The Cooper Cast Podcast

Dale Blankenship
  • 4.9 (17)
  • Automotive

Welcome to "The Cooper Cast," the ultimate hub for MINI enthusiasts! Join us, with your host, Dale Blankenship, as we rev up conversations about the latest models, modifications, essential maintenance, and the thrill of all things MINI. Dive into the world of events, drives, and community participation, embracing the joy of MINI ownership with a fun, light-hearted twist. Let's fuel our passion together for safe, fun motoring experiences that make every MINI adventure unforgettable. Subscribe now and become part of the spirited MINI community on "The Cooper Cast"!

  1. 6d ago

    Episode 154: Your MINI Isn't As Clean As You Think!, Question of the Week & we're gonna save you some money. Soon.

    Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, the FUN podcast for the MINI motoring community, with host Dale Blankenship and the ever-vigilant—or perhaps just ever-sleepy—Kodi Monster occupying the Producer's chair. We kick off Episode 154 with another Cooper Cast Question of the Week, but this time the question didn't come from Dale. A listener tossed this one our way, and judging by the response, it was a pretty darn good question! The Cooper Casters came through once again with some interesting answers, proving that maybe Dale should let you folks write the questions more often. Maybe. Then it's time for another installment of the MINI Cooper Car Care Corner... or Cooper Car Care... or whatever we finally decide to call this thing. We're still working on that. But we definitely know what we're talking about this week: Getting your MINI's paint REALLY clean. And no, we're not talking about simply washing it. Your soap and water can remove the everyday dirt and grime sitting on the surface, but there's a whole other level of contamination that washing alone won't touch. We're diving into paint decontamination—the stuff that's actually embedded in or bonded to the surface of your paint. Dale draws on nearly 50 years around automotive paint, including decades in the collision industry and his experience today operating a professional detail shop—not a car wash! We'll talk about what can remain behind after you've thoroughly washed your MINI, how to recognize it, and the products and techniques that can safely get that paint truly clean. If you've ever washed your MINI, stood back and thought, “Man, that looks clean!”... We're about to ruin that for you. Sorry. And finally, we've got a little Cooper Cast listener bonus coming your way. A couple of companies are stepping up with special discounts exclusively for Cooper Casters. One comes from one of the largest and best-known MINI parts and accessory suppliers, while the other comes from a company whose products Dale has recently started using through the detail shop. And he's impressed. Impressed enough that he's comfortable recommending them to you—and now they're going to help save Cooper Cast listeners some money, too. We'll have more details very soon, so stay tuned. A great Question of the Week, some serious paint cleaning, a sleepy Kodi Monster, and money-saving goodies on the horizon... Sounds like another Cooper Cast. Motor safely… and don't forget to wave! 🚗🐾

  2. Sep 17

    Episode 153: A New GT, Facebook Fakery & Continuing a MINI Legacy

    Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, the FUN podcast for the MINI motoring community, with host Dale Blankenship and, presumably, Producer Kodi—whose actual contribution to this week's production will be determined after we've reviewed the security footage. We start Episode 153 with yet another special-edition MINI, but this one definitely caught Dale's attention: the new 1998 GT. It's a sharp-looking MINI with a name and appearance that reach back into the brand's history, and we'll take a look at what makes this latest edition stand out from the seemingly endless parade of special MINIs we've been seeing lately. Then we move from special editions to a situation no MINI club organizer wants to deal with. Imagine having a long-standing monthly meeting location and, just days before your next gathering, discovering that you're no longer welcome there—with no advance notice whatsoever. Never mind it's because the place abruptly closed!  That's exactly what happened to one MINI club. We talk about what happened, how the club responded, and why relationships between local clubs and the Dealership they support, work both ways. Next, we're back in the wonderful world of Facebook fakery. This time it's personal. One of our friends in the MINI business community has had his business spoofed, with someone creating a fake presence and actually pretending to be him. Even worse, despite the situation being reported, so far Facebook doesn't appear to be doing much about it. It's another reminder that scammers aren't just targeting MINI owners anymore—they're impersonating the legitimate people and businesses we've learned to trust. We'll tell you what's happening and, more importantly, what to watch for. But we're finishing this episode with some genuinely good news. A beloved UK MINI parts vendor recently passed away, leaving the future of his business—and some very specialized products relied upon by MINI owners around the world—in limbo. Now we have an update. His wife has decided to carry on the business and continue what they built together. That's especially welcome news for MINI Convertible owners who rely on the company's replacement components to keep their MINIs looking good. But beyond the parts themselves, it's simply a wonderful story about carrying on someone's work and continuing a small but important piece of the MINI community. Sometimes this community frustrates us. Sometimes it makes us shake our heads. And every once in a while, it reminds us exactly why we love being part of it. Motor safely… and don't forget to wave! 🚗🐾 The MINI 1998 GT Edition https://www.motoringfile.com/2026/09/10/mini-1998-gt-edition-confirms-our-scoop-from-last-year/ https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a73689438/2027-mini-1998-gt-jcw-suspension/ MINIMAYHEM's Facebook group page https://www.facebook.com/groups/582375729132639 The Cooper Cast's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555704866826

