Lost Minnie Driver?

[robgnyc]

Matt Biolos blog hinted that you guys were working on a Minnie Driver collaboration. Any truth to this or timeframe? Know you killed a couple of the other Lost projects:

From http://mayhembiolos.posterous.com/kolohe-in-ca comments:
"Matt - What sizes will you have for the FST Minnie Driver? Can you post the dims? Thanks

16 days ago Matt Biolos responded:
Matt Biolos
i think its 5'6 5'8 5'10 6'0 and 6'2
I cant remember all the dims right now."

Hoping this is a true and that you will do the 5'9 as well (perfect dims for me at least the Lost stock ones 5'9 x 19 1/4 x 2 5/16).

[kdropin]

i doubt they'll do the 5'9 if you look at the other lost boards in comparison.. i.e. subscorcher

[robgnyc]

I'm sure you are right. This is why I guess I end up with standard poly boards, there's always something just enough off in the Firewire offerings that they don't quite fit. The jump from the 5'8 at 26.4 liters to the 5'10 at 28.5 liters of volume (Lost standard Minnie volumes) is just too much. The difference between sinking and too corky. Oh well, can't please everyone. Glad they are adding some interesting new models.

[Chris]

yeah its hard. the more technical you get in the construction, the more difficult it is to build. firewire's philosophy since the company's inception has been that incremental changes in a board's physical dimensions are secondary to the development and implementation of a superior tech. The truth is, most of us don't possess the ability and experience to notice 1/8th of an inch here or 1/16th of an inch there, but we can benefit from things like the flex or durability of a new material.

The other point worth thinking about is that even though PU boards are more reproducible than they were in years past, there is still a hand shaping component so the VOLUMES of a run of the same model and size will vary to some degree. Point being, a 5'10 John Doe model here on the west coast will be slightly different than one on the east coast. Because of this, I think these small differences in volume can be somewhat psychological.

Just my thought...

[robgnyc]

I totally appreciate the fact that you can't have every board in every size and I think you guys do a good job of covering it. And I'm excited about you guys doing a Minnie Driver (if you are, confirmation?).

I just know I felt up a few 5'10 Minnie's in California over X-Mas and they were a bit too beefy. After surfing and selling a lot of boards over the years, it's great that shapers are finally putting some volume numbers on so you can hone in one what works for you. To me fractions of a liter of volume are pretty insignificant but certainly the two liter jump between the 5'8 at 26.4 and the 5'10 28.5 is tangible not just to pros.

Anyway, hope you guys do it and it's successful. The Sub Scorchers in FST feel nicer than the off the rack poly ones.

[Chris]

stoked rob!

Re the minnie driver, i don't have any of the details on it yet, but we are doing them in FST tech only!!

yeeww

[robgnyc]

Cool.

Will stay tuned for the final dimensions and see how it turns out. Know these Mayhem collabs usually take awhile and go through some twists and turns before coming to fruition.

[Chris]

the files are done for that and approved to my knowledge. next step PROTOS for approval...

we'll keep you updated for sure.

[iggy]

Niiiice!!!! need some test drivers?? jejeje

[iggy]

http://mayhembiolos.posterous.com/the-mini-driver-is-here

[drumbull]

Looks like an amazing board! High Performance Hybrid but with such a short rail line... Good for short legs! Ha

[Chris]

Yeah its like a HP Dominator. tweaked for max hybrid performance. I saw a PU version in a shop this weekend!

[drumbull]

Yeah true Chris.

A 5'8" MD also looks like a RP version of a certain 5'9" CBD Alternator I have been playing with...

Drumbull.

[robgnyc]

Saw this today on Matt Biolas' blog:

"Been working a lot with FW.

The Mini Driver will be out in FST before summer
I just signed off on the first protos. They look amazing.
Sixes and dims will prob be posted on FWire site soon."

Assuming he meant sizes.

[iggy]

Niiiice!!!!

[prjwebb]

Sick, I've been waiting to check these out.

[iggy]

me too!!!!

[Chris]

we'll keep you posted.

don't worry.

[iggy]

Something's cooooking!!!!! ;) or is it?

[Chris]

the chef is in the kitchen, so to say.

[iggy]

Yesssssir ;)

[wolfey]

http://mayhembiolos.posterous.com/mini-driver-fst

Here we go!

[prjwebb]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/files.posterous.com/mayhembiolos/pi1uoEWEjIVUindyUoUKTiQ0dOnPbrz1Gr7TWivVgIk2NOITsZ BVqeNnf34g/photo_1.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJFZ AE65UYRT34AOQ&Expires=1332711343&Signature=mk%2B11KSI1wp%2FfU%2F3JsgMUYAXKlI%3D

Yum
http://mayhembiolos.posterous.com/mini-driver-fst

[iggy]

Niiiiiice

[Chris]

there you have it. I was told I couldn't show you but Biolos trumps those orders...

[prjwebb]

Matt is rock and roll.

[Chris]

he prefers to consider himself a smooth New Orelans jazz from I have been told....

