John Cooper Works Mini

So we're driving along Sunset Blvd a couple of weeks ago, heading towards Beverly Hills from Malibu, in light traffic, so moving at a fair clip, and we come alongside a Mini at the traffic lights. Whatever. But then the lights go green and the 'little car that could' is off like a shot! Surprised at the adeptness of the driver, we quickly recover and catch up, only to discover that it is nothing less than a John Cooper Works Mini .

Which makes a lot more sense. Given a 211hp 4 cylinder engine and the curb weight of a large dog, the car gets from 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds. Not too bad for a 4 banger.

We're not sure where United Pictures found this vid, which gives you a good look at both the standard JCW Mini and the JCW Clubman, but we're not too convinced the chick doing the talking knows the first thing about cars. Never mind...just watch the pretty pictures instead.

Don't want to go the factory-modified route? How about a Mini Cooper With Kawasaki R1100 Motor ?!

What's In The Barn?

If we hadn't seen the photos we probably wouldn't have believed this story. But we're so glad it's true!

A recently retired New Yorker and his wife decided to use their retirement money wisely and invest in some property. A house with a few acres in Portugal took their fancy and they went to have a look.

The property had been vacant for 15 years following the death of the owner and his wife. With no heirs to lay claim to the property, it was now being sold off by the State in order to pay off back taxes.

The house itself was appealing but a very large barn on the property was both ugly and welded shut. Gaining access to the barn was not including free as part of viewing the property and so a lot of people had passed on this steal of a deal.

The New York couple bought it for half of its worth and moved in. Pretty soon, the curiosity to know what lay behind the welded-shut steel doors overwhelmed them and, buying a generator and a couple of grinders, they cut through the welds...and entered Aladdin's cave!

The barn was full of vintage high performance cars! Cars included Lotus Elan FHC, Lotus Super Seven Series IV, Lotus Elan DHC, Porsche 356, Austin Healey Sprite MkII, Volvo PV 544,Giulietta Sprint, Giulia Sprint Speciale (SS), Nash Metropolitan, Alfa Giulietta, Lotus Europa, Lancia Flaminia Coupé, Peugeot 504 cabriolet & 404 cabriolet. Plus BMW V8, Formula racers, Chryslers, Mercedes and Austin A30.

The total value of this amazing collection? Over 35 million...and we're not even sure if that's in Dollars or Euros! Either way, all of the cars became property of the New York couple upon purchase of the house and grounds and you gotta know they're having a kick ass retirement now!

The Oscar Meyer Wienermobile is Now a Mini Cooper

Brought to you by: TheDarkKnight.

Oscar Meyer, the American meat and cold cut company (now owned by Kraft Foods) came up with a way to advertise their company in 1936: an automobile shaped like a hot dog on a bun. It was a great hit with kids who are now boomers and can still sing every word of the Oscar Meyer jingle. The Wienermobile first made trips throughout the Midwest and then was driven from coast to coast through 1970. In 1986 the Wienermobile turned 50 and they started her back on road trips still handing out 'Wienerwhistles'. Yep.

There have been up to six wienermobile chassis designs throughout the years and I guess this one makes seven. The new one is politically correct fuel-wise, but, woefully inadequate 'American icon-wise'. Many Americans still love big: motors and wiennermobiles and does this mean we now have to sing the Oscar Meyer jingle with a British accent? And do we now have to use Grey Poupon instead of French's mustard on our hot dogs?


View the The Oscar Meyer Wienermobile photo.

Roadfly.com tests the new Mini Cooper

RoadFly.com has just published two new tests starting with the new Mini Cooper.... I think.... darn thing looks so much like the old Mini Cooper that I struggle to tell them apart. Maybe if I got out more I could tell, you see while the other car web sites get to go out and have some fun, the StreetFire crew is busy managing video servers, encoding ques and web streamers.... sigh.... must be nice :-)

Oh and as a side note they also just got some seat time in a new Jaguar XKR to flog around Willow Springs. Okay now I just want to cry.... must get away from computer... must get back in driver's seat. If someone wants to treat me to a few runs at Road Atlanta to get me out of the house, drop me a line it would do wonders for my sanity ;-)

[Mini Part I]
[Mini Part II]
[Visit the RoadFly.com web site]