Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, with host Dale Blankenship and fur-covered, Milk Bone–chewing Producer Kodi, who continues to contribute commentary between snack breaks.

This week, we kick things off with a quick but important conversation about an announcement concerning MINI Takes The States… maybe. Is it concrete? Is it speculation? Is it MINI being MINI? Dale breaks down what we know, what we don’t, and why patience might still be required from the MINI faithful.

Next, we take a thoughtful look at something that occasionally pops up in the community: MINI owners who aren’t fully aware of the brand’s history. From rally roots to cultural impact, Dale talks about why knowing where MINI came from adds depth to ownership — and why history still matters in shaping today’s enthusiasm.

Then it’s time for the always-popular Cooper Cast Question of the Week, and this week’s response was nothing short of outstanding. The Cooper Casters showed up in force with insight, passion, humor, and perspective — exactly what makes this segment such a staple of the show.

And finally, there’s a quick addendum at the end of the episode, tying up a loose end and making sure listeners have the most up-to-date information before signing off.

It’s another well-rounded episode packed with perspective, community voices, and just enough intrigue to keep things interesting.

Motor safely… and don’t forget to wave! 🚗🐾

 Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, with host Dale Blankenship and Producer Kodi, who slept through the entire episode, but will likely still want a treat. 

This episode starts with a look at MINI’s decision to discontinue the diesel power plant, marking the end of an era for MINI’s evolving lineup. From there, we talk about something that many drivers will be happy to hear—the return of knobs, buttons, and switches to dashboards. After years of everything moving to touchscreens, it seems the tide may be turning back toward tactile controls that drivers actually prefer.

Next up, a quick community win: a MINI owner was recently saved from falling into the clutches thanks to a few post made by your host. It’s a good reminder of how valuable these networks can be when people look out for one another.

Then we shift into MINIs On The Dragon season, kicking things off with an overview of this year’s event. It’s shaping up to be another strong gathering, and while this episode sets the stage, we’ll be diving deeper into the details, happenings, and stories in the weeks ahead as the event draws closer.

Another well-rounded episode filled with MINI news, community moments, and a look ahead at one of the most anticipated events on the calendar.

Motor safely… and don’t forget to wave! 🚗🐾

Diesle demise:
https://www.bmwblog.com/2026/02/11/mini-diesel-countryman-mount-fuji-photoshoot/

Buttons Return:
https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/02/12/head-of-mini-design-on-touchscreens-vs-physical-buttons/

MINIs On The Dragon! :
https://minisonthedragon.com/

 Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, with host Dale Blankenship and the ever-intrepid Producer Kodi, who continues to earn speaking parts and snack privileges in equal measure.

This episode kicks off with some exciting news: MINI is returning to professional rally racing—and in a big way.Dale talks about what’s happening, why it matters, and why seeing MINI back where it made so much of its reputation is great news for the brand and the community alike.

Then we roll into something a little closer to home with an idea sparked by Dale and the Cooper Casters: Worldwide Love Your Mini/MINI Day, coming up March 7th. It’s a simple concept—take a day to give your classic Mini or BMW-built MINI a little extra attention. What that looks like is entirely up to you. Maybe it’s a wash and detail, maybe it’s a scenic drive, or maybe it’s an all-day rally with your motoring friends. There are no rules other than making sure your Mini/MINI would approve.

It’s all about celebrating the cars, the people, and the community that make MINI ownership such a unique experience. Expect to see photos, posts, and plenty of participation from around the globe.

And of course, we wrap things up with the ever-popular Cooper Cast Question of the Week, where the community once again delivers thoughtful, funny, and enthusiastic responses that never fail to entertain.

It’s a fun mix of big news, community spirit, and MINI enthusiasm—exactly what The Cooper Cast is all about.

Motor safely… and don’t forget to wave! 🚗🐾

MINI Goes Rallying:

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a69416726/mini-new-factory-rally-team-grassroots/

Worldwide Love Your Mini/MINI Day Facebook group. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/886396737351747

 It’s another episode of The Cooper Cast Podcast with host Dale Blankenship and Producer Kodi, who once absent this week at Cooper Cast HQ. Very likely asleep near a heater duct somewhere. 

We kick things off with a look across the Pacific at a new, dark-themed Countryman headed exclusively to the Japanese market—and it comes with a twist nobody saw coming. Dale breaks down what makes this special edition interesting, why certain markets get the fun toys, and what it says about MINI’s global strategy.

Then we take our usual stroll through the MINI Facebook groups, where the content ranges from helpful and insightful to downright head-scratching. As always, the groups provide plenty of conversation fuel—some good, some questionable, and some that remind us why the MINI community is never dull.

We also check in once again on MINI Takes The States, as we’re still waiting on official dates and cities for the next installment of MINI USA’s big road-trip celebration. Patience continues to be the theme.

And finally, a quick but important reminder: sign-ups for MINIs On The Dragon drives open February 14th—Valentine’s Day. If you’re planning to attend, that’s the date to mark on the calendar before those drive slots fill up.

