Nurburg Ring Tips in a Mini

[s_and_m]

I'm not after any tips on how to get round quickly that have been picked up from your PS2!

I have driven the Ring a fair few times in my old 126bhp Cooper and always felt it was a little under powered for the task, especially on the long drag up hill through Kesselchen to the Karussell and of course on the long straight back to the last bridge coming out of Galgenkopf.

So the good news is that I'm going back in my 170bhp S

I am a little concerned that I may be tempted to carry a litttle too much speed through Flugplatz (where I have previously had a few hairy "the cars gone all light and I'm not really in control" moments) and the fast down hill section through Adenauer Forst.

In the Cooper I'd be lucky to see 95mph through Flug and about 100mph at the compression at the bottom of Adenauer.

Anyone got any tips on driving these bits in an S. Clearly I plan to take a nice sedate Recce lap to see how things lie, but would be interested to hear your thoughts.

If you fancy joining us we'll be there from 11th June to 13th

S

[pocketrocketowner]

I believe the key at the Ring is to "save" your brakes. One constant you have there is the predominance of late apex turns which should naturally make you brake earlier. Late brakers usually never go fast and always overheat their brakes. Over all, smooth braking oon a straight line, late apex, let the car have its way out to the edge of the track and wipe the silly grin off your face.....
See you there......

[StuJones]

Does anyone know of the ability to hire MINI's in the surrounding area?!?!?

Purely for social/tourist reasons

[robbo mcs]

Quote: Originally Posted by StuJones

Does anyone know of the ability to hire MINI's in the surrounding area?!?!?

Purely for social/tourist reasons

Hi Stu,

It sounds like a plan

We can take a decent set of brake pads with us. Hire a mini in Germany at Frankfurt airport. Buy a set of track tyres on the ground in europe Make a detour to a workshop, change the pads and tyres, get the tyreshop to store the runflats, then head to the ring Stay for 2 days, until the pads and tyres are looking sad Change the tyres and pads back to stock, drop the car off at the airport, and hop back on the plane to Australia

Cheers

Robbo

[ScottyB]

hmmm... where do I sign up Robbo?

Expensive weekend haha

[StuJones]

Quote: Originally Posted by ScottyB

hmmm... where do I sign up Robbo?

Expensive weekend haha

Possibly expensive for travel. Tyres and brakes incedental. Life changing experience

Somebody please put the package together. I have to drive the ring, please let me do it in a MINI

[s_and_m]

I'll let you drive the SuperBee round as long as you promise not to crash her

(actually, can you imagine standing in the Nordschliefe carpark, waiting for 10 nervous minutes, waiting for your car to come back in one peice It was bad enough when I shared a track day with my Brother in my Cooper)

S

[pocketrocketowner]

Hertz hires them in Germany under their "Premium" offerings. You're looking at 150 euros a day unless you get them on a weekend (don't ask).

[badboyzbadboyz]

Quote: Originally Posted by s_and_m

So the good news is that I'm going back in my 170bhp S

So, how did it go ?

[s_and_m]

We had a blast!

The Ring is way more fun in a Cooper S than a Cooper.

The first section down through Tiergarten and up to Hatzenbach is quicker as the S has the power to keep accelerating up hill.

Flugplatz is very scary as you are carrying much more speed, but this time round I was on Toyo T1-Rs so had a little more confidence in the car's ability to change direction on landing.

Overall we posted a set of sub 9:30s from "bridge to bridge" 2 Up and in traffic. With my track wheels on, shod in street legal cut slicks I reckon 9:10 would be quite possible.




S

[s_and_m]

More







S

[badboyzbadboyz]

Looks like you had a great time. What kind of speeds did you get up to through Flug and Adenauer?

[J1JPE]

[s_and_m]

sweeet

S

[J1JPE]

Quote: Originally Posted by s_and_m

sweeet

S

yes she is