We participate in Open road racing here in Nevada several times a year. We Drive at 140 mph for about 10 minutes, then 115 mph for the other 20 minutes. We havent had anything fly off either. There are some long straits, but we do encounter alot of sweepers, and some high speed twisties. It's not a MINI only event, lots of vettes, porch's, and exotics. Come join the fun. Check out openroadracing.com

Chip&Bonnie


"Stock" 06 JCW
05 MCS

 

Fastest I've seen is 157 (Verified on GPS). No issues with the car. Like I said further up, this sounds like an isolated incident...

 

We also run a GPS. Due to our speed class, if we get caught going over 140, we are DQ.

 

Doesn't suprise me...I regularly travel between CA and AZ in the empty, open desert at speeds higher than NAM Speed Patrol would probably like me to say, and depending on how the winds were, the windshield on my R53 would howl around 100, and get progressively louder above that. It was LOUD.

I even posted here once asking about it, but heaven forbid, I mention the speed that it occurs at, and my post was edited so I got no responses about it. I never cared that much about the noise though, just a reminder that I was going fast! I'd just turn the radio up louder! I always assumed that it was something to do with air getting under the windshield seals or weatherstipping, so it sounds like that was your problem here as well.

 

Odd... I've never had that issue. Shot some more video's. This cam mount is fun

 

I asked our SA if he could fix the whistling noise from the sun roof. He said he probably could, until I told him the noise starts at 112, but some how goes away around 132. He laughed so hard, stuff came out his nose

 

Captain, where were you able to do this speed?

 

Commercial drivers, truck drivers, etc., are subjected to physicals biannually, if they are healthy. In Florida, non-commercial license, people only need one good eye with 20/40 vision to drive. And for commericial drivers with one ggod eye, they are allowed to drive intra state only. Which by the way is still freakin insane!!!!


I initially was interested in this thread because, even though I have an R56 and have not experienced anything flying off, I do get an annoying sound emminating from my windshield. And I told my SA at what speeds it occurs at. Of course I told her I frequent a race track every other weekend at a minimum. Also sent her the youtube video documenting the sound. They said they fixed it but I noticed it the other day again, so I will be going back.

Oh and to just repeat again that you have to judge the situation and environment you are in and determine if it is safe or not.

 

HA! two years ago I got on an totally empty 26 mile stretch of an isolated and newly paved Wyoming state highway south of Riverton and pushed my unmodded R53 to the limit--digital speedo said 137, analog registered a tick over 140, all with about 1500 rpm to redline in 6th. All was well and stable, albeit loud (I still had the runflats on) until about 125, then the floating wobble set in as I maxed it out. If anything, now I understand the importance of aerokits.

but nothing flew off anywhere on the car, and only curious antelope slowed me down

 

He did it "on the track" . You know....the track in the middle of the desert....before you approach Las Vegas. I always forget its name...

 

uh, track 15??

 

When you were asleep your wife must have hit MK II to make that stripping bubble and melt.........

 

I wonder if the problem of floating wobble at high speeds is associated with just the run flats. Seems to me the existing OEM R53 equipment should do a decent rnough job up to 140 without that scary float steering experienced.

 

Not everyone buys a car for the sake of going from A to B as fast as he can. We have a speed limit because not everyone has a reaction times of fighter jet pilots.

 

Mine saw 142 for a couple of miles. and i had no stability issues what so ever and im running kumho SPT tires. no crap flying off no wobble noise. or anything
Just a new tone from the supercharger. and some wind sounds. and my friend yelling off speeds...

 

I am not saying that speed limits are not necessary at all, but that speed is not the main problem. A to B as fast as possible...no...my point is that I believe more training is needed for drivers and that there are way to many people on the roads today who should not be.

I may be a little biased towards higher speeds though because as you mention fighter pilots, I do have those reflexes ...I am one of the very few who turned down such a position a year ago as I feel I could advance my pilot career faster in the civilan world.

 

Thats true but the fact is that it would cost too much to redo all the major highways to sustain AND maintain a higher speed limit.

Not only that, insurance will sky rocket! not because there will be more accidents, but because every accident will theoretically cause more damage at the higher speed.

If there would be any speed limit relief, there should be a lane dedicated to uber fast drivers. I was cruising ~15 mph above the limit one day and i saw a car flash by in my rear mirror, I was afraid to switch lanes because I couldn't see where it was. Two seconds later, the car pass by my mini like a lightning and the turbulence shook my car!

 

exactly same thing happened to me yesterday..

 

dang that sucks, i'd be very upset. i havent had anything fly off my mini yet but there are too many threads about it happening.

 

It happened to me, too about a year ago on my 2005 Mini Cooper. On the freeway at speeds of around 80. The dealer fixed it and have not had a problem since.

 

well dont judge me but at 145 i have never had this problem and ive been to that mark plenty of times

 

I won't judge you as I have been up to that speed on the Autobahn in Germany more than once but even with a modded MINI it was not that easy to do. However, I am willing to be that a court will judge you when you get caught if this is on a public road!

I never lost a cover...

 

happened to me once on the highway but i just put the weatherstrip back into place and prayed that it would hold this time. it hasn't failed me since =]