Tracking mini works
Discussion
Hi all , bearing in mind this is specific to me tracking a mini works , I thought this was the better forum for the post (rather than track days).
if I was to consider putting it on the track next year ive got a couple of questions:
- what track wheels do people prefer? I assume there are some lightweight ones on the market.. Id rather not drive home on slicks so feel a spare set of track day wheels is a must really
- going hand in hand with this is of course tyres aswell. what do people use for the track?
- track wise , wheres best to start out ? I am based in hampshire.
has anyone been there and done this recently and required some performance mods? like ecu, and some bigger breathing apparatus would be simple mods so welcome any recommendations in this area.
dont suppose anyone has gone even more harcore and whipped out the rear seats and stuck in a roll cage ?
thanks in advance if you can help!
Kristian
if I was to consider putting it on the track next year ive got a couple of questions:
- what track wheels do people prefer? I assume there are some lightweight ones on the market.. Id rather not drive home on slicks so feel a spare set of track day wheels is a must really
- going hand in hand with this is of course tyres aswell. what do people use for the track?
- track wise , wheres best to start out ? I am based in hampshire.
has anyone been there and done this recently and required some performance mods? like ecu, and some bigger breathing apparatus would be simple mods so welcome any recommendations in this area.
dont suppose anyone has gone even more harcore and whipped out the rear seats and stuck in a roll cage ?
thanks in advance if you can help!
Kristian
Is it a Cooper S Works or just a Cooper Works?
Wheels - 15" Team Dynamics Pro Race (Cooper) and 16" Team Dynamics Pro Race (Cooper S).
As for tyres, go for something along the lines of Yokohama AO38s or Toyo R888s. They are basically a cut slick which are great for track. You can get different compound AO38s too.
you can track any car so extra performance mods will not be needed, especially if you have never been on track before.
Installing a cage in a MINI is relatively easy but the cages are expensive.
If you want any more information send me a pm. We run a team of Cooper S Works in the MINI Challenge.
If you dont want to use your own car, you can hire one of ours.
Wheels - 15" Team Dynamics Pro Race (Cooper) and 16" Team Dynamics Pro Race (Cooper S).
As for tyres, go for something along the lines of Yokohama AO38s or Toyo R888s. They are basically a cut slick which are great for track. You can get different compound AO38s too.
you can track any car so extra performance mods will not be needed, especially if you have never been on track before.
Installing a cage in a MINI is relatively easy but the cages are expensive.
If you want any more information send me a pm. We run a team of Cooper S Works in the MINI Challenge.
If you dont want to use your own car, you can hire one of ours.
Edited by *Kosta* on Monday 5th November 18:20
Edited by *Kosta* on Monday 5th November 18:21
Where abouts in hampshire are you? I regularly track mine and have a few tweeks 
no roll cage as its a daily driver too.I'll happily meet up for a pint and a chat if you like. Free this weekend...
First time I tracked her she was completely standard, on runflats, with 1253 miles on the clock, at Cadwell
. Now, after meeting a JC challenge driver at goodwood a couple of years ago, (Keith Issat - spookily his car is prepped across the road from my new house! Its like I'm stalking him!) I am hooked and have improved many aspects of the car, much to my wallets dismay. Power however is fairly irrelevant - you're better off improving the susp, brakes and tyres.
I have a set of TD 1.2s with R888s on, adjustable coilovers, braided hoses, 5.1 fluid, non-standard discs and pads(tried a few so wont go into that), camber plates and adjustable rear arms, strut bars, a sparco seat and Willans harness that goes in for Tdays (i'm a skinny runt) and a few engine mods. I'm by no means a good driver and the car does itself proud on everyday I do - temp gauge never moves and the car seems to relish the opportunity.
no roll cage as its a daily driver too.I'll happily meet up for a pint and a chat if you like. Free this weekend...First time I tracked her she was completely standard, on runflats, with 1253 miles on the clock, at Cadwell
. Now, after meeting a JC challenge driver at goodwood a couple of years ago, (Keith Issat - spookily his car is prepped across the road from my new house! Its like I'm stalking him!) I am hooked and have improved many aspects of the car, much to my wallets dismay. Power however is fairly irrelevant - you're better off improving the susp, brakes and tyres. I have a set of TD 1.2s with R888s on, adjustable coilovers, braided hoses, 5.1 fluid, non-standard discs and pads(tried a few so wont go into that), camber plates and adjustable rear arms, strut bars, a sparco seat and Willans harness that goes in for Tdays (i'm a skinny runt) and a few engine mods. I'm by no means a good driver and the car does itself proud on everyday I do - temp gauge never moves and the car seems to relish the opportunity.
