Diddy Dave in Chicken, Alaska

Saturday 18th july 4pm approx.....in a Alaska at a place called Chicken.

Just a short update, I left Inuvik on Thursday and started to head back down the Dempster Highway its about 900km to the T Junction at the bottom. I drove half way to Eagle Plains that day and the rest on Friday to mile 0 at Klondik junction.

A stopover on Friday night....... the plan if I have a plan was to stop in Dawson City for a few days as there is a music festival on the go. After spending half a day I decided to move on...... my reason.... well think of the old cowboy films and Dodge City... well it’s still a bit like that with a touch of the modern world...... so I drove out of town and hit that dust trail again this time i was going to check the border out and see if the Americarmoes would let me in ........ there would not be a problem, but till your in your not in, mind you I was going in on the dirt road and not the main south to north road....... 

I arrived at the border and filled in a form..... I even got them to stamp my scottish passport for me...... o they don't like photos taken.......nearly locked me up for that one..... I jumped in the van and hit the dirt again....... this road is called the the Highway in the Sky....... it sure is and at about 3pm local I decided to park my saddle at a small place called Chicken....... tell you what guys the beer is cheaper and more meaty than i've had to date.... 

ok friends time to sign of and to say thanks to one and all of you I have meet on my travels...you are part of the dream and I thank you......

will try and keep you all up to date.........Diddy Dave

Genuine Mini Mats now available!

Brand new genuine Mini floor mats are now available from Mini Sport!

These are available in black with the Mini wings logo on the right hand mat and come complete with mat fixings on the front right hand mat. They also come complete with an anti-slip backing.

These have been unavailable for many years and have only just become available again.

We have these in stock now, but hurry they will be popular!

They are available to buy later today on the Mini Sport website and will be introduced at an introductory price of £47.42 plus VAT (£54.53 inc VAT).

Genuine Rover Mini Floor Mats

Mini 50th T-Shirts now available!

Mini Sport are proud to launch their latest Mini 50th Anniversary T Shirts.

The white T shirts are available to ship now and are in stock, the black are due in the next few days.

There a 4 designs in total and all are strictly Limited Edition

They are priced at a very reasonable £9.99 (inc VAT) each and available in Mens/Ladies and a choice of sizes.

These will sell very quickly, so if you want yours, please buy now to avoid disappointment!

These are available on the Mini Sport website

Mini Sport design the Official IMM 2009 T Shirt

The Mini Sport Advertising Department are proud to have designed the Official IMM 2009 T-Shirt.

5000 t-shirts are being printed and given away free with every IMM ticket sold in the goodie bag given at sign in at the event.

I'm sure you will all agree, it is a fantastic design and one which we are very proud to have been involved in.

We are looking forward to seeing everybody wearing their T Shirt over the IMM weekend 7-9 August 2009, Birmingham UK.

Diddy Dave - Heading for the Arctic

Follow Diddy Dave's progress on Google Maps

Update on things after leaving Jasper and starting at mile zero of the Alaskan Highway that starts at Dawson Creek, the road is paved to Fort Nelson and onto Watson Lake on the way I camped at a place called liard hot springs and yes I tested the water there it was fantastic even with those damn mozzies about.

After a good sleep I headed for Watson Creek, this place I believe has the biggest collection of signs in the world I then set about driving along the Robert Campbell Highway this was the start of the gravel that I would be on for the next 10 days and all that dust again..... believe me it gets in everywhere.... my new sleeping bag is full of it and my clothes don't last long they to are black........

The weather is good to great most days and seeing I am talking to friends I know, I will let you all in to a little secret and as there are few people on the road I usually don't bother to wear any clothes any way as its to hot and the aircon is not working at this moment as the roof vent is blocked with bugs plus its cheaper to have a shower or jump in the lake.

Next stopover was in a place called Ross River I am now in the Yukon and would soon be on the Dempster Highway so i spent half a day sorting things out on the van.

The drive pods on the gear box do play a little bit on my mind but with some positive ways they will be fine, so it would seen that the araldite on one boot is working on one side the other with cling film seen to be doing its job but decided to repack that one and replace the cling film before refitting the full sump guard and checking all four corners.

Before heading for the start of the dempster and the 900kms drive to Inuvik (ice road truckers country) its a dead end when i get there so i have to come back down if all works out I hope to be in Dawson City for the weekend of the 18/19th for a music festival.

But before that I will cross into the Arctic on the 14th were i will celebrate my birthday in proper billy connelly style... the proof will be on the DVD.....

I then will be in another provence this it will be the Northwest Territory....... I am still 8 hours behind you all back home, but go back to 7hrs while in the n w t...... then it goes back to 8 when i get to Alaska......so guys i will sign of for now.

