2 Minutes of Fame - Events Secretary Peter Williams

What is your name and position on the committee?

Peter Williams - Events Secretary.  I organize the club’s events calendar, organize some of the events and coordinate other people to run other events.

How long have you been in clubMINI for?

7 years

What MINI(s) do you have, what color is it and how long have you owned it?

R56 LCI Cooper S, red with a red roof.  Almost 5 years.

Have you modified your MINI, if so what have you done to it?  

Engine is stock.

I ordered the car with softer standard (not S) suspension and an electronic limited slip diff, added a negative Camber kit up front (2.5 deg), Alta 22mm sway bar at rear – so the car cruises more comfortably, I can get the power down better on bumpy roads and earlier, and its cornering attitude is neutral instead of understeer.

Cross-drilled discs front and rear.  4 driving lights.  Short aerial.  Side-stripes.

Inside: red dash panels and trim, JCW gearshift knob, Alta temperature and boost gauges.

Swapped 17” wheels over from my previous MINI.

What is your favorite song to listen to when driving your MINI? 

Even though I’m into music, I don’t generally listen to music when I drive – I prefer to concentrate on the driving.

So if MINI didn't exist, what would be your next choice?  

BMW 220i (of course) for its sophisticated handling and quality.  At a lower price point, Fiesta ST for its brilliant handling - I had the previous model ST (XR4 here) and it was great.

So you find a genie in a bottle, she grants you 3 wishes with one of them being a brand new MINI, what MINI would you choose and why?  

Right now, a 3-door F56 Cooper (not S, just the 3-cylinder) optioned with adaptive suspension, sports seats, JCW gauges and some other stuff – probably a camber kit too! Because 100KW is (just) enough power, and the 3-cylinder means less weight up front for quicker, lighter handling.

But I’d rather wait a year for the F54 Clubman AWD hybrid (even though it’s too big), or better still, either of the Superleggera or the smaller MINI if they ever make them.

What was your first car? And how did this car come to be yours? 

Toyota Corolla, bought from my parents – wouldn’t go more than 70km/h up ANY hill.  First car I chose was a Holden Gemini, which handled very nicely (catching a theme here? J).

Peter's Corolla and below his Gemini 

 So when you see Peter at the next event, be sure to say Hi and have a chat about cars, as you can see Peter is a total enthusiast for anything with good handling! 

Sandown June - MINI MOTORSPORT

Part two of the Frankston Loop involved a trip to Sandown to watch two of our own members compete at Sandown. Geoff Vernon in his R53 Electric Blue Hatch and Peter Kaiser in his R56 S in Chilli Red.

Here's Geoff


And here's Peter






Some of the other marques out on the track


Whilst Sandown has some nice long fast straights, the turns catch some drivers out..







To see more photos from this event, click here

Frankston Loop - Arthurs Seat - Frankston

Eighteen MINIs and their co pilots met at the Frankston McDonalds at 8:15 for a 8:30am start.

We quickly took over the carpark, and ended up with MINIs all around the Maccas restaurant.


We are gonna need a bigger Maccas next time!


These guys need a bigger MINI.


clubMINI first timers - forging new friendships


After a quick drivers brief, we all jumped in our machines and hit the road.


Although today for the first time I can recall, the MINIs got separated and half of us ended up going in the wrong direction! wooops
 

Here we are 'lost' well not really lost, just not where we were meant to be.



Another 10 mins later, our error was corrected and we were back with the main group and enroute to Arthurs Seat carpark.
















Here we are taking over the Arthurs Seat car park



This MINI came all the way from QLD.. and is now relocating to fabulous Victoria!



MINI behinds


From Arthurs Seat we headed off along Arthurs Seat Road, and towards the stunning Marine Drive.. turning heads as our MINIs continued along through Dromana, Safety Beach, Mount Martha, Mornington.. and onto Frankston where we all parked and had breakfast at the Celsius Cafe.

Part two - onto Sandown coming up next!

To see more photos from this event, click here

And finally some advice...

BMWCCV Driver Training Day at DECA in Altona

On June 13th BMWCCV (BMW Car Club of Victoria) held a driver training day at the Altona DECA facility, kindly inviting clubMINI along to attend.

Three clubMINI Members and their MINIs (and one 220i whilst the owners respective MINI is in the panel shop) hit the skidpan to put their cars and skills to the test.

 Drivers were able to experience several different courses throughout the day, each focusing on a particular skill, with a trainer offering some advice on completion of each run.

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, keep an eye on your inbox for an email from the Events Secretary,  BMWCCV will be holding another event like this later this year. 

And don't forget clubMINI are also planning our own Motorkhana too. More info coming on that one soon.

More photos can be viewed in the clubMINI Flickr page click here

Motor on!

2 Minutes of Fame - Club President Craig Webb

Name and clubMINI committee title -  Craig Webb  clubMINI President

How long have you been in clubMINI for?  Since August 2007

What MINI(s) do you have, what color is it and how long have you owned it?  Just one, MINI 2007 Cooper S - Lightning Blue with white roof/stripes, chequered mirror caps (also has the GOK4RT plates - editor)

Have you modified your MINI, if so what have you done to it? Not really a mod, changed from white Bridge spoke wheels to Sidewalk's

What is your favorite song to listen to when driving your MINI?  Too many to name

So if MINI didn't exist, what would be your next choice?  Money no object, Porsche 356 (pre-A), F series 911 RS ducktail, 930 or any 911 really...  (editor approves! )

So you find a genie in a bottle and she grants you one brand new MINI, which one do you choose? Just one, I thought I got 3 wishes, 2014 JCW GP, JCW Hatch, JCW Coupe   (our genie is stingy - editor)

What other cars do you have?  I also drive a 2010 Nissan X-Trail

First car?  1970 VW Beetle, white, worked 1640cc, lowered, chrome 356 replica wheels  (ahh can see the air-cooled love started here - editor)

 This is Craig, be sure to say Hi when you see him at the next event!