  3. Sep 10

    Episode 152:Cooper Casters Speak, MINIs Go Rallying, MORE fall MINI events & Bring Back That Drive!

    Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, the FUN podcast for the MINI motoring community, with host Dale Blankenship and the one, the only, occasionally employed Producer Kodi! This week we kick things off with what turned out to be our most popular Cooper Cast Question of the Week yet. And boy, did the Cooper Casters come through! The responses poured in, and you folks gave Dale and Kodi plenty to talk about. There were some great answers, a few surprises, and plenty of proof that when we throw a good question at the MINI community, you definitely have opinions. We go through the responses and share some of our favorites. Then it's time to get a little dirty. We head up to Minnesota for a wrap-up of the latest Ojibwe Forests Rally, where MINI had a pretty decent—if somewhat mixed—outing. But the weekend also produced a very special first for one extremely well-known rally driver, whose family name carries a rather impressive rallying legacy of its own. If you're a rally fan, you'll probably know exactly who we're talking about. If not, we'll fill you in. From there, we take a look at a couple more upcoming MINI events being squeezed into what is becoming an absolutely packed fall motoring calendar. Apparently MINI owners have collectively decided that staying home this fall simply isn't an option. And finally, our friends at MINIs On The Dragon are digging into the archives. They're looking for some of those great drives from MOTDs gone by that MINIacs would love to see make a return. Was there a particular route you still talk about years later? A drive that disappeared from the schedule that deserves another shot? Or maybe one you never got the chance to run and have always wanted to see brought back? Then you'll definitely want to stick around until the end of this episode to find out how you can help bring an old favorite back to life. It's another Cooper Cast packed with listener participation, rally action, MINI events, and another reminder that sometimes the best new idea... is a really great old one. Motor safely… and don't forget to wave! 🚗🐾

  4. Sep 1

    Episode 151: Facebook Finds, Dirty Wheels & Cooper Car Care, and some new MINI events.

    Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, the FUN podcast for the MINI motoring community, with host Dale Blankenship and Producer Kodi, whose exact level of participation is always subject to treat availability. Kodi even makes an appearance tonight and has one of. his famous speaking parts. We kick off Episode 151 with another cruise through the MINI Facebook groups to see what everyone is talking about. And as we've learned by now, you never have to look very hard. Questions, problems, opinions, questionable advice, and the occasional post that leaves you wondering exactly what you just read—there's always something going on. Then it's time for the second installment of Cooper Car Care Corner, and this time we're getting down and dirty. Literally. We're talking wheels and tires. Dale draws on decades of experience from the collision and paint industry, along with what he's learned running a professional detailing shop and from some of the best people in the detailing business, to share practical advice for properly cleaning and caring for your MINI's wheels and tires. Brake dust isn't just ugly. Tire sidewalls aren't always as clean as they look. And simply spraying everything with something shiny when you're finished isn't necessarily the answer. We'll talk about proper cleaning techniques, products and procedures, some commonly overlooked areas, and a few tricks Dale has picked up over the years that can make the job easier and the results considerably better. No detailing voodoo. No $300 miracle products harvested during a full moon. Just proven techniques that work. Finally, we wrap things up with some newly added MINI runs in Virginia and Maryland, giving MINIacs in the Mid-Atlantic a few more excuses to get those cars out of the garage and onto the road. And that brings us to an open invitation for MINI clubs everywhere: If your club has an upcoming run, rally, meetup, or other MINI event, let us know! Send Dale a message through The Cooper Cast Facebook page or email thecoopercast@gmail.com with the details. We'll be happy to help spread the word and get more MINI owners out doing what these cars—and this community—do best. Another episode filled with Facebook finds, practical MINI care, community happenings, and hopefully a little useful information along the way. Because clean wheels won't make your MINI faster... but we're pretty sure it feels faster. Motor safely… and don't forget to wave! 🚗🐾

  5. Aug 29

    Episode 150: Rooftops, Fresh Pavement & 150 Episodes of MINI!

