Hello all! This is my first post on this board.
I’m looking to get in to a mini for racing purposes (CCS, NASA, SCCA??) and I was wondering your alls experience on the longevity of the MCS’s engine on the track. I was the proud owner of an E30 M3, whose block is not so proud these days.
I like the mini for all the reasons you all do… plus I’m English I’m looking to modify say maybe 230-260whp, and strip the body down.

I know this is a difficult question but what am I getting my self into?

How many races/miles is the mini engine good for when used on the track?

I wasn’t planning on touching the block… is is beefy enough to take the track in the long run?

I’m no fool and I’m not new to tracking cars… but I just want a fun car to track that is not going to die, or be a money pitt, just something to race for fun.

Thanks in advance for your responses

 

Here are my thoughts

If it's going to be a track car only lose as much weight at you can. rip it all out. carpet, back seats, all of it. Everyone assumes these cars are light, they aren't.

as far as a track car goes, it will hold well. The best thing you can do is get some camber in there. The back is easy but the front is not so much. The springs in the front prevent getting that much camber.

I've done some heavy track time in mine and I think i can tell you what will need to be serviced.

Get a big brake kit. the MINI has very poor brakes. I took every route to fix the small brakes and finally bit the bullet and got the BBK. Even with that you will have to bleed the brakes often at the track. At least once a day. The fluid resevoir in the MINI is too small.

The next big issue is S/C.

If you're going to put a new pulley you need to make provisions. You'll need to keep the car cool. I've blown two engines at the track.... Make sure you keep the engine cool. get some software or something to take care of it.

Good Luck.

 

I would start by reading this thread https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=61929

and then talk/pm onasled. He probably knows more than many people here and is building his race car.

 

Or, PM dkstone. His MCS has been to tons of trackdays, and he's over 100,000 miles on it. As are a few other people. Like myself (in a Cooper), and NHRef in an MCS. But dkstone hits more track days than most of the other people.