Since I’ve posted last I’ve add the R113 JCW 18″ rims only with some NittoNeoGen rubber.  The most dramatic move was moving my back C Pillar to Black.  At AMVIV Todd from ToddsModds added some carbon fiber vinyl to the front headlight rings.  Also at the event I added a NM-Eng short shifter w/cover and a Craven Speed shift well cover.  Photos courtesy of db from WRR

Join the forum discussion on this post

The 5280driver garage had a visitor this weekend.  Todd Pearson, from WhiteRoofRadio, spent a few nights at our place in Castle Rock.  Having Todd at our home for a few nights was a lot like having the President stay with us.  His staff makes sure the visit is not leaked.  We knew a few days in advance, but couldn’t say anything due to security concerns.  After the WRR secret service combed the garage for explosives and “tested” ALL the white Oreo’s for flavor he was allowed on the premises.

Todd was in town for the opening of the newest Mini dealership in Colorado, Mini of Loveland.  DB, the “talent” portion of the team, helped host the Grand Opening event on Friday night.  The dealership put on a bash like I have never seen before.  Understand people I spent 15 years in the car business.  I know a good dealership party when I see one, this one was great.

The morning after the event Todd made his way down to Castle Rock.  I have to tell you how dedicated I was to his visit.  Folks…I postponed the pain and birth of a fairly large kidney stone just to see that he was comfortable.  Let my dedication to visitors of this caliber not go unnoticed.  In fact I am still holding out the birth until the end of this update.

After a quaint dinner, where I might add, everyone was served promptly with an evenly cooked meal, we enjoyed some conversation.  The next morning the master began his work.  Mini after Mini was hauled into the garage…he slaved away like a shoemaker, carving his craft.  Ok, he really just stuck some sticky stuff on a few cars and drank a lot of my diet coke.  Soon after he finished he dragged my wife kicking and screaming to The Coach store where he forced me to buy her something nice.  At the liquor store that followed, he began educating my 11 year old on the finer points of whiskey…yeah he’s 11!

We finally got rid of the guy the next morning.

<removing tongue from cheek>  Todd was a wonderful guest.  It was a wonderful time with a great friend…and he confirmed we did get the smell out of the mattress we bought at the local police auction.

The boys over at WhiteRoofRadio [iTunes Link] have been talking about this issue for a few months now.  These oil starved engines are really starting to become an issue.  I’ll do my part to spread the word.  CHECK YOUR OIL LEVEL PEOPLE!

The video and their take after this jump.

This year the Mini In The Mountains (MITMS) team is mixing things up.  The venue has been changed to Winter Park Resort.  This venue is going to be incredible.  Monday night I saw some Summer time pictures of the resort.  The drive to get there is thrill on it’s own.  It’s 20 miles of tight hairpins.

Look for more information from the promotions team.  Oh yeah, I’ve been recruited for that team so you’ll see a ton of updates here.

Here is a link to the pictures from Friday.  In there you’ll find a video of a sweet sounding BMW.  Another video that’ll tease you with a movie from my new car mounted camera.  That’s gonna be a toy I’ll be using a lot.

I saw some more celebs, some more booth babes and some epic cars.

– “Very Steve McQueen” db

Other than being hung, Thursday was pretty awesome.  I spent the day with the guys from White Roof Radio.  We saw new products, Minis, old friends, new friends, and of course booth babes.  If you don’t know about White Roof Radio click on over to iTunes.  In the podcast catagory “Automobile”…their show is consistently top 10 in the US.  Todd and db(Don Burnside) are great down to earth dudes.

The three of us spent the day meandered our way through North Hall, Central Hall, and Wheels and Tires.  <placing tongue in cheek> The booth babes were clamoring Todd all day.  “Todd can I have a picture with you?”  Todd was a good guy about it, but I could tell by the end of the day it was wearing on him.  Folks, celebrity status is not all it cracked up to be.  db on the other hand did a nice job of “dressing himself down”.  A few recognized him, and he was gracious to those fans.

Seriously fellas thanks for hangin with me.  I feel like I made some life long friends yesterday.

