British Mini Showdown ... It's coming!!

The Ultimate Mini weekend of the year is coming.. are you ready for the Big Black Track and can you take on the quarter mile drag strip and beat it? July 12th and 13th sees the return of the British Mini Showdown brought to you by the British Mini Club.. This is a wonderful event for everyone who loves the Mini and wants to see a bit of fast action from the worlds favourite small car. See the classic Mini take on the new MINI or a full blown space framed race spec engine Mini. Hyabusa rear engined Mini or see the incredible Stuart Meades in his amazing nitrous injected Ford engined Mini set yet another fastest time. Stuart cracked the 10 seconds at an event last year can he do it again at this years Showdown .. The ulitimate Drag Racing event for the Mini /MINI. For full details of how to take part or simply how to come along and watch go straight to our website at www.britishminiclub.co.uk Discount tickets will be available for club members.

Some 'green' cars dismissed as gimmicks

Some cars promoted as environmentally-friendly have been criticised for pumping out up to 56% more CO2 than claimed by their manufacturers.

Three models - the Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus GS 3450h and the Skoda Fabia Greenline 1.4 TDI were all labelled as 'gimmicks' by Auto Express after testing. A further five models also failed to match their advertised emissions - the Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Econetic, Mini Cooper Cubman D, Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion. SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive and Toyota Prius T Spirit - but were branded as 'green' by the publication.

The worst emissions offender in the tests was the Honda Civic Hybrid. Testers found it to emit 171 g/km of CO2, compared to the 109 g/km of the manufacturer

Auto Express editor-in-chief David Johns said it was crucial that consumers knew whether cars billed as eco-friendly were 'truly green or really just pure gimmick'.

The official manufacturer data is based on laboratory tests conducted in line with Government standards.

A spokesman for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said cars may emit more CO2 under real world operating conditions, but insisted that all cars had the same 'industry standards'. (The Times/Daily Mail: May 19).

The 2008 Donor Card GT

The 2008 Donor Card GT will be a fun days run based in Brooklands this year on Sunday July 27th. Paddy Hopkirk will be present to start all the cars and he will sign rally plates or your Mini for a small fee.All money raised is for The Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Its an ideal day out for mini drivers with a simple route to follow and of course the Booklands Museum to see as well as meet Paddy Hopkirk. For further details ring Continental Car Tours on 01304 380244 or email admin@continentalcartours.co.uk.

Quicker identification of parts and service specialists for MG Rover and New Mini owners

MG Rover and New Mini owners can now find details of their nearest specialist XPart service and repair provider more easily than ever before, following the launch of an expanded and updated website, www.xpart.com . The site's improved design incorporates a new centre locator, which allows visitors to search for their nearest MG Rover specialist, New Mini specialist, or MG Rover parts distributor. Once identified, the site provides comprehensive directions and maps.

"With programmes such as servicing of New Mini's, XPart now has a much wider offering than its original MG Rover service and repair," explains Don Lindsay, service marketing manager, XPart. "The new website reflects these developments and ensures that visitors know about all of the services available and can easily locate their nearest provider."

XPart's AutoService centre network has been established for three years and provides high-quality servicing at competitive aftermarket rates. Garages receive technical support and ongoing data from XPart ensuring they can continue to service vehicles in an efficient and effective manner. Parts are received daily from one of XPart's 110 MG Rover parts distributors who receive overnight deliveries from its central distribution centre which houses a parts inventory in excess of £20 million.

As well as giving the locations of its 240 AutoService centres, the new website also provides details of XPart's 110 MG Rover parts distributors. The distributors continue to offer 'genuine' MG Rover parts to owners who wish to purchase parts directly and then carry out repairs themselves.

British Mini Day - Himley Hall video

Below is a snippet from the official video of Himley Hall 2008. We hope you enjoy and the official DVD will be available to purchase very soon.

MINI USA Brings Pinball Action to Nintendo Wii

Online Wii Gamers Can Download Free Clubmania Pinball Game Starring 2008 MINI Clubman:

MINI USA releases Clubmania Pinball, a free online game for the Nintendo® Wii™ that was inspired by the 2008 MINI Clubman’s unique split-rear barn-style door design and a pinball themed global television spot created by MINI’s agency Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners (BSSP). The game, published by Engage In-Game Advertising, plays to MINI’s free-wheeling style and spirit that appeals to the casual gamer community through the Wii console.

“The MINI brand is all about exhilaration, fun and experiencing the unexpected. We are thrilled to introduce the latest addition to the family, the MINI Clubman, to the world of Wii,” said Kate Alini, Marketing Communications Manager, MINI USA.

