MINI USA

There’s no better time than National Inventors Month to honor our inventor: Sir Alec Issigonis.

Check out a very abridged history, below:

The year was 1957. Gas prices were soaring. And the big behemoth gas-guzzlers of the day were making less and less sense to the general public. So, Sir Leonard Lord of the Morris Company issued his top engineer, Alec Issigonis, a challenge: design and build a small, fuel-efficient, affordable car that can carry four adults.

Alec Issigonis not only delivered, he changed automotive history with two groundbreaking innovations. He pushed the wheels all the way out to the corners of the car and turned the engine sideways. When they unveiled the MINI in 1959, the world had never seen anything like it. They were awestruck. This unique combination of low cost and small size came to symbolize independence and spontaneity. In other words, it came to define the youthful spirit of the early 1960s.

Issigonis’s numerous layout innovations not only created more passenger room. They also happened to make MINI incredibly fun to drive. Wheels at the corners meant a wide, go-kart stance and nimble handling. And the transverse engine kept weight over the front tires, helping provide balance and grip.

But how did MINI get the Cooper name? Well, it was 1961 when the humble little people-mover fell into the hands of British racing legend John Cooper. A more powerful engine, bigger brakes and a few turning tweaks later and the MINI 997 was introduced. And a rally demon was born. Before long, the nimble little MINI was outracing and outlasting the larger, more powerful, but clumsier sedans of the day. Visits to the winner’s circle became a regular event and MINI chalked up numerous international race wins—including three at the prestigious Monte Carlo rally from 1964 to 1967.

So here’s to the man who started it all: Sir Alec Issigonis. Let’s take this month to motor in his memory.

Imagine the drive. This summer the will of the dreamer meets the spirit of the open road. MINI TAKES THE STATES 2012, a Proud Partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, celebrates the achievement that anything is possible when people take a hold of their dreams.

We salute all who compete.

GO FORTH. GO WEST. GO MINI.

http://bit.ly/MTTS2012

Even though the weather has been a bit unusual around the country, we can always depend on April showers.  Here are a few tips that can help keep everyone safe out there:

1. If it’s been dry for a while, watch out for wet roads. The oil, dirt, exhaust, and grease that has accumulated since the last rain can suddenly rise to the surface and make things slippery and unpleasant. And MINIs do not care for unpleasantness. 

2. Say no to cruise control.  If you end up hydroplaning, cruise control can make things worse. MINIs don’t look nearly as sharp when they’re spinning around in circles.

3. Just say no to tailgating. If the car in front of you stops short, it may be more difficult to stop in time when it’s wet. While a MINI is smaller than a lot of cars, it still weighs more than a ton. 

4. If you find yourself driving through water that comes up to your doors, you might want to find another route. Just sayin’….

5. Keep an extra eye out for puddles, especially near crosswalks and sidewalks. Folks who are out walking in the rain are already wet – don’t add insult to injury.

World’s Greatest Tunnels

The Laerdal in Norway, the Zhongnanshan in China, and the St. Gotthard Road Tunnel in Switzerland are some of the longest, but it’s also worth mentioning the hole through Backbone Rock on Highway 133 in Johnson, Tennessee. It’s only about 20-feet long – making it one of the world’s shortest tunnels.

The Laerdal

Uploaded to Flickr by Oyvind Solstad, some rights reserved

The St. Gotthard Road Tunnel

Uploaded to Flickr by Amandabhslater, some rights reserved

But the question remains: what is the world’s GREATEST tunnel? A highly subjective question? Maybe. But here are a few of our favorites all the same.

The “Waldo Tunnel”: Marin County, CA

The Waldo is a perfectly nice tunnel in and of itself but it’s what you see when you come OUT of it that makes it unique. Southbound travelers get their first glimpse of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge as they emerge from the darkness, making Waldo a tunnel experience to remember.

Uploaded to Flickr by blmurch, some rights reserved

Channel Tunnel, linking England and France

This one’s a MINI owner’s dream, linking jolly old England to the land of wine and … wine. Overcoming bureaucratic obstacles and succeeding where earlier attempts failed, the Channel Tunnel (or “Chunnel”) was completed in 1994 and takes passengers through the murky depths of the English Channel. Tally ho!

Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel: Zion Canyon, UT

What do you get when you drill through solid sandstone and come out the other side? The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. The elevation change makes it unique but it’s the “windows” carved into the sides of the tunnel that make it truly spectacular. Peeks of rock formations and Bryce Canyon National Park make this one a ride to remember.

Uploaded to Flickr by Ken Lund, some rights reserved

UK Imports

The Roadster is just one of the many helpful exports Great Britain has sent across the pond to make our colonial lives livable. Here are a few more we couldn’t do without.

Fish And Chips 

Going back to the 19th century, one of Britain’s greatest exports is a dish known simply as fish and chips. Traditionally wrapped in newspaper and accompanied by vinegar and ketchup, fish and chips have become a deep fried jewel in the crown that is culinary Britain.

Please note: you may want to keep this delicacy out of your Roadster since greasy fingers and beautiful interiors do NOT go hand in hand.

The Lawn Mower

It’s probably safe to say that very few people enjoy mowing the lawn. But if the UK’s Edwin Budding hadn’t invented this useful device back in 1827, we’d all have overgrown lawns and our neighbors would never stop judging us. Plus, the tall grass would probably cover the MINI Roadster in your driveway, making it a lot harder to show off that classic British style.

Ice Cream

Great Britain gave the world some questionable culinary delights like spotted dick and jellied eel, but the Empire was also responsible for one of the greatest health foods of all time: Ice Cream.

Dating all the way back to 1718, the first recipe for ice cream suggests fruit flavors instead of currently favored ingredients like bacon or cookie dough. When you’re in your Roadster in search of a double scoop, just remember to give a double shout-out to the Brits for their many gifts to the world.  

Roadsters

The UK gave us so much, but our all-time favorite export is that small and stylish master of the passing lane: The Roadster. While the notion of the Roadster itself isn’t purely English, the cars that came to define the look and feel of a classic Roadster were. For decades, the head-turning two-seaters that came out of England were all the rage, but eventually bigger, less sporty cars took over.  

With all the style of its classic English ancestors and more than a dash of superior engineering, the MINI Roadster marks the return of one of the greatest things to ever come from the British Isles. It’s time to break out the driving gloves.