It’s a fun mix of global MINI news, community chatter, and event updates—another classic Cooper Cast episode.

Motor safely… and don’t forget to wave! 🚗🐾

Motoring File story on the Shadow Edition Countryman

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/02/02/mini-countryman-shadow-edition-a-diesel-special-edition/

BMWBLOG Shadow Countryman story

https://www.bmwblog.com/2026/01/31/2026-mini-countryman-shadow-edition/

MINIs On The Dragon

https://www.minisonthedragon.com/

Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, with host Dale Blankenship and Producer Kodi, who once again makes a surprise speaking engagement and clearly feels very comfortable sharing his thoughts these days.

This episode kicks off with a deep dive into MINIs On The Dragon, quite possibly the longest continually running MINI Cooper event in the United States. Registration is well underway, and one stat really stands out—first-timers already make up nearly one-third of registered MINIacs just two weeks in. Dale talks about what that says about the event, the community, and why MINIs On The Dragon continues to attract new faces year after year. We’ll also be touching on additional MotD happenings and related events in future episodes as we get closer to the big weekend.

Next, we check in on MINI Takes The States. As of now, we’re still waiting on official dates and host cities for MINI USA’s biannual, coast-to-coast celebration of all things MINI. Dale shares what we know, what we don’t know yet, and why patience is once again the name of the game.

We then pivot to a few interesting tidbits coming out of MINI USA’s recent dealer meeting. While details are still limited, there are hints that some noteworthy news may be on the horizon for the MINI community. No wild speculation—just thoughtful discussion about what these early signals could mean.

To wrap it all up, we roll into the always-popular Cooper Cast Question of the Week, and once again, the responses deliver. Insightful, funny, and unmistakably MINI, this week’s answers remind us why community interaction is such a big part of the show.

It’s a forward-looking episode packed with event buzz, industry whispers, and community voices—another solid installment of The Cooper Cast.

Motor safely… and don’t forget to wave! 🚗🐾

MINIs On The Dragon

https://www.minisonthedragon.com/

Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, with host Dale Blankenship and his ever-faithful producer Kodi—faithful, of course, as long as the treat supply holds out.

This episode kicks off with a deep dive into a Road & Track review of the new MINI Cooper JCW hatchback. And when Road & Track weighs in, it’s worth paying attention—they’ve reviewed more performance cars than most of us will ever drive. To say they weren’t impressed would be an understatement, and Dale breaks down what they said, what it means, and why this review matters for MINI fans who care about the brand’s performance heritage.

From there, the conversation shifts into something every car club needs to think about: the responsibilities of club members. Is paying dues and simply showing up enough to keep a club healthy, active, and growing? Dale takes a hard, honest look at what actually sustains a club—engagement, participation, contribution, and community—and why strong clubs are built by more than just attendance. With over 40 years of organizing events and building automotive communities, Dale brings real-world experience and perspective to the conversation—not just opinion.”

Then, as always, we wrap up with a casual stroll through the MINI Facebook groups, pulling out a few interesting nuggets, conversations, and posts to discuss—some useful, some entertaining, and some that remind us why scrolling can be such a mixed bag.

It’s an episode that blends honest discussion, MINI news, community insight, and everyday observations from the MINI world—classic Cooper Cast energy.

Motor safely… and don’t forget to wave! 🚗🐾


Road & Track JCW Review

https://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/a69646181/mini-john-cooper-works-drive-review/

 

🎙️ 2nd Anniversary Episode of The Cooper Cast Podcast

Welcome to a milestone episode of The Cooper Cast Podcast as host Dale Blankenship and the ever-present Producer Kodi Monster celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of the show — and yes, Kodi earns yet another speaking encounter, making this a truly historic broadcast at Cooper Cast HQ.

Dale kicks things off by sharing some fascinating podcast stats, both from the industry as a whole and from The Cooper Cast specifically. And the global reach is honestly wild — listeners tuning in from Bangladesh, Norway, and even the Russian Federation, plus a surprise standout: Honolulu, Hawaii landing as the second biggest listening city for the podcast. Not exactly what you expect from a MINI podcast that started in the Hampton Roads area — and a perfect reminder of just how far this community really stretches.

From there, we shift gears into some important MINI news with a discussion of the F66’s LCI (Life Cycle Impulse) updates. These mid-cycle refresh changes are shaping up to be more than just cosmetic tweaks, and there’s some genuinely interesting information in this segment that MINI owners and fans will definitely want to hear. If you care about where the modern MINI lineup is headed, this part of the episode is must-listen material.

And of course, no Cooper Cast anniversary episode would be complete without the ever-entertaining Cooper Cast Question of the Week. This week’s responses do not disappoint — proving once again that the Cooper Casters bring personality, passion, humor, and strong opinions every single time the question goes live.

It’s a fun, celebratory, information-packed episode that reflects exactly what The Cooper Cast has become over the last two years: part MINI knowledge hub, part community hangout, and part rolling conversation with MINI owners all over the world.

