I cannot believe I haven't found any motorsports section on this forum. Perhaps I overlooked it? If so, feel free to let me know where to post this, but I'm wondering if anyone here has run any rally or rallycross events in their MINI yet? I'm curious how they do and hold up to the romping around in the dirt.

With the redesigned 2008 Subaru Impreza wagons out now, I've found myself seriously considering upgrading my current 1997 Outback Sport to either a 2008 OBS or WRX model, which is much faster than and comparable in price to the Cooper S...but I know it just would not be the same... But that is the source of my interest in Mini Coopers' performance in rallycross type events. I'm all for having different cars for different purposes...but I'm currently at four or five cars now and would like to get back down to three or four!

 

Hello Miles, IMO if you put a skid plate under that MINI & used a good set of mud & snow tires you could do a rallycross, but the car is pretty low, so there'd be some dragging. It's never going to be competitive at rallycross. Seems like a waste of a nice MINI.

A WRX would be the car to get & a MINI.

 

well why not? eve if you switched out for a AWD system (which i heard is coming anyway).

 

I don't think it'd do too bad in FWD Classes, just wondering if anyone has actually done such a thing with a new Mini... Several of the newer WRX's that were at the last rallycross had low-hanging bodywork, and were tearing their bumpers out of place.... We all still had a lot of fun though! It was an unusually soft day for the course and we were tilling up the land pretty good thus, sinking deeper than normal.

I do like the idea of getting a Mini AND the WRX...but I'll prolly just hold onto my Outback Sport and get the Mini, too. We'll see though.

I'd still like to hear from anyone that has rallycrossed their Mini Cooper though.

Thanks for the responses so far.

 

My guess is you are going to be the first to rallycross a MINI on this side of the pond. The MINI has very short overhangs front & real & that will no doubt help you.

Let me know when & where you will rallycross your MINI. I'll be there Nikon in hand catching all the action & the smiles on your face.

 

I'll be sure to do it at least once as I can be very stubborn, even if everyone says that rallycross would mean certain doom to my car...I have some friends that say that about any car and racing in any form....but see my sig pic (as I just noticed this is Chuck I'm responding to, you know what I'm into!) I am also being very patient as well to save enough to keep my car payments to a minimum before I order the car, so it's at least three months away. I'll be sure to post over here when I do bring my Mini to any such event. In the mean time, if anyone would happen to like to beat me to the punch, there is a rallycross next weekend on the 1st of March at National Trails in the overflow lot. www.dlbracing.com for registration and www.ovr-scca.org for info --click on "rallycross."