MINI GP1 0636

[Marchutch]

Hello everyone

Thought I would get a bit more active on this forum, and start a thread for my MINI GP.

I have owned it for 4 years now. I originally thought I would keep it standard but, I went to my first trackday, and the rest is history.....

Pics:





Current spec is as follows:

Helix Paddle clutch
Fidanza aluminium SMF
KW Clubsports
KW front camber plates
Eibach rear control arms
Alta 22mm rear anti roll bar
Powerflex front wishbone rear bushes
Powerflex front anti roll bar bushes
Powerflex steering rack bush
Powerflex tensioner bush
Vibra Technics engine mount
Vibra Technics engine stabiliser
Vibra Technics gearbox mount
GTT front upper strut brace
17% KAVS pulley, Gates belt
Aquamist HFS3 Water/Meth injection system
Janspeed manifold
200 cell sportscat
Milltek cat back
CAE Shifter
Brembo 4 pot 328mm 2 piece floating rotors up front
Ferodo DS2500 pads
Braided lines all round (Brembo/Goodrich)
OZ Racing Prodrive 17" 7J / Rota Blitz 17" 7.5J - wrapped in Toyo R888 215/45 or Federal 595 RS-R 215/45
Recaro Pole Position seats X 2
Forge Motorsport expansion tank
Forge motorsport PAS tank
Schroth removable ASM harnesses

Current plans (booked in and/or waiting for parts):
Full suspension setup by Abbey Motorsport (booked for 15/12/2104)
1320 BVH with enlarged inlet and exhaust ports, single groove valves with titanium collets and retainers, and Crower springs
469 profile cam and 550cc injectors
Remap
(I know I shouldn't chase numbers, and I'm not, but this setup *should* deliver 270+ hp at the flywheel)

Medium/Long term plans:
Lexan window kit
Paint roof dark colour (very dark blue perhaps)
Interior re upholster/tidy up

Edited by Marchutch on Monday 10th November 16:07

Edited by Marchutch on Monday 17th November 14:14

Edited by Marchutch on Friday 12th December 09:18

[The1Driver]

Love it!

How firm is the ride?

[Marchutch]

Not too bad really - fine for the road and great out on track.

The worst bit about the suspension is there is a persistent low speed knock that no one seems to be able to identify. I just ignore it now. Gonna chuck some adjustable droplinks on soon and see if it cures the problem

[sad61t]

Great photos. Where was the top one taken? It looks like a hillclimb.

[Marchutch]

sad61t said:

Great photos. Where was the top one taken? It looks like a hillclimb.

Thanks. It was at Prescott, so yes a hill climb. I entered that photo in the PH Facebook Cover Photo competition a few weeks back and narrowly lost to the TVR. Beat the Porsche though, and it was great to take part and see how many people appreciated a relatively basic car

[DavidLScott]

Basic
That's one hell of an upgrade and love the photo.

[Marchutch]

Thanks David. She's coming along - as per above still a long way to go.

[sad61t]

Probably lost out because the reflection on the windscreen means we can't see the huge grin painted on the inside of your helmet.

Would love to have a go myself - how did you get into the sprint/hillclimb scene?


[Joke: Not sure how well a 1.6 Mini with a slushbox would go. Maybe I should try it in a Renault Twizzy for giggles (there's got to be some use for them).]

[Marchutch]

Haha maybe! Or perhaps because Guy's TVR is a simply stunning bit of kit.

That hill climb day was the one and only time I have ever tried it, and wasn't a competitive day as I haven't got the required licenses. I will definitely be going again in future, and maybe even getting the license that I need to compete (although stacking a GP would be a little idiotic)

The instruction days at most of the hill climb venues in the UK seem to book up a very long time in advance so get in early is my advice. Don't worry at all about bringing whatever car you have along to these days - all sorts turn up, and you can go as slow as you want or as fast as you dare/your car will take you!

Here is the Hillclimb and Sprint Association's list of venues to get you started:

http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/venues.asp

cheers

Mark

[Honsta]

I always wondered what you were exactly running underneath the hood of that car Mark! sweet Jesus, that's some serious mods there.

[Marchutch]

Honsta said:

I always wondered what you were exactly running underneath the hood of that car Mark! sweet Jesus, that's some serious mods there.