“The social environment that Wii invites draws a broader audience of consumers and brings families and friends together,” said David Smith, president and co-founder of Engage In-Game Advertising. “Wii is fun and addicting and it creates a memorable experience in much the same way MINI USA has done with its cars.”

Using the Wii’s onboard browser, online gamers can access MINI USA’s Clubmania Pinball Game at http://www.ClubmanPinball.com. Clubmania Pinball features classic styling, sounds and functionality reminiscent of a real pinball machine. Players use their Wii remotes to quickly control their ball paddles and shake their remotes to simulate classic pinball tilt action. Players can test their accuracy by shooting at a range of targets on the game board. Initiate up to three balls in simultaneous action and quickly earn points to reach the next level of play.

The Clubmania Pinball game for Wii was conceived by Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners (BSSP) and published in collaboration with Engage In-Game Advertising. The idea for the game sprang from a fully integrated marketing campaign that uses television, outdoor, online and radio advertising to introduce the new MINI Clubman. One television ad called “Pinball,” features the unique rear barn doors of the Clubman opening outward like pinball flippers, to simulate a pinball game.

In commenting on the game, John Butler, Creative Director of BSSP said, "The media department at BSSP is an extension of our Creative Department. Where we put something, is in many ways as important as what it is. We've always felt that rather than trying to drive consumers to a destination to engage with our brands, it’s far more effective to take that experience to where they currently are. And in this instance, that just happens to be the Wii.”

MINI USA’s Clubmania Pinball game can also be played through a standard Internet browser on the PC platform.

Let us know if you try this on your Wii. We will certainly be trying as soon as we get our Wii browser up an running

British Mini Day-Himley Hall 2008, a massive success

A massive success at Himley Hall 2008 with well over 6000 visitors and traffic jams of more than 8 miles in the morning to get in to the show. All of us at the British Mini Club would like to say a very big thank you for supporting us and making the show such a success. Thank you. we hope you enjoyed your day with us. We made sure we ordered the amazing weather early this year and at one point it hit 30 degrees.

To see a full report, concours results and over 189 images (with more to come) please visit our website at www.britishminiclub.co.uk today and make sure you leave your comments either below or on our free forum.

Thank you to our sponsors, Footman James, Mini Sport and Branson Automotive for continuing to support the BMC.

See you all at The British Mini Showdown in July

What a day at Himley 2008

Well over 8000 visitors made the show the British Mini Clubs biggest ever. With all the top concours Minis on display and a massive number of new MINIs on the show ground and 30 degrees it was bound to be a special day for Mini fans. Check out our website for full story, results and images http://www.britishminiclub.co.uk

Craig Wilson wins best MINI of the day

His superb MINI Cooper won top car at Himley. Both winners received a cheque for £250

Chris Krzywiec wins classic Mini of the day

Top cars at Himley see the best winners

British Mini Day ROCKS

Its noon and the police have told us we have 8 mile tailbacks to get into the show. The park owners nearly closed the gates as we were full however they managed to open more ground for parking. The concours is packed with top quality classic and new Minis. What a sight that is. It is now 28 degrees and we are rammed

very busy already

Still not open yet and big line of Minis at the gate. Roll on 10 when we open, it sure looks like a busy day is on the way.

Just arrived at Himley

8.15 and the show is ready to go, the showground is filling up. We passed a number of Minis on the drive to the show. Come on down and see us and win this Mini for only £1

Blog Updates for Himley Hall

We are going to try something new this year at Himley by sending updates to our blog during the day at : http://mini-driver.blogspot.com

This is perfect for anyone who is unable to make it to our British Mini Day at  Himley Hall 2008 and would like to be kept upto date.Please bear in mind this is all new to us and we will try our best to make this work

To receive up-to-date British Mini Club information and promotions, you can elect to receive these new blog posts automatically as emails by entering their email address at www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=1603145

5m drivers to pay more road tax

Five million drivers will pay £50 or £90 extra in road tax next year because of the Government's decision to include older family cars in new higher tax bands.

Treasury figures show that a million of those will incur at least another £130 rise the following year, meaning that their road tax will have more than doubled over two years.

By 2010, 16 million drivers will be paying more tax than they are now, contradicting the Government's claim in the March Budge that "as a result of these changes the majority of drivers will be better or no worse off".

Last week it emerged that the Government had abolished the exemption from higher road tax rates for cars that emit more than 180 g/km of CO2 and were registered between March 2001 and March 2006.

Figures released by the Treasury show that 2.4m drivers will fall into the new Band J from April 1 next year and will become liable for £260 in road tax, up from £170 to £210 this year. Another 2.4m will be in Band K and pay £300, an increase of £90. (The Times: May 3).

Government gears up to announce driver test reforms

Major changes in the way 'L' drivers are taught are expected to be announced by the Government later this week.

