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Finally started dialing in my driving a bit this Saturday at my 5th AutoX of the year...after 19 years away from racing. I still have some work to do but some of the rust has been knocked off and the Mini is giving me a great ride. Lost 1st by .001 to an Audi S3 AWD. The last of five runs we both turned it up and I had a raw time of 53.042 vs the Audi's 53.282...but we both hit the same cone so our 4th runs of (Audi) 53.525 vs (Mini) 53.526 stood up...3rd place (350Z) was a solid 53.845 on his 5th run...two VW Golf R's and BMW 135i and 335I finished out the group.
Car looks great. I have the same wheels on mine ... any clearance issues with the 225 tires? I'm currently running 215s, but am considering 225s.
Even lowered … no real issues … I do run 5mm wheel spacers to clear the struts up front and run them on the back for balance. The rubber/plastic wheel arches have barely (very barely) touched and cooked off some small slivers inside
but no issues with damage or looks...
Spent the $$$ and installed the NM Engineering Exhaust for the JCW (Took off the stock JCW which was heavier) and the sound/tailpipe looks and power are much better. Also did the Forge Pipes...IC and Intake...
The Mini is faster...no other way to state the obvious...FASTER...
Looking forward to hearing how you continue to do with the autocross. It has been a while since I have been out and I am looking forward to seeing how the JCW does compared to my modded MCS.
I see that you did the Bilstien coilovers. How are you liking them for autocross? If I remember right, they have progress rate springs. How does that work out for being “stiff enough”? Or are you thinking that a fixed rate would be better? I have liked the thought of those, especially being adjustable. Then again, I am also considering the JCW Pro coilovers... Curious about your opinion.
Also, how is the new exhaust tone compared to the JCW exhaust? I know you said “better”, but is there any boomyness; is it a lot or just a bit louder?
And, you know you need a few badges. I have read on the internet that each one is good for at least 5 Hp...
Without camber adjustability...I am running 33#s front and 30#s rear...actually pretty even wear so far after 5 AutoXs… I would love to run 245/40/17s but I think I would have to raise the Mini a bit for fitment...might still be worth the COG to get more rubber on the ground. I believe I can fit 235/45/17's and with the extra power not lose acceleration. We will see how the extra power does with the 225's this weekend...might even turn down the NM Power Module but not sure...easy to do at the AutoX
Last edited by Darbys2019MiniJCW; Jul 7, 2019 at 11:22 AM.
Looking forward to hearing how you continue to do with the autocross. It has been a while since I have been out and I am looking forward to seeing how the JCW does compared to my modded MCS.
I see that you did the Bilstien coilovers. How are you liking them for autocross? If I remember right, they have progress rate springs. How does that work out for being “stiff enough”? Or are you thinking that a fixed rate would be better? I have liked the thought of those, especially being adjustable. Then again, I am also considering the JCW Pro coilovers... Curious about your opinion.
Also, how is the new exhaust tone compared to the JCW exhaust? I know you said “better”, but is there any boomyness; is it a lot or just a bit louder?
And, you know you need a few badges. I have read on the internet that each one is good for at least 5 Hp...
I have been waiting to hear the availability of the Vorschlag Camber Plates with no word yet...I am tempted to go the Nitron Setup with Camber Plates and adjustable shocks/struts. Trying to call Nitron http://www.nitronracingshocks.com/Mi...t-_p_2122.htmlbut no luck...will get in contact this week. They are the setup's for the Challenge Cars in England. I also found K-Mac https://www.ecstuning.com/b-kmac-par...195416-3l~kma/ Camber Plates for F56 models...we will see.
The NM Exhaust is full on race (IMO) compared to the stock JCW Exhaust. It is a bit lighter in weight, louder in volume and Boost PSI has jumped a bit...I also don't have to worry about hitting the Bluetooth Button...LOL. The NM is expensive but I put it in the top of my list of working mods...ie. WaveTrac, NM Power Module, NM Exhaust and NM Wheels. I am not sure about the value of the Forge Hard Pipes (IC and Intake) but I do think they help a bit. The Bilsteins have done fine as far as I am concerned...but adjustable front struts could be better...
Before "STICKERS" I have been more concentrated on Weight...of myself...I have lost 20#'s and plan on losing some more. I have also thought about adding an EarthX EXT1600 Lithium Battery https://earthxbatteries.com/shop/etx1600 to lose at least 25 pounds off the front end...but the cost is high. So far with the Forge pipes and NM exhaust the Mini has dropped about 15 pounds or so...not exactly sure...then subtract my 20 pounds of weight loss and racing weight with me (224#s) is right at 3045 or so...then with the NM Wheels and RE71s I think it is around 3040 at least...every pounds counts.