    Welcome to Episode 150 of The Cooper Cast Podcast, the FUN podcast for the MINI motoring community, with host Dale Blankenship and, naturally, Producer Kodi keeping a close eye on the operation—or at least the location of the nearest treat. Yep. 150 episodes. Somehow they keep letting us do this. We kick things off with MINI's latest special edition, the Rooftop Edition. Is it revolutionary? Nope. Is it particularly complicated? Not really. But sometimes simple works, and Dale has to admit it: he actually likes this one. We'll take a look at what MINI has done and why this relatively straightforward special edition manages to hit the right notes. Then we're headed back to some of our favorite pavement on the planet. Earlier this year, the Dragon got freshly paved, and now another legendary stretch of road in the area is getting the same treatment: Hellbender, the fantastic road connecting Fontana Village with the Dragon. And here's where Dale might commit a little MINI heresy... He likes Hellbender better than the Dragon. There. He said it. With fresh pavement going down, Dale is already looking forward to the next opportunity to point a MINI toward those North Carolina mountains and find out just how good one of his favorite roads has become. From mountain roads, we shift into MINI motorsports and catch up with the folks at LAP Motorsports and their latest rallying endeavors. MINI and rallying belong together, and it's always fun watching modern MINIs getting dirty and being driven the way performance cars are supposed to be driven. Then we head back into the online MINI world—but this time for a Facebook group that's actually worth checking out. Dale highlights an interesting MINI group that fellow enthusiasts may want to add to their Facebook rotation. Finally, we take a look at several upcoming MINI events this fall. Summer may be winding down, but MINI motoring certainly isn't. There's still plenty of time to find an event, meet some fellow MINIacs, and put some miles on your MINI before the year winds down. New MINIs. Fresh mountain pavement. Rally cars. MINI community. Upcoming events. Sounds like a pretty fitting way to celebrate 150 episodes of The Cooper Cast. Thanks to every Cooper Caster who's listened, contributed a Question of the Week answer, sent in a story, suggested a topic, shared an episode, or simply came along for the ride. 150 down... and we're nowhere near finished. Motor safely… and don't forget to wave! 🚗🐾🎙️

  6. Aug 24

    Episode 149: Facebook Shenanigans, ? of the Week, & Cooper Car Care 101

    Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, the FUN podcast for the MINI motoring community, with host Dale Blankenship and—would you look at that—Producer Kodi actually reporting for duty! Apparently the Milk Bone compensation package finally met his demands. This week, Dale and Kodi start things off with another tour through the wonderfully unpredictable world of the MINI Facebook groups. As we've learned over 149 episodes, you never have to look very far to find something interesting going on. Good questions, strange problems, questionable advice, strong opinions, and the occasional bit of pure MINI shenanigans—they're all fair game. Then it's time to wrap up another Cooper Cast Question of the Week. Once again, the Cooper Casters came through with their thoughts, opinions, and experiences, giving Dale plenty to talk about. But this episode also marks the beginning of something new. Welcome to Cooper Car Care, a new series dedicated to helping MINI owners better understand how to properly care for their cars. And we're starting right at the beginning: washing your MINI. Sounds simple enough, right? You'd be surprised. Dale has spent decades around automotive paint and professional detailing, and he still sees owners using the wrong products, the wrong tools, and techniques that can slowly turn beautiful paint into a collection of swirls, scratches, and other damage. So we're starting with the fundamentals. Proper washing procedures, working from the cleanest areas toward the dirtiest, choosing the right products and tools, drying safely, and understanding why some of those old-school car-washing habits probably need to stay in the past. And don't worry—we're not going to cram everything into one episode. Cooper Car Care will continue in future shows, gradually moving from the basics into more specialized topics covering washing, paint care and protection, wheels and tires, interiors, glass, and plenty more. Whether you've owned your MINI for twenty years or brought one home yesterday, there should be something here that helps you keep it looking its best. Because driving a dirty MINI may not technically be a crime... …but we're pretty sure it should at least be a misdemeanor. It's another episode packed with MINI community chatter, a little Facebook foolishness, and the start of a new series designed to help your MINI look every bit as good as it drives. Motor safely… and don't forget to wave! 🚗🐾

