Come now, you know you are an experienced SM driver and fully capable of doing very very well. You know you have a finely tuned MINI.

Now get out there and scare some cones!

You proved at last autocross in the fun runs that there is no technical reason you aren't going to do well in our class.

Every MINI out there can do better. It's all up to us.

Test and tune on Saturday might be a good opportunity to get together for a few runs. I watch you drive and you watch me drive, do a critique.

I already know what I'm going to work on-
Be a lot smoother in slaloms and transitions
Respect the tight spots and hairpins and go for slower entry with faster exit
Keep the car more balanced so I can make use of all four wheels not my usual three.
:impatient That's what my coach told me.:impatient

And- Cliff and Larry are even more experienced that we are. We are the babies at this sport.

 

Sounds like an awesome idea but I can't stay Saturday. I'll be there to help Tech Inspect and help the MINI students get settled-in, however, I have to leave before noon so I didn't sign up. I will definitely be watching you though.

I have to admit that the biggest "help" for me since we moved to Aloha Stadium was listening to your words of wisdom - walk, walk, walk, walk the course. I walk at least four times so by the time we run I have the course memorized and all I have to concentrate on is driving as smooth as I can. Walking the course with you and hearing your "tips" is also rewarding - a lot of folks may tend to keep their lines and such to themselves, however, you are always willing to share to help everyone do better.

I was definitely happy with my back-to-back runs during fun-run, however, I was ecstatic to see my fun-run times were in your neighborhood when the results were published that night.

The battle for 2nd in SM has been pretty exciting and fun between Cliff, Larry and I. We are always trying and trying to catch Mr. SM without any luck. One of these days, one of these days.

 

I tried to access the results at SCCAhawaii.org but it didn't load.

Any results?????

 

As of 11:23pm local time, the pdf link to the results have been dead.

I do know the SM results though - I basically gave away #1 spot by clipping a cone. Four of us were bunched up. Tyler 1st, Larry 2nd, Cliff 3rd and then me. FTD was Mike P.

 

That was close. Pretty exciting.

Next weekend is the autocross school on Saturday then the Solo event on sunday.

Get yourself psyched up for another round.

Lets do some pre-planning on strategy and look over tuning options.
I just did realignment with changes to front and rear camber and front and rear toe settings. You got a chance to drive it last coffee event.

I think it's going to work OK, a bit more aggressive than my prior alignment. I'm also running my Hoosiers a little higher on pressures than the first 3 events now and that seems OK.

 

Post #15 results updated for Aug 5th results.

We have an Autocross school date this saturday- starts early about 7-730am for registration. Aloha Stadium, lasts all day, bring food and drinks if you are driving.

then sunday Aug 19 is the next official autocross event.

 

Can't wait until I can sell the Subaru and get another MINI. Feels strange being in a "big" car. It's fun to get back into SCCA though - well, I should say get into it. I only raced once before, but at least it WAS in my '71 Mini.



Love that shot of your car!

 

How soon would that be?

Which MINI? R56 MCS or older R53?

Any idea what class you'd compete in?

We'd love to have you join us.

Overall, Aloha Stadium has worked out well and is an improvement over Hawaii Raceway Park.

On the other hand, driver participation is fairly high and competition is rather keen for the top spots.

 

I drove the Subaru (88 EM) last event, and I'll be driving it this event as well. More than likely I wouldn't be able to get a MINI for about 6 months or so. If I do get one though it'll be an 02-06 car. I'm even considering getting a Cooper and not a Cooper S. We'll see how the money bit falls into place.

I'm not worried about the competition right now. I'm just out there to get better. Eventually I'll be in a positioon where I have the right equipment! I've only driven two events overall, so I've got a lot of learning to do.

 

Latka, see you on Sunday. Minihune, see you on Saturday and Sunday.

Latka - so your not going to auto-x the "other" Mini?

 

OK, that sounds like a plan to me.

If it is a Cooper the transmission on the later 2005-2006 models is Getrag not Midlands and is better/more trouble free. If you can find an MC with Sports Suspension plus option from the factory that would be ideal (hard to find).
Holeys are the wheels of choice but anything will work whether 15 or 16".

If MCS then definitely 2005 gearing is better plus you can do a little rear control arm camber adjustment.

If you want to drive in stock classes then try to find something that hasn't been modded too much that might throw you out of stock class- even small things like a shift **** are not allowed.

Meanwhile practice up- will look out for you on sunday.

