I've received a gift certificate for a performance driving class in my area which I'm very excited to attend!! However, I'm not sure if I'll need to prepare my car in any way, or if certain modifications to my stock MCS would make the experience more enjoyable for me as a first timer. For one, I have only about 3K miles left to the next service, so I'm considering waiting until after that to schedule my day...unless it wouldn't really matter or would be preferable even to drive it hard like that right before service... Any opinions about this? I have done oil changes at about every 5K.

I've considered having a few things added to the car anyway, such as a rear swaybar, a separate "summer only" wheel/tire set (I'm running Pzero Nero all seasons now). Even a short shifter and sportier springs are sounding good to me about now, but I've kept it stock thus far mostly to not give 'em anything to whine about at the dealer's should any warranty issues arise. Would anyone consider any of this stuff (or something else?) essential or "really nice to have" for a drive class, or am I just as well to run with what I've got?

 

I added a rear swaybar to my Cooper over the winter and cant believe how much steadier the car handles [it's on the 2nd of 3 holes]. If you are looking at handling, I think that's the best entry point.

 

Particularly if you plan on autocrossing, don't do any modifications until after the school. You should always learn to drive the Stock car first IMO, before making modifications.
Don't sweat the service, it doesn't matter when you go in. As for your dealer and mods, well that's a case by case basis. My dealer, also my sponsor MINI of Towson, is WELL aware of the modifications done to cars, does most of them So they don't have a problem. But you have to "feel" out the dealer.

The rear bar idea is nice, but you should realize you can get the rotation without it, simply with tire pressures. Realize how to do that, then when you do the rear bar, you'll understand more how it's affecting the handling. I'd recommend against it for now.

Brian Garfield
WDCR SCCA Solo
Novice Coordinator
http://solo.wdcr-scca.org/noviceSchool.php

 

You will want add a couple pounds of tire pressure to each tire before going out Let the air out when you are done.

 

ipro,
If you have never done a driving school before then I would suggest running your MINI as stock. No need to change anything yet.

No need to change oil before you go since you change it every 5000 miles.

To prepare your car-
Check all fluid levels especially oil, brake, power steering,and coolant levels.
Check that all caps for fluids are on firmly
Check all tires for wear and pressures.
Check your air filter for debris- if possible buy a new drop in foam filter to use. Unifilter or Alta Foam is OK.
Make sure nothing is loose or rattling.
Remove all loose items from your interior- floor mats, stuff in your center console tray and doors, things from the boot, tool kits, spare-if you have one, etc. (these become hazardous if moving around when you drive).
Clean your windshields and mirrors so your view out is good.
If your MINI has more than 10,000 miles check your brake pads.
Remove all items that could fall off from the outside- some MINI wheels have plastic covers

To prepare yourself-
Get rest the day or two before.
Drink lots of fluids (not alcohol) from the day before.
Purchase or rent a good helmet if needed M or SA rated 2000.
Wear sunscreen/hat and comfortable cool clothes.
Shoes (flexible and narrow sole) and long pants are good.

I personally like to read stuff-
Amazon.com has a bunch of good basic books on performance driving.

If you are interested in Autocross I like-
Winning Autocross by Turner and Miles
Secrets of Solo Racing by Henry A. Watts

The reason for not adding mods yet is you need to learn how to drive a stock car first and still be eligible for stock class competition at autocross. Once you mod you may bump yourself out of stock class and into something else that would be more difficult to compete in. Stock class typically requires a stock intake (drop in filter is OK), DOT approved tires on stock sized rims, and any cat-back exhaust.

I have driven at schools in a nearly stock MCS (only rear swaybar), a middle modded MCS, and stock Maxima. You learn more driving a stock car than in a modded one and all of the principles you learn transfer to any car you drive.

 

Very nice. Thanks for the feedback on this!! I really appreciate hearing different peoples' opinions.

I think I will wait for any mods until after I've experienced the class, so that I can truly experience the subtle changes that each makes, and to give me a benchmark to know what I feel could stand improvement. At this point it sounds like the class alone is going to be the best upgrade, and one that I can take with me into any car I drive. I can hardly wait!