Thanks Hon

This is only the beginning.... I'll still be messing about with this machine when all of my contemporaries have moved on to much smarter machines! :-)

[The1Driver]

What more can you tell us about these hill climb events?

I'm still thinking about where to have my first trackday.

[Marchutch]

Nothing that you can't learn from the websites really.

With non competitive hill climb days you do get a quite limited number of runs, and they are over quite quickly, but you don't typically put much wear and tear on your car

A circuit track day will allow you a lot more time on track (amount dependent on how busy it is, whether it is sessioned or open pit etc) but will put a lot more wear on your car.

[Marchutch]

Scroth harnesses have arrived, so the interior will be stripped down this weekend (in between watching people at Goodwood, and going to the Sunday Service!)

[Miniheffer]

That's quite a spec sheet!

[Marchutch]

Thanks!

Current spec (16/12/14):

Helix Paddle clutch
Fidanza aluminium SMF
KW Clubsports
KW front camber plates
Eibach rear control arms
Alta 22mm rear anti roll bar
Powerflex front wishbone rear bushes
Powerflex front anti roll bar bushes
Powerflex steering rack bush
Powerflex tensioner bush
Vibra Technics engine mount
Vibra Technics engine stabiliser
Vibra Technics gearbox mount
GTT front upper strut brace
17% KAVS pulley, Gates belt
Aquamist HFS3 Water/Meth injection system
Janspeed manifold
200 cell sportscat
Milltek cat back
CAE Shifter
Brembo 4 pot 328mm 2 piece floating rotors up front
Ferodo DS2500 pads
Braided lines all round (Brembo/Goodrich)
OZ Racing Prodrive 17" 7J / Rota Blitz 17" 7.5J - wrapped in Toyo R888 215/45 or Federal 595 RS-R 215/45
Recaro Pole Position seats X 2
Forge Motorsport expansion tank
Forge motorsport PAS tank
Schroth removable ASM harnesses
Whiteline adjustable droplinks

Full suspension setup and corner weighting completed by Abbey Motorsport on 15/12/14

Current plans (booked in and/or waiting for parts):
1320 BVH with enlarged inlet and exhaust ports, single groove valves with titanium collets and retainers, and Crower springs
469 profile cam and 550cc injectors
Remap (I know I shouldn't chase numbers, and I'm not, but this setup *should* deliver 270+ hp at the flywheel)

Medium/Long term plans (certain):
Roll cage with 5/6 point harnesses (to replace removable ones)
Paint roof Astro black (paint code A25)
Colour code other parts internal and external (again A25)
Interior re upholster/tidy up to bring to show spec (show and go!)
8 matching track wheels: TD 1.2s? Oz Leggendas? Another set of Rota Blitz?

Medium/Long term plans (possible):
Lexan window kit
PLEX SDM-500 Digital Dash with logging and GPS
Sadev sequential box (using RMW custom mounting adaptor)

A competent tow vehicle and a trailer.....

etc etc ad infinitum.......

Edited by Marchutch on Tuesday 16th December 13:22

Edited by Marchutch on Tuesday 16th December 13:23

Edited by Marchutch on Tuesday 16th December 13:24

[irish boy]

Serious amount of mods. Whats the milage/reliability been like?

[Marchutch]

irish boy said:

Serious amount of mods. Whats the milage/reliability been like?

Its has had its ups and downs like any car that gets regularly beat on on road and track but generally it has been as reliable as I could have hoped it to be. I don't skimp on the maintenance in any regard though.

It is currently at 1320 for the BVH, cam and injectors as well as Wossner pistons now. Will hopefully be done by next weekend. Really looking forward to the result, and to getting her out on track at Goodwood in Feb

[Marchutch]

Got her back from the engine rebuild, and she seems to be running pretty sweetly now.

Engine spec:

Custom hand ported head with enlarged valve ports inlet and exhaust sides, G&S single groove valves, titanium collets and retainers, Wossner pistons, ARP rod bolts, Mahle rod bearings, ARP head stud kit, 469 profile Catcam, and 550cc Bosch injectors.

Maximum power: 241whp (275 bhp est.)

http://youtu.be/0h_FDNHs7lE

http://youtu.be/0id9JaxHYnU

Edited by Marchutch on Friday 5th June 15:26

[Marchutch]

A fun session in the wet at Rockingham a couple of weeks back:

https://youtu.be/P9OcgSnQeQY