Having problems with your new Mini? Is the rear window washer not working? Here is a link to a DIY repair, instead of the $530 dealership charge

http://www.norcalminis.com/2011/01/diy-guide-to-mini-rear-window-washer.html

Creative new idea for advertising larger than billboards, video projection, and not paying billboard companies... I'm in awe of this paradigm breaker

via http://www.autoblog.com

1967 Trabant Kubel... somewhere a WW2 axis staff car is looking at this and thinking "I will call it mini-me! "

from http://route66bitz.tumblr.com/

A MINI is racing in the Dakar (now through South America)

Six BMW X3CCs and the brand new Mini All4 Racing will represent Sven Quandt's team on 13 timed special stages and 5,020km of competitive action in a route of 9,618km over the next 14 days across northern Argentina and Chile.

Quandt has assembled a team of over 80 personnel - the largest line-up in X-raid's eight-year history - to tackle the world's most difficult and infamous off-road rally.

to learn about the Dakar rally http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2011/us/route.html

I learned about the Mini from http://www.ausmotive.com/ but you can shoot straight to the team website http://www.x-raid.de/x-raid-news/News/mini-all4-racing-first-test.htm

Stars and their cars, post 1940's

No doubt you recognize James Garner

Here are Jack Benny, Rochester, and the Maxwell http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/06/jack-benny-and-pres-harry-truman.html

Why is Elvis messing with a Messerschmitt?

Yikes, those aren't good looking glasses

Sean Connery and a Sunbeam Alpine that was his to use during a movie he was making

I hope you recognize Roy Rodgers, I doubt anyone has an unkind word to say about Roy... and he went 107 in a Chrysler station wagon on Bonnevile! http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/06/roy-rodgers-was-bonneville-racer-107.html

North by Northwest, Cary Grant and below Eva Marie Saint

Mick Jagger

Ringo Starr and a Facel Vega

For more stars and their cars:

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/12/old-hollywood-some-stars-and-their-cars.html

Paris Show: Mini Unveils Countryman WRC in Preparation for 2011 S2000 Rally Season

Working with Prodrive, Mini has officially re-entered the World Rally Championship after a decades-long hiatus. With its Countryman WRC, which made its world premiere in Paris today, Mini will be ready to compete in the 2011 season with a car driven by Kris Meeke.
Unfortunately, the AWD Mini Countryman-based rally car will only be taking part in six of the thirteen 2011 events in what Prodrive founder David Richards is calling a "preparatory year"; don't worry, 2012 will be a full season for the retro racer as it goes for the title.
Under the hood is a BMW Motorsport-tuned 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that uses direct injection and meets all FIA S2000 regulations (meaning the WRC is just the first of its many possible applications). Also, it's hooked up the an Xtrac 6-speed sequential transmission. What we do know is that Mini says the car has undergone a "baptism of fire" at the Prodrive rally track and has gained a Prodrive-developed roll cage.
BMW's Ian Robertson says:
"The Paris Motor Show is the perfect stage on which to launch our MINI WRC. The response to our announcement that MINI will return to the world of rallying next year was very positive. The FIA World Rally Championship is the pinnacle of rallying, making it the ideal platform for demonstrating the competitive spirit of our brand. The development of the car is running on schedule, and the preparations for the world championship are in full swing. The MINI Countryman production model provided the ideal basis for our new world championship challenger."

By Phil Alex

MINI Shows Off Lifestyle Collection for Very, Very Early Christmas Buyers

When not in the business of car-making, MINI promotes its online shop. And with Christmas only [...] two-and-a-half-months away, the company thought it would be a good idea to put together a selection of gifts for early birds. We guess it could be worse as we've seen companies advertising their Christmas goodies (or ideas) from the end of summer.
In any case, MINI's latest Lifestyle Collection includes numerous items ranging from the Sonoro Internet Radio that can receive over 18,000 web radio stations via WiFi or LAN and the Cuckoo Clock, to the Snow Rocker toboggan and Baby Racer push-car. If you're interested, scroll down for the gallery.
Link: MINI Shop

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