Bella Brembo..


I'll be picking up the car today and will report back - and yep those brakes sure make me grin. White Mountains again tomorrow for a more thorough road trial. NER final autocross is October 29th, which is the final exam.

The good news is that the parts fit. No-one could confirm that - not Summit, not Tirerack, not NM Engineering.

Cheers,

Charlie


MoP rules!

 

What is the part number for the Bilsteins? Where did you order?

 

I've heard from some people in the UK with those Bilsteins that they are very very very firm.

What do you think of them? Is this your daily driver?

 

The number of new parts that have been removed from Gollum is climbing - surely this must mark some pathology which besets the owner!

The Bilsteins are (from Tire Rack):
Bilstein B8 (SP) Strut - LF - Part #: 22-245045 Bilstein B8 (SP) Strut - RF - Part #: 22-245052 Bilstein B8 (SP) Rear Shock Housing - (2) - Part #: 24-243414

 

I am accustomed to this setup, as Gollum III had the same parts.

Where the OEM suspension felt glued to the road, this car now feels nailed.

It is not for the faint of heart, and only a bull-goose looney such as yours truly would welcome such a stiff ride in a daily driver.

The gain is that body roll (at least until the car three wheels) is not permitted, and this protects the critical negative camber on the front axle to optimize the contact patch of the Bridgestones.

The NM Engineering bar, now set to the stiffest setting, will take over 700 pounds of weight transfer out back while deflecting only 1 ".

I once moved Chang Ho Kim's STS Civic at Nationals, and that car felt as though the rear spindles were welded to the body - this car does allow some compliance out back. Damned little though.

 

But, after running Bear Notch again, it's still compliant enough to manage frost heaves.

Bloody good.

Charlie

 

I am banished to a Nissan Altima this week, while the new bonnet is installed and painted.

Oi vey!

Cheers,

Charlie

 

You do know that Altima took second in the IMSA championship this year, right? You'll be fine in your loaner car.

 

Well a friend lead me to the van that hit me, and I had a chat with the owner. I reckon his son was the culprit, and I hope his dad passes the word.

Not worth more trouble than that.

Gollum comes back tomorrow all healed, thank heavens.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Regrettably the folks that are restoring Gollum's bent bonnet will not have the car done until next Tuesday.

So no last race, no chance to evaluate the new suspension under competition conditions.

Time to put the OEM Continentals back on the rims, bag the Bridgestones, and settle in for a New England winter.

Anyone have a plow rig for a Works car?

I'm trying to be a grownup here, but when I heard the news yesterday morning I darned near threw all my toys out of the pram!

Drat.

Cheers,

Charlie

PS: Off street parking is apparently safer in Gloucester!

Stealing Salvi's special spot...

 

From pictures I have seen and "plowing" I have done with my 2 MINIs I can assure you that the MINI's front bumper does pretty darn well at plowing snow...LOL

Sorry to hear about your MINI taking longer that expected to get fixed. But, better to take some time and have it right, though.

"pram"? - I wonder how many people outside of the east coast of MA know what that is.

 

I am suffering in an Altima reality...

Still, the weather from Tuesday looks pretty nice.

"Ooh look! Rainbows..."

Arggh...

Charlie

 

New car - Take two!

Thanks to Today's Collision, and Dan O'Callahan for the healing.

 

Glad you have your baby back.

 

Hampton to Newcastle...


Sunrise and dew


Isle of Shoals


the bridge to Newcastle

 

Hmmmm....
Do I see the RE71Rs still on the car?
I thought those were coming off... Guess not yet... Enjoy!

 

It's time... I did have one more run up to the Kank yesterday though.

 

Back to the OEM Conti tomorrow morning Brrr....

 

Err... that was OEM Hancook, not Conti.

Hmmm...

42 degrees and raining, entering Grant Circle in moderate traffic.

Off we go, and surprise! Once the front tires start spinning it requires prompt attention to get them to stick.

That applies to 1st gear of course, but also 2nd, and even 3rd.

Time to adapt to winter conditions I do believe.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

That's why my Hankook tires have been stacked in my storage building since the first week I owned the car.

 

Folks, if your car is a Works model - please do me the favor of stopping HERE and sharing your speed and mileage data?

Thanks very kindly,

Charlie

 

I've been meaning to do this...




Cheers,

Charlie

 

This is a very rare event - all four tires are momentarily at the same pressure!




Cheers,

Charlie

 

That is one thing that I wish I could see on my R56, actual tire pressure. The computer must read it but there is no display.

As for gearing. It seems that MINI made 1st and 2nd a little shorter, and 3rd - 6th taller than what they had in the R56 S. While not much of a change, this opens up a bit more of a gap between 2nd and 3rd. Curious?

 

Happy Thanksgiving. I too noticed that gap - perhaps my data is not exact? I simply recorded the speed at 3k rpm for each gear and calculated the rest. I'll check on that 2-3 gap and see if I believe it.

Cheers,

Charlie