My first track day in the MCS....long!

[djafactor]

I just had my first track event with the MINI through the BMWCCA and all I can say is WOW! I was in a run group with four e36 M3s (one with coilovers), two e30 M3s, an e46 323i, and a Ford Focus SVT. By the end of the first day I was lapping a couple of the cars! Start of the second day and I was passing everyone in my group. Nobody could keep up with me in the corners. The track was Indiana Raceway Park, which incorporates part of a slick ¼ mile drag strip into the track, but this didn't stop the MINI from catching, passing, and widening the lead! The turn in on the car is just incredible. I now truly understand why Magazine test editors are so mad about the MINI. It really is a rear wheel driver but with power at the front wheels (did that make sense?). I can barrel in to a 180-degree carousel and throttle steer it around the entire corner all with the tires howling the entire time. My instructor was just laughing sometimes and the guys working the corners and safety were all amazed how quickly the car was getting around this long track. The best part was when the other guys in my group were practically scratching their head trying to figure out how a car down 80 horsepower was lapping them! HAHAHAHA I am so pumped. My car is stock except for a cold air intake and some Yokohama ES100s. Even though I was in the Novice run group all but one person had at least a couple of schools under their belt (this was my second school ever and the first time at IRP). I think the MINI gives you a lot of confidence going into the turns; I could brake later and barrel in at higher speed. Off the straight if a e36 M3 was about 75 yards ahead going into the turn 1 by the next cluster of 5 turns I would be smack on his ass. By the time we finished the back section of the course coming out of turn 15 I’d be in front! Just awesome! The car is fun on the street, but you won't truly appreciate it till you get it out at the track. Say goodbye to the e30 for me, no more worrying about problems. It's great to have the little cousin that beats up on the big brothers, 163 horses of pure muscle...hee hee. The second day went so well that my instructor got permission to sign me off for the last session and let me go out on my own to eat up the remaining e36 M3s that still wanted to play. Pepé was known as "The M3 Eater" at the end of the weekend. I can't wait for my next event so I can go play with the bigger brothers in the Intermediate class. It is a BMW no matter how hard they try to say it's not. To anyone who doesn't have one, you must have this car...period!

I consider myself a decent driver now but far away from being really good with much to learn. I feel that the MINI is going to be a great tool to learn and grow with. It just goes to show you there really is a substitute for horsepower….The MINI!

Amit

[Cape Cod MINI]

Awesome! I'm inspired

[KarmanS]

thanks for the write-up, Pepé. How did the SVT fair? I take it you ate him up on the track.

[pabs911]

HEY djafactor,
Great story! Thanks for sharing it with us. Did you take any photos?
I hope this is OK, but I thought I'd post this again since it is so similiar to this story. It took place about a month ago at Motorsport Ranch just outside Fort Worth, Texas,USA.


To celebrate the end of my Cooper S's break-in period, I took her to a race meet just outside Ft. Worth, TX today. I just returned! WOW!!!!!!

The weather was wonderful for Texas this time of year---mostly cloudy, dry, about 78 degrees F and breezy. The track was roughly 1.5 miles long with two second gear negative camber turns, one fourth gear high speed drifter, a cool double apex third gear blaster and a nasty second gear S turn that caught out a Z06 Vette and a Porsche 911 among others! There were all sorts of cars attending, from BMW M3s to AC Cobras to S2000s to full-on Corvette racecars and even a turbo Bug or two, and of course, my little Mini Cooper S !!! BTW, my car is a stock Cooper S with 17'' S-lites, Pirelli Euforia run-flats, no performance pkg. and a half tank of premium gas.

My friend Rick put this meet together (he owns an '83 Audi Quattro with over 350 horses). He knows the track well and he loves my Mini. In the interest of finding out what my car was really capable of on this track, Rick did all the driving. Excellent decision!

Sessions consisted of groups of twenty five cars for twenty minutes. Helmets on, seats adjusted, belts buckled. We were the lead car for the group we were in with all manner of cars behind us. Off we go!!!

First a parade lap which our little red Mini enjoyed immensely. Then a faster warm-up lap. One last turn onto the straight and Rick puts his foot down. Our mini leaps forward with beautiful song. One lap done way too soon, but now as we turn onto the straight, Rick puts his foot DOWN!!! We are really smiling now. The car is working very hard indeed. On the off camber turns the back end would get out nicely and around we went under full throttle. Rick was getting more courageous by the second. So was our little red Mini! The initial fear of wrecking my brand new car was quickly melting away. After the third hard lap, the Z06 behind needed to pass, but the WRX just behind him was getting smaller in our mirrors. Three more laps of shear motoring joy later, Rick was noticing a lack of power during hard acceleration in mid turn. Also, the brakes began to fade badly, so we came on in.

All in all, my Mini did very well indeed! To race a stock car as hard as we did with run-flats and regular brake fluid was asking alot. Those six laps were some serious fun for us both, but there is a caveat to all this. We forgot to turn off the dad gum traction control!!!!!!!!! That explains the lack of power mid-turn. At least, I hope it does. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos right now of my Mini huffing and puffing around the track. Soon perhaps, but here are a couple stills of her anyway, and some of the other cars too.

You know,I may have to do this again. Sooner than later !

