Denise Mueller has flashed us these preliminary pix of the MTTS leg from San Diego area to LA…

Watch for reports from Denise all this week as Miniology covers Mini Takes The States 2010!

Best wishes to all of our friends heading off to Mini Takes The States festivities this weekend! If you are going, post here with your comments and great stories. Share your pictures! Email to califzeph@miniology.com. If you are not going, have no fear, Miniology reporterettes will be on scene in SF, LA, NY and Denver to help us all live the experience vicariously.

This just in from Vance at Sierra Nevada Minis:

The Sierra Nevada Mini Cooper club intends to enter the Nevada Day Parade this year. The parade will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2010. The theme this year is “100 Years of Aviation in Nevada.”

We have decided that we will dress up our MINIs as Mini Bi-Planes and are in the process of constructing prototype wings and tails our of corrugated plastic and metal coat hangers. We hope to have a suitable prototype soon that we can use to build custom wings for each of our cars that will be in the parade. Our intent is to either match as closely as possible the body color of each car or to just go with white (like most of our roofs). With that in mind, we will need an inventory of the MINIs that intend to participate in the parade, along with the body color of your car.

Due to the expense associated with constructing the wings, plus the entry fee for the parade, we will be asking for a small fee to offset our costs. We haven’t set an amount yet, but we expect it to be around $10-15 per car.

Please let me know as soon as possible, but no later than August 31, if you intend to be in the parade with us.

With your help and participation, we hope we can continue our tradition of winning an award at the Nevada Day Parade.

Against the back-drop of the London skyline and in amongst the green fields of Mudchute Farm, MINI ‘Open Air’ celebrations for the launch of the new Countryman culminated in performances by “Urban meets Country” music producer Timbaland with singer/songwriter Michelle Branch, doing their duo “Getaway” along with favourite smash-hits from both artists.

In attendance along with 500+ wild MINI fans we happened upon our chosen MIniology babe of the month for August, Ms. Eva Herzigova!

Born in Litvínov, Czechoslovakia on 10 March 1973, she’s been modeling since around 16 years old wearing everything from wonderbras, guess jeans, victoria’s secret, sports illustrated, and then wearing a bit less when she posed for playboy magazine in august 2004. Other claims to fame include playing Venus for the 2006 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, but we like her best standing in front of this lovely MINI!

Single guys may want to know that since she dumped Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres in 1998, she’s had one son (George) but otherwise appears to be available! We looked through the Countryman accessory catalog but couldn’t find the Eva option as part of MINI’s new Chili package. May have to wait until September to see if they can somehow include her as an optional upgrade, though we guess the maintenance costs would be quite high

Press Release – July 27, 2010 – Munich
MINI is making a comeback on the international rally circuit. From 2011, the brand will compete at selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and will go on to contest the entire season from 2012 onwards. This involvement is planned for several years.

The car charged with this task is the MINI Countryman WRC, which is being developed by Prodrive, in close cooperation with MINI, and is based on the production model. The powerful heart of the racing car is a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine from BMW Motorsport. The car complies with the new Super2000 regulations put in place by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), which stipulate the use of turbo engines with 1,600 cc displacement and four-wheel drive combined with an increased emphasis on road relevant technologies. The result is a significant 25 per cent reduction in overall costs. The first test drive for the MINI Countryman WRC, which will also be available to customer teams, is planned for autumn 2010.

This decision sees MINI continue its success story in the world of rallying. In the 1960s, the MINI Cooper S caused a sensation with victories at the legendary Monte Carlo Rally. The company also tasted success on many occasions in the European Rally Championship. Having already demonstrated the sporty character of its models in many countries in the MINI CHALLENGE, the brand is now taking its presence in motorsport to a new level with the commitment to the WRC.

Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing, says: “I am delighted MINI will be represented on one of the most popular stages in international motorsport. The success enjoyed on the rally circuit has made a vital contribution to the image of the brand. MINI customers have always shown great interest in motorsport. I am convinced we will add a few more chapters to our success story in rallying. The MINI Countryman provides an excellent basis, from which to create a competitive racing car for the world championship. In Prodrive, we have a strong and experienced partner. We will work hard together over the coming months to ensure we get the project on track right from the word go.”

“This is a very exciting new motorsport programme,” said Prodrive Chairman, David Richards. “During the 1960s MINI captured the imagination of the world when the tiny car took on the might of V8 powered Fords and won what was then one of the toughest motorsport events, the 4000km Monte Carlo rally. I believe our new MINI will become a firm favourite of the latest generation of rally fans, just as it is adored by its millions of owners across the world. We already have a significant number of confirmed customer orders for the new MINI rally car with the first deliveries scheduled for the start of the 2011 season.”