[mspencer1281]

Whens the due date. Summers coming and looking to buy something fun.....excitedo

[mspencer1281]

Any word ?

[Juslivnlif]

"Any Word?" is right... Been looking to add something to my 5'8" Spitfire before Summer. Something less grovelly and more geared toward that speed/drive factor. Saw the PU in Store this weekend. What would be your thought comparison between this board and the Sub Scorcher?

[prjwebb]

Seems like the Minnie was originally geared to be a small, flat and super fast board was flying through good barrels but they soon realised it worked well in the junky stuff too.
I know Mason Ho was been using one a lot on the North Shore. You certainly wouldn't be doing that on a Sub Scorcher. Not sure what negatives it may have in the small stuff compared to the Sub though.

[Juslivnlif]

Totally agree. It seems like this Mini Driver has been pretty versatile; from Indo --> Trestles --> HB --> Hawaii. Would love updates on the availability ASAP. Want to add one to the board bag for CR this July. That short vid of Taylor Clark on it at Trestles shows a lot of this boards ability. Is it close enough to fruition to put in an order at my local shop? (Big Ups to Killer Dana!)

[Chris]

Hey all, its still a little bit away. We are calling July as a safe bet. But there are a few that will trickle in in June.

Juslivnlif go see Ralphie and tell him I told you that you could special order the board so long as you don't mind the wait... Also, if you can, be flexible on fin type because that could be a several week difference in availability.

thanks

[Juslivnlif]

Sweet Chris! Thanks for the reply. Ralphie is going to love hearing me put in this order. Especially with the remodel going on; he is going to have me stopping by the shop everyday on my way home just to see if it showed up! Can totally be flexible with the fins. Am I right in assuming the first batches will be FCS since the photo Matt posted included the FCS system?

[vandangos]

looks very nice!! does anyone know the nose and tail dims?

[prjwebb]

From Mayhems description it sounds like the 5'8" has the same width nose as the 6'0" Driver, not sure what that'd be though but it might be out there in webland somewhere.

[csarqui]

So does this mean that they killed the "Driver" project, or are they doing that one too? BTW, I'm much more excited about the Mini-Driver than the Driver.

[prjwebb]

Think its Minnie instead.

[Chris]

hey all at this time we have no plans to do anything with the driver...
The minnie driver is attractive though.

[John808]

I'm so stoked MB's are offered in both thick and thin versions. I hope the Minnie Driver will be offered the same. How cool is that when you find a design you are totally frothing for and all the dims including (VOLUME) are spot on or very close?

[robgnyc]

I think the Losts generally come in one thickness per size. They usually follow Losts standard stock sizing dims. I agree it is great to find a design you like with all the dims spot on but I think with the Losts, it's whatever Matt Biolos wants to offer, Firewire doesn't have as much flexibility in sizing with the collabs as they do with their own line.

[Chris]

that is well said rob!!

[Juslivnlif]

Hey Chris,

Order as been placed. Can't wait! I put in for a 510 hoping they run similar to the specs on Mayhems blog: 5'10" X 19.5" X 2.38
Noted a preference for FCS fins (did notice they were FCS in the photo) but willing to be open to either or. Hope it trickles in soon. Can't wait to give it a test run before I get down to CR in July.

[Fritzkat]

no bigger sizes for us plus sized surfers?

[robgnyc]

Have you guys released the dimensions these will come in? Would think you must have production rolling if they are going to start trickling in in the June/July timeframe.

[Juslivnlif]

I see a few more "antsy" people searching out DIMS and such on a few other blogs. You guys got anything you can feed us? Can't wait, mine is ordered and paid. My desktop pic:694

Love all my FW boards!!

[Fazza]

Not sure if these are still correct but i found this on Mayhems Blog showing the stock dimensions and volume of the Mini Driver.

702

[Goanna]

I have a little interest in this board as it looks and sounds like a higher performance Dominator. I have decided to do my own board compare in the sizes I like
That is a 6 ft Dominator -34.8 ltrs - 6'1" Minnie Driver - 34.8 ltrs & 6'4" Futura -35.4
and this is how they look - on the left we have the MD (blue) over laying the DOM (red)

as much as I love my Futura I'm always on the lookout for a shorter rail line without giving up volume if I can help it so the 6'1" MD could be the answer by the sounds of its marketing description.


703 704

[Chris]

qualitatively speaking, the Minnie "feels" like a better wave shortboard than the Dominator. It actually almost feels like a board that you would take out in pumping surf if you wanted to ride something a little smaller. My opinion is that its a go to in stomach to over head, with a preference for more steepness.

This surfers who dislike hybrids in small surf, may also rejoice because i think it can be groveled but its not quite as full ass a Dom/Spit.

Lump this one in with the high performance boards.

Cheers and hope this helps.

[Chris]

Hey Juslivinlif, where did you place your order?

[Juslivnlif]

Order was placed at Killer Dana in Dana Point thru Ralphie.

[Chris]

Hey Juslivin,
email me at the address below with the board you ordered and I'll follow up with ralphie to make sure its in.

Thanks