SCMM 3rd Sunday AM of the Month "AM in LA" at Village Coffee Roaster
-and-

BMWCCA AutoCross at Hollywood Park, Father's Day, June 18, 2006



As suggested by David (LovelyMINI), SoCal MINI Maniacs made a regional event of visiting the impromtu exotic and performance car meet held every sunday morning at the Village Coffee Roaster in Woodland Hills on Mulholland Drive.

For whatever reason, according to folks who've been to a few of these things, today's turnout was very small. Even so, we managed to see some great cars up close and personal, and followed it up with a short and eventful twisty run over to Stunt Road, Saddle Peak, and Tuna Canyon. Along the way, Roadmaster Craig (CFMINI) had a brake failure while engaing some seriously tight downhill twisties on Tuna Canyon Rd, managing to get all of his coconuts collected and bringing the car safely to a halt in a wide runoff area farther down the hill. We escorted Craig to the end of the road at PCH, where he was able to contact AAA by cell phone and get a flatbed to carry his wounded MINI 85 miles home to the OC.

The club turnout at the VCR event was light but reasonable - 7 SCMM MINIs showed up, and got quite a bit of attention from the other folks present. It was a pleasure meeting new SCMM'er Chris, who joined us for our twisty run and then on to the BMWCCA Autocross event at Hollywood Park in Inglewood.

Many club members were participating in the Autocross, and we enjoyed all the activity. Unfortunately, Judy and I got a little too much sun exposure prior to the event, and had to leave early. Kudos to all who participated and/or helped out.

Check out Steve Thompson's Flickr Set for much better Autocross pics!



These electric-powered Coolers
were available for ~$500!


Erik's still working out a name
for his Pepper White Cabrio

Erik's Wet Okole seat covers
finding the new location





Yeah, even with a light turnout,
there was plenty of variety!


Those coolers hold a 6-pack plus ice!

Craig admiring a 20th -century Ferrari.


Some very nice late-60's musclecars!


Some furiously-fast looking 'Stangs



This Lambo Diablo was a real
attention-getter!

Judy liked it too!

Pearlescent orange metalflake...


Bizarre roll bars and tonneau
on the tricked-out Mustang

A look at the orange-piped upholstery.
(No, Erik did not put his hat on the Diablo.)


This C5 Vette was owned by Bill,
who was very friendly, and interested
in our MINIs.





Yes, I was a little fixated
on the Diablo...




A nice S2000 seems almost mundane by comparison!


I thought this was a Dino in
the process of being restored...
Someone said it was actually a
Fiero-based replica.


Inside the "Dino".




MINI Maniacs

[Theme from "Duelling "Corvettes"]








A miasma of MINIs



MINI Snoots!


Erik's Sharp MCS Cabrio

Craig's MCS (before the brake failure)

Obligatory Murray shot.


Dennis's MCS

Randy's M7 Monster

New member Chris's '06 MCS


David's "lovely" MCS















Even though Dennis thought this
Ferrari was the wrong color, it
was one of my favorites


Pretty Porsche


The passenger in this C6 was wearing a MINI hat!



Although there weren't that many
cars here at any one time, new
and interesting ones kept showing up!




Nice old 914

Another Diablo!


This mid-60's T-bird was
surprisingly fine!


After leaving VCR, we stopped
at Saddle Peak







Judy, Chris, Randy, and Erik

Craig, moments after his brakes went
away on Tuna Canyon! Nice save!


Craig's MCS about to to be
loaded on the flatbed on PCH.

Snapped this Atom that was
zooming by on PCH...


Dave Bunting at the Hollywood Park BMWCCA Autocross


We didn't compete, but still were able to be in the midst of the action






Cooling off the brakes

Dave's velvet red 06 Cooper

Vanessa's Cooper Cabrio


Steve's MINI-Knievel

Jerry's Cooper Cabrio

Chris checking out Theresa's 06 MCS,
and Robert's 06 MCS Cabrio



A nice variety of competitors

Andi Mast in her MINI


Under the main tent

Drivers finishing up walking the course




Vanessa's about to get a ride
with an instructor

George captures the moment...

Vanessa strapping on the brain bucket




Steve doing a run

Closer











Steve starts a run

Dave about to start a run









Vanessa getting ready to run

Bob Winer recreating the face
he made when he found out Judy
didn't bring her camera.












Assembling for the driver's briefing






Land Use Planning!





(Modified 2040 PDT - June 19, 2006)