Prodrive has been working on developing the MINI Countryman WRC since early 2009. The company was formed in 1984 by Richards, who won the World Rally Championship as co-driver to Ari Vatanen (FI) three years earlier. Based in Banbury (GB), Prodrive has developed into a leading independent company in the motorsport and automobile sector under Richards’ guidance, and today employs over 500 staff. Prodrive’s many successes currently include six overall victories in the World Rally Championship, five titles in the British Touring Car Championship and three class victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours (FR).

BMW was present when the World Rally Championship made its debut back in 1973. Achim Warmbold (DE) and Jean Todt (FR) tasted victory in their BMW 2002 at the Alpenfahrt Rally in Austria. However, MINI’s tradition in this discipline stretches back even further: Pat Moss (GB) clinched the first victory with the MINI 850 at the 1959 Mini Miglia National Rally. MINI ultimately enjoyed its finest hours at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965 and 1967: the MINI Cooper S celebrated three overall victories at the most iconic rallying event in the world. Paddy Hopkirk (IR, 1964), Timo Mäkinen (FI, 1965) and Rauno Aaltonen (FI, 1967) joined the list of winners at this prestigious event. In 1965, “Rally Professor” Aaltonen also won the European Rally Championship. Tony Ambrose (GB) and Mäkinen finished second and third to round off an excellent overall result for the MINI Cooper S. In addition, MINI drivers also enjoyed many individual wins at renowned rallies throughout Europe. The last BMW World Rally Championship victory was achieved in 1987 in Corsica by Bernard Béguin (FR) driving a BMW M3 which was built and run by Prodrive.

From 2011, over 40 years down the line, the MINI Countryman WRC will be charged with adding further chapters to this success story. It bridges the gap between the classic MINI concept and a contemporary Sports Activity Vehicle. The brand’s first model to feature four doors and a wide-opening tailgate, it offers more space – which can be used in a wide variety of ways – to go with its raised seating position and optimised ride comfort. Plus, the “go-kart” feeling for which MINI is a byword has been preserved and takes on a new dimension with the optional MINI ALL4 all-wheel-drive system. The MINI Countryman expresses the defining virtues of the brand in terms of design, premium quality, handling, efficiency and the scope for customisation – and does so in an absorbingly individual way.

The next step down from the racing version is the MINI Cooper S Countryman. With its twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection now complemented by fully variable valve management, the 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the range-topping model offers by far the best balance between output and fuel consumption in its displacement class. The engine generates an impressive 135 kW/184 bhp and allows the MINI Cooper S Countryman to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds. Furthermore, the MINIMALISM concept sees wide-ranging technology designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions – such as Brake Energy Regeneration, the Auto Start/Stop function, Shift Point Display and the need-based operation of ancillary components – fitted as standard and in model-specific combinations.

The MINI Cooper S Countryman and MINI Cooper D Countryman can be ordered as an option with MINI ALL4 permanent all-wheel drive. Here, an electromagnetic centre differential positioned directly on the final drive varies the distribution of power seamlessly between the front and rear axles. In normal driving conditions up to 50 per cent of the drive is sent to the rear wheels, in extreme situations as much as 100 per cent. The result is a new, traction-led expression of the agile handling for which MINI is famed.

There’s so much to see on the MINI YouTube Channel that now there’s an app for your shiny new iPad that keeps all the classic commercials and viral videos in one place. MINI is more mobile than ever before. Just released, the MINI TV App is free and features full Twitter and Facebook functionality for sharing with friends.

Videos look especially slick on the iPad’s 132 pixels-per-inch screen. The app also allows you to sort your video selections and save the best of the bunch to a favorites folder for easy access.

Take MINI with you wherever you may roam. The home of all your video on the go is the MINI TV app. Now you can find your favorites with just a few taps!

The new MINI TV app is available for free as an iTunes download! iTunes Link

Miniology’s own Moxielicious will be on hand to cover all of the happenings at Mini Takes The States 2010, the New York edition, starting August 5th.

With our other hottie, Denise Mueller, reporting from LA to Denver, and Rob and Norm reporting from San Francisco, this promises to be the most complete MTTS coverage you will see anywhere.

So, be sure to tune into Miniology’s complete coverage to see and hear all of the sexiest stuff MINI has to offer!

MTTS2010 is proud to announce Blues Traveler will headline the MINI Music Festival at Infinity Park in Denver. This festival will include 5 live bands, MINI autocross driving experience and more for just the $25 registration fee. So come, dance, sing and revel with your fellow MINI revelers at this year’s awesome event.

Blues Traveler to headline at MTTS 2010!

Denise and Dan (and Diabolita) are ready to cruise to Colorado.

Denise Mueller, pictured above with her son Dan, is headed to Mini’s In The Mountains and Mini Takes The States 2010 in the Denver, Co. area.

While there, and enroute to the events, Denise will be reporting on everything for the benefit of Miniology viewers.

Be sure to tune in starting in mid-August for the best coverage of these huge Mini events.