Focus

Focus – front

Originally uploaded by pbraun

Art in Public Places – Stamford, CT is a good place to live. For a little while, anyway.

MINIs on Top

Of Mount Washington, NH, that is…….. large annual gathering of MINI Cooper enthusiasts with a mission – to climb Mt. Washington in their MINIs! All this despite the proven fact it has extremely bad weather.

Looking forward to a wonderful experience. Thanks in advance to all the organizers!  Here’s the website: http://minisontop.com/

Here’s the T-shirt:

2009 MOT t shirt

King of the Hill

Yes, I know it’s not a MINI, but it does belong to a friend of mine, Roger Skeete, who has won the fastest time on the weekend before the rally Hillclimb in Barbados, Roger Skeete. Congratulations, Roger

King of the Hill

About to build a new house.

I know it isn’t MINI, although there will be space for a few, but it sure is exciting to be on the verge of building a new house in North Carolina.

We found a basic plan we can modify. The front elevation looks like:

We will be adding on to make an oversized 3 car garage, with provision for a four post lift, and the master bedroom will be upstairs. The wine room will be downstairs, off the den and living room area, near the dining room and kitchen. See in the front, right, the porch? That area will be enclosed, and inside the house, for the wine cellar, then outside, behind there, a little patio. Solar photo voltaic array on roof, facing South, will make this house a power generator. Energy Star certification will happen.

I’ll be off to the site next week to pick a builder, then it’s POA approval, permitting, and we’re a go. Aiming to break ground mid Aug. to Sept. this year – 2009.

BRAUN Racing

BRAUN Racing

Originally uploaded by pbraun

Finally, the name is getting the recognition it deserves. If only Ross would spell it correctly.

RSR Motorsports

One of three

 

Now racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the Koni Sports Car Challenge series, in class ST. This team is fielding three MINI Coopers this year in a most exciting series. The team is owned and operated by Randy Smalley, from Arizona, and the MINIs are constructed by Tim Marren, of Marren Motorsports in Connecticut. Two of the drivers, Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood, won the ST class in 2007, are driving car # 198 and all team members are looking forward to a fun season.

 

 

Check out their website: http://www.rsrmotorsports.com/index.cfm?template=team

Norwalk wants me!

I’ll be starting a long-term sub job in Norwalk on April 20th! Will have French and Spanish classes, at a middle school.

Keep me busy for a while, anyway!

Looking around now……..

Well, I guess I’ll post it here: I am no longer working at MINI of Fairfield County. Hopefully when the car sales business gets better, they’ll call me back. Now, I’m looking for something else to do, and substitute teaching looks like a good alternative right now. Just got 3 hot leads on long-term positions, so checking out all those possibilities.

Recession hits home, part 1.

Roger Skeete in Jamaica

Roger Skeete in Jamaica

Originally uploaded by pbraun

This may not be a MINI, but it is driven by a friend of mine, Roger Skeete, from Barbados. An awesome car, almost won 1st overall but for losing third gear and having to replace a broken windscreen.
He will be driving in Rally Barbados 09, over Memorial Day weekend, if anyone wants to come down and have a great time!
May see you there!

Meanwhile, here’s some video of Roger from 2007, at Rally Barbados, driving his Ford Escort WRC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgpmkyWh9-o&feature=related

Jimini 2

Jimini

Originally uploaded by pbraun

We just got back from our annual trip to the second home – Barbados. A great time was had by all. One of the things we did this year was to visit all the rum distilleries on this island, often known as the home of rum. Doing some research for a project.

At the Mount Gay Distilleries, Ltd., we had again another wonderful tour by the owner/master blender, and was happy to notice this well worn example of a Mini in the corner of a courtyard. It’s a Jimini 2 variant, fiberglass body, most likely assembled on the island back in the 90s, but maybe imported separately, as the Barton style hardtop is unusual.

We may be opening the “University of Rum” in Barbados, within the next several years, offering courses and certificates for the edification of rum fans. Research will continue and news posted here.