Ok--thanks.

Does yours have have the E-diff ?

Edit: looks like that became standard in 2014. Oddly, looks optional for 2016.

Maybe a 2014 makes the most sense --and just add the sport springs (ordered via VIN) and bars.

 

Hi Charlie, is it possible to back date a car in SCCA racing? Could you order a 2016 then order the factory sport springs used in 2014 and install them and run legally? This would just put you on par with the other mini coopers running in the class. I used to race a production class motorcycle and at the time we were allowed to update / backdate certain parts within a model production run.

 

Backdates not legal for SCCA street class… However, option packages can be retrofitted within the model year as long as you do everything.

 

Thanks, check that idea off the list.

chuck

 

You are right on the eDiff (or is that E-Diff?).

I wish I could find the spring rates for the Sport Suspension - I have searched more than once and come up empty. Damned if I can pay someone to measure them.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Right in that it became standard--that's good. Not sure what / how it changed later---see other thread asking about "Performance Control" option 2VG.

 

I am still flustered to have a car which is smarter than I am, and sometimes a bit irritated at how opaque new features can be.

I need a button which makes the driver cleverer - not the car.



Cheers,

Charlie

 

Seriously. Why did we even need a "Sport" button…isn't that why we bought a MINI in the first place?

Have you weighed your F56 in autocross trim with little gas?

 

Agree.

2,540 at the NHMS Paddock Scales back in Aug of '14.

I should be able to get close to 2,500, but it's a bit heavier than the HS R56.

PS: It's an honor and a pleasure to be chatting with you Per - thanks for all you do for the sport!
Cheers,

Charlie

 

Thanks--I haven't been doing much for the sport for a few years. Left GRM in 2012 (need to change my user id!) but appreciate the thought!

That sounds like about 100lbs IIRC over the 07-14s in similar trim.

 

How does your DSC work on your 2014? Can you turn DSC completely off, in addition to the traction control?

 

My standard starting drill (without exception) is:
1. start the engine
2. hit the silly little ring switch around the gear stick - engage Sport mode
3. press AND HOLD for 5 seconds on the DSC toggle switch - wait for the warning that says I am a nut case.

That turns on the power, turns off the nannies (all of them), and leaves me with anti-lock brakes and the eDiff.

If I like my co-driver, I tell them about it. If they are too fast, I don't.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

With two weeks remaining until my departure for southern Georgia, it is finally time to complete the preparations for the Dixie Nationals.

The previously described improvements to the suspension - consisting of the Bilstein B8 shocks and a nice 22mm NM Engineering rear sway bar - have now withstood almost a thousand miles without any issues at all. My compliments again to Colin from the Mini of Peabody shop for a flawless installation.

I don't yet know whether this combination will be fast, but there is no doubt whatsoever that the result is a ride which is easily as stiff as the STX suspension on the original R53 Gollum. Fingers crossed.

So the remaining bits are a nice set of OZ Ultraleggera wheels (14.8 pounds, 16x7) and a set of the Bridgestone RE-71R at 205/45-16.

Brad at Tirerack graciously assented to check with their Technical Staff to address my concerns regarding whether their TPMS sensors will plug and play with the July built 2014 F56, which was an issue with the Assetto Gara order from a year ago. In that case we had to do RMAs on two different sensors and I ultimately wound up sourcing them from my dear Dealer.

We shall see how much confidence Tirerack now has given they've another year of experience.

The long drive down the eastern slope of the Appalachians is mapped, all registrations are done, and I can only hope that a late-winter blizzard does not intervene.

PS: Anyone care to make an offer on the Assetto Gara wheels?

Cheers,

Charlie

 

I am delighted to announce that the management of Mini of Peabody have offered material support for my campaign in 2016.

I am proud to carry their brand and represent this outstanding team at the National Championship Tour events and the finals in Lincoln.

Now I am worried that my driving will be of sufficient caliber to deserve this honor.

No pressure!



Cheers,

Charlie

 

Good luck. And make sure you check your tire pressure before going out on the track!

 

Good suggestion!

Since my flat last year returning from New Jersey I have acquainted myself rather thoroughly with the TPMS system, and learned to trust it. The Longacre gauge is still in the passenger side door, but most often these days it's the center display that tells me what's what.

And having kept my eye on it over the winter I've learned a few things about the normal variations in pressures that I would not have guessed. Indeed I have seen a range of pressures from 30.5 to 37.5 psi caused by nothing more than the weather and the driving conditions.

I won't have a new baseline for balancing the handling with the new setup until the Test & Tune in Georgia on the 18th. My hope is that last year's optimum pressures of 38/48 (f/r) may converge a bit with the stiff rear bar.

We shall see.

Charlie

 

One of the preparation tasks for the Dixie Tour was to resurrect my GoPro Hero 3, which is now done. The poor thing was stuck in "updating" mode from late last season and I ignored it until now. Nice to have the camera back again.

Which brings me to poor man's telemetry!

I'm now doing my homework to see what could be accomplished with a bit of software to combine the GoPro (WiFi enabled) and the iPhone 6 accelerometers and GPS capabilities.

Thus far there appear to be several well regarded options, and the consensus also features concern with the 1Hz GPS refresh rate of the iPhone.

Would any of you wise track/autocross junkies care to push me in a specific direction?

Thanks,

Charlie

 

Harry's lap timer and an external antenna (Dual XGPS 160)
http://www.gps-laptimer.de/

A 1hz is not sufficient for an autocross or anything else. 5hz is ok for the track but not autocross. 10hz, which the Dual 160 gives you, will be good. You need the external antenna to drive the app to a higher sample rate.

 

Thanks Eddie.

"SkyPro XGPS160 GPS Receiver will be shipped to Charles Thompson by Amazon.com"

I am pretty tempted to go full boat and also learn the "GoPoint BT1/BT1A" to pull in some ODB-II data.

Kind regards,

Charlie

 

Hi Charlie,

We met at Devens last year. I only had my first 2 events as a novice before being sidelined for the season with back surgery. I added some mods over the winter and am ready to start over this spring in my BRG R53 (the one with mahogany roof rails and 65 year old driver)! Now I just need to, as you have said before, tighten the nut behind the wheel!

Great news about your sponsorship! Good luck in Georgia and hope to see you at Devens this summer!

Cheers, Keith

 

The BT1 is good and provides engine data. It would be better if it provided braking data.

 

Thanks Keith, and I look forward to seeing you in April for the Shakedown event.

All the best,

Charlie

 

Eddie thanks again for good advice!

Sincerely,

Charlie

 

Thanks again to the Mini of Peabody team.



The wonderful world of OZ.


I sourced the wheels, but MoP provided the 1st set of Bridgestones for the year which I am hugely impressed by, and most grateful for! (thanks Gary).

And Wednesday will be in the high 60s and might touch 70, which means if the test area is in decent condition I might learn something about this new setup.

Some folks worry about wheel gap - I worry about absolute 10 tenths performance. I'd stack this setup against any other F56 (B38) in the country.

And that dear readers, is what lies ahead.

Peace,

Charlie

 

Looks good!

Give me a shout about the Sparcos.

stigsdad at gmail.com