myMiniCooper

My best friend Genevieve is in town this weekend for the Grant Park Festival, where she is selling her hand crafted jewelry. Friday, before set-up we went to Buckhead Diner where her brother-in-law; Stephen McGuffin is the sous chef. Talk about great food! He sent us 3 apps, which were Sweet and Spicy Thai Chili Calamari (mmm), Crisped Smoked Salmon Flatbread with Roasted Shallot Cream Cheese (double mmm) and the Chervil Scented Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Valencia Orange Butter Sauce. I didn't really care for the last one; it had a kind of "chemical" taste. It may have just been me though. Anyway, for my entree I had the Grilled Atlantic Salmon and Geevs had the Blueplate Special (which was steak, mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus). As if this wasn't enough, Stephen then sent out 3 different desserts for us to sample. The Jame Beard Award Winning White Chocolate Banana Cream Pie (I don't care for bananas), the Chocolate Cake Sundae with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Raspberry Sauce (this one is really good, but I suggest you share this with a friend; ultra rich!. The last was my favorite, the Chocolate Chunk Creme Brulee with Extra Thin Sugar Crust. The crust was just right and crispy, great paired with a hot cup of coffee.
After a long lunch and an longer day of set-up and errands, I returned to my car and saw people standing nearby looking at my car as if it were on the menu. They wish...

First of all, I always thought people were insane for spending hours detailing their cars on the weekend. After having my MINI for a couple of months, I know exactly why. You need to LOVE your car. Not just be pleased with it, or have "fun" driving it. The MINI is not my first car, so this isn't just a case of being excited to have a set of wheels. I could go on and on about how special it is, but I'll just leave it at that.

Want to know what I use to keep my car looking great? Here's a list, including links to more information where possible.

Tools

• Various microfibre cloths (buffing, dusting, glass, drying, cleaning)
• 100% cotton chenille wash mitt
• Car wash brush (for plastic trim)
• California Water Blade (yes, I am VERY careful)
• Wash bucket
• Garden hose and sprayer

Keep It Clean

• Zaino Z-7 Show Car Wash
• Zaino Z-18 Clay Bar

Keep It Shiny

• Zaino Z-1 Show Car Polish LOK
• Zaino Z-2 Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Finishes
• Zaino Z-6 Ultra Clean "Gloss Enhancer" Spray (keeps my car spotless for days)
• Eagle One 20/20 Perfect Vision Glass Cleaner
• 303 Aerospace Protectant
• Eagle One Nevr-Dull Wadding Polish

Well, holy shit!

I got something splattered on the side of my car that wouldn't come off no matter how I washed and washed (even with Z7). It looked almost like tiny little specks of mud. I bet it was concrete or clay from the construction around here. Anyway, I bought some Zaino Z-18 clay and got to work. It was very easy to get rid of those spots. After feeling how incredibly smooth the paint was in that spot, I had to do the entire car. All in all, it took me about 30 minutes. I can't believe all of the crap that came off of my paint. The clay was dark reddish brown when I was finished.

Of course, I had to redo my Z1 and Z2 since claying removes EVERYTHING except for the paint. I know it will look amazing like it did before, but this time it will be even smoother. It was very smooth before, so that's saying quite a bit. In the morning, I'll buff off the Z2 and put another coat on in the afternoon. Next weekend, I guess I'll do two more coats so I'll be back to where I was before the claying.

Woo hoo for Zaino. They really do make amazing stuff.

icBirmingham - Youths caged for trapping and robbing drivers:

Aug 19 2005



Three members of a Birmingham gang who trapped and then carried out armed attacks on two terrified women drivers have been sent to custody by a judge.

At Birmingham Crown Court yesterday Justin Hadley (13) of Harcourt Road, Erdington, who was previously convicted of two charges of robbery, was sentenced to four years detention.

Barry Wright ( 16) of Dovedale Road, Erdington, was also given a four-year sentence after admitting aggravated vehicle taking and two robberies and was banned from driving for two years.

Sean Kinsella (17) of Bexley Road, Erdington, who pleaded guilty to one robbery, was sentenced to three years detention.

James Dunstan, prosecuting, said Rachel Capper was driving a BMW Mini Cooper in the Streetly area at about 11pm when she was overtaken by another vehicle which then stopped in front of her.

A youth then came towards her brandishing a large kitchen knife and she reversed for about 80 yards before heading back the way she had come.

After slowing down at traffic lights she was overtaken by the vehicle which then collided with her car forcing it to partly mount the kerb while another vehicle blocked her from behind.

A youth then got into the passenger side of the Mini Cooper waving the knife about 12 inches away from her face and forcing her to get out before her vehicle was driven off and crashed. Mr Dunstan said 40 minutes later Emma Burrows, a police officer, was driving a Mini Cooper near Sutton Coldfield when she was boxed in by two vehicles.

She managed to get away by driving on to the pavement but was trapped again and after being threatened by a youth brandishing a metal bar gave up her car keys and her vehicle was also driven away.

AutoWeek - The Auto Enthusiast's Online Resource:

Scoop! Mini Summer Treat: Bye-bye bonbons, hello Dibs!

MARK VAUGHN
Published Date: 8/15/05


AS-TESTED PRICE: $108,000
POWERTRAIN: 1.6-liter, 163-hp, 162-lb-ft supercharged I4; rwd, six-speed manual
dibs.edys.com

The big news here, perhaps bigger than anything else in this issue, is the Dreyer’s/Edy’s brand of bonbons is being phased out. Yes, bonbons, the date of last resort for countless single women on Friday nights, the little frozen chocolate spheres of high-calorie happiness, will be gone by the New Year.

Don’t despair, don’t threaten lawsuits, don’t have bake sale fundraisers like they did when Star Trek Whatever was cancel­ed; Bonbons are being replaced by Dibs, the frozen ice cream snack with the crunchity good, nut-covered chocolate exterior that is “the hottest snacking trend of the summer.”

New York Daily News - City News - Van driver dies in crash with a Cooper:

A minivan and a Mini Cooper collided at an intersection along the Long Island Expressway early yesterday, killing the van driver.

Christopher Samaria, 22, of Queens, was driving his Toyota minivan south along Route 110 in Melville, L.I., at 12:05a.m. when he collided with a Mini Cooper at the intersection of the Long Island Expressway, police said.

The van flipped over, killing Samaria, said Suffolk County Police Detective Sgt. Steven Bluethgen.

The driver of the Mini Cooper, identified as James Candalino, 27, of Locust Valley, L.I., was not seriously hurt. He was taken to North Shore Hospital, where he was treated and released, police said.

At the time of the accident, an earlier thunderstorm had caused traffic lights to flash yellow along Route 110 and red along the expressway, police said. No criminal charges were filed.