Couldnt get online all day! nightmare!
Kosta , thanks for the wheels info , nice looking wheels aswell as practical by the looks of it. I guess thats almost for certain where the first spend needs to be. Its an s works by the way. Will pm you separately on the hiring note.
Hobzy I am in fleet , J4a of the M3 if you know it! Your car sounds far from standard now! Where are you based? And where do you tend to track - thruxton by chance? This is something me and my dad have wanted to do for a while but knowing nobody that does it currently makes it difficult to understand where you begin really... welcome the beer if you are close otherwise will hit you for questions on here!!
Kosta , thanks for the wheels info , nice looking wheels aswell as practical by the looks of it. I guess thats almost for certain where the first spend needs to be. Its an s works by the way. Will pm you separately on the hiring note.
Hobzy I am in fleet , J4a of the M3 if you know it! Your car sounds far from standard now! Where are you based? And where do you tend to track - thruxton by chance? This is something me and my dad have wanted to do for a while but knowing nobody that does it currently makes it difficult to understand where you begin really... welcome the beer if you are close otherwise will hit you for questions on here!!
I'm in clanfield just up the A3 from portsmouth. If you know a decent pub in between I'm always up for a nice drive and some lunch somewhere. How about somewhere on the a31 around Alton?
I've not done Thruxton - have used the car so far at Cadwell, Goodwood 5 times (local for me) Castle Coome, Bruntingthorpe, Abingdon and RAF Marham.
The airfields are good for learning the limits, but they dont give the same "feel" as driving on a track that you know has been raced on. Also the high grip surface is a bitch on tyres and parts.
There is a group of MINI owners on SCNM.net who track their MINIs fairly regularly. My main problem is that being a teacher I can't do the midweek days, which adds up the cost and lowers availability.
I've not done Thruxton - have used the car so far at Cadwell, Goodwood 5 times (local for me) Castle Coome, Bruntingthorpe, Abingdon and RAF Marham.
The airfields are good for learning the limits, but they dont give the same "feel" as driving on a track that you know has been raced on. Also the high grip surface is a bitch on tyres and parts.
There is a group of MINI owners on SCNM.net who track their MINIs fairly regularly. My main problem is that being a teacher I can't do the midweek days, which adds up the cost and lowers availability.
Edited by Hobzy on Wednesday 7th November 09:45
you dont need to do anything to take it on a track and have some fun, once you've got the hang of it, think about a set of tyres like Yoko AO48's, some upgraded pads and fluid, no need to do much more than that until you've got to the point of being bored then you need an lsd, bigger brakes, stiffer suspension and maybe some more power....
Hi thanks for the advice!
Just need to get out there , see what's what and take it from there.
I am considering a novice day at brands. Has anyone experienced this?
http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/trackdays/trackd...
Things I like about it are a limited number of cars on track , you get a tutor , and you are on track for a full day !
Just need to get out there , see what's what and take it from there.
I am considering a novice day at brands. Has anyone experienced this?
http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/trackdays/trackd...
Things I like about it are a limited number of cars on track , you get a tutor , and you are on track for a full day !
Highly recommended.
A great fun track, probably my favourite for light & medium powered cars <250hp.
Dont be put off if there are some tasty machines driven by 'novices'. I went for the first time in October last year, there were Caterhams, Exiges etc on track rubber and a couple of cars arrived on trailers??!
Driving standards are varied, but it's a great track and suprisingly safe with sensible control exercised by marshalls. They do a run round in a van to show the lines, then ducks and drakes following an instructor car.
The 20 mins tuition is well worthwhile.
A great fun track, probably my favourite for light & medium powered cars <250hp.
Dont be put off if there are some tasty machines driven by 'novices'. I went for the first time in October last year, there were Caterhams, Exiges etc on track rubber and a couple of cars arrived on trailers??!
Driving standards are varied, but it's a great track and suprisingly safe with sensible control exercised by marshalls. They do a run round in a van to show the lines, then ducks and drakes following an instructor car.
The 20 mins tuition is well worthwhile.
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