Well i went to Oulton Park today just for something to do and watch the folks race round in their cars. It was quite relaxing actually. Then i got approached by a guy who started asking me about the brakes and the GTT brand Turned out he was an instructor there, and we spent a good 20 mins talking about my car and the work it had had done to it. He was quite amazed actually. He then told me why i wasn't on the track....
....so 15 mins later i'd paid and had my helmet on and was on the track !!!!
It was occasional drizzle and over cast, and no dry line to be found. But the car handled so well. After a few laps of tyre and engine warming it was WOT in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th all the way round for a good 10 laps at a time.
This is the first time i've used the new GTT Porsche brakes on track, i knew they were good, but they really stood out from all the other cars when it came to late braking - truely excellent. Clear, pure, definate, and no fade every time, again and again. Not that smelly either (perhaps the ceramic pads?)
The car felt solid (it's got all but the rear strut fitted) and braked very true. Handles like a dream and got some good twitches and slides when i wanted them. I knew exactly there the car was and were it was going to be, nothing was a suprise
Power wise? i kept leaving the GT3 from 2nd gear out of the chicaine and keeping paces with it up and over the long straight leading up to knickerbrook - the Exedy race clutch and flywheel with the Quaife ATB diff makes a massive difference!!
So i enjoyed racing the westfields, a GT3RS, and GT3, and a handfull of scoobies. It's got to be said that this every day driver car stood at the top of the field with the best of the pack all afternoon. I even noticed that some track side photographers kept following my car when i was in a group of others, so i guess it looks the part too I didn't wave though
120 miles later... and on the way home..... no wheel wobble, brakes true, no steam, no judders, same as on the way there this morning. A car that can perform like this on track and off track - testament to design.
Excellent work Roland
Looking forward to the Stage 4 Head now, and perhaps some R888's for summer ..... and new rear brakes, and the IC spray, and the rear strut too.
PS. a wet/damp track is so much more interesting than a dry track, and you can still get tyre screech! many people were spinning and failing to brake.... trying to use OEM parts when clearly they were not fit for purpose. One guy even had major sparks flying out of his front calipers (like a fire work)... i think he'd worn through his pads ... it was an L reg golf.
PPS. I am going back again on the 30th Wednesday .... this time with my father and some octane booster
Cheers,
Karl.
Too many mods to list, PM me if the cat needs killing...
Nice work Karl, sounds like you have had a fun day. Was at GTT today getting some bits for mine, then over to GRS to pick up my new IC! Cant wait to get that head and pulley fitted now.
Simply awesome Karl, I actullay checked the distance to the track today when i seen your thread first thing this morning as i was gunna go and see and maybe pay for the day! But it was simply to far for me to bother and midweek will be a no go for me! if only i had the money you do id have the brakes.
If i keep my car for aslong as i plan to and my work goes like i hope within the next year ill be saving for every part possible from Roland but keep it Supercharged! although i wont be going for some things even if i do have the money, such as the quiffe diff that maybe too much for me really.
But thats all talk from me and i need to work hard to get there.
You have an awesome MINI and i guess any R53 owner who mods there car would like it to be as fast as yours.
What you reckon your power will be with the stage 4 on? do you reckon you'll get to the magical 300BHP mark and still keep the supercharger? you must be getting close and with the addition of a stage 4.
Yes, it's really doing my sweede in this, no vid, no pics etc.... I have one of those TopGear camera mounts (can hold 75kg) but my camcorder is goosed!!, i have a very lightweight photo camera that takes excellent vid, but the sound is crap, but usable.
Perhaps i'll try that...
Ideally i want a hidden bullet cam front and back with a solid state recorder so i can film from outside the car at low level at the GT3 i am tailing or the GT3 that is trying to keep up with me
I want, i want... no.... i need, i need
I'm taking my father with me on wednesday so will ask him to do some filming and photos of me blitzing through the Avenue and Dentons upto about 110mph then FULL on the brakes for some good old tyre screech !!!
You get some terrific G-force on Shell Oils Corner and nothing kept up with me in 2nd WOT out of there, nothing
Braking for Hislops is probably the hardest part on the track for your brakes, and so many people fade and run in to the coned off area of knickerbrook
I'd say my favourite parts of the track are out of Old Hall Corner through Avenue and Dentons - it's just so clean. Then i'd say it was Deer's Leap and through the finish line as the adrenaline rush is awesome letting people enjoy the engine note and hear the revs continue higher and higher while others are shifting up Bwoooooooooarh Then i like Clay Hill into Druids Corner as it's on an incline but it just pulls harder and harder and leaves others behind, into some abrupt braking before the renowned greasy track, which took 5 cars spinning on Saturday tut tut. I even got a cheeky back end out that i controlled *sweat x 10* !!!
It's so addictive and such a buzz !
Anyone who is in their own MINI for day on the 30th is welcome to sit in for a lap or two if they like
Yes, you do need! I bought a bullet cam and recorder last Summer to take to the 'Ring, and it's superb! Mounting it low to the ground gives a much better sense of speed!
Sounds like you're having a good time showing those supercars the way home, keep at it, its the only way that the Mini will fall into the right hands through people like yourself.
Cant wait to get backout to the Autodrome with my birthday present
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Oulton Park - 19th Saturday - COMPLETED 
Turned out he was an instructor there, and we spent a good 20 mins talking about my car and the work it had had done to it. He was quite amazed actually. He then told me why i wasn't on the track.... 
I didn't wave though 
.... this time with my father 
we mite even get roland out to play 
Glad u enjoyed it ;} 
Vid/Cam 
Bwoooooooooarh 
Solid-state recorder / Bullet cam 
