I need some help for decisions to remove weight from my 2019 Mini JCW for AutoX. I have pulled out the rear seat and rear siding already...got the vehicle down to 2720#s.

Need Ideas for Other Weight Removal Ideas. I really want to get down to 2300# or so...

Ideas:
Seats
Sunroof Carbon Hood
Other

 

- Replace window glass with plexiglass
- Remove doors
- Remove gas struts from hatch
- Remove bumper aprons
- Crash diet for driver
- Sand body panels down to bare metal
- Helium in tires
Those are some ideas. You didn't say they had to be good ideas

I have seen a couple people on here that bought a smaller battery to save a few pounds, but I don't know those details.

 

What sanctioning body, and what class?

Cheers,

Charlie

 

SCCA AutoX SMF Class

 

Buy lighter wheels and tires. Check out Eneki RPF1 vs. stock wheel weight. Also get the lightest tires you can find. Unsprung weight is a performance and handling killer . Race teams send thousand$ to shave that weight off. You can drop nearly 40 lbs with new wheels and tires and in the process gain approx 10 WHP and wheel TQ.

 

- Crash diet for driver

#1 when I tell people...lol

 

I dropped 30 pounds 237 to 207

 

I reckon your list is good Darby. I assume you've done battery, right?

I've good wheels/tires, and am running a base model of the same car, and I was at 2,770 when last corner weighted (no ballast).

I bet you can get 20# out of the seats, the rears aren't as heavy but could be deleted if you have not done so.

But I assume that you understand that our chassis, lovely as it is, will not be top rank nationally against 320hp 2,200 pound Hondas and their ilk. I have watched SMF up here in the NER for quite a while, and my example is a car called "Smurf"...

I shall be quite interested in what your final weight becomes.

Cheers,

Charie

 

I am at 2720#s right now after removing the Inside Back Seat Area...but I need more weight GONE!!!

I am also looking for a Hybrid Turbo for more power...

 

Congrats.that is the lightest Gen 3 I have ever heard of! I wish you the best!

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Just ordered two racing seats that weight 22 pounds each,,,the stock seat with sliders underneath weight 44.6 pounds so I figure I will save 40 pounds...gotta get everything I can...shpould get me down to under 2700 pounds,,,basically 2680 from 2720

 

Well I found some Mucht Schnell Competition Lightweight Floor Mounts for Racing Seats that will fit a F56 Mini. Now when they get here...they will ship tomorrow...I will be able to install the Race Seats safely. All together I will save approximately 44 pounds
on my Mini which should get me down to 2676!!! Got some more ideas to try to get down to about 2600...

Macht Schnell - Competition Liteweight Floor Mounts for Racing Seats - E8X/E9X & F8X M3/M4

Basically I spent $1050 for 2 Race Seats and two sets of Floor Mounts...I'm Happy if all works out

 

R56's have placed well at prosolo and nationals

 

I am aware of (and have made a modest contribution to) the exemplary competition record of all three Mini generations.

All the best,

Charlie

 

Well when my race seats are installed I will get the weight down to 2680#s...still looking to get lower but it will be 195# lighter this week!

 

Do you have airconditioning still onboard ?, there you find 20 kgs. - hood/ makrolon boot lid ea.12 kgs, ..... 12 kgs exhaust. Latest our 3,5 kgs seats as extra for "The few" which can be chosen to replace the already 11 kgs lighter Recaro of the base model.

The boot lid with makrolon window:

 

Got my mounting plates from Macht Schnell today...looks like they will work perfectly...looks like the two seats will save 44 pounds after mounting! The Mini should weight in at 2676 compared to when I bout it at 2875 so 199 pnds out of the Mini so far...

 

Well I got both seats installed with minor adjustments to the Macht Schnell Mounts. I did have to drill One Hole and Thread The Hole near the back of the mounting aluminum and it worked!!!

 

How do you like those seats? Are they FIA rated?

 

No they are not FIA approved but it keeps the cost down for AutoXing

2 seats = $660
Macht Schnell mounts = $390
Paid 4 Install 2 a friend = $200

Total Cost $1250

Going to AutoX this weekend. My Mini still weights 700 pounds MORE than the other SMF cars but I do scare them. The top five in our Tire SMF Class finish within 1 second of each other and I am in that mix.

Next I really want to Lexan my windows to save more weight...Later I will try to get more horsepower with some kind of Turbo Upgrade

 

What about the matching 5 point NRG harness??

 

Don't need it...the stock system works fine for what I am doing...at least for now

 

You will never fo back once you're strapped in a harness!!

 

I have raced cars since I was 20 at AutoX and Road Raced for years including 6, 12 & 24 hour races with Mazda including the first Spec Miata until 1/01/2000. I quit after that to do Triathlons. I am now 65 years old and racing AutoX Now AGAIN!!!
I have used 4 and 5 point racing harnesses for years...don't need one in the Mini JCW right now,,,lol

 

yep.

Amen.

I run a 4 point Schroth Quick-Fit, and I cannot drive the car hard without it.

When cornering at or above 1g, and running max brake and throttle, being planted in the seat does two things...

1. I takes effort from steering, which now turns the wheel ONLY as opposed to fighting lateral force on the upper torso and,

2. It takes effort from the legs, which can now maintain a consistant position and fine pressure control - unaffected by chassis forces.

I would never drive my car hard without the belts, as I do not reckon that I can do my best when hanging on and shuffling around without them.

Highly recommended.

Cheers,

Charlie