White Roof Radio - The MINI Cooper Podcast

So much catching up! A whole bunch of news from MotoringFile as usual. No Chad this month as he was recovering from MINIs on the Dragon. And, who is going on MINI Takes the States? Any caravan’s forming up? Link those up in the comments!

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/05/01/the-day-that-started-everything-the-mini-usa-launch-and-how-it-inspired-motoringfile/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/03/09/what-if-jcw-looked-like-the-machina-how-mini-could-evolve-its-performance-halo/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/03/10/mini-climbs-to-third-in-j-d-power-dependability-study-a-major-milestone-for-quality/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/03/14/the-best-mini-manual-ever-a-deep-dive-into-the-f56-jcws-surprising-getrag-6-speed/

Nerd Alert

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/03/16/the-complete-guide-to-mini-cooper-transmissions-every-gearbox-ranked-2001-today/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/04/02/mini-jcw-f66-on-the-tail-of-the-dragon-precision-perfected-character-reconsidered/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/04/08/the-mini-red-line-edition-new-details-pricing-and-our-take/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/04/20/mini-x-vagabund-concept-review-when-restraint-finally-takes-a-holiday/

This week, we are listening to the smooth and dulcet sounds or White Roof Radio, circa 2006. We weren't even a year old! Here are the OG notes.

Ok, now for something totally different. Besides hearing about Todd's near death experiences, we have a list show. You know, just 3 guys sitting around, dreaming about cars. It was a fun show to do and we hope you have as much fun listening to it as we did making it!

Of course, feedback is always welcome! You can email us ([email protected]), or you can leave a comment below and, as always, you can leave us a voice message at (206) 33-WHITE.

Thanks, as usual, to the sponsors. Detailing Concepts for all of your Zymol needs and MINI Car Parts.net for those parts, accessories and handy DIY manuals. They help us keep up with your insatiable appetite for bandwidth, so do what you can to help them!

First time in a very very very long time that we've done that. Luckily, we still have a ton of show for you! If you already caught [our interview with Norm and Eric][l1], go ahead and fast forward, after visiting [their GoFundMe][l2] page, of course. More information can be found at [https://paddyhopkirkmemorialfoundation.org/][l3].

I am 75% sure I will be going on #MTTS26 California. Anyone else from AZ/NV/SoCal want to do some caravan action? Comments are open!

## Links

More about Paddy can be found on his [Wikipedia Page][l4]

[Check out Paul Nesse's art][l5]

**MotoringFile links**

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/02/10/ferraris-bold-ui-move-is-the-lesson-bmw-and-mini-cant-ignore/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/03/02/the-awd-mini-that-could-have-changed-jcw-forever/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/02/26/bmw-pauses-level-3-rollout-what-it-might-mean-for-mini-autonomous-driving/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/03/06/mini-rally-return-starts-with-a-podium-and-its-just-getting-started/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/02/23/new-leaderships-takes-the-wheel-at-miniusa-as-mike-peyton-departs/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/03/09/what-if-jcw-looked-like-the-machina-how-mini-could-evolve-its-performance-halo/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/02/13/faith-of-a-few-is-this-the-best-mini-cooper-commercial-ever-made/

[l1]: https://www.whiteroofradio.com/paddy-hopkirk-memorial-foundation/

[l2]: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-paddy-hopkirk-memorial-foundation

[l3]: https://paddyhopkirkmemorialfoundation.org/

[l4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddy_Hopkirk

[l5]: http://www.nessesculpture.com

db is rolling out the way back machine in 2026! Let's kick things off with the first episode featuring Mr. Detroit Tuned, Chad Miller!

If you missed it, our first show of the year is in the feed, in which db explains his plan to make sure you guys are getting at least 1 show per month! He says he's back. Y'all should believe him.

Also, I might be sneaking these out to Black Roof Radio subscribers first. Just saying. The link to subscribe can be found there.

Happy New year White Roof! Gabe and I talking about Minis and all kinds of cool stuff this week. Links below, as usual.

I've made a few updates to the site, you should [click over](https://whiteroofradio.com) and check it out. I've also decided White Roof Radio will be returning to monthly episodes. If we can't record, you'll get a best of from our catalog of over 1,000 audio recordings.

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

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/01/17/2026-mini-cooper-buying-guide-pricing-trims-and-what-to-buy/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/01/20/the-cancelled-alpina-mini-the-luxury-mini-that-almost-happened/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/01/21/mini-paul-smith-edition-spotted-in-london-first-real-world-photos/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/12/26/2025-rewind-the-radical-deus-ex-machina-mini-concepts/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/12/23/driven-the-electric-mini-cooper-jcw-j01-vs-petrol-f66-jcw/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/12/17/eu-drops-2035-ice-ban-how-it-might-effect-future-minis/

https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/01/31/mini-is-going-rally-racing-in-the-u-s-for-2026-and-it-all-starts-next-weekend/

As previously discussed during White Roof Radio 702, here is where we started with the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Recorded 20 years ago! Enjoy!