I am uploading some more pictures now. Some of the photos are of Todd Pearson from “White Roof Radio”. Consistently in the top 10 inf the Auto category in iTunes.  He has a thing about pictures with the booth babes.  You guys don’t mind, right?

I’ll be reviewing a new product just released this week called GoPro. Full 1080P resolution sport camera. LINK There are some pictures in my photo galleries. That thing is almost as cool as boobies.

Tonight I’m prepping the blog and some photo galleries for next weeks SEMA show coverage. Many of you know, I was the owner of an internet based off road parts company. During those 8 years I could never find the time to make it to SEMA. This year is different. I want to make sure I save every memory.

Lucky for you I’ll be sharing my coverage with you right here on my blog. Before I leave for Las Vegas I am turning on the feed from my Twitter ID to post here. This will post everything I Tweet about right here on the blog. During the day I’ll be blogging and uploading pictures to these four main galleries. So bookmark them.

Tuesday November 3rd

Wednesday November 4th

Thursday November 5th

Friday November 6th

Strap yourselves in it’s going to be a great week.  Special thanks goes out to Aaron Storms, Editor of The Weekly Register-Call.  I should have a great article for publishing when I get back.

It’s sounds like Ben Stein made an appearance on this version.  Ben did most of the MotoringFile News section.  “I…am…very…excited…about…this…car.”  Really?  Gabe, I can hear it in your voice.

Yeah it’s out. How about a frickin R55 badge.  Geeze, do you need my address to mail it too?

Some topics:

New Motoring Badges released: “You got passed by a girl”, etc.  Still no R55 badges! >:|

“iPhone” app for “NEW” Mini owners: I understand that this new app will be used by those of us still under warranty. The guys made a stretch, by saying that most Mini owners under warranty are not technically minded.

“I think the larger percentage of technical minded Mini owners are those of us from the beginning, the older ones.  The newer ones I don’t know if they are so technically minded.”

Basically saying that will be used by nontechnical folks with less than 4ok on their car.  While this might be true, some of us under warranty had old Mini’s and bought new ones. They continued to accidentally insult new WRR listeners by relating use to these type of “new” owners.  Guys I understand where your coming from here, however if you are truly talking about new owners, they wouldn’t know about WhiteRoofRado, or Motoring file, they’re new.

I personally just found WhiteRoofRadio and my new Mini is under warranty.  However, I would call myself and enthusiast.  Installing countless mods myself, in my own garage.  Now my 2006 MCS is long gone, but I got by modding that just fine without WRR.

Ironic to say the least that one of the hosts just got done talking about his clutch pedal and how it went out while he was driving.  He then called some of the other host to get advice and ask what the heck was wrong.  Maybe if he had been and “Enthusiast” that might have helped him figure it out.

I’m probably taking this way, way to personally, but guys just because your Mini is under warranty and you don’t know about WRR does not make you a newbie, unenthusiastic, or nontechnical.

Ask Chad: great new little feature. Well done.

One more thing, guys what the heck is the little pubic hair looking thing on the lower right hand side of the WRR logo?

[motoringbadges][motoringfile][whiteroofradio]

<insert tongue in cheek>

It took a lot of hard work on Todd’s part, getting through my people, setting up a time, etc.  Todd is a very persistent journalist.  I have have been dodging him all weekend and the guy would just not quit.  Props to you Todd!

The interview was pretty good and should easily make the real of WhiteRoofRadio.  I mean compared to what I’ve heard on there before.  With me on it should be a huge episode for him.  Look for Todd’s eBay link, at WhiteRoofRadio.com, as I signed quite a few of this “little” WhiteRoofRadio stickers and he was passing them out to people.

<removing tongue from cheek>

Honestly I was nervous, he walked over with this cool little recording device and started talking with me.  Todd is a great guy and I wish that he and the smokin’ hot girl he was with him lived closer to my family here in Colorado.

When he is not busy recording WhiteRoofRadio, he is a small business owner in Kansas City, MO.  One of the great new friends I have met here at MITM 2009.  Good luck to you Todd and keep in touch.