Journal 2005

010205
A few of us met at the Cross Roads of Time to take a run on the Dragon. What a great way to start the new year

021205
Well.....it was bound to happen. Being a road racer/car builder in the past, I must admit I missed being invloved in racing. We helped a fellow MINI owner through drivers school. Now I can't wait for our first race.
After starting the three practice starts from the pole, Ben finished first in class. The next guy in his class was 25 seconds behind after 5 laps. We named our team "Team We Don't Suck So Bad".I just wanted to say that E.T. & I had a great time this weekend with "Team We Don't Suck So Bad". We've been away from road racing for a few years and realized this weekend how much we like being involved.Ben really did an outstanding job with his driving. He has a great attitude about learning and is showing potential to becoming a top flight racer, in my opinion. His start in the practice race on Sunday, was a perfect balance of strategy, reflex and aggression that enabled him to pick up four positions by the time he got to Turn 1. Throughout the weekend, he exhibited an ability to provide good driver feedback to us after every session which enabled us to improve the cars performance.Scott and Brandon were a blast to work with and are going to be essential to Ben's success with his MINI in the future. They really know their stuff about MINIs.So, it's off to Road Atlanta on 2/26-2/28 for another go.
I can hardly wait!!

032805
Happy Birthday Mean Mr. Bean!

040305
Just got back Bean from the torture chamber. We had to go for a run on the Dragon and stop by to see killboy.

042305
We had a great time today....I just wish Bean was there. The Ice Cream run was a blast!

043005
I'm very excited today! Bean is getting suited up for the Dragon.

050205
Well thanks to Brandon, Bean is now electronically blinged and ready for the Dragon!

050405
Bean has eyes now. and they look mean!

050605
MOTD 2005. Motored up to the Dragon for a 4 day MINI event. There was well over 250 MINIS. Bean was chosen 2nd place in the people's choice award. I won a Phil Wick's driving experience school. Plan to do that in the fall. It was a great event this year. I had a chance to spend time with old friends and make new ones.

051605
I just want to give Jon Schwartz a special thanks for helping me with my new website meanmrbean.com!

051905
I have no words to describe today.

052005
Eric Peters my Service Advisor is AWESOME! Thanks Eric for always taking such good care of me and Mean Mr. Bean.

052105
Met a new friend. His name is Buster. He is a Black MCC. I've only had him a couple of days so far.We've been spending all our time motoring. I've been learning the art of motoring topless. I'ts not the same as a MC or MCS. I guess you could say the sky is the limit. Oh yeah, you can't shout those comments about other drivers when your topless.
 

052205
We spent quality time with Buster today in the North Georgia Mountains. One more thing I learned about topless.....SUNBURN.

062305
Ordered Mean Mr. bean v2.0
LY/LY MCS. Cold weather Package. 18" JCW wheels w/ 225/35-18 Yokohama Parada Spec 2, Front & Rear Fog Lamps, Panther Black Gravity Upholstery, Anthracite Headliner, Automatic AC, 3-spoke Sport Steering Wheel w/Cruise and Multifunction. HARMON KARDON 8-Speaker System w/XM radio, Aero Kit, Xenon Headlamps, LSD, DSC, JCW Engine kit, JCW air filter kit, JCW Sport Brake kit, JCW Suspension kit

062705 Got production number.

062905
Today was AWESOME. More to follow. JillyCan'tWait!

070505
Driving an MCS waiting on a MCS JCW, it doesn't get any better than this.

070705
okay...I thought waiting on a second MINI would be easier. It's the same all over again. Checking status and who's going into production, ect. The web says Bean is on order. I now have my cell phone programed to dial ASK MINI by voice. I just say "where's Bean" and my answer is a phone call away. ASK MINI says he's scheduled for production date not determined.

070805
Yipee!!!! Bean is in production. His scheduled completion is 7/16/05. NEXT SATURDAY!

070905
Well Bean is official now. He's got a VIN number. Counting the days.......

070905
Bean & his buds are posted on Friendly Fields General Store website:
http://www.friendlyfields.com/
A must stop when at the Dragon. I think I need to head up there soon. I'm almost out of "Just Rub It" spice.

071405
I just checked on Bean. He's in the Body shop. Scheduled completion is still this Saturday 7/16/05

071505
8am. Just checked on Bean....he's in the paint shop. Yipee! LY/LY!!!