Starting off strong with some throw backs, some soapbox talking OMG did you see the Super Lagera video? And, did you already catch Black Roof? Yea, Woofcast 21 will be in the feed later this week too. 

Nice to get to use the news music this week too. Just be sure to keep up with everything happening at MotoringFile.com. And, as we near the crazy season, don't forget any of the friends of the show; MotoringStripes, Detroit Tuned, OutMotoring.com and CravenSpeed.

This week's sponsor is me. Are you L&D or work with Elevenlabs and Powerpoint? Do you need to work with Elevenlabs with Powerpoint? I would like to introduce you to Voxsmith. I've worked really hard on it and will be expecting to ship it in December. 

• Super Lagera
• Super Lagera Video
• MINI Quality
• Deus Ex Machina Concepts With Holger Hampf
• How Leaving F1 And Launching The MINI E Made BMW An EV Leader
• The 2026 MINI Cooper Paul Smith Edition -- MINI's Biggest Special Edition Ever

Episode 701 turns our clock, officially, on 20 years. That's pretty cool! Anyway, Odd shaped show this week. So odd, I'm going to recommend that you also listen to Black Roof on this one. I also included the link to the feed, so you can get them in your podcast app, automatically. For FREE!

The latest from MotoringFile, like we like to do. All of the links are below, but make sure you click over to the mod post and chime in. Or, the comments here. They are open.

• https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/07/16/mini-usa-is-preparing-for-tariffs-with-2026-pricing-tweaks/
• https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/07/23/why-the-r56-mini-jcw-gp-might-be-the-ultimate-mini-ever/
• https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/07/24/2026-mini-countryman-a-complete-u-s-buyers-guide/
• https://www.motoringfile.com/2020/06/20/the-lost-jcw-gp-the-r58-jcw-gp-coupe/
• https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/06/22/mini-places-p2-in-the-nurburgring-24-hours-developing/
• https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/07/18/our-favorite-mini-mods-that-actually-make-a-difference/

The 700th meeting under the White Roof has us leading off talking about poking. Who knew that was still a thing? Silliness completed, we jumped right into news from MotoringFile with a reminder about the fanciest MINI ever produced, the MINI Goodwood, before jumping into the rest of the news, stories linked below! 

If you missed this years MINIs on the Dragon, don’t do that again! Luckily for us, Chad took Detroit Tuned this year and tells us all about.

You know we record the pre-show, right? And we make it available to you for free! Click over to blackroofradio.com to download. The hot tip is to use the RSS feed in your podcast app. 

MINI Goodwood: –https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/05/05/what-happens-when-mini-meets-rolls-royce-a-52000-experiment-in-restraint/

Paddleshift gate updates: –https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/02/05/exclusive-mini-to-bring-shift-paddles-back-to-the-countryman-s/

–https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/05/07/exclusive-mini-usa-to-add-jcw-trim-and-shift-paddles-to-the-2026-cooper-and-cooper-s/

Special Edition 2000 GT: –https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/02/10/exclusive-mini-cooper-2000-gt-special-edition-coming-later-this-year/

Key Fob: –https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/02/11/mini-to-offer-a-single-key-fob-on-all-new-cars/

Oxford Edition coming back: –https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/02/22/official-miniusa-is-bringing-back-the-oxford-edition-for-2025-here-are-the-details/

RWD for electric: –https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/02/26/minis-big-shift-how-rear-wheel-drive-could-transform-future-electric-models/

Offroad MINI: –https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/05/12/minis-off-road-history-may-finally-be-coming-to-showrooms/

2006 R53 the best MINI: –https://www.motoringfile.com/2025/05/12/minis-off-road-history-may-finally-be-coming-to-showrooms/

Big show! First one back for 2025, and the next one, episode 700, is already in the planning stages!

Todd catches us up on his new MINIs and Gabe catches us up on news from MotoringFile Not including db quickly checking out the Renault 5.

If you aren't getting the pre-show, click over to Black Roof Radio to download it for free. You can also find the RSS feed there, so you can subscribe automatically.

##Motoringfile links

MotoringFile Videos

What's Next For The Electric MINI Cooper -- Our Predictions For 2025 & Beyond

First Look: 2025 MINI Cooper JCW Performance Accessories

MINI Ends Aftermarket Coding--While Introducing Its Own Customization Options

61 Years Ago A MINI Cooper Shocked The World By Winning The Monte Carlo Rally

Video Review: 2025 MINI Cooper JCW (F66) -- Upgrades, Downgrades & How It Compares To Previous JCWs

Video: The Origin Of John Cooper Works & A Look At The First JCW MINIs

(Video) Road Tripping The 2025 Electric MINI Countryman SE: A Real-World Winter Test