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Yes they are indeed That's REAL camping! Reminds me of when we used to tent in the trees along the back straight and sleep until the race cars woke us up
A Studebaker Lark, I believe.....wow! Right back to my childhood. Red 'vert is a '59 or '60 'Vette right out of Route 66.
I didn't get to my first GP there until 1972 at age 16 but I went to every one after that--still have the Toyota Grand Prix program from the final one in '80
....time to load up for Mid-O--three track days means four spare wheels/tires into the boot!
I didn't get to my first GP there until 1972 at age 16 but I went to every one after that--still have the Toyota Grand Prix program from the final one in '80
I only went twice — 1962 and 1963. It was a long drive from Long Island and my father wasn't into motorsports. In 1963 my father wrangled pit passes via a friend and my grandfather took close-up pix of Jim Clark, Graham Hill and others. Heady stuff for a teen.
That is amazing! Thanks for sharing some of those great pictures...
Here's one more. Then I promise to stop. But this is a favorite — the #14 Lotus Climax that Roger Penske drove in 1962. What I get a kick from is how it was brought in on a trailer that is in worse shape than the one that has been rusting in my neighbor's yard for the past decade! Big change from F1 today.
Had a somewhat eventful day at LRP yesterday. First and foremost, the new Falkens and suspension changes I made had the Mini running better than ever. My butt timer told me I was lapping at a nice pace and Harry confirmed it. But listen to this...
As always, we did the first two laps under yellow. A BMW was on my tail from the get-go. In the second caution lap a train was forming in front of me so I dropped back a little to give me space when the checker came out. I came around turn 7 and was accelerating toward the start/finish flagger and instead of the checker he's waving the blue flag at me! Naturally, I reacted as any of us would: "F*** YOU, FLAGGER. Show my MINI some respect!" I braked as late as possible going into turn one and left the BMW behind. In a later session I passed the same BMW.
Story 2: The Lime Rock Drivers Club had the track in the morning. Their sessions came to an early end thanks to a terrifying crash of what I think was a Formula Ford. I didn't see the crash because it was on the back side of the track, I assume somewhere between no-name straight and the bridge. The wrecker delivered the carnage to the driver's trailer parked a few spaces from me. The driver was an old guy (older than me!) and fortunately was OK. He was shook up and I wasn't about to ask for details. He had someone with him and I heard the driver say something about the tires giving up. I'm sure he's hurting today.
Story 3: There was some drizzle during the fourth session — enough to invite caution but not enough to determine how the Falkens perform wet. Anyhow, for some inexplicable reason, there was a Volvo SUV on the track doing about 50MPH. (See attached video). The driver was clearly not experienced. For a moment I thought I was on the Long Island Expressway. I have no idea why he was out there and I may send an email to Elivan.
Wow, that car is a mess--glad the driver is OK. Way to show that BMW what for, gkp
I'll be driving the spare white MINI on Monday at Mid-O with AutoInterests--last weekend at the same track with the PCA I was flying over Madness and started to experience difficulty shifting, then suddenly got the proverbial "box of neutrals". Car felt like it popped out of gear but the shifter was still in third ........actually managed to drive it slowly off track but when I took it out on the road to check it there was loss of drive and ungodly noises so AAA came to the rescue and got me back to Buffalo. Prognosis: was hoping it was just the clutch but sadly the tranny is toast and the car may or may not be repaired depending on the cost, which I have a good idea of. It won't be cheap so there may be a new F56 in my future even though I just bought eight new 15" wheels for the R56! We shall see. Already did a cursory look for another late (preferably 2013) R56 Justa but no go.
Wow, that car is a mess--glad the driver is OK. Way to show that BMW what for, gkp
I'll be driving the spare white MINI on Monday at Mid-O with AutoInterests--last weekend at the same track with the PCA I was flying over Madness and started to experience difficulty shifting, then suddenly got the proverbial "box of neutrals". Car felt like it popped out of gear but the shifter was still in third ........actually managed to drive it slowly off track but when I took it out on the road to check it there was loss of drive and ungodly noises so AAA came to the rescue and got me back to Buffalo. Prognosis: was hoping it was just the clutch but sadly the tranny is toast and the car may or may not be repaired depending on the cost, which I have a good idea of. It won't be cheap so there may be a new F56 in my future even though I just bought eight new 15" wheels for the R56! We shall see. Already did a cursory look for another late (preferably 2013) R56 Justa but no go.
