No don't open them and if you do, don't click any links.

That problem has been going around. You are not the only one to have had one of these. Someone should tell CT that he has a problem. So far I have been clean.

 

yes, i did......i did open it tho as we've been emailing as usual.

 

Oh well, I think I just deleted his mail. Darn bad stuff is flying around so I am trying to be more careful.

 

Old NE track buddies, it is now time to part ways. Almost all my stuff is on its way to my new tropical home across the sea. I will truely miss the fun track days we have had together. Let's stay in touch and if you happen to venture out that way, do look me up.

Thanks guys (Veggi, s-driver, Eddie, Suss, GKP, Porsche Bob, MPGs, Redskunk, that beer guy at APS, the mazda gang, SCDA) for some great memories. I hope one day soon, we can all have another fun ride around wgi, my absolute favorite track.

 

Track days just aren't the same without you around. Wishing you the very best out there in paradise...

 

Slinger - I have signed up for 2 days at the end of August at WGI and will be thinking about you.
It has been the best to have learned from you...I will remember all. Thanks.

 

You will live on forever in your jack I got from you! I just used it again tonight!

Have fun over in Luau land and don't get too sunburned!! Hope I can get over there someday....

Keep watching the thread for news.......hope I'm out next year!

 

Thanks guys. Things have not been the same for me as well. Hope to see all of you sometime soon.

I will follow this thread to get an idea of how things are progressing on the track front.

All the best to all of you.

 

Guys, found out there are other R56 with the rear suspension bolt shearing off. Eddie and GKP, please check and retorque your bolts before heading out to the track.

Have fun.

 

Slinger where did you find that info?

 

Looks like you found it. Good he was only going 15 mph when he snapped the bolt.

 

Without good pictures of the bolt it is hard to tell/guess why it broke. The one common thing between his and Slinger's is the origianal shocks were replaced. It could be that the bolt just needed to be lubricated so it develops more tensel load for the same torque.

 

Torque your suspension bolts before tracking.

 

Eddie, found out thru some research that the rear alunimium trailing arms are meant for single install. The other Mini forum has a little more info on this. This means that those with aftermarket suspensions have a higher failure risk.

 

How can that possibly be?!!!!

That means that you can't change your shocks when they wear out without changing the the trailing arms. That would mean that it will cost about $3000 for a new set of shocks.
I wonder if MINI/BMW will put that in writing?

 

Hmmmmm, I like the R53 even more now! STEEL trailing arms.

Update on the build:

Ordered a Tilton pedal set, Kirkey race seat, and a quick release hub adaptor. Car was gutted two Sunday's ago...

Suan - wanna be a sponsor?

 

That is for cheap manufacturing. Just one bolt with no nuts and self threading. Nothing is ever in writing but the more you change suspensions, the higher the chance of failure later on. Many in the other forum who race have changed it to a bolt and nut setup or helicoil.

 

Of course, I will sponsor you. Unfortunately, no cash. Just in spirit and I cannot even see you drive.

 

Of course you can- I will follow him with the camera in my car and you can watch him disappear from in front of me

 

Hummm, video versus live view. I prefer to have him pass me at the track.

Have to save my money for the high priced gas here.

 

Hey, slinger688 here is your track fix:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTZEr...ature=youtu.be

This is my last session of our second day at WGI. I cut it short because I was tired. Harry's lap timer seemed to work great, except for this session , so no data on this one. I had an instructor in the car the whole time. He was great and drove the fastest darn 140 hp Acura race car you could imagine. This was just the person I needed. We worked up some good lines for me for T6, T7 and T9.

I did have brake problems in an earlier session. Over heated them and mostly lost them in T1. I took the opportunity to see what it was like to go off there. My video said that I was about 10 mph too fast to make the corner, so it was a good call. I also had a guy lose it in front of me in T9. He was too hot going in, the tail came out, he let off the gas (or maybe he did that before the tail came out), he over corrected and the car snapped around the other way and he backed into the guardrail at the bridge. That was pretty unnerving for me, but I made it back out the next session.

I met some other great MINI drivers, one of whom I talked into getting rid of his HPS pad in front after the second session when he faded them out. I sold him my spare Carbotechs and when he came in after the next session he was grinning ear to ear and very delighted he had good brakes. Then he over heated the brake fluid in the session after that and took the toe very wide; no damage but I am sure it was an uncomfortable feeling. Fortunately there was a mechanic there who change his fluid out for some really good high temp stuff...he was good to go for the rest of the event.

Overall a great 2 days.

 

Am without wifi at the present so cannot view videos.

Will try to go to the library soon.

 

Good day @ Lime Rock with GKP. We did couple of lead/follows like the old days, slinger. Didn't realize you were in the 'neighborhood'. We could have met up at the track and you could have helped me change over my wheels. Track was dry all day so the R-comps got a good workout. Might have one more event left in them. For the street, I do like the Hankook V-12 EVO. Quiet, smooth, and very predictable in both wet and dry surfaces. Don't know about wear yet as I think I have more track miles this year than street miles after doing Trackmasters @ WGI back in April!

 

Getting there!! Loooong way to go.

 

I am in town getting the house ready to sell and getting the car ready for the second track across the USA, this time to Seattle. Thinking of putting the hankooks on the P car for the trip. Leaving this sat.

Glad you had fun with GKP. Tell him to check is rear lower suspension bolts and retorque them. Be careful not to over torque as they bolt into aluminium.