Team Justacooper
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Emmitsburg, MD
Well, you can't really "win" at a HPDE (High Performance Driving Event) as you're not competing/racing anything, not even the clock, but with other cars out there, it's impossible not to notice whether you are faster or slower than they are. 
That said, compared to the other MINI out there, a heavily modded Clubman S (new turbo, lightweight wheels, big brakes, huge intercooler, etc.), I was very happy with the Cooper. Over the course of the ~3 laps that we were near each other and unobstructed by lots of other traffic, the Clubman S couldn't put any significant distance between himself and me. He absolutely walked away from me in the long straights (just like pretty much every other car) due to having probably 75% more hp than me, but it's obvious the Cooper and I were much faster through the curves.
Anyway, for those of you who haven't done any kind of Auto-X or Track Event... do it.
It doesn't matter if you've got the least horsepower of any car out there (like I did) or even if that's coupled with having the absolute WORST tires of any car out there (like I did... Cooper brand All-Seasons that came with my second set of wheels), you will STILL have a blast... and STILL have opportunities for the MINI to shine. For instance, at the end of a fast section, I had a BMW 335i riding my tail (he didn't have time to pass, btw) and with the tires howling around the 3-turn sequence before the back straight, my instructor started laughing out loud at how we had "smoked" (his word) the 335 through that sequence in the lowly MINI on crappy tires.
So, while I had to let quite a few Lotus Exiges and Porsche 911s pass, I had an absolute blast, and was very impressed with our little MINI despite being showroom stock with worse-than-showroom tires.
"Team Justacooper" for life!
That said, compared to the other MINI out there, a heavily modded Clubman S (new turbo, lightweight wheels, big brakes, huge intercooler, etc.), I was very happy with the Cooper. Over the course of the ~3 laps that we were near each other and unobstructed by lots of other traffic, the Clubman S couldn't put any significant distance between himself and me. He absolutely walked away from me in the long straights (just like pretty much every other car) due to having probably 75% more hp than me, but it's obvious the Cooper and I were much faster through the curves.
Anyway, for those of you who haven't done any kind of Auto-X or Track Event... do it.
It doesn't matter if you've got the least horsepower of any car out there (like I did) or even if that's coupled with having the absolute WORST tires of any car out there (like I did... Cooper brand All-Seasons that came with my second set of wheels), you will STILL have a blast... and STILL have opportunities for the MINI to shine. For instance, at the end of a fast section, I had a BMW 335i riding my tail (he didn't have time to pass, btw) and with the tires howling around the 3-turn sequence before the back straight, my instructor started laughing out loud at how we had "smoked" (his word) the 335 through that sequence in the lowly MINI on crappy tires.
So, while I had to let quite a few Lotus Exiges and Porsche 911s pass, I had an absolute blast, and was very impressed with our little MINI despite being showroom stock with worse-than-showroom tires.
"Team Justacooper" for life!
Jim
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Bakersfield
exhaust
someone earlier asked about exhaust.... I'm thinking of getting the supersprint. Supposedly the quietest of the bunch (Megan etc..).
Anyone have it? Comments?
I like the justacooper a lot. It's fun daily driver. And here's my autoX / trackday/Sunday driver.
Anyone have it? Comments?
I like the justacooper a lot. It's fun daily driver. And here's my autoX / trackday/Sunday driver.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
While there is that attitude of "just a Cooper" out there, whenever I walk into the garage and see "Mack" beckoning me to take him out for a drive, my heart shouts, "what a Cooper!" I sure am grateful to be able to have the lil' guy....
raises a door
Last edited by eaglebeagle; Dec 29, 2010 at 06:47 AM. Reason: added pics link
6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 52
From: World Championship 50 Fans
Kathy1946, thanks for the compliment. I like "justacoopers" and as we know they look and handle great the way they are. Eddyboi77, congratulations on your 2011. I like the front bumper in comparison to slightly old Coopers. Have fun!
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver Island, Canada
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 776
Likes: 2
I've often thought the reason for "no wave backs" could be that we're justacooper in a sea of S's. But, we think that's just fine and carry on.
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Italy, between Milan and Bologna
wow think I could be part of this team, with my R50 track lover!
last time in monza i beated a pair of MCS driven by nonsense people
I'd love to have the badge in the signature! how can I do it?
last time in monza i beated a pair of MCS driven by nonsense people
I'd love to have the badge in the signature! how can I do it?
Last edited by Rchrome; Jun 16, 2011 at 01:52 PM.
We're going to be doing both Laguna Seca and Infineon with Hooked on Driving in a couple of months. Laguna is the day before thanksgiving, Infineon the week after. I'm going to see how we can do with the new tires.
Represented Team Justacooper well at a recent Porsche vs. BMW Auto-X. Despite being completely stock performance-wise and having crappy all-season tires, my Cooper came out on top of the MINIs (with MINIBee's Cooper just behind) and in front of 10+ Porsches, too.
