Let me first start by saying last Saturday was totally awesome. I've been so excited about dyno tuning after reading all these threads that I felt like a little kid getting ready to go to Disneyland - I woke up like 7 times before I finally got outta bed at 5:45am. Three of us from MidCal Mini's (me, Jiminni & CAP49) drove down to LA for a day of tuning at The Los Angeles Performance Division (aka The LAPD; www.thelapd.com)

Keith & Rich from The Los Angeles Performance Division showed us a great time. They had donuts waiting for us when we got there & gave us a tour of their facility, which specializes in super high-performance Corvette Z06's: blown, twin-turbo'd, or built NA 402's. After watching Keith & Emil (Vitesse Pro) work with our cars on the DynoJet, I can totally see how just one car could spend the entire day on the dyno.

In fact, to get an individual car's nuances hammered out I'm sure you could easily do 5-7 pulls. Emil was a genius on his laptop & custom mapped us each new parameters. The consensus was the JCW 380's + cam make a huuuge difference. For the most part, Jiminni's & my car are pretty similiar: header-back exhaust (Alta v. Comptech/Magnaflow/Borla), pulley(s) (M7 v. Alta), intake (Alta v. AGS v.3), injectors, coil & wires. My cam seemed to be good for +10hp when comparing our cars' runs.

Randy T (M7 Tuning) stopped by the shop to hang out after punking Evo's in the canyons all morning. Super-cool dude & led us on a quick jaunt through a short canyon stretch which put us right back on the 118. The ride home? "Quick" & that's all I'm sayin'.


Here's my dyno plot(s). RunFile_001.drf is my final run of the day (RunFile_004.drf is the baseline) & you'll notice the peak is still climbing. Notice the rpm cutoff at 6.7, which is kinda bizarre. We've isolated this to either an issue with my Screamin' Demon coil or Kingsbourne spark plug wires, so both will be replaced shortly. Also, the facility wideband meter was not reading correctly. The numbers on the graph are incorrect (same for Jim and Cliff) even my baseline values. All 3 cars showed pretty much the same a/f ratios on their baseline, 2nd, 3rd, etc runs (even after adjustments), which means their meter was not reading properly. I'm ordering my wideband so I can report the correct readings & Emil can tweak further.

Engine modifications on a 2003 MCS build date= 3/2003:
Alta 15% pulley
Alta 2% crank pulley
Altanator pulley (to avoid overspinning alternator)
M7 AGS v.3
RMW cam
Comptech 4-2-1 header
Magnaflow high-flow cat
Borla race cat-back
JCW 380cc injectors
M7 DFIC
Coil + wires + NGK plugs
Unutilized Venom NO2



My brother helped me put this together a short clip of last weekend's dyno tune adventure. Enjoy!


Cars in attendance:

 

Looks like a fun day and good #'s!

 

Those are some nice numbers

Looks like a fun day!

 

Regardless of the 380's the RMW cam is showing an average of 10hp and about 10lb's of TQ across the board which is awesome..

What was the TQ difference between your car and the others?

Longboard

 

I have heard these canyon tales about Randy many times. I like canyon driving but there is a limit that most drivers aren't willing to cross. You never know whats around that next corner even if you went through it 10 min earlier.

What you need to remember is that pushing it in a canyon faster then the guy in the EVO is more about who's willing to take the risk. Doesn't matter the Hp of the car or the skill of the driver in most cases.

What I don't get is why he drives like that in the canyons every weekend but never shows up at any of the local track days to punk the other Mini track rats?

Bryan

 

to be fair canyon rats are a strange breed. It's the same as the guys that ride the dragon pretty hard, different strokes.

 

Insurance coverage! When you crash your car on the street and kill the pregnant mom coming the other way cause you misjudged the available traction (oil slick, sand, who knows), who cares! Your insurance will cover it!

When you slide into some dirt on the track and scratch up your paint a bit, it's out of pocket .