All I can say is, "Ouch!" On the other hand, how many track days do you think you got out of the tranny? 500?
As always, we did the first two laps under yellow. A BMW was on my tail from the get-go. In the second caution lap a train was forming in front of me so I dropped back a little to give me space when the checker came out. I came around turn 7 and was accelerating toward the start/finish flagger and instead of the checker he's waving the blue flag at me! Naturally, I reacted as any of us would: "F*** YOU, FLAGGER. Show my MINI some respect!" I braked as late as possible going into turn one and left the BMW behind. In a later session I passed the same BMW.
UPDATE: SORRY — IN THE ORIGINAL POST I MEANT I WAS EXPECTING THE GREEN FLAG. I grabbed a frame from my video. Can you see the blue flag?
All I can say is, "Ouch!" On the other hand, how many track days do you think you got out of the tranny? 500?
Bought the car used from the dealer in '16 with 21k and it now has 82k. Those 60+k miles are all to/on/home from the track.
Full disclosure: This is my second one of these in recent years--my old 2013 had the same problem at the Glen with about 90k on it IIRC. Same symptom--sticky shifter, then no drive. So if your shifter become difficult to shift on track, be prepared. That's what I get for maintaining proactively by changing out the factory fluid every year with same
One of the sponsors of NAM is a MINI specialty car parts place call All Mag in Florida. I have read a number of posts by people who have had good experiences with them. It would be a thought to get a “lightly” used (compared to what you do) tranny and have it dropped in. You could even have a mechanical LSD dropped into it for installing it into the car... And while you are at it, put in a set of Bilstein B6 shocks and IE fixed camber plates. It would be cheaper than a new car...
One of the sponsors of NAM is a MINI specialty car parts place call All Mag in Florida. I have read a number of posts by people who have had good experiences with them. It would be a thought to get a “lightly” used (compared to what you do) tranny and have it dropped in. You could even have a mechanical LSD dropped into it for installing it into the car... And while you are at it, put in a set of Bilstein B6 shocks and IE fixed camber plates. It would be cheaper than a new car...
Thanks Eddie, it did.....car performed flawlessly and felt a bit fresher than the black car in the heat of a Midwestern day. Unfortunately the heat contributed to a lot of attrition with multiple fluid dumps but we all just drove around the oil-dry and had fun anyway
All Mag isn't on the vendor list but I checked it out and it could be a good resource.....right now they show two base model 6-speeds, both with 100+k miles. Price is right but I see that as false economy, luck of the draw as to how long it'll last, etc. I'm going with a new factory reman (contradiction in terms) from Towne or MiniMania, depending on availability, which costs a lot more but hopefully will last until I blow the engine Anyway, MM offers a 2-yr/unlimited miles warranty.
Does the MM or Towne tranny come with LSD? If they don’t, this would be a good time to put one in and it is an easy thing to do with the tranny out of the car. MINI uses Quaife in their latest GP, and I have that in in my 2012 MCS. Also, Redline oil tranny oil. The shifting will be a little baulky when it is cold, but is fine once warmed up. Hope it works out well for you either way...
This would also be a good time to put in a set of IE fixed camber plates, a set of Power Flex offset bushings for the lower control arms (for more caster) and replace the MINI craptastic shocks with a set of Bilstein B6s. Your lower control arm bushings and shocks have to be bad at this point. Mine shocks were probably toast at 30k miles, but I didn’t realize how bad they were until I put the Bilsteins in...
I had 3 great days at WGI this previous Friday - Sunday... I have a full writeup and pictures on my Albert thread (link).
