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I know about that, that's a conversion every track day. Along with what sticky tires do I need and what is the lightest 15" wheel I can run.
Are you running stock brake calipers and HP+ pads. Seems like the most popular for our track day, thats what I ran on the r52 since about 2005. Did a track day a month after I drove it off the lot.
I know about that, that's a conversion every track day. Along with what sticky tires do I need and what is the lightest 15" wheel I can run.
Are you running stock brake calipers and HP+ pads. Seems like the most popular for our track day, thats what I ran on the r52 since about 2005. Did a track day a month after I drove it off the lot.
Old pic here with R91's on it, now it has different stripes, wheels, etc. Its changed a bit. Those 17" wheels are heavy , flip over to my OEM 15" spiders wheels for track days. The 175/65/15 believe it or not make a good non sticky track tire.
Cool thing is on the track with a Convertible gen 1 you dont need a helmet where I go. As the fixed roll over in the back is high enough , the stick test clears. But I have worn it in the past. Little weird with the top down , feels like an old open top roaster in the early race days. Its not the fastest on the track but it does love the corners. Been with the Cooper ( NON S ) class guys a bunch of times and the non turbo supercharged class a couple.
Now my R58 JCW on the track, that's a different beast.
I like how the newer model Minis have built in brake ducting and more power but I dont like how the shells are growing bigger. The mark is called Mini. I liked the Gen 1s altho supercharger whine can get a little annoying sometimes. I wont be doing a pulley mod
Santa came to my one bedroom apartment already filled to the brim with tires, alpine climbing gear, tools and a $2000 racing simulator set up and dropped off Hsport rear control arms and the Madness Motorwerks oil cooler even tho i was a complete jerk off this year.
I guess this means I need to lower the car soon ...and also I need to get wrenching.
Next track day is Jan 10 at GSS. I promise I will have some pics before then. The weather has been such a mess lately.
Installed since last update:
Brand new Nitto NT01
OMP strut brace
Alta catback
Madness lower stress bar
Cabrio braces
Thanks man... After this next track day I will probably be looking for brakes... I am thinking EBC dimpled and slotted rotors with Hawk HP+ pads
Originally Posted by Rennfahrer555
I dont have red calipers bc I do not need to convince anyone that I am racecar when I am on racetrack.
As your quote says "...I am on (a) racetrack." And you have put on a super sticky set of race tires and do other things to make your car go faster. Why, then, would you not put in a set of real race brake pads to go along with the rest of your race stuff?
I know a lot of people believe the "street/track" pads are fine for the track...good enough. But "good enough" isn't when the sticky tires overload the pads. IMHO the very first upgrade you aught to be making to any car going out on the track is brake pads. No point in making a car go faster if you can't stop and you're toast if you can't. Plus there is absolutely no reason not to use a track/race pad on the track.
If you are worried about driving on the street with those pads, the Carbotechs work fine on the street.
As for rotors, save your money and stick with the plan face rotors. They work as well as any of those fancy cheese grater rotor. What you save on the rotors will pay the difference for a real set of race pads...
As far as pads go, +1 on Carbotech suggestion. I've piloted an 800hp AWD converted rabbit with a front and rear set of those. Let me tell you, those suckers stopped on a DIME! I currently run StopTech Street Performance pads as the HP+ pads are super noisy for daily driving. I will say, the Carbotechs are pretty quiet compared to the HP+. They're worth the money, if you can afford it. When coming off the bank at ACS going 145MPH I blew the 2nd gear turn because the pads didn't have enough bite, but I was testing my brake points and thus learned that I needed to engage earlier due to not having the pads to stop me. Having the right pads will enable you to really push yourself and get you that lower lap time.
As your quote says "...I am on (a) racetrack." And you have put on a super sticky set of race tires and do other things to make your car go faster. Why, then, would you not put in a set of real race brake pads to go along with the rest of your race stuff?
I know a lot of people believe the "street/track" pads are fine for the track...good enough. But "good enough" isn't when the sticky tires overload the pads. IMHO the very first upgrade you aught to be making to any car going out on the track is brake pads. No point in making a car go faster if you can't stop and you're toast if you can't. Plus there is absolutely no reason not to use a track/race pad on the track.
If you are worried about driving on the street with those pads, the Carbotechs work fine on the street.
As for rotors, save your money and stick with the plan face rotors. They work as well as any of those fancy cheese grater rotor. What you save on the rotors will pay the difference for a real set of race pads...
Just something to think about.
You are very right. Which pad would you say is better for the track. Bc this car is only really on the road to drive to and from the track and I could care less about squeal
As far as pads go, +1 on Carbotech suggestion. I've piloted an 800hp AWD converted rabbit with a front and rear set of those. Let me tell you, those suckers stopped on a DIME! I currently run StopTech Street Performance pads as the HP+ pads are super noisy for daily driving. I will say, the Carbotechs are pretty quiet compared to the HP+. They're worth the money, if you can afford it. When coming off the bank at ACS going 145MPH I blew the 2nd gear turn because the pads didn't have enough bite, but I was testing my brake points and thus learned that I needed to engage earlier due to not having the pads to stop me. Having the right pads will enable you to really push yourself and get you that lower lap time.
