After a very long wait, my Mini is closer to receiving a power plant. Not that there’s an engine in the car, yet. I just have a retrieve an engine that doesn’t have a gash in the engine.
The Lost Summer?
Sunday, 29 August 2010 15:45
Iowa’s long, hot, wet Summer of 2010 is coming to a close. The Iowa State Fair is history. The kids are back in school. And the garden is slowly fading to dried shoots from the abused ground. This was to be the Summer of Mini for me. I had Grand Plans for the Morris, between my ambition and weeks of available PTO. A quick look back channels my Fatalist side, declaring the Summer a Failure, Lost to schedules, conflicts and weather. Color Confirmed
Saturday, 27 March 2010 19:00
The next target for my work on the engine compartment was the windscreen washer motor. I was a little hesitant, as it requires the removal of part of the interior trim. I really needed the motor out, though, to be able to adequately clean and paint the engine area. I finally started peeling back the panel above the “parcel shelf.” This uniquely Mini feature runs across the entire front of the car under the dashboard, broken only by the unique instrument cluster in the center. Getting the Story
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 13:12
I’m sure someone in my family knows the stories of my ancestors’ migration from England to the new lands. I do know my family has documented their migration across this country. I’ve gotten some of the details, in bits and pieces, from my folks. Each tidbit has helped me understand my heritage.
Putting a Bit o' Shine On
Saturday, 05 December 2009 19:00
Don't get me wrong; the Classic Mini is my garage is a great car. But I needed to clean it up to keep my spirits up during the Iowa winter ahead.
Diving In Headlong
Friday, 27 November 2009 19:00
I finally decided to dive into a project car. A friend had been suggesting for some time that I consider a Classic Mini owned by another friend of his.
2009 Indy 500: The ABCs
Friday, 29 May 2009 16:13
It was a graduation year in our household, so we watched the 2009 Indy 500 a la ABC. As I reflect on it, this year's race was about ABCs:
|
Crap Can Racing: Don't Let the Drivers Have All the Fun!
Wednesday, 30 June 2010 19:00
There is so much more to racing than what the drivers get to do. And just like the chance that regular folks get to drive in ChumpCar, regular folks get the rare opportunity to work trackside at ChumpCar. I had no idea what to expect when I volunteered for the 2010 Iowa ChumpCar event. I had decided long before the event to clear my calendar for the weekend to volunteer, whatever that meant. I filled out the volunteer form suggesting that I would work however the ChumpCar needed; cleaning fluid spills, fixing meals or running as “gopher”. It all amounted to an experience that I won’t soon forget.
Unfrozen
Friday, 26 March 2010 19:00
After the longest, coldest, snowiest winter in my lifetime, spring has finally opened its doors. Now, my detached and unheated garage has beckoned me. Unwrapping History?
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 06:49
After talking to a friend, I finally decided to dig out the contents of the mysterious cardboard tube from British Leyland's "Publicity Despatch Department". There was some chrome sticking out, along with parts wrapped in brown paper. Was there a vintage Mini poster or banner buried in there?
Box of Goodies
Monday, 30 November 2009 19:00
After moving the Morris to the garage, the previous owner continued to provide spare parts. I brought home a cardboard box, a huge tube from the "Publicity Despatch Department" of British Leyland, a grille, and 2 of the 4 new wheels.
How To: Be a Race Fan 2.0
Friday, 07 August 2009 16:46
The Web has had a profound effect on race fans, as well as on much of our culture and commerce. The basics of video and Web pages provide a good foundation for keeping on racing. The addition of new services, like Twitter and Facebook, provide the enthusiast with a Web 2.0 experience. I've pulled together some tips for making the most of the Web and social media to follow racing. |
© Steve Simpson