I'm all for driving fast and hard, but having been on some of the "Runs", I'll say it's pushing driving to a limit I'm not comfortable with on a public road (And I've broken most of the speed limits by a significant margin). I was having a hell of a time keeping up with most of the people on the MOAT run last year. Then when someone went off the road and crashed (Because he was driving beyond his ability) I was one of 2 people that stopped to help him (Out of literally 50-60 cars). If I hadn't stopped, he would have spent all day there, because his cell phone didn't work, and the car was undrivable.

Keep the tire squealing, brake fading, and driving 5x the posted speed limit to a road with nobody on it, that you can see (An empty freeway?) or take it to the track. I still can't believe how some of the people on those runs drive. At one point the car in front of me had all 4 tires across the double yellow line around a blind corner.

 

that's some nice torque . nice and fat .

 

eh i do both guys. I don't see what the rub is. If you're talking smack, yes you guys are exactly right you should be on the track. So I agree on that sentiment. But cars were originally built and meant for the open road. You can safely have a bit of fun here and there, we all do it.

so again, different strokes.

Although I will say being on the track chills the urge to drive fast on the street in general. Street mode = cruise control saving gas and just chillun for me now.

p.s. LB u should get your lazy butt to the track... and let me know when you're goin cause i'll head out there to watch you pull me on the straights!!!

 

No no, wasn't talking about you, and I do drive quick on the street, but not 90 MPH on a twisty canyon road, with faded brakes, shooting rocks at other cars, and crossing completely into oncoming traffic around blind corners .

I agree, cars should be driven on the road, but there's grandma, normal, insane, and just plain stupid. Crossing double yellows falls under the stupid category. Especially when everyone doing it knows that motorcycles and other cars come around the corners at the rate of 1-2 a minute. After watching people with absolutely no track driving experience drive the **** out of their cars, PASSING, yes PASSING on one lane canyon roads (In oncoming traffic). I can say I'm probably going to pass on future runs. I don't feel like endangering my own life, the life of my car, or other people on the road, just to have a little fun on a Sunday morning.

 

^^^^

If i saw the kind of stuff that you just mentioned i would be pulling people aside to have a little chat with them. I'm sure randy would be doing the same... matter of fact he has quite the reputation as an enforcer up there in those canyons from what I understand. That crap pisses me off as well.

 

My comments were general, and not point fingers at anyone in particular. Randy is actually one of the more tame people in the canyons.

 

I have to say that what scares me the most lately is that even if I am being cautious there could be some fool coming in the other direction crossing double yellows around blind turns that will take me out. I now only hit the canyons for leisurely drives and keep the *****-to-the-walls stuff for track.

Of course I wasn't always like that, but I guess I have a lot more to loose now.

 

Why did this tread turn to this? Fracky made a innocent remark and look what happened. I met Randy and he would never "punk" anyone, he is an adult.

 

Yep, when I said Randy was "punking" Evo's I meant it in a totally responsible manner in that he's showing how well a car can be driven & unlike many of the cars/drivers in the canyons. The crew he runs with make it an absolute point of keeping the car inside the lines at all times as a test of their own expertise, ie. can't touch or cross any lines. I've ridden along with Randy & he's "the man" in the hills. I didn't create this thread to comment about Evo's, I meant for it to be reflective of what some Cooper guys did on a Saturday afternoon.

 

This is one time I agree with you 100% and the club is doing a lot to keep this kind of extreme driving on the track and not in the canyons. We will be running multiple groups again, spirited (experienced drivers only) and scenic (those looking for a nice ride).

To be in the "spirited" group, you must be invited by the highly experienced drivers heading the run, Randy will be one of those helping to decide who is in this group. Some of the criteria will be, past responsible performance on club runs, skill that has been exhibited to club members either on the track or in the canyons. No one that has demonstrated unsafe driving, or is unknown to the leadership will be permitted in this group.
These kinds of criteria were not in place last year and hopefully would have prevented the kind of incident that was part of last years run. Fortunately no one was hurt and cars can be replaced.

If there are 50 cars on a run and someone has a problem, the normal procedure is to have one or two cars immediately following the incident to pullover and help and all others to continue. It is a dangerous situation to have 20-30 cars pull over on these narrow twisty roads. We have radios, and can call for more help if it is needed.

