Posted elsewhere, but:
AMVIV was, as ever, an absolute blast. My sister brought her MINI, her family, some friends & their MINI along from San Francisco for her & their first MINI event. I got in late Thursday night, did not make the Death Valley / Track events on Friday, as we were waiting for Bridget's car to get out of Desert MINI's shop. Bridget managed to go through her brakes in 12000 miles. Something about being addicted to the long skinny pedal to the right, and having to use the brakes because people (and stop signs & lights & cops) get in her way: Did make it to Red Rocks & Mt. Charleston, on the latter run I found out exactly how stable the GP is at high speeds. The answer is rock steady, the speed is classified.
Got to see a bunch of folks that these days I only see at events, rather than on runs. All in all, a great time. Except for the dumb cluck (substitute your own consonant) who backed into Stanleys onside headlight with a Chevy Suburban at a gas station on the NV/CA border on my way home. Stupid me, I had just thought to myself "I've had a great time, and no damage except one small windshield chip." I never learn.
Phil Thearle (my good friend at the body shop ) will be replacing the front bumper & hood, and possibly the radiator &/or aux. cooler. Phil & I were talking, and I'm now on my 5th visit to his facility. Only one of which was because I did something stupid, all the rest were because someone else hit my MINI. I swear to god, I'm buying a bullseye graphic for the car.
I did spend the rest of my trip home caravanning with Donna & Mike, formerly of DC Metro MINIs, who send greetings eastward. Stanley goes into the shop at the end of next week for his face lift.