Is anyone out there running an MC in STS? I've searched the forum, but so far can only find people running in H-Stock, or some MCS' running in STX or SP. Just wondering...

Since I have been having fun with mods on my MC, I'd be put into STS, whereas before I was running H-Stock with everyone else! :smile:

 

No one that I know of is running a MINI in STS on the national level... but the MC may have a chance in the class... in my mind the MC vs the "car" for STS an 89 civic si is a weight issue since the MINI is at least 300 pounds more... Yeah the MINIs beat those same civics in HS but once you allow suspension mods the MINI looses it's suspension advantage that it has in stock.... Still a part of me thinks the MINI can get it done in STS.... I am tempted to go to STS with my MINI but I have to resist that urge, at least untill the car is paid for..... Also I do know that someone was interested in a full on FSP assult in a MC but his sposor bailed on him to go road racing which is a shame cuz I would have loved to see how Brian would have done....

Outside of National level racing I think the MC is a great STS car!! Or FSP for that matter if you like r tires....

 

Well, I'll give it a shot in my region (TX) since I've been going mod happy on the MC with Christmas presents... :smile:

 

I've contempated STS in my car.......How could you not in such a cool car. Since I have a national level STS driver in my region I have a pretty good feel for what a MINI can do nationally in STS......

Here are my observations....

Normally this STS driver is roughly .5-1 second faster then me on a 60 second course. So what can I "really" do that will gain me time.....

-Tires.....No
-Wheels.....Yes...15x7.5 would be an advantage in gearing, weight and width
-Horsepower....ECU, Header, Air filter, Throttle body.....Maybe 140 to 145HP on a very good day.
-Suspension......Coilovers, Rear swaybar, Camber plates, trailing arms.....Cannot think of much else.
-Weight....Seats.....That's about all I would do. Not even sure I would do that.

It's tempting......STS is "the" class for lot's of competition locally. More people like the rules and why not, It's fun to customize your car. Very few people are willing to stick it our for National level SCCA Autocrossing. That's why I think STS sounds like fun. More competition.......

Just my .02

Stuart

 

I use to run my 99 Integra GSR in STS and did fairly well (won the day on two occasions.) I found that power isn't what wins in STS, as evidenced by the 108HP Civic Si winning nationals multiple times. It's how well you can set-up the car to transition. There are far more turns in an average autocross course than there are straights. The faster you are in the turns, the higher the speed you can carry into the straights. With street tires, it's important to not over-drive the car because traction is at a premium.

As this applies to the MINI, it's a car with excellent basic suspension geometry and a nice short wheelbase. With the additional mods allowed, the MINI can be dialed in to a very agressive configuration that can be tuned to optimize the capabilities of the street tires.

The power to weight is almost comparable to the 89-91 Civic SI (2550/115=22.2 MC vs. 2150/108=19.9 SI). 128HP for the MC would make it even and the allowable mods should close the gap. The thing that makes a difference is contact patch. The SI can take up to 205. If the MC is run with 205s as well, the SI has a distinct advantage of a lower PSI (tire patch on to the road). In a turn, the resistive frictional forces at the tires have to combat 400 less pounds than the SI. You have to have more tire than 205 to be competitive. Assuming a straight ratio (2550/2150*205), the tire would have to be a 243. You really need to figure out how to use 225 to begin to have the corning capability of the SI (looking at tire sizes versus weight). Luckily the MC has a better suspension. And if you stick with 15" wheels with a 45-50 offset, use coilovers for the added clearance, and roll the fender lip, you should be competitive.

Now, all you have to do is be the best driver because now the cars are equal. That's no easy task. On my first event victory, the course involved a slow tight section in the first third of the course. My GSR, the only one in STS that day, can rev to 8k and could stay in first gear until after the very tight section. Everyone else had to shift up and then down and than up again. This was a distinct advantage for me. My second win, against nine others, was because I was able to put together a clean run. I'm a decent driver and the better drivers (and there are alot of them out there ) could not put a fast and clean run together. So there is always a chance but the national level competitors can always put together one clean and fast run. Thats why I only won 2 of the 20 I ran with the car. The car is important but being a good driver is more so.

I also believe the MC could be competitive with the right equipment and wheel/tire combo. And I will be running STS again once I sell the cars I have to get my MC. But realistically, I'm only better than average and will have to practice a lot before I can consider running in Wichita.

 

Danceswithcones,
Thanks for the detailed insight on STS for the modded Coopers. I suspect there are some regions where the MC would do well in the class. Hopefully this will inspire some MC owners to get to work before Spring hits.