On July 11 I took my MCS/JCW to the Big Track of Willow Springs Raceway. With just 500 miles of brake-in to the JCW upgrade, and 12,300 total miles on the MCS it was off to the races I went!
To add a little back ground to the history of the MCS the Mini has clocked 2,124 track miles and has run perfectly, never failed me. As my track miles increased so did my driving skills, taking the Mini to it's very limit is what the Mini does it's BEST! It got to the point that I needed to get to the next level with the Mini, along comes the JCW kit.
All I can say is WOW !!!! Last Friday at the track was the best I've ever had in all my 21 track days. The power / torque increase is felt in the full rpm range, from the low 2500 rpms as you just get back on the throttle coming out of a turn, or say in the 3500 rpms cause you just did a slight lift of the throttle at a late apex and now you stab at the gas wanting full throttle to get you thru the exit of your turn, before the upgrade this turn is done with wanting more power. Now with the JCWupgrade that same turn you have to ease into the throttle, and watchout cause your next shift point comes up quicker that before To discribe more: the front straight - before 115 mph after JWC 125++mph turn#2 sweeper - before 85mph after JWC 95 mph and very hard braking before turn 3 Now when you get back on the gas to sprint up to the tower at turn #4 you actuallu have to brake to set up for turn #5 cause you now have ample power. You get back on the throttle coming out of turn #5 and the JWC truly show all its glory thru turns 6 -7 & 8 at 115mph before a tap on the brakes to slow down to about 95mph for the all famous turn #9 now with the extra power exiting feeling that I''m in full control ready to the front straight.
As for my opnion the the JCW I would recomend the upgrade to anyone, it is a very trouble free upgrade. Oh I forgot to say that the wheather there was 110 degrees HOT! HOT!

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MCS4ROY
MCS / JCW , MiniMania rearsway bar & adjustable rear control arms, 16'SSR WHEELS, Kumho 20545VR 16" tires, BMP intake with rear wall cut-out & heat shrod made of rubber sheet to form a cold air intake, front camber plates from Randy @ Minimotorsp

 

very nice write up
and a thumbs up on the jcw

any pics? :smile:

 

Here I go none of the pictures were taken by me, I just saved them from different events I attended. I'm goint to try and Copy & Paste files

http://jabba.s4r.com/cg/willow_sprin...s/DSC00540.htm
http://jabba.s4r.com/cg/willow_sprin...s/DSC00743.htm
http://jabba.s4r.com/cg/willow_sprin...s/DSC00744.htm
http://jabba.s4r.com/cg/willow_sprin...s/DSC00745.htm
http://jabba.s4r.com/cg/willow_sprin...s/DSC00746.htm

Also heres a video I'm near the of the video:

http://www.focusonthebeach.com/kee/bigwillowrandom.wmv

Sorry I don't know how to copy the photo and paste hope this works

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MCS4ROY
MCS / JCW , MiniMania rearsway bar & adjustable rear control arms, 16'SSR WHEELS, Kumho 20545VR 16" tires, BMP intake with rear wall cut-out & heat shrod made of rubber sheet to form a cold air intake, front camber plates from Randy @ Minimotorsp

 

your car looks great!
nice pics of some other sweet rides too(those LE28N's on that S2000! )
thanks!

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Here are your pics "pasted" :smile:

 

quick question, so how did you do against the S2000?

 

I pushed him for about two laps then he spun out at the tower of turn 4. Seems like all Minis quick in the corners but I feel with the JCW upgrade they sure have a run for their money

 

Just for fun what was your best lap times?

I've never driven a car there, only enduro karts.
I used to turn low 1:50's in my box stock 100 cc kart.
(but that was runing 100% Methanol and Klotz)

In open light we'd get down in the low 1:40's if my foggy memory serves me correct.

So how does the MINI fair?

Yfoiler

 

Who made your rollbar?

 

Sorry I never rented a transponder this last event I sure wished I did, some day,
right now just having fun! The thrill of the race!!!