  7. Aug 12

    Episode 148: Four-Legged Co-Pilots, Facebook Finds & Helping Graham County

    Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, the FUN podcast for the MINI motoring community, with host Dale Blankenship and an apparently exhausted Producer Kodi, who is once again sleeping through his responsibilities. At this point, “dereliction of duty” may actually be written into his contract. After a few technical hiccups, some storm damage, and the usual chaos around Cooper Cast HQ, we're finally back to normal. Or at least as normal as things can possibly be when your producer works exclusively for Milk Bones and belly rubs. This week we start with something that could be very important for anyone planning to bring a four-legged co-pilot to MINI Takes The States. MTTS has always seemed like a pretty pet-friendly event, but as it turns out, some of this year's venues may not be nearly as accommodating as you might expect. Dale takes a closer look at the situation, what pet owners need to know before they arrive, and why doing a little homework ahead of time could save you—and your furry navigator—from a major headache once you're on the road. If your MINI Takes The States packing list includes a leash, water bowl, and dog treats, you'll definitely want to hear this one. Then we head back into the wonderfully unpredictable world of the MINI Facebook groups. And, as usual, they don't disappoint. There's never a shortage of questions, problems, opinions, good advice, questionable advice, and the occasional post that simply leaves us wondering, “How did we get here?” From there, we turn our attention back toward Graham County, North Carolina, the community that welcomes hundreds of us every year for MINIs On The Dragon. Some great folks there could use a little help, and Dale talks about a simple way the MINI community can give something back to the people who are such gracious hosts to us every spring. Because the MINI community has proven time and again that we're pretty darn good at showing up when people need us. Finally, we run through a few upcoming MINI events worth putting on your radar. Summer may be winding down, but MINI motoring season certainly isn't. There are still plenty of opportunities to get out, find some twisty roads, meet some fellow MINIacs, and put a few more miles on the odometer. Another episode filled with useful information, community conversation, a chance to help some good people—and a Producer who somehow continues to collect his paycheck despite sleeping through the entire production. Motor safely… and don't forget to wave! 🚗🐾 MINI Takes The States Scroll to the FAQ:So Many Miles, So Many Questions.  https://www.minitakesthestates.com/index.html Graham County Wish List PLEASE DONATE!!!!!!! https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2VU4E56C23054

  8. Aug 7

    Episode 147 -Rally Rumors, New Features, and a Big Milestone Ahead

    Welcome back to The Cooper Cast Podcast, the FUN podcast for the MINI motoring community, with host Dale Blankenship and a soundly sleeping Producer Kodi, who once again delegated all of this week's responsibilities to the overworked host. Apparently supervising is exhausting. This episode begins with an exciting new challenge on the horizon as MINI prepares to make its debut in a desert rally adventure unlike anything we've seen before. While it's often described as a rally, it's really much more of a time, speed, and distance adventure than an all-out race. The twist? Nobody knows exactly which MINI will be tackling the desert. Will it be something we've already seen... or a glimpse of something entirely new? Dale shares what we know—and just as importantly, what we don't. Then the speculation continues. Rumors are beginning to circulate that BMW and MINI may have something very different in the works. Could it be a bold new direction for the brand? Is it wishful thinking, or is there actually something brewing behind the scenes? Dale takes a look at the reports, shares a few thoughts of his own, and explains why this is definitely one story worth keeping an eye on. Next comes something brand new for The Cooper Cast itself. Dale introduces two new recurring features designed to help MINI owners get even more out of the hobby. Whether you've ever thought about organizing your own MINI run or simply want to learn how to keep your MINI looking showroom fresh, these new segments are packed with practical tips, real-world experience, and ideas you can put to use right away. They're all about helping strengthen the MINI community while making ownership even more enjoyable. And finally, Dale shares a reminder that a major Cooper Cast milestone is just around the corner. Episode 150 will feature the presentation of the inaugural Cooper Cast HuMINItarian of the Year Award, recognizing someone who exemplifies what the MINI community is truly about: kindness, generosity, and making a positive difference in the lives of others. It's an episode you won't want to miss. It's another Cooper Cast filled with MINI news, exciting possibilities, new ideas, and a look ahead to one of the biggest moments in the podcast's history. Motor safely… and don't forget to wave! 🚗🐾

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4.9
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Welcome to "The Cooper Cast," the ultimate hub for MINI enthusiasts! Join us, with your host, Dale Blankenship, as we rev up conversations about the latest models, modifications, essential maintenance, and the thrill of all things MINI. Dive into the world of events, drives, and community participation, embracing the joy of MINI ownership with a fun, light-hearted twist. Let's fuel our passion together for safe, fun motoring experiences that make every MINI adventure unforgettable. Subscribe now and become part of the spirited MINI community on "The Cooper Cast"!

Information

  • Creator
    Dale Blankenship
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    154
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Cooper Cast Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Cooper Cast Podcast

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