Stepping into a FWD, Manual car, with a locking font diff from a rear drive, open diff, 350 HP auto (Infiniti Q50S Hybrid). So, little bit of a learning curve. Now, I didn't get this car as an OP car for the class, I got it for my kid on the condition I get to play with it one weekend a month. LOL. I'm not going to kick anyone's *** at Nationals anytime soon.... in any car. So, I figured why not have some fun.

1st weekend out:
DS
Stock 17x7s, 215/45 R17 Falken Azenis RT660s
Stock rear sway bar
Stock busted old shocks (going to throw some Bilsteins on soon, just for a little better ride and handling, most of my gains are going to be me getting better)
Stock Exhaust
Cravenspeed underators or insulaters or whatever they're called to protect the strut towers.
Wix Air Filter
No alignment just yet

Man, you can really throw these cars into the corner and get on the gas early. I was used to my 4300 pound Infiniti with one tire fire and 350 HP. We had rain to start the morning as well....so had to adjust to that too. Another thing I had to get used to was NOT PUSHING THE DANG CLUTCH. Kept wanting to clutch it in turns. Finally started to figure it out, but the Subie dropped a hero run on me last run and knocked me out of first in class. Still, finished 10th overall and like 7th in PAX. So, I was dang happy with that for my first time in the car and switching from RWD to FWD. Had an absolute blast in this car. It was a totally different AutoX experience. Can't wait for next month.

Phone shot of most of the results, you can see the full list at CENLA-SCCA.org if you are so inclined.

 

Uploaded my best run of the day. Can carry a good bit more speed than I did. So used to my old 4300 lb behemoth. Entered the slalom too shallow and probably a hair to fast. Should've came in wider and rolled in the throttle around cone 3. I think. LOL. Last turn was turrrrrrible.

 

This weekend we had the best lot that CENLA -SCCA has to offer. Its an open skid pad used by Sate Police for training. Really one of our only opportunities to get some big fast sweepers and long slaloms. So, I signed up for Double Entries today to really get a good amount of wheel time in and a better feel for the Mini. Only managed 3 runs before the expansion tank blew while waiting in grid. Managed 2nd in Class with only three runs, though! LOL Track picked up time in the latter half of the day so would've like to see what I could've run in the afternoon.

New Forge aluminum expansion tank on its way from Way Motor Works.

POW...and no more coolant. Hello Pac Man.


It was quit a bit of coolant in an instant. Shut off the car immediately. So, no issue overheating the engine.

 

Awesome. What you'll find with a Mini is a craving for Chicago boxes and thread-the-needle type elements. You can get through those at obscene speeds compared to most other Street class cars. Minis just eat up small local lot AX events. And yeah, you parked it pretty bad at 1:05.

I've since moved on from Mini but really itching to get back.

 

Ya, not only am I in a completely different car, I am way out of practice as well. Covid hit then I sold my Infiniti and searched for a descent Mini. I was really hoping to get seat time with those double entries this last event. Any set up tips you want to pass along? I'll take any help I can get :D

Pics from the event at EVOC. Yes, I've fooled with that driver side hood latch ad nauseum! LOL New one on the way.

 

Well, you're going to want the big rear swaybar. It'll really wake the car up. I ran 1/16" of rear toe out, which was as much as I could get. I don't remember if you can get any front camber on the R53 or not, the R56 had slightly slotted shock towers that got you a little more than zero. Other than that, just drive and enjoy.

I took my R56 to Lincoln and got 8th in DS with just a rear bar + wheels/tires. The next year I thought I'd try to pointy end, and went through the trouble of the full JCW suspension, adjustable Konis, max offset lightweight wheels, large & light custom exhaust. I got... 8th. Again. Diminishing returns.

 

Thanks and bummer...although, 8th is pretty damn good. But, yeah. With that amount of work on the car you'd hope for a few more spots.

My trip to Lincoln I "did not finish last" in my Q50S Hybrid in FS. Never seen so many M3s in one place in my life. I ran 5 different regions along the gulf coast, Mustangs and Camaros out the yahoo...but no M3s. That was a tail kicking I'll soon not forget. Totally worth it though. Learned a lot and had a good time.

 

Yeah "trophy at nats" is about my upper limit of performance anyways, I'm not podium, let alone national champ, caliber driver. I'm super pleased with how I was able to do in a Mini, the car was pretty counted out by the time I was running there. Bummed the current cars don't have LSDs. Maybe the next gen.