Here is a press release from Mini Mania that I thought would be of interest to everyone....

Mark

Mini Mania Announces the MINI Cooper Challenge Series

Nevada City, CA (October 27, 2002) - Mini Mania, recognized as the market
leader in MINI Cooper performance parts and accessories, announced today
the formation of the Spec MINI Cooper Challenge Series.

MINI USA, BMW CCA Club Racing, Tire Rack, United Auto Group and SCCA are
involved in the planning for the Spec Series. The Spec Series involves
identically prepared cars that allow all racers to compete at the same
level. Limited modifications ensure minimal investment for the participants.
The combination of the hot selling MINI Cooper and the Spec Series, one of
the fastest growing fields in racing, provide a widely popular, competitive
and affordable series. MINI enthusiasts already participate in SCCA
Showroom Stock C and SOLO II H-Stock autocross events across the country.

The new Spec Series was formed to elevate the competition to a new
level. With the involvement of several sanctioning groups and a common
Spec, the racer will have ample opportunity to compete.

About Mini Mania:

This year marks the 28th anniversary of Mini Mania and the release of the
New BMW MINI Cooper. Through the years, Mini Mania has provided parts,
accessories and technical services for owners of the Classic Mini. Now,
tradition meets the future as Mini Mania brings new products on line for
the New MINI Cooper. Mini Mania is dedicated to providing innovative,
quality products to owners of the New BMW MINI Cooper.

BMW, MINI USA, MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S are registered trademarks of BMW

 

So how would one go about getting one of these specially prepared MINIs and entering the series? Also, any word on $$$$$$?

 

Heard about this back in May when I ordered my MCS. The mgr.of MINI of N. Scottsdale asked if I wanted to sign up for this MINI Challenge Series. Seems they have been planning this for sometime. MINI of N. Scottsdale is part of the United Auto Empire and Roger Penske is the major shareholder of United Auto. It's all starting to make sense now.

 

Mark,

Do you have any more information on this since SEMA? Specifically do they have dates/locations and how does one go about getting one of these Spec MINIs to race?

-Dave

 

Dave- I saw the first car at the SEMA show. The Challenge is going to be close to stock to keep the cost down. Coopers will be used not the S, no major mods beyond intake and exhaust, but safety harness and roll cage will be required. Cost is estimated around $6-8K. If you already have a car then contact Mini Mania and they can give you info on what you need to do. If you want to buy a completed car I would contact the Scottsdale dealer mentioned in this thread or MINI of San Francisco (it was their owner's car at SEMA). --Seth

 

Further information for Dave and others with an S.

Another new series has been announced, the North American Bimmer Series for BMWs and the new MINI. Both the Cooper and the S (in different classes of course) are welcome in this new series announced by NASA. More info at NASA

 

Dave,
I've emailed my contact at Mini Mania for further info on the both the turbo kit and the Challenge Series. I'll follow up when I receive information. As for the Challenge Series, regardless if it is a spec series it won't be cheap. Just prepping a car to compete in road racing will be expensive...like the 6-8K Dukestantos mentions. Additionally expect to buy helmet, full race suit, licensing of some sort, and entry fees.

The question I have is how will a spec series be executed? In spec Miata or spec RX7 you have to buy a sealed motor from a provider. Who will the provider be in this case? Or will it just be required that you take delivery directly from a MINI dealer, install the mandatory safety equipment, and go racing. If so, it will be a very short amount of time until someone starts doing engine work to get a competitive advantage...then "spec" goes out the window. The SCCA spec series to date have been successful due to the level of regulation around where you source certain parts and what you can/can't do with them. I'm curious to see the fine details of this program to see how these issues will be addressed.

Mark

 

>>So how would one go about getting one of these specially prepared MINIs and entering the series? Also, any word on $$$$$$?

To Dave, or anyone else wishing to compete in a MINI. I have a well equipped shop and have built many race winning front wheel drive racers in my past. I presently only have work schedualled ahead for a few weeks. I built 1 MINI last year and also built a jig for a real good rollcage. Call me, evenings are best right now as I also building a new home. Karl Hacker eves. 518-283-7445 EST

 

I've read the rules (on MINI Mania & BMWCCA) and several announcements about the series. Where would I go to find more information regarding the series? Websites, message boards, mailing lists? Anybody here actually running in the series? Building a car for the series? Thanks for any help.

 

Still asking around... It would appear the MINI Mania series is a ghost series with no cars actually competing yet?

 

I bought a race prepped Cooper S from MINI North Scottsdale. There will be a spec series locally (AZ) through NASA. I think they have sold 8 others, so far. Don't know about the SCCA, but would like to run the car with them, too.

 

biwaracing,

I presume your car is based on the NABR/NASA spec as oppossed to the BMWCCA/MINI-MANIA spec? Have you guys raced this year? Do you have a schedule, mailing list or message board for your series? Thanks.