Here’s to two years — and many more miles ahead. 🥂🚗

Motor safely… and don’t forget to wave! 🐾

LCI story from Gabe Bridger at Motoring FIle

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/01/08/2028-mini-cooper-f66-lci-preview-design-revisions-the-manual-returns/

 Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, with host Dale Blankenship and Producer Kodi, who once again earns himself a few speaking parts and is clearly becoming far too comfortable behind the mic.

This episode starts with a look at some interesting MINI sales numbers from 2025, but before we get there, we take a quick international detour. First stop: India, where the MINI Convertible is doing surprisingly well. Hint: when supply is limited and demand is strong, fun cars still find buyers.

Next, we check in on a very special Countryman edition released overseas in ridiculously low production numbersfor another country with a passionate and vibrant MINI community. It’s one of those models that instantly has enthusiasts saying, “Why didn’t we get that?”

From there, we revisit MINI Takes The States—or more accurately, the lack of official news about the 2026 event. With no dates announced yet, the MINIacs of Facebook are doing what they do best: speculating, theorizing, and collectively losing their minds. Dale shares some perspective on the situation and why patience might be the best move here.

We also give a well-earned shout-out to MINIs On The Dragon, which has officially opened registration and is already seeing impressive interest—MINIs registered from 24 states and one Canadian province, and counting. That one’s shaping up to be another big gathering on some legendary roads.

And finally, we drop a little milestone of our own: The Cooper Cast Podcast turns two years old next week. Hard to believe how fast the time has gone, and it’s all thanks to the listeners, the MINI community, and a certain four-legged producer who insists on creative input.

It’s a fun, global, and slightly celebratory episode that blends MINI news, community buzz, and a reminder of how far this little podcast has come.

Motor safely… and don’t forget to wave! 🚗🐾

MINI Convertible Sales in India

https://autoinsiderhq.com/new-mini-convertible-sold-out-in-just-24-hours/

Fiery Stallion Edition Countryman for Malaysia 

https://paultan.org/2026/01/15/2026-mini-countryman-s-fiery-stallion-edition-launched-in-malaysia/

And from our friends at Motoring File:

MINI sells 100,000 EV MINIs

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/01/13/mini-ev-sales-top-100000-units-in-2025-reaching-30-of-global-sales/

1 out of every 3 MINIs sold is a Countryman

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/01/12/the-mini-countryman-is-minis-best-selling-vehicle-globally/

JCW hits sales records! 

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/01/15/jcw-hits-record-highs-as-performance-still-matters-in-a-changing-mini-lineup/

MINI Takes The States

...be patient.  :-) 

MINIs On The Dragon

https://www.minisonthedragon.com/

 Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, with host Dale Blankenship and Producer Kodi, who not only showed up for this episode but actually grabbed a few speaking parts—a rare and historic moment at Cooper Cast HQ.

This time around, Dale and Kodi take a random stroll through the MINI Facebook groups, and as usual, the experience covers the full spectrum. Some posts are perfectly normal, helpful, and familiar… while others drift straight into the off-the-wall category. It’s a reminder that MINI groups can be informative, entertaining, confusing, and occasionally baffling—all in the same scroll.

After that, we roll into the always-popular Cooper Cast Question of the Week, and this time the Cooper Casters showed up in force. The responses were thoughtful, funny, and passionate, proving once again that this community never lacks opinions—or enthusiasm.

It’s a relaxed, free-flowing episode full of observations, laughs, and community interaction—exactly the kind of conversation that makes The Cooper Cast feel like hanging out with fellow MINI owners rather than just listening to a podcast.

Motor safely… and don’t forget to wave! 🚗🐾

Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, broadcasting once again from Cooper Cast HQ with host Dale Blankenship and an ailing—but still on duty—Producer Kodi, proving that the show must go on… preferably with snacks and naps.

In this episode, we start by talking through some early plans for 2026 for the Hampton Roads club MINI group. These are ideas that are working, scaling well, and might be worth borrowing for other growing MINI clubs looking to strengthen participation, keep members engaged, and build something sustainable instead of just chasing numbers.

Next up, Dale shares an unlikely—but surprisingly smart—source for MINI rally and drive ideas: motorcycle magazines. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Riders love the same twisty roads we do, they obsess over scenery and elevation changes, and they’ve been documenting great routes for decades. Sometimes inspiration comes from looking just outside the car world.

Then we bring it home by wrapping up Part 3 of our MINI Community series, tying together the conversation about how massive global Facebook groups can unintentionally pull focus away from what truly defines the MINI experience. Dale closes the loop on why local clubs matter, how they create deeper connections, real friendships, and shared memories—and why being involved close to home is often far more rewarding than being one name among tens of thousands online.

This episode puts a bow on a thoughtful three-part discussion while still leaving listeners with ideas, encouragement, and a reminder of what makes the MINI community special in the first place.

Motor safely… and don’t forget to wave! 🚗🐾

Motorcycle Magazines:

Road Runner Magazine 

https://www.roadrunner.travel/

Blue Ridge Motorcycling Magazine (Could that be any longer?). LOL

https://blueridgemotorcyclingmagazine.com/