For those of you that didn’t hear, Southern California resident Robert Apon really wanted to attended MINI United 2007, but in his MINI. Countless hours and a lot of money later, Robert had the only MINI at Zandvoort with California plates!
Robert is currently working his way across Europe, visiting family and friends. Naturally, he is blogging his adventure.
I’ll have much more to post about MINI United, but I thought I’d post a picture of a very special moment. If you’ve scrolled down through my blog you’ve noticed that I not only have a full JCW conversion, I also have the 225 HP Cooper Motorsport High Performance Derivative engine upgrade that was formerly available from John Cooper Motorsport. In the picture above I’m at my car with Michael Cooper, the son of John Cooper and principal of Cooper Motorsport (now a part of the BMW family).
He has pictures and even some video!
We also had the chance to talk to him for WRR. Great guy with an amazing story!
WRR Interview: Robert Apon
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[ Robert's Blog ] robert-apon.blogspot.com
Download | 17:58 | 1.8MB
Sure we still have more MINI United Stuff coming, but I’ve already got a shot of WRR on an iPhone I wanted to sneak in.
Sent in by WRR listener CJupin.
It might be a little blurry, but you can see it, right there. Better than seeing the NYT anyway.
Thanks Chris!
In this latest MINI United interview we get an exclusive sit down with Dr. Kay Segler, MINI brand vice president. We talk MINI United. Motorsport, and the new MINI Challenge race car among other things. The latter will be the big take-away for many of you. Listen closely as Dr. Segler talks about the “new heart” of the MINI that will debut with the MINI Challenge car and that will eventually make it’s way to a new JCW product. All fascinating stuff for those of us who follow the brand.
Dr. Kay Interview:
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Download | 9.4MB | 20:22
Another great person that we got to speak with was Gert Hildebrand. He is the man in charge of making the MINI look as cool as it does!
There is still more audio coming gang! Todd will be working furiously during his travels home so we can get those posted right away! Be sure to check out the photos if you haven’t already over at the MINI United Flickr Group.
Gert interview:
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Download | 16.8MB | 20:21
An actual interview with Mike Cooper. What a great guy! So much experience and some very interesting information. We think you’ll really enjoy this.
Mike Cooper Interview:
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Download | 12:41 | 11.7mb
A quick interview with the current German MINI Challenge point leader.
MINI Challenge points leader:
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Download | 11:36 | 3.5MB
We get the chance to speak with the man, the myth, the legend, Rauno Aaltonen from MINI United. He was great to speak with, full of information and he loved to talk!
More coming. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the MU Flickr Group, the MU blog, Motoringfile and, of course, WRR.
We’ve got lots more coming gang! Be sure to stay tuned!
Rauno Aaltonen Interview
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Download | 30:00 | 27.6MB
Todd and db drive the MINI Cooper D on our way out to the Plant at Oxford. Actually, Todd did all of the driving since he was the one to sign for the car, but I did get to ride shotgun.
So it’s known, Todd was aces in getting through London traffic and getting us to Oxford, all in a MINI with the controls on the wrong side!
From the outside, you could tell it was a diesel in sound only. No black smoke, not diesel-y smell, nothing. From the inside it sounded like a well tuned Cooper, even under hard excelleration. Bonus? We got about 70MPG driving between London and Oxford. Stop and go through the city, about 70MPH on the highway. Enough torque to put us back in our seats and avoid the crazy London drivers, but still smooth like an R56.
Next up will be our tour of the plant, including pictures! Check back later for that.
Todd and db in a D:
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Download | 6.1MB | 6:31
In just a few hours Todd and I begin our journey to MINI United. Starting in London on Tuesday where Todd, his lovely wife and myself will cruise out to Oxford in a MINI Cooper D for a tour of the plant and some lunch. Then, it’s back to London for what I’m sure will be some much needed rest before spending the day Wednesday sightseeing.
Thursday we’re off to Amsterdam! We’ll be meeting up with Gabe here and making sure everything is good to go. Friday starts the event and we’ll be covering it as best we can. Keep an eye on Whiteroofradio for audio updates, the Flickrs (mine, Gabe’s and of course the MINI United Group) for pictures and the MU Blog and Motoringfile for the words and video if we do that.
With all the hub-bub, there will not a be a regularly scheduled Woofcast this week either. As I mentioned at the end of our last interview with Shawn Ticehurst, we’re just a bit on the busy side to get together. Don’t worry, we’re going to be posting so much next week your head will spin! Well, ok, maybe not spin, but we’ll be posting quite a bit. If you would like to wish us well, punch up the WRR Voicemail line at (206) 33-WHITE. We’d like to do a voicemail show while in Amsterdam, so ring us up with your questions, comments or whatever and we’ll get it played!
Until London…
Todd and I spend some time with Shawn Ticehurst one last time before the big event. Who’s excited?
As you listen to this, Gabe is furiously packing in preparation for Germany while Todd and I are busy getting everything in order before we head out Monday for our tour of the MINI Plant before meeting up with Gabe in Amsterdam on Thursday. Did I mention Gabe will be driving the ‘ring?
Before then, we expect to have a few things posted for you to listen too, watch, read and look at. Keep an eye on the Flickr Group, the MINI United blog and of course Whiteroofradio and Motoringfile.
Until next week gang!
MINI United Interview #3:
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Download | 12:39 | 15.3MB
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