I'm at the 2004 US Chess Open in Ft. Lauderdale this week.

Been looking for lots of MINIs and only found a rare few. Total of three MC so far on the roads after 5 days. Been to Sawgrass Mall several times.

My kids want to know why there are so "FEW" MINIs here compared to California.

My wife says there are SUVs a plenty here so MINIs are going to be rare.

I say it is a lack of dealerships and low supply with lots of people to fill the roads.

 

Hiya, minihune! Good luck at the Chess tourney! Why don't you check out http://www.sunshineminis.org and see where the MINI action is down there? LOL!

:smile: Cheers!

Clo/Wanda

 

Hey buddy!

How long are you planning to stay downhere?

If you want to see a TON of MINIs, just come down to Miami where you'll see a Hot Orange Cabrio around the Coconut Grove/ Coral Gables area and at least 30-50 MINIs per day and some classics too.

If you have time, why don't you come out tomorrow night and join us at our Minis of Miami weekly meet in West Kendall?

Send me a PM and I'll give you all the details and my cell number so we can stay in touch.

Hope to see you tomorrow night!


PS: Your nearest MINI dealer is Lauderdale MINI. Their address is 1440 South Federal Highway (US 1) in Ft Lauderdale. Just stop by and say hello to Bonnie (Sales manager), Larry (Asst sales manager) and Crystal (My MA).

 

minihune
Welcome to the mainland. Just can't get away from those beaches can you.
Are you in the US Chess Open or your son? Keep us up-to date on the Open. :smile:
Charles :smile:

 

There are 5 MINI dealerships within a 70 mile radius here in South Florida:

South Motors MINI (Miami)
Braman MINI (Miami)
Lauderdale MINI (Ft Lauderdale)
Vista MINI (Pompano Beach)
Braman MINI of West Palm Beach.

South Florida (Miami-Ft Lauderdale) is the biggest MINI market in the nation. Miami is home to Crispin, Porter + Bogusky (Coconut Grove) the ad agency behind the brilliant MINI marketing display.

Come to Miami where all the MINI action is!

 

Thanks for the link. I'm not playing but my kids are.

Cooper4us,
Miami is fairly close but we have to make sure our players are fed and rested each day for the 9 day tournament. Each game can last up to 5 hours.

My daughter is playing in the Polgar invitational All Girls tournament (one from each state under 18 years old). My son is in the regular tournament.

 

I thought Florida was second to California in the number/popularity of MINI's. When I was there last summer, I saw lots of them.

 

I meant good luck in a generic way, sweetie! I realize your kids are chessplayers! Keep us posted on their performances!

Clo/Wanda

 

I know. Thanks.

Results updated as of 8/13am-

My son after 6 rounds has three wins, one loss each to a grand master and a 2147 player and a draw with a 1927 player. Three more rounds to go.

My daughter after 5 rounds has three wins, one loss to the top rated player in her tournament and a draw. Only one more round.

Both are still in the thick of things. These are cash prizes.

We've been getting lots of daily thunder and lightning.
Maybe all the nice MINIs are garaged for safety reasons.

 

minihune
I know you're keeping an eye on the weather like there's no tomorrow. What a time for two tropical storms to come through Florida. Hope all that mess goes around your location.

Great to hear your kids are doing so well in their matches. Wish them the Best, bring home some Cash.
Charles

 

Hurricaine Charles is a day away from southwest Florida's coast. Nothing new to us since we see this in Hawaii on a regular basis. Should be wet very soon, perhaps tonight. Can't predict storms or their course correctly all the time so should be exciting. No panic over here and we should be OK on the southeast side of the state.

We come to the big tournaments to get good matches, meet people (more familiar faces with each tournament) and to win some games to gain on some rating points. Hawaii has but one rated adult tournament each year- the state championships. Therefore no opportunity to advance other than scholastic tournaments (all unrated) or internet play.

Still on the lookout for more MINIs. Been to some shopping centers but not much luck yet. Tonight is a 730pm game for my son. My daughter is playing right now.

 

We are not totally out of the woods yet in regards to hurricane Charley. Will keep an eye on the 5PM and 11PM updates from the National Hurricane Center.

Same thing happened to us with hurricane Andrew 12 years ago. Everyone taught we had dodged the storm but at the last minute it made a turn and well you know the rest its history.

 

minihune
I forgot to ask you, any of the matches televised via cable?
Charles

 

I don't know if any are. The games are good enough to televise.
I guess a good place to check is at the US Chess Federation site but I did not see anything listed.
http://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2004/usopen/

There were some TV cameras present this morning doing interviews.

Hurricaines are tricky. They wiggle and defy predictions more than not. Today the storm is gathering strength over warm gulf waters and moving north. I got my umbrella out.

 

minihune - best of luck in the tourney!!!!! Keep dry, too!

 

Still unclear where the hurricaine will be going as it approaches SW Florida- stay tuned. Pretty clear where I am now.

A big chess day. Awards for the Denker and Polgar tournaments tonight.
These are tournaments for highschool/scholastic players. See update above.

 

Best wishes on the tournament outcome and be safe in the storm...:smile:

 

I had the day off yesterday because of Bonnie, but I’m in the far panhandle and don’t think I’ll see much effects from Charley other than surf. My boards in the car and I’m hitting the beach at noon when I leave work.

Charley looks like it will be a nasty one down Ft Myers Tampa area. They estimate 1,000,000 people may evacuate the area.

 

Surf's up, baby! Woohoo!! ONE MILLION to be evacuated? I saw a report on the Weather Channel that said it was possible that with a 14-foot storm surge, parts of St. Pete could become a big island! WHOA!

:smile: Best wishes to the Minihune Clan at the chess matches! Hope everyone in FL is safe!

Clo/Wanda

 

Oops hit the edit button instead of reply!

The news was saying the surf was up to 18 feet! Seems like flooding might be a problem with the storm. Still not raining in my area.

My daughter's tournament is over (6 way tie for 5th out of 34). She drew in her last game for 4 points out of 6 games. One loss to #1 in the tournament (who won and got a four year scholaship to Univ of Texas at Dallas) and two draws to higher rated players.

She'll play in a 5 game tournament in the next two days while we wait for my son- he's got 4 points out of 7 games now. Two losses and two draws all to higher rated players. Two rounds left and he is in the hunt for best record for players rated under 1800.

------
Final results-
My daughter in the Lauderdale Swiss 5 round tournament came in tied for 2nd place out of 21 with 3.5 out of 5 points.

My son was tied for first with one other player in the Under 1800 rating competition with 5.5 out of 9 points. He drew a Women's FIDE Master in the last round. Some 440 players from all over the world played.

 

if anybody out there knows about a shop where they work with classic mini coopers please let me know; it will be truly appreciate it. The closer to west palm the better it will be.
thanks to whoever can help me out there. Hopefully i get to ride and be a part of a mini club.