It is late, past midnight. I am driving back home from helping my father install his new computer. I roll to a stop at a red light next to a Firebird (TransAm the V8 type). This thing is modified, by the sound of the exhaust at idle and the wide tires. He has his window open and I did not look at the driver. I could tell what was going to happen. He revs up as the light goes to yellow on the street perpendicular to us. No traffic at any of the lights.

Lets describe the street up ahead. It is strait for about and 1/8 th of a mile and then it gently turns to the left. He is on my left, so the curve is to his benefit. The separation between street lines is a little narrow. His car is a little farther into the intersection. I am at the white line. His nose is longer...

I used to street race my Honda Prelude many years ago. I do not do it now. I know the MINI is not a 1/4 mile monster. Its natural strenght is the curves.

The light turns green and I have rev it up to about 2.5k to launch. I was not sure if he really want to make it a "real" challenge. We take off at about the same time. I am keeping up on first gear, big surprise! He really gets pissed and really reaches high on rpm on second. I am keeping up on second and actually gain some inches. We are now in the curve. His nose is still ahead. I move to the line to my right, to insure we have enough space between us. Not good for me in terms of distance travel, since I am adding distance and he has the benefit of the curve. We go the third and He gains a couple of inches. He is really pissed now. We go to 4th and I am starting to loose some ground now, curve. I am getting worried about the ramp that is exiting in front of us soon, so I slow down and he keeps "racing". I do not know how fast we were going, but we were moving.

I was very pleased to see how I could keep up with his V8, for what had to be close to a 1/4 of a mile. I was very surprised, really. I do not know how many ponies my mods have gained me, no Dyno, so this was sort of a test. He probably did not sleep well. I still have the runflats, so there could be a nice inprovement on take off there. All in all it was a nice outcome.

The entire "race" was run in a streched of road that has no connecting streets that could expose entering traffic to any danger. No homes or buildings on the sides of the road that could be damaged by either vehicle loosing control. It was safe for any one else, but the two fools racing.

bomboasy

 

Personally my car handles better on the curves than on the curb!

 

THATS BS!!! I call BS on this story. No way in hell can a 1.6 keep up with a V8. It's all about the numbers. 5.0 > 1.6.

These type of threads are full of it, besides MINI is only a hatchback, for going to the store and back. Anyone who races them is stoopid.







... you guys know im kidding right?

 

greatbear- would you please read us that once upon a time story again?

 

something about the sky grows a coal gray.....

 

Good run! Those firebirds are definately fast in the straight line, but they're really not good on turns. My friend had one, an auto, and he could chirp in third [of 4] gear. It sure feels good to show 'em what you're made of, doesn't it? Truest props!

 

WOW! Just from that statement alone, I can tell you have serious issues!

 

I know.... i felt really really REALLY stupid when I said it.

 

I am not claiming that I beat the FireBird. I am telling you that I was next to him for 1,2 and third gear. I was loosing ground on 4th. By the way, I was expecting the BS call. But, this is not april 1st and I am not telling you a bed time story. I actually went to bed after the "race", so I was not dreaming either..... I never expected to be able to keep up, it was as big a surprise to me as it is to you.

I edited the curbs and made them into curves. After 20 years in this country, I still make some silly spelling mistakes. My bad.

Bomboasy

 

WTF does being a hatchback have to do with speed? Isn't the Z a hatchback? Isn't the Carrera a hatchfront?

I still call BS on the story, but you sound just as silly.

 

The story makes sense, as the standard V8 firebird isn't really that fast, even if the guy added a couple of mods...

 

I was kind of sad after I slowed down that I was not able to go to 5th. I knew that it was the safe thing to do, but I wish that I was on a true straight with him again. O well. :smile:


bomboasy

 

I'm with kenchan,where for art thou Greatbear?

 

Fortunately you backed off before there were any significant curves or other handling tests, because many straightline performers don't handle especially well. The Firebird could have easily been pushed to the point that he ran out of talent. I've learned from experience that we have to show them some mercy. It fits squarely into the category of being kind to dumb animals.

 

and the dirver. This came up about racing (no matter what you call it, that was a drag race pure and simple..) V8 mustangs. 84 and earlier, you have a chance, 85 on, you're toast.

that being said, I beat a V8 with a 76 toyota carolla, proving it's not what you drive, it's how you drive it.... (this was in high school)

I can say this because I own both. With my 5.0, pretty much any S hear (bar the real heavy modified ones) is just eating dust. But if I'm in the wrong gear, or don't really try, it lets lots of 4-bangers think they are fast!

Whatever, glad you had fun. Extralegal fun, but fun none the less.....

Matt

 

Pre '93 Firebirds with the low end 170HP V8 are not that fast and actually suck, but '94 and up with anywhere from 275HP to 325HP are fast. Faster than a stock MCS, even a lightly modded MCS.

Plus IIRC the 6-speed in later model Firebirds and Camaros had the 1-4 lockout unless really pushing it. So if they don't take off at near WOT, they are hampered by the first to fourth shift pattern.

Steve

 

I was calling BS, because I know you could have beat him. .

This story reminds me of the first time I test drove an MCS. It was July 2002 I believe, at Nick Alexander.

It was an Electric Blue Cooper S with a big dent in the bonnet. Apparently a lady who test drove it earlier in the week failed to avoid a piece of falling log from a truck.

Anyway, this particular day was a Sunday morning. Streets were empty. Big streets actually. I pulled up to a redlight, and next to me pulls up a 1986 IROC Camaro, with fat tyres and exhaust and stuff. Time to test with DSC off I said, and flicked the switch. When the light turned green we both took off, second and third wheeling on shifts, he was half a car length ahead by change to third, but I started reeling him in at 5500rpm in third, took it all the way to 7000rpm in 3rd, doing 90mph, then I had to turn right, so i let the poor guy go.

Then stopped at train tracks, and gunned it again, left a black wheelie mark on the road 20m long, the sales guy was literally screaming and bouncing up and down in the back seat with glee, and says to me "YOU'RE THE FIRST GUY TO DO THAT ON A TEST DRIVE".

Yeah, it was a good time.

 

THATS what I said. . You're right though. I dont consider the MINI a hatchback, but more of a Luxury Saloon.

 

I'm thinking you probably ran against a V6 not a V8..

They have a 3.2L V6... Trust me a WS6 V8 Trans Am stock will STOMP the mini... Having said that... It is quite possible that traction was an issue. I have an 11 sec SVT Lightning but on the street that means from a stop I have to go easy or I'll just liquify the tires. Either way good story

 

It is very possible to keep up with a V8 TA on a straight line, you are a natural winner on the curves. TA has a good old American push rod, which is good for the straight line, however when it comes to barkes, handling, everthing is cheap and insufficiant, not to mention about low rigidity.

I kept up with Firebirds in several different occasions. You need to know your Mini and its capabilities, and your skills (I am still learning different driving techniques-so I can't show myself as a reference).

On the other side, Carrera 4S story was hard to believe.

If you guys are following Euro auto magazines such as Top Gear, Car, you will see that a JCWs are putting better lap times that a lot of high performance cars, twice more horsepower.

 

It's a 3.8L

Steve

 

It does not come anywhere close to be luxury saloon. MINI is a small hot hatch. It is a small performance car. as far as being hatchback, you are correct.

 

yeah, I was assuming it was an old one since it wouldn't even of been a race with one of the new ones...

 

A Good ols American push rod in the right chasis can be equally good in the twisties.

Steve

 

3.8 V6 or 5.7 V8 on Firehawk, Formula and WS6 (WS6 is a very fast car, cheap Corvette alternative).