 

It would also be an excellant idea to get used to driving in the shoes you will be using and seat position as you would for the school. Especially belted in very tightly so that you will not be sliding around in your seat.

Practice shifting and getting your hand back on the steering wheel as fast as possible (the shift **** is NOT a hand rest). One handing the steering wheel may be "cool" when you are cruising but not for performance driving. In the MINI your hands should be at 3 & 9 o'clock and on fairly tight Auto-X courses you should not have to move your hands from these positions.

 

I guess it goes with out saying and it's never happen to me, but let the tires cool before you let the air back out. I have heard of people lowering the tire pressure back to normal while the tires are still hot. Then end up with under inflated tires after they cool. Like I said I have never seen it, but I guess it could happen.

 

How would one belt themselves in tightly with the stock seat/belt setup? I've heard that you should be able to give the strap a tug & have it hold, but I can't get it to stay locked. Any tricks?

 

There are indeed several options.

First the no cost option-
Before you snap in your belt give it a couple of turns once you get it to the right tension then snap it closed.

Then the better solution when using a stock single pass seat belt-
http://www.cg-lock.com/isit.html
The cg-lock will fit any MINI's belts and work great.
Much cheaper than buying dedicated schroth harnesses and also fine for street, track or autocross use.

As for air pressure. If you want slightly better performance on the track you may inflate tire pressures just a bit about normal cold range. As the tires heat up your psi will also rise. As your car cools down your pressure will fall.

After a run or being on the track your brakes and tires are both heated up. It's best to let them cool down before adjusting tire pressures or at least just before your next run or turn on the track- this is adjusting hot or warm tire pressures.

So at the track or at autocross I use one set of wheels to bring me to the track and then mount performance tires that are the right pressure for the track. As I go on each run or session I can let air out just before I need to. Then I adjust pressures again as I go usually letting air out since each run makes the tires hotter- and since there is little time to cool off. Then at the end of the day I've let out quite a bit of air but the psi is still at race levels.
Later once everything is cooled down psi would be much much lower. But I'd be mounting my street tires and be driving home by then.

 

the best way to learn is stright stock. my first two schools where stock. the run-flats yell a lot. no big deal, they make noise. you can take the DSC off after a run or two. your instructor and your tire noise will be your guide. try and get an instructor that also has front wheel drive. i've found this to be a problem. everybody at school has rear wheel drive.

as far as your belt is concerned, if this is your first school it will not be a big deal. you will think your pushing the car but your new at it. i say this because i was the same way. i felt like a king after i went to my first school. after the second one i was like wow, i've really got a lot more to learn. your in car instructor is all you need to think about. they will tell you what you need to do. listen and record it if you can. it took me a few schools before i decided i needed a video camera mount. OK, i babble back to the belt. what i do is put the belt on with the seat in full back slide position. extract the belt fast to make it lock the while locked slide my seat forward to my driving position. that should have you in tight as all get out.

as you go around the track one of the things you need not worry about is seat position. i learned this trick from an instructor in a pimped out sentra. use it all the time now. have fun let us know how it went.

 

Good points.
Instructors are bias by experience. Some have been doing driving schools for 15-20+ years so they've seen and done quite a bit. Experience with front wheel drive helps, a definite plus.

I did that seat slide trick on my own and squashed the air out of me. It can get pretty tight. Careful that you can still breathe and practice it a little first.

Using a stock MINI is quite good. I happen to think you learn more about driving itself which is always a good thing. When your instructor drives you can begin to see the performance potential a stock MINI has- it's an eye opener

Just remember it takes lots of skill to drive like that and not loose it.


On video- it can be pretty noisey in my car on the track with the windows open and wind blowing. Audio quality might not be so fantastic unless you mic the helmets and hook it to your camcorder.

At my schools we can use remote mics and ear pieces. Each person inserts a mic and ear piece inside the helmet and the instructor wears a transmitter battery pack. Then you can talk and hear in comfort with ease.