06/14/03 My best friend is visiting from California - so what better excuse to go driving around. Decided to take the Mini up to St. Helens. Never been there before although I can see the mountain from my house (maybe that's why?). Took a radar detector along, and once again learned that it's no substitute for vigilance. Shortly after we got into Washington I was experimenting with how fast I can go while keeping RPM under 4500 for break-in. Answer: 110 mph. Just as I was doing that I spotted a car parked way ahead by the side of the freeway. Off the gas, on the brakes, and we cruised past the officer pointing his laser at me doing the speed limit. The detector went off when he pulled the trigger a few hundred feet away. A lot of good that would have done me. Ten miles later, again cruising at a brisk pace (this car is most comfy in the 90-100 mph zone) I spot a car on an overpass. Once more, slow down to find a second patrol car half mile further down the road waiting for people the first one clocked. Watch in my mirrors as he pulls someone else over. The detector never made a sound. And so it went. The road leading up to the mountain is very scenic with long sweeping turns. It would be awesome at 130 mph. I restrain myself to significantly less but still enjoy it, more for the scenery and the way it flows rather than outright thrill.

Arriving at the visitor center at the end of the road we get out and walk up to the overlook point. The scale of the eruption is enormous, even 23 years later it impresses.

The top of the mountain is unfortunately in the clouds, but enough of it can be seen to give the scene a very dramatic look. On hilltops some 10 miles away from the mountain the trees tell the story of the blast. On the slopes facing the volcano they are flattened, sheared off at the roots. Where terrain protected them from the blast the skeletons of the trees still stand. Elsewhere, life slowly returns.

The landscape is awe-inspiring. The Mini is just simply fun :) A very entertaining drive on the way back, blasting past other traffic with ease - not quite like the M Coupe, but good enough.

Yes, it is fun sometimes to go to exotic faraway places. But I shouldn't forget that there is plenty of interesting stuff right here at home. The Mini is a perfect car for exploring it.

06/15/03 Another trip, this time to the coast which is only an hour away. I really enjoy the Oregon coast. It is far more peaceful and serene somehow than California, despite the fact that it can be quite violent with winds, storms and even tidal waves. The drive was uneventful although with longer uphill stretches of the coastal range and more traffic I was really wishing for more power. M Coupe allows me to pass at will even in these situations. In the Mini such maneuvers require careful planning and flawless execution if they are to be attempted at all. Since I now have over 700 miles on the clock I've raised my 'redline' to 5500, which helps a bit. Still, being in the right gear and building up speed in advance is essential. On the coast we are greeted with 68-degree sunny weather and the usual high winds. It is chilly and the few sunbathers on the beach hide behind huge driftwood logs for shelter from the wind. The scenery is beautiful as always...

A lot of weird creatures are washed up on the sand - never seen these before. It seems every time I come here there is 'creature of the day' - either crabs, or crayfish, or jellyfish, or... uhm, these:

The wind is a constant presense, so much so that all the trees along the shoreline are permanently 'windblown'. Pretty.

On the way home we stop at an overlook with a particularly dramatic view of the ocean and the cliffs. The Mini is in serious need of a bath, with hundreds of insects spread over the nose and the rest of the car covered in dust.

Sightseeing for the day completed, it's back to Portland via one of my favorite roads - highway 53 which snakes through the coastal range. Excellent pavement, endless twisties and no traffic. FUN. The Mini rules here.

Most of the drive back is also uneventful. Close to home, on my favorite road there is a brand new Range Rover HSE ahead of me, being driven by a somewhat smug-appearing young guy. It is obvious that he thinks he's going to surprise me and guns it a bit. Having driven the truck I know what it can do (better than he was doing) and while it is impressive for its genre it is no Mini. So just for fun I stay glued to his bumper the entire way as he pushes harder and harder to try and shake me. Ha. If there was room I'd pass him just because. Not the most socially-responsible behavior, but I couldn't resist it. The car made me do it. Yeah, that's it. Don't think that guy is quite as smug anymore :)

Got home, then took my friend to the airport, then gave the Mini a much-needed bath and wax. Coool :)

06/27/03 First track day for the Mini, a tri-club event at PIR. Excellent weather, big turnout. A lot of friends from the M Coupe gang showed up. I think seven M Coupes were there, six of which participated on-track. I was instructing two of them and both did very well. Always gratifying to see my input make a difference and to watch the students' progress.

A whole truckload (literally) of vintage Porsches also showed up for the event.

The Mini did great. It is a lot of fun on the track. A bit lacking in power in comparison to my other cars, but not so much as to detract from the fun. I ran it in the advanced group with all kinds of high-performance machinery driven by experienced drivers, and the car was right on the pace - as the video attests. Was keeping up or catching up in the corners with all kinds of cars on R rubber (me being on street kumho MX), everything from Bimmers to Vettes. The car is very forgiving and easily steers on the throttle. I didn't quite get to my target lap time of 1:39 this outing, with videotape showing some consistent 1:42 laps and a single 1:41. I'm certain the car can do it - I just need to learn how to drive it a bit better. It's the first front-driver I've had in many years.

Overall very happy with the Mini and how it did at the track. Still smiling as I type this :)