I'm not sure where the Cooper S fits in with SCCA w2w racing. Never really thought about it.

 

Is there a driver's list yet?

 

Ken,
The car is not built to the BMW CCA spec (rear seat is gone, did not use their spec components, etc.). The way I understand it, the local AZ chapter of NASA has agreed to start a spec class for the MC and MCS racers built by MINI North Scottsdale. They basically decided what components to use. There is a schedule - see the NASA website and follow link to AZ region. It is not listed as a class up front, but you will see you can enter the MC and MCS spec series for the next event at the end of September. The person at the dealership facilitating the series has a list of owners. Please feel free to e-mail me directly (biwaracing@msn.com) if you want to get in touch with him or have any other questions.

 

How is your car modded then:
Seats, belts, rollcage?
Tires/wheels?
Springs, anti-rollbars, shocks?
Intake, pulley, exhaust?
Thanks,
Mark

 

>>The car is not built to the BMW CCA spec (rear seat is gone, did not use their spec components, etc.). The way I understand it, the local AZ chapter of NASA has agreed to start a spec class for the MC and MCS racers built by MINI North Scottsdale.

Thanks biwaracing. It sounds to me like the guys handling the admin of your series are indeed the NASA/NABR folks. Good luck and I'll be keeping an eye out for your September race!

>>How is your car modded then:

Colorado Mark, you might find some of your answers here:

http://www.northamericanbavarianracing.com/NASMS.htm

 

>>How is your car modded then:
>>Seats, belts, rollcage?
>>Tires/wheels?
>>Springs, anti-rollbars, shocks?
>>Intake, pulley, exhaust?
>>Thanks,
>>Mark
>>
It has Sparco seats and belts. a full bolt-in roll cage, window net, OZ 17" wheels, Stoptech big brakes with SS lines, Spax coilovers, sway bar, intake and exhaust. No pulley (yet). The spec tire is Hoosier. I took the car to a BMW driving school and can vouch for the quality of the build job and components. Since I don't have the time or ability to convert the car myself, I would have to say it was well worth it to have the dealer do it.

 

Still, the question remains... is the "spec" Mini series a ghost series... is anyone on the east coast competing with these rules in SCCA? in BMWCCA?

 

200mph,

Here is my best guess assessment of organized, amature level MINI racing in the U.S. to date:

NABR/NASA appear to have a spec defined with cars being built, but it seems most, if not all, of that is occuring in the southwest (AZ) and nowhere else. No racing has been done yet and it doesn't sound like a schedule of race dates have been posted either.

BMWCCA/MINI Mania's spec series is even less further along than that. I don't get the impression that their spec has been settled on yet so there is likely little chance that we'll see any racing from that proposed series in 2003.

BMWCCA club racing has seen a MINI or two racing within their ranks categorized as either L-Stock (Cooper) or J-Stock (Cooper S). J-stock includes the likes of E30 M3s.

I'm not sure where new MINIs fall in the SCCA club racing heirarchy or if there are any racing.

If anyone has anything to add to this, or if I've made any mistakes I'd appreciate hearing about it. From my perspective, MINI spec racing in the U.S. unfortunately hasn't taken off like it has in merry old England and Belgium.

 

Actually its a little more confusing. According to Mike Mills (the Spec MINI man at NABR), in an email yesterday, the NABR Spec still is not finalized, they are awaiting more info on a suspension setup.

We have one of the AZ cars, most have been built to compete in ASRA races in AZ (which are usually sanctioned by NASA). They wanted to get going this year and didn't wait for either national Spec to be finalized. Our car was going to be a BMW CCA/Mini Mania Spec car and is closest to that set- up today. However we wanted to use it for driver training this year, so we had to complete it before the Spec was finalized and before NABR announced their plans.

Eventually it will be sorted out. I think now that we will go with NABR/NASA since they have a schedule concentrated in the West, where we are located. We have been practicing in their HPDE program and they will allow the car to compete now in regular NABR classes. Our MCS performs very well and we are pleased with the work done in Scottsdale.

BMW CCA has a national club racing program. They hold races in all parts of the country but not too many at any one venue. Both have good programs from what I have seen, it just depends on where you are located and how much time and travel you are going to put into it.

 

Thanks for the clarification Duke. I got an email from Mike several weeks ago and he said they were still working on the spec. When I saw biwaracing's posts about his car being built I assumed (since biwaracing is from the southwest) that NABR had finally gotten their spec together. My mistake.

I'm familiar with BMWCCA club racing. Not so much a racing series in the traditional sense of the word. I like their 13/13 no contact policy quite a lot though and the travelling from track to track is not a problem for me.

So what series is ASRA? Is there anything NASA won't sanction . Is it a local MINI only series or is it a catchall small bore series? Thanks and good luck.