The changes, which would effectively result in the driving age being increased from 17 to 18, will be revealed in a Driving Standards Agency consultation document.

The long-awaited document will put forward a series of initiatives designed to reduce the number of newly qualified drivers involved in road crashes.

Speculation on what the proposals will include revolves around:

• A ban on parents teaching their children to drive
• Compulsory lessons from a Government-approved instructor
• An extended 'L' test period that would in effect mean that young drivers could not obtain a full licence until they are 18
• A tougher driving test

However, suggestions that young drivers could face a zero drink-drive limit, a night-time curfew and a limit on how many passengers they car in their cars are unlikely to be included in the proposals.

There has also been speculation that a 16.5% rise in the cost of a driving test to £56.50 with the theory test increasing by 5.3% to £30 on April 1 could deter youngsters from taking the exams thus increasing the numbers of unlicensed, uninsured and untaxed drivers. (Daily Telegraph/The Times: May 3/Daily Mail: May 5).

Brown to postpone October fuel duty rise?

Speculation is mounting that Prime Minister Gordon Brown may postpone the scheduled 2p a litre rise in fuel duty in October following Labour's disastrous showing in last Thursday's (May 1) local elections.

As the Prime Minister fights back to save his leadership, a postponement of the rise in the light of all-time high pump prices is being viewed as a likely possibility.

Meanwhile, drivers in the south of England are paying almost £2 a tank more to fill up than motorists in the North or in Scotland, according to a survey by the Sunday Telegraph.

Campaign groups have criticised the difference in prices claiming that drivers were not getting a 'fair deal'.

The survey, which compared petrol prices from website petrolprice.com, found that the most expensive petrol was in Dover, an average of 111.4p a litre costing a motorist with an average sized family car £61.30 to fill their tank. Meanwhile, in Edinburgh the cost was 108.5p a litre, or £59.70 for a tank - a difference of £1.60.

Diesel price differences were even greater, with a litre costing an average 118.6p in Edinburgh, compared with 122.2p in Dover - a difference of £1.98 a tank. (Sunday Telegraph and national newspapers: May 5).

New London Mayor to focus on congestion charge shake-up

London's new Mayor Boris Johnson could make a shake-up in the capital's congestion charge one of his first policy decisions.

During his election campaign to take over as Mayor from Ken Livingstone, Mr Johnson pledged to reform the congestion charge and scrap plans for a £25 charge on the most polluting cars entering the charging zone, which was due to be introduced in October.

While, there has been no official word on the move following last Thursday's (May 1) election, there has also been speculation that Mr Johnson could alter the current boundaries of the congestion charge with the western extension, which was introduced in February last year and includes most of the boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster, a possible subject for further consultation.

Already Andy Goss, managing director of Porsche in the UK, has called on Mr Johnson to scrap the proposed £25 charge for gas-guzzlers. Porsche is waging a legal campaign against the measure. (National newspapers: May 5).

Vote deals blow to Manchester congestion charge bid

Plans to introduce congestion charging in Manchester are in disarray after the policy's strongest supporter lost his seat in last Thursday's (May 1) council elections to an anti-charging candidate.

Roger Jones, the Labour chairman of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, was pushed into third place in Salford. His seat was won by the Community Action Party, which ran a campaign based on opposition to the £5 daily peak period congestion charge proposed by Mr Jones.

With the Conservatives coming second in what was a safe Labour seat, the result will make other councillors cautious about supporting congestion charging.

The Government has been hoping that Manchester and Cambridge would be the next two major UK cities to introduce widespread congestion charging after London.

Manchester Against Road Tolls, which campaigned for CAP, said: "This result proves beyond doubt that the congestion charge is a cast-iron vote loser." (The Times: May 6).

Biofuel in diesel 'wrecks engines'

Thousands of motorists could face huge repair bills following complaints that biofuels introduced by the Government can cause jellyfish-like blobs that destroy engines.

Since April 15, all petrol and diesel sold on forecourts has had to contain 2.5% biofuel, which is typically made from crops and vegetables.

But, experts say the fuel is having a crippling effect on some vehicles, particularly those using diesel because not all garage tanks have been properly cleaned.

It means bacteria are getting into the fuel and reacting with its vegetable and cereal base, producing 'blobby' lumps that can clog filters increase engine wear and destroy pipes and seals.

Since the biofuel content was introduced, garages claim to have taken an increasing number of complaints from motorists who have unwittingly introduced the contamination into their fuel tanks.

Garages are now being warned that they must flush out their fuel tanks regularly to prevent problems.

A Department for Transport spokesman said 'strict quality standards' were in place for biofuels but 'there needs to be good housekeeping at fuel stations'. (Daily Mail: May 6).