Here are the registration forms for MINI Thunder. So have at it.

mini-thunderregform

In addition here is a “bonus”.

The members of Redwood Empire Mini Enthusiasts and all MINI/Minis have been invited to attend the San Francisco Region “Willows Grand Prix" on the weekend of Oct 23-24, 2009. This is the Championship Points Finale. Our MINIs will be the featured “Marque Car” for the event with Minis Only Corral parking, group tours of the entire Thunderhill facility, parade laps on track at lunch…ALL for FREE!!!!!

If you decide to take your Mini on track you will need to be wearing long pants and close toed shoes. We will be driving at reduced speeds so no helmets are required.

We will also have access to the newly constructed grandstands at turn 2 with a great view of the track. So plan to bring a snack lunch and enjoy the day. The Thunderhill Grill will also be open if you get hungry or thirsty.
This weekend will also feature the RDC (Racing Drivers Club) Ilgen 4-Hour Enduro Race as well.

Here is a link to the even webpage. SFRSCCA

Please sign up on REME RSVP or email me at norm@redwoodempiremini.com soon so we can get a Mini count for the corral and to plan parade laps.

By Rick Feibusch

The Brisbane meet, though greeted by thunder and lightening the night
before, was quite a success, despite gloomy skies.  The British Car
gods were looking out for the Sons (and Daughters) of Lucas with clear
skies and mild temperatures during the events on both days.

We were awakened by thunder early Saturday morn, followed by a light
but continuous English-style rain.  As the cars started to arrive for
the Saturday tour,  we watched as participants assembled their hoods
and fitted side curtains, that is, the people who had brought them. It
never rains in California in September!

Click here to read more.. »

OnStar is soooo 2007. Rather than building some kind of old school cell phone telematics system into its cars, Mini is going the hip, modern route for roadside assistance. Mini USA has collaborated with insurance company Allstate to create an Apple iPhone app (also available for some GPS-equipped Blackberries) for owners to automatically call for roadside assistance. When you install the app, you put in your vehicle ID number and select a photo of your car if you want.

The next time you realize that the trip computer’s range estimate was a bit optimistic and you fall short of a petrol station, or you leave the lights on or hear that familiar thump-thump of a flat tire, just pull out your iPhone. Open the app, select the service you need and Allstate will immediately dispatch help to the coordinates provided by the phone’s GPS system.

Of course, if you forgot to plug in your phone last night… well, two strikes and you’re out. There’s no word yet on whether the app can use the phone’s accelerometer to detect the excess deceleration associated with an impact and call 911 for you, but that would be a neat trick.

Thanks to minimania.com for the heads-up!