I like the prices you have on the Brembo rotors. Do you carry any track brake pads ?
I like the prices you have on the Brembo rotors. Do you carry any track brake pads ?
Yes, if you are not concerned with the noise then we have the HP+ pads here. Only reason I do not run those pads right now is due to not wanting to deal with the noise on a daily bases. Once the car is completely dedicated to the track I will most likely run those pads as they're well priced and NASA runs contingencies with HAWK so if you do well HAWK gives you money towards new pads. Check out the HAWK page here that goes over the different compound brakes they offer and some good bullet points about what they were made for.
You are very right. Which pad would you say is better for the track. Bc this car is only really on the road to drive to and from the track and I could care less about squeal
I have run the Carbotechs XP10s on both stock calipers and the Wilwoods. I have also sold a set (my backup set) at a track day to someone who was complaining about how poor their stock brakes were and was not convinced that it was because of the street/track pads. After twisting the guys arm by saying I would install them before I had to deal with his "dead body" and he could have them for free if they were no better that the pads he had, he installed them. One session and he was grinning from ear to ear and had money in hand; transformed the car he said. So the XP10s would be my recommendation.
As for the Hawks, I am told they have a more aggressive bite than the Carbotechs. But I have also been told by people that the Hawks are hard on rotors. Either way, they should make a really good track pad.
Here is my observation - the MINI (especially a reasonably stock one; yours included) really likes smoothness. The Carbotechs are very smooth while at the same time have very high grip. They are very easy to modulate and remain very linear as heat increases. They can take the heat. With a rating up to 1600 deg, they are beyond what you will get to with a stock setup (I saw 1100 - 1300 with heat paint). With stock calipers, you will find on a hard braking track that the cast iron calipers will heat soak before the pads give up. I am told that the Hawks have an immediate and very high initial grip (a racer running a race prepared E30) which this person likes. However, I find that if I try for that kind of stopping, I upset the rear of the car. I find what works really well in my MINI is to go for a bit earlier brake point, ramp up the braking quickly, hold, then trail off if needed otherwise just release.
Most of the upper end pads I have used on the track will squeal like crazy off the track until you get them up to temp. That's why I like the HP+. Good on the track and then off for DD. I know some people like to swap pads and rotors at the track. Many of local MINI club member do that. I experience little to no fade on the HP+. Done many track days with the MINIs since 2005+. I like that set up. Had mintex extremes, ... etc Like the Hawk the best, good initial bit also. Now if you are only doing track days, or swapping pads then EBC yellow or DTC 60 as you are constantly pounding the brakes, but will have to warm them up at first.
Most of the upper end pads I have used on the track will squeal like crazy off the track until you get them up to temp. That's why I like the HP+. Good on the track and then off for DD. I know some people like to swap pads and rotors at the track. Many of local MINI club member do that. I experience little to no fade on the HP+. Done many track days with the MINIs since 2005+. I like that set up. Had mintex extremes, ... etc Like the Hawk the best, good initial bit also. Now if you are only doing track days, or swapping pads then EBC yellow or DTC 60 as you are constantly pounding the brakes, but will have to warm them up at first.
I respect the fact that a lot of people like the HP+ and Yellowstuff pads for the street and track. They are probably a good option for a novice or intermediate or someone with the ability to make adjustments in driving technique to compensate for them. However, neither of these is rated for above 1000 deg and as a novice I saw higher rotor temps than that. I melted a set of Wilwood street track pads on a rain day and with street tires. My concern is that on a dry day with track tires Rennfahrer555 will push the pads beyond their limits.
I must admit to not having used the HP+ on the track. I had them in for the street and found them to be very good but with a bit of noise. I have run the XP10s on the street and they were very tolerable with respect to noise (I do care about noise). I ran the Yellow stuff on the track and found them to less than satisfactory. Can't say they had fade, but they were very non-linear and much less grip than the XP10s. I switched them to the XP10s and very was glad I did.
Rennfahrer555 has said that he won't be driving much on the street and the noise didn't bother him, so why not go to a dedicated track pad.
Also, this is only my experience and opinion. I put my experience out there so Rennfahrer555 can make an informed decision. I consider brakes to be the number one thing to ensure people are safe on the track and race pads are cheap insurance to this end.
My thoughts exactly. I've run HP+ as rear pads, but they did not stand up to track use as a front pad.
Interesting as HP+'s have worked wonders for me on the track and have worked well for my instructors as well who run them. I'm actually interested in hearing what exactly didn't work for them as a front pad for you if you don't mind sharing.
To touch on the noise again, the HP+ when they are cold, as you daily drive with them, they squeal, but once on the track the ferro-carbon high-tech friction material gets up to temperature and the noise is not apparent.
Brake fade when they get hot. Even had them chunk when half worn. This was when car was still street legal and doing HPDEs with ~200 treadwear rubber.
I now run DTC-70 front in Outlaw 2000 calipers with 12x1.25 Coleman race rotors, and DTC-30 rear in stock calipers/rotors. Car runs in GTS2 with NASA & BMWCCA.
, feels like an old open top roaster in the early race days. Its not the fastest on the track but it does love the corners. Been with the Cooper ( NON S ) class guys a bunch of times and the non turbo supercharged class a couple. 
