RE: Time For Tea: Mini does a backflip

RE: Time For Tea: Mini does a backflip

Tuesday 19th February 2013

Time For Tea: Mini does a backflip

Jacked-up Countryman performs world-first automotive backflip



It’s no secret that we aren’t enormous fans of Mini’s Countryman here at PH. But despite being performed in such a vehicle – or, to be fair, a heavily modified version thereof – this latest automotive feat, performed as a fairly shouty publicity stunt by Mini, was impressive enough to warrant our attention.

It’s a video that’s just been released of Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit performing the world’s first backflip in a car. Set in Tignes, Chicherit uses the Mini All4 Racing – the same vehicle that took back-to-back Dakar Rally titles in 2012 and 2013 – to perform a full backflip, complete with a successful landing on a snow-built ramp. Although others have attempted the feat in the past, this is the first time it’s been achieved fully, and what’s all the more impressive is that it was done without any boosting from special moving parts on the take-off ramp.

Unashamed publicity stunt it may be – but that doesn’t detract from the spectacle of this video. Enjoy!

 

Author
Discussion

dave stew

Original Poster:

1,502 posts

166 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
Impressive! More to the point is the ongoing march of Monster energy drinks - looks like they want to be the next Red Bull and some.

Beefmeister

16,482 posts

229 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
Very impressive, but what happened to them doing this in the dock setting?

http://youtu.be/EM2GPlwseOc



Edited by Beefmeister on Monday 18th February 16:16

suffolk009

5,344 posts

164 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
That's not quite a standard mini, is it?

Turbocharger

137 posts

198 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
Ignoring the Mini PR for a moment, that's a very difficult stunt technically. As soon as the front axle leaves the ramp the rear suspension tries to unload which rotates the car nose-downward. To keep it turning backward needs a big rate of rotation on the ramp (which is very curved: check) and a very stiff rear spring rate (probably, hard to tell from the vid).

This is why most cars land nose-first when you jump them - though I've often wondered why Volvo engineered Mrs T's S40 to land tail-first.

M@1975

591 posts

226 months

Monday 18th February 2013
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Very impressive, was doing the rounds yesterday, Monster are definitely spending the bucks on getting the brand recognised!

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
Bah, piece of piss.

Do it with a Roller and I'll be impressed....hehe

RX7

258 posts

243 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
Turbocharger said:
Ignoring the Mini PR for a moment, that's a very difficult stunt technically. As soon as the front axle leaves the ramp the rear suspension tries to unload which rotates the car nose-downward. To keep it turning backward needs a big rate of rotation on the ramp (which is very curved: check) and a very stiff rear spring rate (probably, hard to tell from the vid).

This is why most cars land nose-first when you jump them - though I've often wondered why Volvo engineered Mrs T's S40 to land tail-first.
How to make it sound boring wink

gofasterrosssco

1,235 posts

235 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all

The only reason I'd consider even owning a Mini Countryman, is if they delivered them at the showroom exactly like that.. (undamged naturally)

MichelV

133 posts

151 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
I'd say one toast Mini after the back flop. Or was it smoke coming out of the Frenchmans ears.

Hoygo

725 posts

160 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
It has nothing "Mini" about it,it's just some jump rally or whatever they're called type of car with a shell to resemble a "Mini".

Nevertheless very cool stunt .

Garlick

40,601 posts

239 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
Hoygo said:
It has nothing "Mini" about it,it's just some jump rally or whatever they're called type of car with a shell to resemble a "Mini".
The same could be said of any racing/ rally/ drag car though, couldn't it? Loeb doesn't win rallies in a showroom fresh car.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
Why so little love for the Countryman?? Maybe not well suited to the UK, but in colder climes it's great. Today I was showing my boys what it's capable of in the snow and between screams and laughter they were well impressed driving. Though asked them not to mention it to the missus as it is her car after all whistle.

EDLT

15,421 posts

205 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
Turbocharger said:
Ignoring the Mini PR for a moment, that's a very difficult stunt technically. As soon as the front axle leaves the ramp the rear suspension tries to unload which rotates the car nose-downward. To keep it turning backward needs a big rate of rotation on the ramp (which is very curved: check) and a very stiff rear spring rate (probably, hard to tell from the vid).

This is why most cars land nose-first when you jump them - though I've often wondered why Volvo engineered Mrs T's S40 to land tail-first.
So... Front flip attempt is next then?

SimonV8ster

12,543 posts

227 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
Beefmeister said:
Very impressive, but what happened to them doing this in the dock setting?

http://youtu.be/EM2GPlwseOc

Edited by Beefmeister on Monday 18th February 16:16
Maybe it didn't end too well ?!

rtz62

3,340 posts

154 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
One knackered mini engine then?
It'll have run the shells; let's face it, a moment of oil starvation on a track day is enough to turn your engine into a few kgs of scrap, unless if course they were using an accusump or similar. And even then I doubt it would be sufficient to prevent engine damage.

sgrimshaw

7,311 posts

249 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
What's under the bonnet of that thing?

Rawwr

22,722 posts

233 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
sgrimshaw said:
What's under the bonnet of that thing?
The engine.

X5TUU

11,908 posts

186 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
Rawwr said:
sgrimshaw said:
What's under the bonnet of that thing?
The engine.
LMAO ... quote of the year so far lol

Pretty impressive and agreed at the technical difficulty of actually pulling it off

Fire99

9,844 posts

228 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
sgrimshaw said:
What's under the bonnet of that thing?
Don't know. Did sound supercharged and very peppy.

ukaskew

10,642 posts

220 months

Monday 18th February 2013
quotequote all
I hate to be 'that guy', but how much Mini is there in this thing? It looks like a space-frame silhouette, so a long way off even a WRC (which at least shares a reasonable amount with a real car)