 

DaKineMINI, nah - in order to auto-x that car I'd have to find the stock wheel I'd either have to convert some things back to stock or pour money into it to make it competitive in FSP (I think that's where it'd be). Stock the wheel is too big for my huge body to fit in there. Plus when I got in it the first time I commented, "Wow - this exhaust is pretty quiet." That was immediately followed by a "NO!" from Alli. Hahahahahahaha.

Minihune - thank 'ya for the advice on the trannies and stuff. I haven't thought about a MINI in long enough that I'm way behind the power curve in knowing what's good and not-so-good. I've been told a few times now that the Midlands transmission wasn't so hot, so I will definitely avoid that. I'd prefer an MCS, but I thought it might be kinda neat to drive a Cooper just to be different. You're right though - if I do look for one I'm going to try to find what i want and stock if possible. More than likely that means I'll have to look on the west coast of the Mainland for my car.

I'm going to pray to the God of Bumpstops before Sunday. I have a feeling my ham-fisted driving is a big contributor in how my car was performing, but man that suspension is wayyyyyy too soft.

 

Update to Post #15

Tough day of competition. Battle over fractions of a second faster and cleaner. Spots of rain but mostly good weather.

As usual Mike W. prevailed in G stock and got 2nd on PAX overall and is leading for the season so far in total PAX points after 5 events.

Newcomer pmfranke using Barry's ole SuperLap MCS with goodies managed a respectable debut and highest finish for the day for all Novice drivers.
Great start.

 

Next event Sept 9th sunday.

Pre-reg is this saturday morning 9am Sept 1.
If you have done autocross before or any test and tune this year then you can go online at Sccahawaii.org and pre-reg but you must show up on Sept 9th or loose the ability to sign up online.

Otherwise you can show up in the morning about 7am and register same day.

Race #6 - September 9
Heat 1: All Stock
Heat 2: ASP, BSP, CSP, DSP, All Prepared
Heat 3: ESP, FSP, All Modified
Heat 4: All Street Touring, All Street Modified

All novice or first time drivers should plan to drive in Heats 3 or 4 to get an instructor (optional).

Here are the results and a commentary wrap up from last event.
http://sccahawaii.org/SoloAug19.html

We also have two dates in October, 14th and 21st.
Hope to see you there.

Come and cheer the MINIs on.

 

Event 5 pictures-


First event and very good showing for pmfranke.


Flying around the corners


Shows how close we can get to the cones. This one stayed up but was scared by a tire.


R56 motoring along.


Almost two wheels off the ground.

 

Pictures from the Last Test and tune day-

"Classic mini" with Honda VTEC engine and upgrades


KBseto carving up the pavement and ready to go surfing all in the same day/weekend.


Mike W. in his super turbo MCS. Complete with dual exhaust.

 

WoW ,great pictures!!!!!!!!!

 

Glad you like them.

Each event we usually have some good photos.

Come each month and see what we can get of you in action.

Today is the pre reg online day from this morning at 9am
go to
http://sccahawaii.org/

and sign up.
$22 per event for SCCA members and
$30 per event for non members
$5 for fun run card good for 5 runs at the end of the day time permitting.

You can take one passenger on fun runs, helmet and shoes required.

 

Autocross is tomorrow, from early until about 4pm. Bring shoes if you want to ride along at the end of the day about 330pm

Bring your MINIs.

Come to visit and say hello.

We should have quite a few MINIs this event.

Good luck to all the drivers!

 

Does the driver or the passenger pay the money for the fun run? I've never actually gone out after the runs were completed!

 

No passenger fee but driver pays $1 per run (these are bought in a coupons of fives during registration - must be paid by check also).

 

I'll have my canopy up so look for the canopy with the HMMC banner on it and come-in and stay cool. Park you chair and come hang out.

 

In the past each fun run cost $1 but since no cash is handled now at Aloha Stadium there are presale Fun run tickets ($5 for 5 runs) that you pay for when you register. Each event I pick up another card for a spare and use one up at the end of the day.

It's up to the driver and passenger who might pay. Either one can.

Gates open up at 7am. Let us know if you are present so we can get you in past the non participant viewing area.

 

See y'all at the track!

As Hammer would say "Time to kick some as-phalt".

 

Say, how are your Avon Tech Ra tires holding up to two drivers?

Pretty good or is the rubber getting hard over time?

They are durable but I wonder about how they might wear and loose their grip with heat cycling.