4 cars heading out of Victoria, so the more the merrier. (Note the change in the main title as well from 3 to 4!) Reservations are made, the ferry is booked and registrations are in for MMW.. just a few last minute packing items, and a top of of gas and we'll be ready to go..unfortunately the current forecast has potential for rain on Saturday and Sunday.. but as typical of the Northwest, it can change by tomorrow..so here's hoping for a nice dry drive down...

Meeting with other Minis

We have an invite for shop time and a dinner in Redding .. hopefully no one needs the shop, but it will be great to hook up with more Mini owners for a evening... from Norm of the Redwood Empire Mini Club...

"If you get down to Redding on Monday night, we plan to meet up at O2
Motorsports at 865 Twin View, Redding, CA. We will "hang-out" there and walk
across the street to Fatboys for dinner.



O2 Motorsports is owned and operated by Steve & Stacey Lowery. They a BIG
Mini enthusiasts and service most all our Minis. Their shop is just off I-5
as you get to Redding. This is also where we plan to meet on Tuesday
morning. "

The Mini gets a Spa Day!

Well in fact the Spa Day will last most of the weekend as both the Mini and the trailer gets pampered with a detailed wash and vacuum, followed by a Auto-Glym Polish and a fresh coat of wax..all to prepare for the trip. By the time we arrive at the Cal Neva, after 1700km of highway, I may wonder why I did this at all! Laying out tools and spare parts and packing them away is another weekend task. Check out the shine! Waxing and Wheels get completed tomorrow.


Nice to have my tool storage compartments on the trailer..

The Route we are taking

We are headed across the water on the Coho Ferry to Port Angeles, then down Highway 101 over to the West coast and stopping for the first night in Tillamook. Here we hook up with the cars from Seattle, the SAMOA club. Day two we follow the 101 south with a stop in Florence for the Sand Dune rides, and ending the day in Brookings OR. Day 3 follows 101 again, and ends in Redding CA. We are planning a stop at the SAMOA cookhouse earlier in the day. Our last day heads East across California through Mount Lassen Park and into Crystal Bay Nevada. Sounds like fun!
Total distance one way will be about 1700km. The return will be through the interior instead of the coastal route.

The VTEC Mini gets some maintenace

In preparation for the trip a visit to my friend Richard was in order, so we could throw the VTEC Mini up on the hoist and do an overall inspection before the trip to Tahoe. We found a few things.. one of the rear cones had slipped off the trumpet, ball joint wear on top of LH side and both outer CV boots were split. So off to the local Mini parts parts supplier, Hunter Classic Sports Cars, and a morning on the hoist and it is all fixed up.. Thanks Richard!

Preparing for Mini Meet West Trip Victoria to Lake Tahoe

We have three cars heading from Victoria to Lake Tahoe, The route will take us across the water to Port Angeles and then down the Washington and Oregon coast, into California and then south east to Lake Tahoe. We will take 4 days to arrive, enjoying the small roads and tourist stuff along the way. We will be meeting up with 3 or 4 cars from the SAMOA club on the first day.. stay tuned for updates each day... Mike