I have an Audi RS4 that I've been tracking the last year or so and want to get more serious with tracking but would rather not use my RS4. Two main factors led me to that decision...car is very forgiving so I might be limiting how much i'm learning b/c the car is so forgiving and i'd rather not pay for track insurance each time i go out to insure a 50k car.

We also have a 2005 r53 that i've been using as a daily driver and after talking to a few track junkies, they said the r53 would make an excellent platform to use on the track.

The only mod on the car is a 15% helix pulley and everything else is stock. My plan was to upgrade the pads, add stainless steal lines and change the brake fluid to dot6. Besides that, what else have you all done to get your car started into the fun times at the track. I currently also have the 16" wheels w/ crappy all seasons on the car. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

thx

 

Rear anti-roll bar, camber plates and better tires. ECU flash tune and bigger injectors for more power. Combined with your plans for the brakes, this should make an entertaining ride.

 

Starting out we went with completely stock, apart from the tires which we'd already changed. Next I added a video camera, the video camera really helps work out what you did so you can do it again, or not as the case may be.

After that was a set of wheels to put track specific tires on, and add an OBD reader and iPhone software to do data acquisition. The data helps you get the most out of your attempts, just like the video. The tires mainly just stop you messing up your street tires, but you can use more aggressive tires. Tires is probably the best value mod in terms of lap time/$, especially as you're going to have to buy them anyway.

After that we were fine leaving it mostly stock, for almost 3 years, until we started to have problems with brake pads. I was planning on running different pads, but we got he JCW instead (and I've got alternate pads ready to go).

I'm a big fan of leaving thing stock unless you run into a problem. Working on the driver is the most rewarding way to go.

 

dot6 fluid? You in europe?

Get a good set of 15x7 so you can run SM tires. Again, assumes you are not in europe.

 

No, i'm in North America, specifically on North American Motoring. Typo on the dot6, it's actually dot4 and I usually run Motul RBF600.

 

Thx for the feedback. My plan is to leave it stock w/ the exception of the brake pad/fluid work as well as putting on some stickier tires. I have the GoPro Hero2 that i've been using on my existing HPDE days. Here is a recent run I did with the RS4

 

I'll second that--I've been running my 06 MC on track since 08 (and my 05MC prior to that) with the following mods:

205/50-15 RE11s on SSR wheels
Carbotech XP10 front pads (stock rears)
Motul 600 brake fluid

That's it.

I've been doing 25-30 track days/year with the car and it's been great. They don't pay those designers at BMW/MINI the big buck for nothing--they know what they're doing.

Get to as many track days as you can; you'll have a blast with the car as is!

Gary

 

I have a 2006 MCS, but it's modded fairly significantly. I agree wholeheartedly with the above post.

Musts: Stiffer rear sway bar (19 solid or 22 hollow would be my recommendation).

I agree totally with the Motul, I gave up on ATE superblue/200.

Brake pads are subjective, but a dedicated track pad is the way to go. Some love the Carbotech's (I don't, but I'm in the minority).

As for tires, if you can do it, I am a HUGE fan of 15's. Lighter, which helps with both acceleration and braking, and for an earlier model MCS, you will get shorter gearing with a smaller diameter tire, which helps immensely. I run 225/45/15 Nitto 01's, which are cheap, sticky, and relatively long lasting for an R-comp (I like them better to 205/50/15 but that's just me, either is an improvement over 18's, 17's or 16's.).

I hate to disappoint you, but the MCS is also very forgiving on the track. But you can learn a TON in this car, do it safely, and if you drive it well, you can catch some cars that'll surprise you. That's the beauty of the MINI on the track--anyone can plow down the straights in a high HP car, but there's nothing more rewarding than starting a lap on a straight, have a car pull away from you on the straight, only to pass it when you get into the twisties.