I am getting more comfortable with the JCW and able to explore limits, within limits - no real sliding. The Falkens continue to be reassuring with maybe more grip than I am willing to explore. I plan to keep track of the number of days on them; right now 5, with a few more to go. The biggest down side was the brakes; pads to be specific. I would develop lumpies on the rotors after a few laps that made the driving less enjoyable. Other than that, the car was pretty flawless, for a street car.
There were a few other MINIs there, which was nice. 2 were F56s and one was a R56 JCW. I joined up with a F56 S, with a tune, springs and swaybar that was from Michigan, with a group from there. His first time on the track, but a fast learner. He was good and pretty quick; fun to have someone to run with. The other F56 was a JCW that the guy put yellow stuff pads into... gone in one day. I put my spares in for him to use the second day. I’ll sound like a broken record... “Street/track” pads are like all season tires... not really good at anything... especially the track...
Weather was basically good, with warm clear skies on Friday, intermittent showers on Saturday and warm clear skies on Sunday. The Falkens are less good in the rain than the RE71Rs and the older Dunlop ZIIs I had. I did hit some of the bands of rain coming off tropical storm Henri when I was coming home and I felt that the tires could have been better. They are worn, but not like the Dunlops that I had in the rain and did better...
Great to see you chime in S Driver! Any chance of meeting up at the Vintage Festival over Labor Day weekend? I'll be there for sure on Thursday afternoon/evening for the parade and after party in Falls Village with the Classic. It would be great to see you! 😁👍
Ha! Just did an almost-full brake pad replacement (I left one old pad in the rear as it had plenty of meat on it) on the white car. Just in case I need them
The new tranny I ordered for the black car is still in Germany (there are no new trannys to be had anywhere in N. America, so don't blow yours ) and wouldn't be here until (optimistically) at least the end of next week, so I took Eddie's advice and had Bruce (a long-time former A-Tech at Towne Mini and various transmission shops prior) look for a low-mile used one, and wa-LAH! he did indeed find one with 55k miles (the rest of the car has 82?k on it). Thankfully BMW allowed me to cancel the order so the new/used part will arrive on Monday and car should be done Tuesday. Hope it was gently used.....going with a new clutch and keeping the orig. CV shafts as they look OK. Hope I'm not being penny-wise and pound-foolish with this approach but the $$$$ savings, as well as the car being ready that much sooner, cannot be ignored......
Good to hear about Slinger……COVID is reeking havoc everywhere.
VV - I am thinking of attending the Vintage Fest over the weekend or Monday, weather depending. Can’t do Thursday/Friday. I haven’t been to that race in YEARS. Would be great to see any or all of you….
GBuff - 827k!!!!!!!!!!! Holy crap….
Eddie…….carrying the torch for the old OG Mini drivers around here. Impressive……always makes me wonder how my car would have faired up to now had I not decided to go that route that I did.
Haven’t done much crewing this year, only Daytona in January as BW scaled back their IMSA program this year. Hopefully back to it next year. I will be doing the Indy 8HR SRO event tho….in October.
@S-Driver I plan on going to one of the race days over the Vintage Festival weekend, weather dependent. It would be great to see you there! You're right about Eddie carrying the torch. That, plus pretty much every other tool you can think of can be seen on display at any HDPE day! Not to mention the sunshade, and portable heater in the fall. 😁
How about Saturday for vintage fest? Right now weather is looking cool and good. Not sure about Monday.
S-Driver - My guess your car would still be tooling around the track...
And tools are good... Like helping a MINI owner with crap street/track pads that lasted only a day...
I did come across a guy at WGI more dedicated than I am ... He had a M2 charge hose that my cousin needed and I saw a set of Quickjacks in his stuff... He did have a pickup, though, not a MINI...
That's REAL camping! Reminds me of when we used to tent in the trees along the back straight and sleep until the race cars woke us up 
But this is a favorite — the #14 Lotus Climax that Roger Penske drove in 1962. What I get a kick from is how it was brought in on a trailer that is in worse shape than the one that has been rusting in my neighbor's yard for the past decade! Big change from F1 today.
Anyway, MM offers a 2-yr/unlimited miles warranty.