071605
It’s official. Bean was born today at 8:52 a.m.! Jeff Ferguson at Global is my Motoring Advisor. He made me an announcement card for Bean. He's the best! Bean is now handover to carrier/load assignment.

071905
Bean showed up today as being booked and at the terminal 7/18/05. He'a on the Aida, voyage # EQ530-AID that is departing 7/30/05 and arriving 8/14/05. Looks like he's in good company. There are 176 MINIs on this voyage.

072005
Okay...bean jumped ship. He's now on the Undine with his sister SINaMINI. He's departing 7/22/05 and arriving in SC 8/4/05. Lookin' Good! There's 601 MINIs on the ship!

072005
I just came accross this. An email I sent out when I was waiting on Bean v 1.0:

"I called my Mini Cooper S.. Mr. Bean. He is a Liquid Yellow car with Aero effects. I have a personalized license plate that says “MR BEAN”. I have been waiting almost 5 years for this car. I was on the waiting list since September 02 and finally got to place my order in late January 03.


This is the ship Mr. Bean is on along with 51 of his brothers & sisters. He was booked on the Jingo Maru on 2/25/03 at 10:30 am. He arrived at the Terminal in South Hampton England on 3/1/03 at 7:14 am. He loaded the vessel on 3/3/03 at 2:21pm and is still partying with 51 of his brothers and sisters. The ship stopped in New York City 3/13/03 and then left on 3/14/03 and sailed to Charleston, SC where he arrived on 3/16/03. WAITING TO GET OFF THE BOAT

http://www.shipphotos.co.uk/pages/jingumaru.htm

Yes...I know I’m a sick puppy"

LOL!

072305
Today someone asked me if my MINI was real or fake.. I looked at him and said why yes it is a real MINI, thinking he may have been talking about a Classic & a MINI. Then he went on to say that there has been a bulletin out on the TV about this ring that has been building Counterfeit MINIS. They were selling them for around three grand. He went on to say it has been really bad. That a lot of people have fallen for the fake MINIs and he thought that may have happen to us. Ok.....my MINI was only 3K...what the? We went on to explain to him that that was just an ad campaign promoting MINI. He didn't believe us. We finally convinced him. OK...the scarey part, he was here to do an inspection of our house. YIKES!

072405
Took Bean up one last time to the Dragon for a run.

072605
Okay...I found out that Bean departed England on the 20th and is scheduled to dock on August 1st. once he lands, there isn't anyway for me to know more about his location.

So which boat would that have been?

072705
Well it is official. Beanis on the Andes Highway

Shipping Info.:
CA0008 K-LINE
Vessel:ANDES HIGHWAY
Voyage No.:AND0236BSC
Est. Departure:7/20/05
Actual: 7/20/05
Est. Duration: 12
Actual:
still on the pipeline as scheduled to dock
on Aug. 1.
Thanks for all the work Amanda!

080205
The Andes Highway docked at 6pm. It is scheduled to unload at 8pm.!!!!!

080305
EDD 080905!

080405
Bean 2.0 showed up at Global. Still says En Route. EDD changed to 080405.

080505
Ha Ha! Bean shows at distribution center!

080605
On the OL Bean shows being at Global!

081105
I just may get my MINI on Saturday. Thanks Amanda for keeping me updated.

081205
OH MY GOD! I just got the call from Jeff....I am picking up MMBV2.0 tomorrow!!

081305
There are no words to describe tonight. I went to pick up Bean 2.0. We drove Bean 1.0 to Global. I had the surprise of my life. David, Jeff & Amanda made the welcoming of Mean Mr. Bean v2.0 an experience I'll never forget. They (Global Imports)had arranged for me to pick him up after hours. "So there would be no distractions with the Saturday insanity." I pulled up to find several of my MINI friends there for the unveiling of Bean. Amanda made a cake with SpongeBobs on the sides. There was champagne and lot's of smiles.I am so fortunate to have such a great group of friends that love to motor. And such a wonderful husband, he had Bean's graphics on him when I picked him up. What a thoughtful surprise

082105
Took Bean v2.0 to his first MINI meet at Andretti's Speed Lab. It was so good to me out our MINI buds! I missed seeing Minimom.....

082605
New MINI and new home. We are so thankful of our MINI friends. ScottGBRG, Jenny, thresholdB, ubercooper, our boys Eric & Ryan, Ron, Lynn and their daughter helped us move to our new house. We had from 5pm Friday till noon Saturday. We couldn't of pulled it off without all their help! Thanks so much!

