I've been kicking around the idea for a Spec R53 race class. I want to race MINIs in a competitive environment without crazy cost. I've have been racing MINIs for years in NASA and World Challenge. The racing in World Challenge TCB is great but the cost is not and TCB "justa" cars are slow. I'd like to use some of their model and move it into NASA.

I'm thinking a 2002-06 S car with 17% pulley and 2% balancer, KW V2 or something like it coil overs, rear sway bar, adjustable rear control arms, 17x7 wheels, stock brakes, open bushings, open aero (cause I want them to look cool) and Toyo RR tires. I priced it out and if I used all the parts off my site at retail its less than 4200.00 for the base build including the cage. Thats coilovers, cage kit, pulley and ATI damper, bushings and adjustable trailing arms. If you add our aero kit its 5600.00

Now, I dont want to sound like I'm coming up with this to sell parts because I'm open to other peoples parts being used in the "spec kit" and actually I dont make any of the parts in the base kit but the roll cage.

I cut out the engine and head mods because that gets pricey and hard to police. But think we should do a spec header, exhaust could open though.

I'm just looking for a class with cool looking MINIs, that are fast and can race against each other. Would anyone here be interested?

 

I wouldn't do a 17% pulley, just seems like a lot of heat buildup for W2W racing, especially a "spec" class

 

Ok it can be a 15%. We have been running 17% for years on track with no problems but if everyone feels more comfortable with a 15% we'll run it.

 

where would it run? I would love to see a spec class so we could do tailofthedragon hillclimb in a spec class if you get it all done with SCCA

 

To be honest, the more I think about it, the more this doesn't seem like a good "spec" car... Too much wiggle room in how it can be tweaked. A Spec car should be something that is fun to drive, box stock reliable, and easy to police... Spec R50 might be a better idea?

 

Ehh with miata, e30, e36 another Na motor is meh

The supercharger makes them fun

 

I just realized you guys are in NC, have you done tail of the dragon hillclimb in a mini?

I'm really trying to decide what I should do for a track car, e36 or R53 and I really wanna do the hillclimb next year if possible or some other time attack events in the area

 

Thats why I didnt go with the R50. Its to slow to be fun. Thats the problem with TCB. Its awesome if your in a pack but boring for practice. Plus I figured most people would already have R53s. As far as rule bending goes, have you seen Spec Miata? They're NA but that doesnt stop anything.

 

I've done over 600 track days over the last 20 years in various "Justas" and have had nothing BUT fun......no, it's not WTW, and yes, they're slow in the straights, but there's little that feels as good as pointing a faster car by, then being on his/her bumper coming out of the turns.....that's plenty fun enough for me.

Gary

 

With SpecE46, it's taking off nationally because of the low cost and sheer number of donor cars and available parts for cheap. James Clay at BimmerWorld is the one that makes the rules, and some of the parts have to come from him.

I'd be interested in a SpecR53 class. But, parts can be expensive and not readily available. Axles are a prime example. Superchargers themselves. I'm newer to owning Mini's, and I was surprised that Mini's are not popular in racing. I can see why it would be hard to market.

For Spec Miata, engines are a dime a dozen, $130 left and right, and a couple hundred to go through them. BP1.8's are in a wide variety of cars. I've spend a couple weekends pulling BP1.8's for the Spec Miata and ChumpCar team I was on, and and after two weekends (four days), we had 10 spare engines for $1,300. I could do the same with My old ITB (now it's ITC) CRX. Whole cars were $200, engines and trans were $50.

Listings on this forum, Engines and superchargers with 80K miles and unknown conditions are $2000.

Only "aftermarket parts" on Spec Miata are MazdaSpeed only, which can be obtained at any Mazda Dealership.

That's how they can have demolition derbies every weekend all over the country and rebuild a car to race the next weekend.

With a Mini, I can see it drying up fast. If somebody doesn't know how to work on their own cars, they are paying more than the car is worth to do any work. That's evident from common labor rates for various things that need to be replaced.

All I'm saying, as much as I'd like to see it happen, whether it's a Justa or an MCS, I don't see it being long lived. Gotta ask "Why did the SCCA not add more Justas into IT?" So far, only a 2002 Justs is allowed to run in Improved Touring A, going by my 2016 rulebook.

 

QFT! Better drivers drive slow cars fast.

 

I dont know where you're getting your Spec Miata engine but real spec miata engines are way more than 130 bucks.

R53 prices and parts availability are pretty close to E46s 330s. And they're about the same to work on.

We have race axles for 198.00 dollars per side. http://www.sneed4speed.com/r53-mini-...e-driver-side/ http://www.sneed4speed.com/r53-mini-...assenger-side/

 

$130 for engines out of Escorts, Kia Sophias, Mazda Proteges at a Pull and Save. The concept doesn't seem to be very big down here in the Southeast, at least Atlanta area. , If you are a mechanic like me (I know you are, but in general), you build them yourself. Sometimes we got lucky with an engine to throw into the ChumpCar with no prep.

330's are popping up all over for around $2500 for donor cars, with engine and trans, because there were 100's of thousands of E46's build every year (400-500k total each year) But Bimmerworld's exhaust is around $2k, and you have to have that. So builds can be around $45K-$60K to be competitive.

As for the axles, I love that they are available. There was a thread a few days ago about unavailability of axles, and $500 for factory ones. I haven't had a need yet, so I haven't looked.

I haven't checked out TCB yet, but B Spec would be interesting if they expanded it to include more models (different min weights for different engine packages like Spec Miata).


In all reality, are there 5 people interested in Spec53, and are willing to travel all over to race?

 

TCB is Spec B. They have lots of different cars you can run but they all have to be the newest body style cars.

What do you mean 5 people interested in Spec53 and willing to travel? Why 5?

 

Similar classes, different sanctioning bodies.
SCCA B-Spec = Touring Car B
ICSCC Pro3 = NASA Spec E30
NASA Spec3 = BMW CCA Spec E36

Some sanctioning bodies require up to an avg of 5 entries per race over a certain time period to maintain the class. SCCA is 2.5 cars per Run Off race to maintain run off eligibility. Spec E46 just obtained National Class status last year. The class is a provisional class for a few years, and then reviewed to be approved.

Spec Focus died really fast because only 3 racers ended up staying. ITJ died really quick at the regional level. SCCA thought with the popularity of ChumpCar/Lemons, it would take off. But most wouldn't meet minimum GCR standards.

I say give it a shot and see what happens.

 

Anything ever come of this? Wouldn't a stock power R56 S be comparable to the R53 with those prescribed mods?