Just a final note....... cell phone does not exist here and will not for some time to come, my only chance is e-mail and that is also sometime a problem...... there is nothing up here but dust, Bison, Moose, Caribou, Lynx, Puma, black Bear, wild dogs and that's another story about them....

it's about 10pm on monday night as i sit in a small bar and steal their internet to let you all know that i am fine, I am so lucky to be here it is one hell of a place to be.... you cant describe it, you have to sample it...it blows you away...

that's it guys, Diddy

Follow Diddy Dave's progress on Google Maps

Glamis Transport Extravaganza Weekend

Wow! What a superb weekend!

Mini Sport would like to thank the event organisers and more importantly the huge turnout of Mini friends and supporters.

We hope you like the above picture which we feel sums up the weekend and we are already looking forward to next years event!

Mini Sport 2009 Catalogue - FREE DOWNLOAD

The latest and greatest edition of the Mini Sport Parts and Accessories Catalogue is now available to download on the Mini Sport website.

Or you can download the pdf catalogue here

The Mini Sport Catalogue can also be purchased online, but please note that the printed copy will be available from 7 August 2009.

The image quality has been reduced to get the pdf down from 43mb to a reasonable 15.2mb download size, so don't be put off if the images look a little low quality!

The price list to accompany the 2009 Catalogue will be available as a download either today or tomorrow.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we have had putting it together for you...

the Mini Sport Advertising Team

Mini Sport 2009 Catalogue Cover

The Mini Sport advertising department have only just finalised the latest 2009 Parts and Accessories Catalogue and are proud to show you all a sneak preview of the front cover.  

The catalogue is now in print and will be launched at the IMM/Mini 50 weekend on 7-9 August 2009.

For those of you who can't wait for the printed version, a compressed pdf download will be available later today on the Free Download area of the Mini Sport website

Diddy Daves Update

Tue 7th June 6pm

Keith and Deb are great mini fans.....Debs is nuts about them....she told me to say hello to Chris back at Mini Sport....she even gave me a free-phone no to ring to contact them should i need any help.....all this came about from Paul Malone in St Johns in Newfoundland to whom I am grateful.

So I am now back on the road and good to go.... and go it is. It took me four and a half days to get through Ontario doing six to seven hundred km a day to get into the next Provence of Manitoba then Saskatchewan. That only took two days in each an easy one before Alberta. All of these provences are flat as glass but as I got close to Calgary I could start to see the Rockies. 

I stopped off in Calgary at the stampede before heading south to almost the USA and to a place called Trail before turning north into the real Rockies and Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. I took time out to visit the Icefields in the National Park, while I was there I replaced a rear wheel bearing and headed north and to the Alaskan Highway...........

I have worked out that I have done approximately 19000km to date that is just a guess as the odometer failed at 13000..........is that a good omen i hope it is....

so folks that’s it for now......

Diddy Dave

Mini Sport at Glamis Castle, Scotland this weekend

The 35th Scottish Transport Extravaganza, Glamis, United Kingdom

11-12 July 2009

Proudly supported by Mini Sport

The Strathmore Vintage Vehicle Society's Scottish Transport Extravaganza is held in the spectacular landscaped grounds of Glamis Castle. Over 800 vintage cars and other vehicles are on display along with many more attractions.

Numerous stalls, a craft tent, marching pipe bands and a children's area make for an all-round family day out, especially for motor enthusiasts. The sales area is huge, with many toy dealers, art, craft, jumble and antiques stands.

Glamis Castle was the childhood home of the Queen Mother and parts of the building date back to the 11th century; Glamis Castle's Duncan's Hall is the legendary setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth.

The Scottish Vintage Vehicle Federation was established in November 1973 with the aims of publishing an events programme each year and maintaining a register of competitors. The architect of the SVVF was Tom Sked of Aberdeen and appropriately he was elected its first Chairman. 

www.svvc.co.uk

Mini Sport at Gaydon Mini Festival - 4-5 July

The annual weekend celebration of all things Mini in association with Mini Sport and MiniWorld Magazine takes place this year on the 4 & 5 July 2009.

Hundreds of Minis!
All Mini owners are very welcome to display their car, even if you aren't part of a club you can still participate. Simply purchase your admission in advance at a discounted rate (deadline for advance bookings is Monday 29 June 4pm), or turn up on the day. All Minis that arrive on the day will receive VIP parking at the show.

Win Win Win...
Any Mini on display at the show will automatically be considered for the Mini of the Year award which is being judged on the Saturday and prize awarded on the Sunday.

If you are feeling creative then why not enter the Dress up your Mini competition? All you need to do is turn your Mini into something weird and wonderful! To enter email
events@heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

The event will be jam packed with Mini activities, highlights include:

• Mini Owner Club displays - click here for booking form
• Music by Ross and the Wrongens & Krisis
• Mini trade village
• Dalek Invasion including Audience with a Dalek
• Mini World's Mini of the Year competition
• Dress up your Mini
• Russ Swift precision driving
• Limited Edition Heritage Run
• Sell your Mini corner
  
  ...........and much more!

For more details visit the Gaydon Mini website