We will be on the lookout for those crossing the yellow line and will discuss the problem with them at the various rest breaks along the way.

I will invite you to come along with me on the next MOAT, the 25th of this month, as I will be running as the sweep car for the scenic (slow) group, same as last year.

I intend for the this group to take a nice leisurely scenic drive that will be interesting and fun.

Please come join us and enjoy a nice safe run of 120+ miles

Bill

 

I like Randy. He's a great guy, and very responsible. I know this thread isn't about him or those that like to drive the canyons. Reckless canyon driving really comes down to the club you're driving in. I was on the MOAT run as well..not sure if it was the same one--but Scott of CCC invited me, and I went off the edge of the road on a portion that actually had no concrete on the outside of the curve (was broken and jagged)--so my wheels dropped into the dirt scraping my gas tank, jack points, and rear strut covers. Though I was on the side with my flashers on--about 20 cars just went on by and kept going--Scott saw me, pulled over, and asked if I was ok, and actually helped me gather the parts that had come off.

Driving in large groups where everyone is interested only in themselves ISN'T very reassuring if you should go flying off a cliff and survive the initial impact...only to die alone because no one cares. Although I haven't driven the canyons in awhile or done a club run within c3, despite how frustratingly slow it got sometimes--the number one priority was the safety of the club members, and if someone was in need of help, we ALL stopped to assist. I've only experienced this sort of camaraderie inside of WCM and c3...it's really too bad some of the larger clubs don't see it the same way.

 

As I said in the previous entry:

If there are 50 cars on a run and someone has a problem, the normal procedure is to have one or two cars immediately following the incident to pullover and help and all others to continue. It is a dangerous situation to have 20-30 cars pull over on these narrow twisty roads. We have radios, and can call for more help if it is needed.

Bill

 

Unfortunately in the canyons the radios rarely reach more than 800-1000 feet. By the time I was pulled over (I was actually about 10 cars behind the accident) the lead was so far ahead I could barely understand him on the radio. A minute later we were out of radio contact.

I agree having 50 cars just STOP into the middle of the canyon is dangerous (Especially at the speeds these guys were driving at). At the same time, I was pretty much the ONLY one in 10 cars that even slowed down to see if he was ok. If people weren't driving like idiots the guy that crashed wouldn't have felt the need to be driving beyond his abilities.

I'm glad to see that for future events this has been taken into consideration. I still don't think I'll be going.

 

I should clarify I prefer to run in smaller groups for canyon runs...I agree that 20 to 30 cars pulling over is dangerous and unnecessary. Heck even 10 cars is dangerous, especially if you have to pull off the road off a blind corner.

The problem on large group runs is that a lot of times people participating don't follow the maps and just follow the car ahead of them..so should they stop to help someone they worry they will get lost or left behind..so the incentive to stop and help is further lost.

 

So Rusty, Richard & Fracky, do you think you guys can come out on the 25th and help us put on a safe club run? We could use the help of experienced drivers.

It is only by having safe sane drivers leading and sweeping, can the norm be changed. So come lead by example and demonstrate the right way to do it. It would be appreciated by all in attendance.


Bill

 

The thread turned to this because it is a non-RMW dyno tune thread. Longboard and rusty need to crap it up and take it off-topic because the dyno tune was not done by their master, but instead by a legitimate, Dimsport approved tuner.

 

There's a chance I'll be at the track that weekend, in which case, no. I'll see how things go.

 

Ding ding ding!

Remember. Protect yourselves at all times.

Fight!!!

 

Yes, you're right. That's exactly why my first post (Having overlooked the "Evo punking part" was something along the lines of "Great results!"

Wow, a Legitimate, Dimsport approved tuner eh? So when you call Dimsport, they set everything up for you, and you have an account to download Eprom's on their website, that means you're not approved? They also give out remote tuning solutions, and other new goodies to all their "Non-Approved" vendors.

Never mind the fact that you need a USB Key encoded dongle in the computer at all times to even run the program on your computer. I would know, it took me hours to get the program onto his new laptop, and even then we needed direct Dimsport support to get it working properly.

Way to sh*t on another thread!

Grow a set...