 

The roll bar is a six point: hoop , rear brace, and door-guard. The Company that made custom made the rollbar is "Underpressure" off the 405fwry in Westminister
they do very good custom work

 

sleepless thanks for the help, I always need it

Thanks!

 

rts,

Great pictures and write up. Thanks. Anymore upgrades in the future? What more could be done?
I did notice your front tower brace. Some people say it is unnecessary- what is your opinion?
Does it make a difference for you? I'd love to hear what you have to say.

 

So, just how much was your JCW?

 

In my area JCW kits cost about $4500 and 10 hours install time so another $1000 minimum plus shipping of the core parts back to Europe. Figure $6000 total. Care to buy one. We have 8 people waiting and no kit in sight.

 

Great writeup! You have an awesome JCW S. How does the car pull in the upper RPM range compared to stock?

I will be doing the JCW (hopefully) soon as I'm #3 on my dealer's list. I own a yellow S2000 as well - bet the JCW does indeed equal the Honda or come close on the track.

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Hey! those are my camber plates and brace!

 

I noticed in your video a couple of "curious" lines your are taking for turns three through six.

Here's a hint; Ignore 5.
I found the quickest times over the hill were made by making 4 through 6 a big sweeper. I remember when hitting it just right you almost didn't touch the wheel and the apex of 6 shows up right on target.

Of course this was a LONG time ago, maybe things have changed or they've moved some things around a bit at the track...dunno.

Yfoiler

 

Hey, Chilli Red Rules!

I am number three on the JCW list at the Hartford, CT Mini Dealer. They have installed one so far and have reservations for 8 as well. Seems like they (Mini) is having trouble getting them shipped over here.

Thanks for the write up, you really helped push my excitment up a few notches!
Can't wait to get mine installed

 

If you had to ballpark your laptimes what do you think they were at and also what were your laptimes in your MINI before the JCW upgrade.

Pictuers look great...looks like a fun time.

 

Pretty cool video except that I'd rather hear the engine than that music, and it would have been nice if you had passed more of those mini-vans.

 

>>I pushed him for about two laps then he spun out at the tower of turn 4. Seems like all Minis quick in the corners but I feel with the JCW upgrade they sure have a run for their money

thanks for the reply. good to hear that you gave the S2k a run for it's money. Too bad it was an all MINI day at the track. it'd have been nice to see the differences between the JCW S and the MCS. thank you for sharing!

 

jlm, "Camber-Plates Man"

Thanks for your response. Your just the man I need to talk to! Your camber plates are unbeliveable quality.
There is the pillow block at the top of the strut mount, a 2" thick bushing that the strut must pivot on. Question: must it be so thick? Say you were to make a pillow that was only 3/8" thick and have a heilm joint, would it still work? The way it is now my GAZ coil-over struts make the overall ride height back to stock level. Do you make a different pillow block?
All your help would be greatly apprecieated

Thanks

rts

_________________
MCS4ROY
MCS / JCW , MiniMania rearsway bar & adjustable rear control arms, 16'SSR WHEELS, Kumho 20545VR 16" tires, BMP intake with rear wall cut-out & heat shrod made of rubber sheet to form a cold air intake, front camber plates from Randy @ Minimotorsp

 

Minihunie,

Thanks for asking yes I feel that a strut brace does help, in so much that the first time I dropped a wheel in a pot hole at Street of Willows I tweaked the left strut tower. Thereafter I used a BMP strut brace, later converting to adjustable camber-plate and brace, yes money well spent with rigiity / stiffness in that the front wheels don't change camber settings in hard cornering. Together with the six point rollbar the Min handles very natural in corners, making it very controled car.
As for furture upgrades I plan to get a large bore throttle body, then when I put in the LSD and the transmissiom is out I will also get a ligthen flywheel and racing clutch.
With these mods that just about completes the Min without doing any internals up grades to the motor. Thank for asking I fun to share my future plans .


rts

 

So how about your lap times......... with and without JCW :smile: