24 Hours of MTTS: St. Louis to Indianapolis in the JCW GP

Chicago MINI Motoring Club » Archive » MTTS Indy Wrapup Aug 31st, 2006 Link

[...] Check out links to pictures and info from Dennis| Gabe [...]

Frank Aug 31st, 2006 Link

So Gabe, after driving the GP, will you trade your ‘05 MCS for it?

J/C Aug 31st, 2006 Link

Glad you got to experience MTTS. (I bet the new camera came in handy.)

unstoppable train that is MTTS

I like that line, it really describes the MTTS juggernaut.
I wish I could’ve done the entire fandango.

Neil Aug 31st, 2006 Link

Somebody needs to scrape all those bugs from the front of the GP.

05DSMCS Aug 31st, 2006 Link

It’s ok if you’re not registered to go, too, though! In talking with the folks in Santa Barbara, they said that it doesn’t matter if you are registered or not, that you can come and get all the stuff you need. They were laughing with me about those registration kits that have been selling on eBay for upwards of $40 when one MTTS representative said his office was still filled with the kits.

pbraun Aug 31st, 2006 Link

Gabe - Nice pics, some of which I really like, but I can’t save them on flickr - can you enable that? or something….?????????
cheers,
peter

Sue Aug 31st, 2006 Link

great pictures, great review of the GP

The Blue Canary Aug 31st, 2006 Link

I was behind the Fireball Icon himself for a little bit of the leg from STL to Indi. That boy really does like to drive fast! Sorry we missed you at the game. Didn’t stop us from talking about you tho. =P

snid Aug 31st, 2006 Link

Nice pics, some of which I really like, but I can’t save them on flickr

Back out of the “slideshow” and you can save them, even find larger versions…

start here:

and click around

snid Aug 31st, 2006 Link

motoringfile’s markup strikes again!

This is the missing link from my previous comment (maybe - no preview available so who knows?):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bridger/sets/72157594261155604/

mike Aug 31st, 2006 Link

nice pics! so, what’s with the orange cabrio with the smashed door?

pbraun Aug 31st, 2006 Link

snid - well, right click, save does not work from that link, nor from the slideshow pause, open in other window ……..that’s why I asked Gabe if I could whack some in anyother manner

Vanwall Aug 31st, 2006 Link

I’m glad you got to go on a even a small bit of MTTS, Gabe - it’s a phenomenal undertaking by MINI, and I was impressed how well things ran. Anybody sittin’ on the fence about going - jump for it! This is prolly a once in a lifetime shot, and it’s the biggest MINI event ever, so be part of it!

As for the GP, I wish I’d had the scratch to go for one, as everyone who bought one is walking around smiling or laughing, they’re so happy with the car.

Lottsa fond memories now, eh Gabe?

      BCNU,
    Rob in Dago

lTZMTOR Aug 31st, 2006 Link

After seeing them in person on Friday at the overflow GP area at the Laguna Seca track It’s a sweet car. My only complaint had been and still is the colours they choose.

I was hoping to meet you Mr Vanwall up at Baja Cantina on Sunday nite at the SCMM dinner. You may have been there I should have asked around.

The red mirrors a lot of folks thought stunk, I never did, in person… spot on!

So Did Gabe ask BSSP if there was any openings? Sausalito is a great city and close to SF, even betta.

Vanwall Aug 31st, 2006 Link

lTZMTOR -

Sorry I missed ya - I wasn’t there in time for the Baja Cantina on Sunday, so my wife and I had a fantastic dinner at Hula’s Tiki Room in downtown Monterey instead - best damn ono I ever had, and they aren’t skimpy in the drink department, either. ;-) Highly recommended!

I was little leery about the red caps myself, and I’m still not a fan of BigWings per se, but overall, the GP looks awesome in the light of day, that’s for sure, and it backs up the potential in spades. I posted a parking lot shot of 10 or so of ‘em in the MTTS Flikr group, and they look very purposeful, almost menacing. Nice way to end this iteration of my favorite car!

                BCNU
              Rob in Dago

db Aug 31st, 2006 Link

>nice pics! so, what’s with the orange cabrio with the smashed door?

Todd got an interview with that driver and should be getting it posted later today. Turns out, it was the drivers fault :(

Todd Aug 31st, 2006 Link

I can’t confirm fault for sure. The driver said he turned left to turn around and got hit so that’ what it sounded like. Maybe somebody ran a stoplight or something. Details were still sketchy so somebody who knows needs to fill us in for sure.

TNCRMPT Aug 31st, 2006 Link

I spoke with the driver son after the crash. The driver of the orange convertible readily admited the accident was his fault. He brought his family down for the day for the ride on the Indy track, got confused about which gate to turn into at the Speedway, and made a U-turn right into the path of a moving car. He was in good spirits though since there was plenty of sympathy, and they still got to drive the track at least. As for us, we just got back from our 4-stop trek on MTTS and had a great experience seeing the good old USA! Great meeting so many of you!

Fireball Tim Aug 31st, 2006 Link

Great havin’ you down, Gabe! MTTS2, YO!

snid Aug 31st, 2006 Link

Downloading pictures from flickr is much easier if you are a flickr member, and I think being a contact of the person whose pictures you are trying to download also makes a difference.

But, even without being logged in, there are ways…

But that would be giving a little too much information about how to steal Gabe’s work. ;)

Mark Aug 31st, 2006 Link

With the amount of damage to the outside of that door, it was amazing to see no intrusion into the cabin.

The trip around the track was amazing. They stressed that we were to stay in place - and that the pace car was going to go 35 mph - and then I turned on to the track and had to go 70 to catch up to the cars in front of me (grin).

My wife, son, and I only did the St. Louis to Indy stretch, and we wish we had planned to do more. We had a great time at the party outside the Cardinals game, a blast at the photo at the arch and motoring in a huge group out of St. Louis, and even enjoyed the dragon (not THE dragon!) in Vandalia, IL.

I got to say hello to Todd from WRR, talked to Fireball Tim for a while at the party in St. Louis, but didn’t realize you were around, Gabe, or I would’ve said hi. We met a ton of great people.

If anyone out there can still tag along for a stretch, don’t miss it!

goofytruax Sep 1st, 2006 Link

We did Amarillo to Dallas and had a blast. Went with the wife and kids. Yes that was two kids in back. It was an outstanding event. My wife was only doing it because I was so excited about it. She had a blast and admits it was way better then she thought it would be. So anyone on the fence get out there and do it. ou will regrete not doing it.

MotoringFile » Archive » MotoringFile JCW GP Test Car Arrives Dec 1st, 2006 Link

[...] As usual if you’d like to see any specific questions answered about the GP, let ‘em rip in the comment section below. While this won’t be my first drive in a GP (or the first review we’ve had on MF), it will allow me to see what it’s like to live with the car day to day. And it’ll be nice to send-off R53 with one final review of the ultimate MINI. [...]

Gabe Mar 30th, 2007 Link

great pictures, great review of the GP

Thanks :)