Trying to get the total weight down to 3000 and Driveable Horsepower to 275...Power to Weight ratio of around 10.91...without me 10.25 hp/wt
Last edited by Darbys2019MiniJCW; Jul 7, 2019 at 11:22 AM.
i think Charlie is using K-Mac camber plates. One of the things that no one in the MINI world talks about adding caster to MINIs, even for autocross where it would be a huge benefit. Caster becomes camber as you turn the steering wheel. The problem with the MINI type of front suspension is you actually loose camber as you turn the wheels. Caster adds that back. Those will likely be the option I will go with.
Maybe Charlie will chime-in about his. Although, he didn’t add any caster to his. Not sure why...
The NM exhaust sounds to be out of my league. I track my car at a place with an 85 dB limit. I also put an Invidia exhaust on my first R56, which sounded great around town. But it would become boomy starting at about 60mph and was bad at 70-75. It was tiring to listen to out on the highway. The interesting thing is that the S exhaust on my 2012 louder than the stock exhaust was on my previous S, but no boominess. I am liking it.
Oh, I just noticed the blacked out headlight rings on your car (another 5 hp right there... ). I am looking to get those for my JCW. Nice!
Was able to get 1st in STU and 7th overall (if u remove the fsae raws) in my first event in the JCW.
Still have some work to do with this setup, but enjoyed being back in a mini.
Cancelled my Order on the Vorschlag Camber Plates and ordered the K-Mac Stage 2 Camber Plates from ECS Tuning...they will be here by tomorrow...in time to install for the race this Saturday. Gonna be fun!!!
See if they can do about 0.5 deg more caster than the MINI spec with them and see what you think. As for camber, I think Charlie Thomson got -2 deg. More would be better but you might be limited by the springs.
Very interested in hearing how the alignment goes and how it helps.
See if they can do about 0.5 deg more caster than the MINI spec with them and see what you think. As for camber, I think Charlie Thomson got -2 deg. More would be better but you might be limited by the springs.
Very interested in hearing how the alignment goes and how it helps.
Depending on room...I'm aiming for "2-1.8" negative camber...stock caster was 3 32 and 3 38 stock....I think "3.5-3.8" will be what I aim for...then off to the AutoX Saturday
Was able to get 1st in STU and 7th overall (if u remove the fsae raws) in my first event in the JCW.
Still have some work to do with this setup, but enjoyed being back in a mini. https://youtu.be/ug-zgjsydy4
Nice Run! How many others were in STU and what were they driving and their times? where are YOU located???
Only 2 others in STU with me. A fully prepd mazdaspeed miata and a 350Z. Delta Region (greater New Orleans).
I was running a fully prep'd 86 in STX before this and I feel my times in the JCW would have been nearly identical to the 86. Just based on the times of the other drivers around me that I'm always with.
So I'm happy...seeing how it was event number 1 with this setup.
For more front camber I might need to remove some material from the adjustable plate...is maxed out right now unless I remove some caster. Gonna AutoX it in this setup and see how it feels. I will probably definitely add more negative
camber to the rear (-2.2) and maybe just a bit more Toe Out (-0.07) also in the rear. I also added ESC 10mm Spacers all the way around and in the front with the spacers and camber I "think" I can fit 245/40/17 tires in place of the 225/45/17's I am running now. More info after this weekend.
You can see my new NM Exhaust 4" Tips here...NOTE: car with 1/2 tank and me in it w/ helmet is 3065#s
Last edited by Darbys2019MiniJCW; Jul 11, 2019 at 12:28 PM.
Having toe out in both the front and rear is pretty aggressive. It will be interesting to hear how it goes.
Why add camber to the rear? The way it is now seems like it would be better for autoX.
I am surprised that you are limited by the camber plates and not the springs. Charlie Thomson got just over -2, but he limited his caster and I think he has steering knuckles that have more negative camber. Any idea as to what actually is limiting the adjustment range?
My KW clubsports are fully raked inward and I'm only seeing -1.9. I too thought about removing some material from the plates to get a bit more camber. My guess is that the top of the springs inside the fender well are getting close to the inside wall of the well just above the frame rail?
My KW clubsports are fully raked inward and I'm only seeing -1.9. I too thought about removing some material from the plates to get a bit more camber. My guess is that the top of the springs inside the fender well are getting close to the inside wall of the well just above the frame rail?
Yep...could be one of the issues...I still appreciate any negative camber gains from the stock almost straight up .15-.30 negative stock camber
NOTE: If I remove some of the positive caster...more negative camber was available. When we installed the camber plates before doing an alignment the passenger side had -2.5 degrees of camber but much less positive caster. It will probably be a balancing act of the two adjustments...
Well won STU today by 1.394 seconds over the field (including the Audi who got me by .001 last autoX)...Also beat STX and STH by .319 and .429 seconds respectively...
First in STU ran a 43.964 (ME FWD)
2nd place ran a 45.358 (Audi AWD)
First in STX ran a 44.283 (BRZ RWD)
First in STH ran a 44.393 (WRX AWD)
