>>Great thread! Thanks cdconsor for the How Stuff Works Site. I could spend all night on that site. I esp. like the exploded views.

My pleasure. It is a pretty cool site. You can follow animations of the drive train all the way from pistons to differential.

 

Wow! Thanks for all the helpful information SlidewaysMini! Very, very helpful. I will work on my "double de-clutching technique".

You answered my next question too. I was going to ask if it is better to downshift before you enter a turn? Now I know!

I'm one of those hands on kind of learners...I'd love it these techniques in person.

Thanks again!

 

OK Clo here is my input on the thread......GAS its something that happens if you eat to many re-fried beans.



_________________
My MINI was modified by MINI-Motorsport and Lamin-X Click It

 

Cynamini,
I found a link that might give you some additional useful info. It's better worded than my description;

http://www.tcsracing.org/heelandtoe.htm

There are others if you do a Google search.
Regards

 

This is a great thread, you guys. Lots to learn, which is a good thing...thanks for all the info!

 

be careful... heel-toe is different than double clutching and "double declutching" is just duble clutching. Matching RPMs is more of a heel-toe maneuver while double clutching is more to match the clutch's speed. It's not really an issue now with the syncro's in the clutch but if you are interested you can read more about both techniques here.

 

>>be careful... heel-toe is different than double clutching and "double declutching" is just duble clutching. Matching RPMs is more of a heel-toe maneuver while double clutching is more to match the clutch's speed. It's not really an issue now with the syncro's in the clutch but if you are interested you can read more about both techniques here.

Yes, they are different & both techniques are beneficial.

 

Beneficial on older cars yes but there is no need to double clutch on a new car with synchros. Matching rpms yes but that is part of heel-toe shifting.

 

HARMINI, you now have a brother in Virginia. I loved your plate so much, I just checked on-line and it was available in my state, so I ordered it! (Hope you don't mind, remember imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!) Maybe we -- you -- should consider getting Mini owners in all states to order these, then we could get together and gour pictures taken. Heck I'll bet Mini would spring for hotels and dinner?! :smile:

 

>>HARMINI, you now have a brother in Virginia. I loved your plate so much, I just checked on-line and it was available in my state, so I ordered it! (Hope you don't mind, remember imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!) Maybe we -- you -- should consider getting Mini owners in all states to order these, then we could get together and gour pictures taken. Heck I'll bet Mini would spring for hotels and dinner?! :smile:

What the world needs is more HARMINI :smile:
Can't wait to see the pictures of your new plates.

 

>>OK Clo here is my input on the thread......GAS its something that happens if you eat to many re-fried beans.
>>
>>
>>


Thanks NoBull, we were waiting for your reply!
Thanks sjbartnik for another torque example too!
Ok, another girlie question because I don't really know where else to figure this out: What kind (brand, grade, etc) of oil should I use for my first change? Any suggestions if some are better than others? Thanks.

 

Well the recommended oil is MINI 5w30 synthetic (made by mobile 1) which is just BMW 5w30 synthetic with a different sticker. Really any 5w30 synthetic would fit the recommended oil requirement.

One kind of oil that seems to be highly recommended is Amsoil. I don't know that much about it because I've never used it but I know a lot of people use it with happy results. In fact once my free oil changes and such stop I will probably start using it. There are some Amsoil people on this board who should be able to help you out. From what I've heard it's good stuff.

I changed my oil & filter at about the 5000 mile mark because I did not like the idea of any break-in metal filings floating around in there. From now on I will most likely follow the recommended oil changes.

 

The MINI oil is made by Castrol actually, not Mobile.

 

I've got the concepts of oversteer and understeer down pretty well having driven both FWD cars and RWD sports cars, but what I can't find any info on is "choosing the line" I think they call it. When you're driving the twisties and you want to take the turn properly. I've only just played it safe and stayed to the right of the dotted white or yellow line. Assuming the road is empty, what's the "right" way to take a turn? how do you position your car?

Thanks in advance to whoever responds! :smile:

 

Woohoo!! The Girlie Performance thread has been revived. Welcome Cat.......

And I'd like to know the answer to your question too.....

 

>>Woohoo!! The Girlie Performance thread has been revived. Welcome Cat.......
>>
>>And I'd like to know the answer to your question too.....
>>

Hey, Harmini...do you ever sleep?

I just discovered that I'm a "poor schlub!" What a ****!!!!

This is a great thread; I'm still trying to figure out how matching underwear ties into performance mods. Can you shed any light here?

p.s. the MCS gets on the boat in two days. I can't wait so I'm going on vacation tomorrow...

 

Please whatever you do, NEVER cross the double yellow line especially in a corner because a head on collision is a very bad thing...