090205
Gas prices are up and I have just a couple hundred miles before break in is completed

090305
Hit 1250 and punched the gas pedal. AWESOME! The MINI USA Scavenger Hunt has been a great way to get through the break in period.

090805
Oh...oh. My tag expired on my MINI today. I hope my tranfered registration shows up soon. I want to go to the Dragon on Sunday!

091105
Well, since break in was over. I just had to take Bean v2.0 for a run on the Dragon.It was so much fun motoring with our friends ScottGBRG & Jenny! We went up to the Dragon for the day. Took a few runs and made it back home in time for dinner. Bean needs to get off the run flats! I am now spoiled with JCW!

091605
Today has been a very sad day. Paul Darrow (1948 – 2005) has past away. He has been such a good friend to us. Paul was a soft spoken man with such enthusiasm for life and friendship. He was a true MINIac. He loved to motor and was a natural at finding the best routes to travel. We spent a lot of time with him on the twisty roads. I so much enjoyed the adventures and the laughter. He always had the biggest smile when around MINIS and friends. It saddens me so. But it is the strangest thing that when I start to tear up I hear his laughter echoing in my head. I’ll miss him. Yet with every twisty road I drive, I’ll know he’ll be there by my side.

091805
Today was the AtlantaMINIS 3rd Birthday Party. We had a great turn out and a lot of tire kicking. Bean v2.0 won the Modified Award....cool!

092605

On my Birthday, my husband gave me a JCW strut brace for Bean. He's the best! Thanks ScottGBRG & thresholdb for installing it! You guys take good care of Bean. ScottGBRG and ubercooper took Bean for a spin after the brace was installed. They came back all smiles. Bean is a natural at making people smile.Now just waiting on the back ordered JCW brakes.

100205
Finished the MINI USA Scavenger Hunt today. We had so much fun! We headed out to the Malibu Grand Prix in Norcross , GA. I asked Trey Young, the General Manager if we could take a picture of my MINI near the track. He was more than happy to help out. Trey got his staff and a group of his customers to join Bean out on the go-kart track for a few laps. It was so neat to hear the children saying "I get to race the MINI!" Yes a MINI can take the turns go-kart style!

100805
Everyday is an adventure with Bean. My camera is always with me. Even the simplest errands motoring have at times been great adventures. So many photo ops!

100905
Well I've finally done it. 1000 photos in my gallery. The OL doesn't like to take more than that. When I add any more it tosses them all over. So if you want to see any more you'll have to go to http://www.meanmrbean.com/
Please sign the guest book.

101205
Lucky me! I will be on the dragon three weekends in a row! I just need to move up there.

101305
Next week I loose my run flats! YIPEEEEEE

101605
Motored up North to see the kin folk. Left early on Thursday. It was a non stop drive to Indianapolis. We were on a mission. When going up North it is a must stop in Indianapolis to eat at St. Elmos. We even made sure our favorite waiter Lorenzo was working. He is the best and he was there that night to serve us!

102105
My husband is the best. He got me new tires for our anniversary!

102205
Fall Dragon, what better way to spend our wedding anniversary than at the dragon with friends. We stayed at the motorcycle cabin. Minimom, Steve and Orthomini joined us. We other friends stop by each night for dinner. I really enjoy the Fall Dragon.

102905
Went with ScottGBRG, JennyG, Call & Bart up to Tennessee to the Boo Run. It was a blast! I know I'll be there next year for the Boo Run. queenB did a great job organizing the event. It was nice spending time with the Smoky Mountain MINIs. Minimom and family showed up. Her MINI took best dressed MINI. ScottGBRG & JennyG took best costumes. E.T. and I were voted second for costumes.

110605
Went out and motored with our club. We had lunch sponsored by Hank Aaron and the off to the corn maize. So good to spend time with friends.

111905
Elvis sighting in Flowery Branch!

112005
GaMiniS planned out a route through the mountains today. We had seven MINIS on the trip. I even drove Minimom's Maggie on the twisties. Maggie is a blast to drive!

112405
Happy Holidays!
http://www.meanmrbean.com/html/happy_holidays_.html

120305
The AtlantaMINIS participated for the second time in the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Parade. We has 24 MINIS this time and we were all dressed up as mice. We actually got TV coverage this time. Bean v2.0 made it on TV

121005
Mama got a brand new gun. Nikon D50! Thanks E.T.

122205
Get this. I was pulled over today for doing the speed limit. I think the policeman just wanted to check out Bean.