My car Pepper.

[djafactor]

I remember reading that post...awesome. As for the SVT, of course I ate him up . Actually the SVT driver was a really cool guy, Keith, he was running pretty well and was passing some of the cars but I was pulling away pretty easily. It was really funny cause I was passing him from the second session on since I always started in the back. Then there was a running joke between him and I about him trying to line up behind me to make it harder for me to pass him (to no avail of course ). I did get a ride with him during the touring session and I could tell the car was very well balanced. Pretty stiff (not as stiff as the S) cornering nicely. I'd say the SVT and the S are pretty even on power the SVT puts out a little more horsepower than the S but a little less torque. It actually has the same Getrag 6 speed as the S but the linkage is different so it doesn't feel quite as good. He was there on Friday when it was pouring in rain and his instructor took the car out and was blowing everthing away because of the slick conditions.

There were a lot of photo's taken by many club members I'll probably get them sometime this week so keep a look out.

All in all it was an impressive weekend, i learned a lot about myself and my car. I contributed in helping create the future legacy of the MINI Cooper S by beating the pants on the big brothers. In fact the three Cooper Ss there were all proving themselves to the crowds amazement.

Just think about how funny it must have been at work today for those guys in my run group. They were probably telling everyone about their great weekend and then trying to explain to co workers why they got their butts handed to them by some little MINI 'thing' HAHAHAHAHAH!

what a great car

Amit

[Cape Cod MINI]

djafactor,
Were you running on the 17" Yoko's with the s lite wheels?

[djafactor]

Yes, i was running the Yoks on the S-Lite wheels. One of the instructors was running S-03s on the S-lites and the other was running S-03s on 16" SSRs. He said the SSRs save about 25lbs a wheel! I think that is going to be my next big purchase a set of dedicated track lightweight 16" wheels with some R compound tires. this is too much fun.

Amit

[pabs911]

djafactor,
You read my mind! On an earlier post someone did a 0-60 test with a Cooper S with the 17" S-lites/Dunlops (about 7 secs.) and 16" wheels weighing 13 lbs. or less with lightweight Yokos (about 6.6 secs.)!!!
Four tenths of a second is pretty darned huge from 0 to 60 for around 2 grand US$. The warranty is still in effect and the car handles even better as well!!! And you can sell the S-lites or keep them as back-up. Have to start saving my $$$!!

[pabs911]

obehave,
That's a really good question. I can't remember whether it was mentioned or not. That could make a difference though. Taking 20 or so lbs. off each corner, much less the lower torque weight sure would be nice. I wish I could find that thread!

[gromit]

There is little difference in the outside diameter of a tire (properly sized) when on a 15", 16" or 17" wheel. The increased diameter of the wheel is just reduced in the sidewall of the tire leaving (nominally) the same rolling diameter. The folks who really have to worry about it is the Jeep guys who put 35" tires in a Wrangler, which originally came with +/- 29" tires.

Quote:

Originally posted by obehave

Any way to be sure the reduced diameter didn't affect the 60MPH reading or was it done with a radar gun?
Thanks

[paulmon]

Quote:

Originally posted by obehave

Any way to be sure the reduced diameter didn't affect the 60MPH reading or was it done with a radar gun?
Thanks

I remember that post, it was done with a G-Tech meter. Not exactly perfect but not relying on the Speedometer to tell you when you reach 60 either.

Paul

[DaveNagy]

Please excuse the thread hijack dja, great story. I'd like to hear more about these "classes", and what they are like. (How long do they last? What "material" is covered? How much do they cost?)

Quote:

Yes, i was running the Yoks on the S-Lite wheels. One of the instructors was running S-03s on the S-lites and the other was running S-03s on 16" SSRs. He said the SSRs save about 25lbs a wheel!

16"x7" SSR Comps weigh 11 lbs a piece. A lightweight tire like the Toyo T1-S weighs 18.7 lbs in the moderately undersized 205/45/16 size. (Diameter of 23.2" vs. the stock 24".) The S-03 is not a lightweight tire, but I don't know their precise weights. The S-Lites with runflats weight about 50 lbs a corner, so you can conceivably save about 20 lbs per "wheel". Well worth the effort, IMO.

You can see my spreadsheet thread for more speculation about what that might mean, acceleration-wise.

Quote:

Any way to be sure the reduced diameter didn't affect the 60MPH reading or was it done with a radar gun?

You can read all about it on Garfield's thread, or the one that inspired it A sloppy paraphrase would be that the times were measured using a g-force meter. Unless carefully calibrated, those sorts of meters will tend to be a tenth or two "off", but they do give nice repeatable results. If one set of wheels appeared to be 4/10ths faster to 60MPH, they probably were.

Apart from tire/wheel weight, other factors at work are tire traction, and tire diameter. Better grip can give you a better launch (or not), and a lower diameter tire can simulate a slightly lower final drive ratio.

-Dave

[EBMCS03]

WOW great story... Thanks for sharing... Glad to see the our little MCS can run with its older brothers!

[Boo]

Can't wait to do a track day when i get the works kit on
Should be interesting

[Boo]

By the way, thanks for the story, it is awesome to know how the MSC fares against other cars ... the legend lives on.