That said, there are a lot of sites out there that can probably explain it better than me but I'll give it a shot. The best "line" is to come in wide (in a right turn stay to the left) and aim your car for the apex of the turn. The Apex basically is where you stop entering the turn and start exiting. What you would typically do is decellerate upon entering the corner and then accelerate again at the apex. You want to keep as straight of a line possible because you go fastest in a straight line. These lines are basically the path your car takes as you drive (as if you had a can of spraypaint in the middle of your car spraying as you drive.

If you really want to learn more, sign up for an advaced driving school of some sort. They should all teach you this in more depth before you ever get in the car.
-Chris

 

Kim, If you want to safely practice the cause and effects of taking different lines around a turn may I suggest taking a little trip to the Valley Forge area and visiting Arnold's Go-Karts. Arnold's

You can quickly find out what the difference is between taking a corner too hot and having to break around the turn verses setting up a turn and accelerating at the apex. They will make you tuck all of that long hair in and wear a helmet so, if you go, prepare ahead of time and tie it back or cut if off or something.

 

Pretty informative with a diagram.
The Apex

 

>>Hey, Harmini...do you ever sleep?
>>
>>I just discovered that I'm a "poor schlub!" What a ****!!!!
>>
>>This is a great thread; I'm still trying to figure out how matching underwear ties into performance mods. Can you shed any light here?
>>
>>p.s. the MCS gets on the boat in two days. I can't wait so I'm going on vacation tomorrow...

David, my secret to MCO is to leave my computer on when I am home and check in now and then, see what's on the pulse, respond, then go about my business. It may LOOK like I'm here all the time, but I just pop in/out.

Matching undies???? HaHa.....this goes back to trying to find springs and intakes and other "under" mods that would match my Silk Green/Black.

On the boat.......woohooo!!! And don't worry about the "schlub" comment.......She wasn't with us at the Bucks run to know how cool it was to have you with us. I'd rather be a schlub than someone who's willing to miss out on some fun because of how they think they'll be perceived by others.

 

>>Kim, If you want to safely practice the cause and effects of taking different lines around a turn may I suggest taking a little trip to the Valley Forge area and visiting Arnold's Go-Karts. Arnold's
>>
>>You can quickly find out what the difference is between taking a corner too hot and having to break around the turn verses setting up a turn and accelerating at the apex. They will make you tuck all of that long hair in and wear a helmet so, if you go, prepare ahead of time and tie it back or cut if off or something.
>>
>>

Dan, thx for the link. It seems from the descriptions that I have been taking turns properly. I was planning on going to driving school this month, but the thought of Aug. heat, helmet head and keeping the windows up made me change my mind. I ain't cuttin' my hair though. I know a thousand ways to keep it outta my way (a single braid in back should work for the helmet). You made me chuckle with your comment, though. Thanks for taking the time to recognize that Girlie speedsters have special considerations.

 

>>thought of Aug. heat, helmet head and keeping the windows up made me change my mind. I ain't cuttin' my hair though. I know a thousand ways to keep it outta my way (a single braid in back should work for the helmet). You made me chuckle with your comment, though. Thanks for taking the time to recognize that Girlie speedsters have special considerations.

BTW- Arnolds Go-Karts is indoors, electric, fast and tons of fun.

 

>>Pretty informative with a diagram.
>>The Apex

thanks for the link!! I did a search (I'm the Internet Queen I tells ya'!) but I didn't know the proper terms to find any good online discriptions. This one's great!

 

>>BMINI, let's hear it for us girlies girls that can change our own tires! I love your example of when a girl might need to know these things (what a creative mind you have).

OK, I'm really late getting into this thread (still reading through it) but I had to jump in at this one and share my little story about tire changing.

This isn't MINI related but I was out somewhere with a guy I was dating. Ended up hitting something lying in the road and getting a flat. We limped into a parking lot. He get's out doing the I'm-the-man-I'll-change-the-tire-thing. Well next thing I know he's starting to completely loosen the lug bolts before the car is even jacked up! At this point, I step on his male ego and tell him I'll do it myself. It was bad enough I was going to have to buy another tire. I didn't need any more damage done to the car.

 

>>On the boat.......woohooo!!! And don't worry about the "schlub" comment.......She wasn't with us at the Bucks run to know how cool it was to have you with us. I'd rather be a schlub than someone who's willing to miss out on some fun because of how they think they'll be perceived by others.

And how many times do I have to apologize for the "schlub" comment? It was not meant to be offensive, merely sarcastic. As in, if I had a car on order it would be killing me to go to an all-MINI event and not have my own to drive. Sorry again.

Besides, I'm also a poor schlub because I'm still MINI-less.