I know of a local shop that does really good custom carbon ricer (uh.. i mean fiber) and fiberglass work. The guy owns a MINI and has designed his own front splitter and rear wing (VERY nice actually... out of fiberglass).

Anyway, let me get to the point. I was going to go to him and ask him to design a nice aggressive ONE PIECE hood scoop for the Cooper S. The only real option out there right now is the venturi, and I honestly think that this is a piece of crap.

So, why am I here? I am sure that having a few secure orders or at least more than just me interested in this will give him a bit more motivation to do something about it. Ten people asking for a scoop is better than one, especially when its custom work like this.

 

Are you thinking about making it just like the one from mini mania but one piece or are you going to try to design another one?

I dont have an S but think this would be great for those of you who own an MCS

 

The problem with the one from Mini-Mania (the venturi scoop) is that it really doesnt open the scoop up any more... it just causes turbulence by trying to force more air into the same sized opening.

I plan on asking him to create something that sits a bit taller, sticks out a bit more, and opens up that hole significantly (all opposed to stock, not the MM one). I will see what he thinks is possible.... he is the pro after all

 

Yah, thats what i was wondering...if the inlet was gonna be any bigger. I think your idea sounds great

 

Wow...you know I didn't realize all the worlds super cars...F50, maclaren, zonda...etc were ricey....I guess I'll have to reconsider my dreams of other cars at this point...cause I always thought Carbon fiber was an aero space material and was kewl for that reason...lighter than plastic stronger than steal......huh....what a bummer...I hope this doesn't mean that italian super cars are going to be come heavey again....

 

I think you miss the point . Some super cars also have bigger spoilers....yet they are still considered rice when put on sport compacts


The fact is, the CF on those cars actually lowers the weight very noticably. And they need it since they are for the most part performance cars. For cars like hondas and such, the weight savings is not very high, and many times it is just an overlay which only adds more weight... rice. So when it comes to putting CF on cars in that manner, it is indeed rice because it is only being used for aesthetic reasons. And to me the funniest part is to see a car which has a CF hood or CF panels and yet has a full interior with heavy options like the stock OEM seats or is running heavy 17 inch rims. If you are going to be using CF, you might as well go the whole way and actually continue your weight savings.

 

Well if you would like to donate the funds to do it I am sure all would be happy to put uber light wieght wheels and do everything you mentioned on thier cars

...again...the only reason those big spoilers for instance are rice is cause they look rediculous...where as the HUGE wing on an F50 is not only functional but aesteticly pleasing as well...that's because italians kept the art in the super car....it's not only about performance it's about beauty...if you can have both...the that is perfection! why sacrifice looks and compfert for a tenth of a second when times differences like that only matter on the track...

 

I would be interested to see what he comes up with. In So Cal cooler is almost always better

Randy
www.m7tuning.com

 

You've piqued my interest. While you're at it, ask him if he'd be interested in puting together a CF replacement for the sunroof glass.

As for the "rice" matter, check out enthusiast shows on SPEED Channel, DIY and other cable networks. I have yet to hear anyone on these shows use the term "ricer." Why? Likely because Standards and Practices would not allow it. I've had many a long discourse on the merits and faults of this term. Just about everyone I've discussed this with came to the same conclusion: "ricer" and "rice burner" carry far too many ethnic connotations to be acceptable in polite conversation. No matter if no racial slur is intended, someone is bound to take offence at the term. It is better to use the non-ethnic term "boy racer" or to just use two or three sentences of explanation in place of the offending terms to explain the concept in a way that couldn't be mistaken for racial discrimination.

Now I bear my share of disdain for bee fart, coffee can, exhausts and "S" badging on Geo Storms and Toyota Tercels that sport absolutely no performance enhancements. However, I don't mind explaining it with a few words in lieu of using that one word.

 

Funny how this post came up today... just last evening, I removed the IC intake and damn near began to cut into it. I have some very clear ideas on how to redesign one...my problem is my stone age fab department I have way too much time on my hands here in the frozen midwest So many ideas and no shop......

 

i totally agree with you, i was just pointing out why cf CAN be called rice in some cases (note: not if its done well aesthetically and functionally)

 

Seems that there is enough interest in this so I will talk to him about it and let him know about the responses here.

As far as carbon fiber goes, good for the supercars who use it. You are right, very light, very durable and this is why they use it. However, the japanese market seems to have picked up on this stuff and are really starting to use it for aesthetic reasons. There is tasteful ways of using carbon fiber, and not so tasteful ways. Seems the japanese market uses cf to show off more than for the good reasons to use it. A giant CF wing on a civic with 110 horsepower is absolutely rediculous.... first off its a front driver.... second its not going to even be able to get to speeds for the wing to make any difference in stability.... Third, it looks absolutely rediculous. I have seen a carbon fiber hood on these boards that was done VERY nicely. The hood was painted body color on the outsides, had 2 white bonnet stripes painted on, and in between them the CF was left exposed.

As for the rice term, I actually HAVE seen it used on TV. I was watching something about drag racing (not a movie or anything... an actual show talking about the history of drag racing) and they used the term "Rice Rocket" quite a few times. If someone gets offended by that term, their ******* is simply puckered up too tight and they need to learn to relax. I will continue to use the term simply because I know what I mean when I say it and I could care less if some brain dead stick up his *** guy gets offended by it.

Anyway, back to topic.... I was looking today and I realized that it might take some trickery for him to open up the hole. Probably have to cut out the current mounting holes for the school and create new ones somehow. What are your ideas MSFITOY?

 

I agree with this.

 

oh yeah...no doubt...that's what's great about minis though...they are way out of league for most of those groups...be it STIs, hondas, or whatever...and just to clarify I say out of league as in looks and style...ofcourse in handling...and well some of them minis are even getting there HP wise..WOO HOO!

not that I don't like those other cars...just love the mini

 

Ill be in the HP-wise club soon All thats left is TB, AGS, Head/Cam, and Twinscrew supercharger.... of course a good tuning of the Unichip after this stuff is indeed necessary.

 

done

 

Tuls-Right on. On what other car are huge vinyl decals considered so normal
. We are definitely a whole nother class

Jcampos, your plans for all that HP sound great. I'm sure your car will enjoy the increase in airflow with all those intake/exhaust mods.

 

I'd be interested! Keep us informed.

 

Can you post some pictures of his design?

 

I'm in Thanks for taking the lead on something like this JCampos!

 

Cool, I will give him a call tomorrow and I will see what I can work out with him. Maybe he could use my car as a guinea pig

 

Are you thinking of something larger such as on the WRX? I measured
the WRX scoop and it's about twice the size of the MCS

 

yeah it is really hard to see around...LOL

 

Im not sure really... I want him to take some measurements and just make the scoop a bit more aggressive looking while keeping functionality equal to or improved over OEM.

 

Sounds cool! I'll be following this thread. Thanks for taking the time to consider some R&D!

I'll probably get jumped on here by a WRX owner but the scoop looks like such an after thought. The WRX has some really great lines then they go stick that scoop on the hood. Whats up with that?

Aloha!

JCW04