theWrkncacnter, thought of you the other day... Some friends just picked up their BRG S and dropped it off for storage with us while they're on vacation.

I get to detail it! But I always forget how very rich BRG is until I see them up close (and clean!)

 

yikes, it's been too long (15 days!) since I've checked in here I can concur about "breaking-in" the wheels. My wheels also had some powder coat on the lug seats. You should really chip/sand that stuff off before bolting them up, you want a clean metal surface to seat against.

Hey, how come Iancull hasn't contacted me about the auto-up module? I was on the list; guess I'll have to get off my butt and email him.

MM2 is currently at Classic MINI, however my ECU is at MINIUSA HQ in NJ getting V38 uploaded. I miss my MINI

 

>>Rachel, get off yer butt and post PICS of your new wheels, even if they are scary, lol I can concur about "breaking-in" the wheels. My wheels also had some powder coat on the lug seats. You should really chip/sand that stuff off before bolting them up, you want a clean metal surface to seat against.
>>

sir, yes sir! I can share the horror with someone else!

>>Hey, how come Iancull hasn't contacted me about the auto-up module? I was on the list; guess I'll have to get off my butt and email him.
>>

Probably because I live a few miles from him and have a known propensity for threatening the old MINI guys in the area? Hopefully the result will be new and improved and not-quite-so-infuriating...

 

short V38 summary: It's definintely an improvement, though not the be-all-end-all. Yo-Yo basically gone, DSC and Cruise vastly improved. One-thumb up from me to MINI.

Katiedidmini's back! YAY! (check out OT-Auto's to confirm)

 

Good to hear about v38... hopefully it'll continue to be improved. At least it's a better finger response than the last few upgrades!

I'm still waiting (impatiently) for my H-sport rear swaybar. VERY frustrated with the company and their stories right now.

 

I think everyone and their mother is waiting on H-Sport to get the production ramped up again!

 

Hey, let's cut the h-sport folks some slack. It's a big deal changing colors.

I have definitely decided to go with an h-sport front rear combo. Especially since its now black.

Had a great track day yesterday. It was the first time with a new club I joined. NCRC. Fabulous event. Way way way much much much better than SCCA. More cool cars, Ferarris, Radicals, tons of Porches one incredibly fast Dinan prepped X5 and I am still the only MINI. Everything ran super smooth, no wasted time, more time on the track, less waiting on the grid. From the time you run-group was announced to being on the track was about 2 minutes.

On the the pics.

Couldn't hold off this porsche for long. must be the run-flats. Bad bad runflats.
After I waived him by (our club requires point-bys for all passing) he spun on the next turn. That's exciting!


Couldn't hold of the Radical either. Got to get an H-sport sway bar set.
By the way, if you want a really cool track car. CHeck out the Radical.



I'm going to wear out these runflats as soon as I can. Wife doesn't understand why I need new tires when there is tread on the ones I've got. I told her same reason you have 20 pairs of shoes with lots of tread. Bad bad thing to say.



Great day, can't wait for H-sport to get their production back up.

Andy

_________________


03 MC CR/B. Rogue exhaust, Pipercross induction intake.

 

Great pictures Andy. I am sure that Porche driver was glad you waved him past!

Regards,
Red

 

sweet, andy! At Watkins Glen, I found that the Mini loved to harass the older 911's running in my group. We're also required to give point-bys, but some are less likely to give them than others. My boyfriend just missed creaming someone at the last track event who passed straight into his line mid-turn, without the point-by. They were all stuck in a massive train and the person following Noah got antsy.... glad I wasn't in the car, but it IS on video

I'd be less miffed at H-sport if they didn't have a different story each time I called... and completely different ones each time the suppliers call!

Got the Eagle F1's for the car, but am still waiting to get the wheels back from repair... *sniffle*. I'll try to get pics of my amazing black wheels this weekend.

anyone seen cheffie around lately?

 

The BRG sure is nice isn't it? Thank you for the wash...we need to set up a nice dinner with you guys

I was afraid you were going to put your rims on my car, but you probably don't want my S-heavys either

 

>>>>
>>The BRG sure is nice isn't it? Thank you for the wash...we need to set up a nice dinner with you guys
>>
>>I was afraid you were going to put your rims on my car, but you probably don't want my S-heavys either I didn't even wash or wax your wheels (admittedly that was only because Noah had used the last of the wheel cleaner on his car)!

I'd NEVER put runflats on my car again! Besides, you're relatively safe now that we've switched to lug nuts on the car. Relatively.

We definitely need to have dinner together sometime - have our own mini mini-meet!

 

Hehe...stay away from my crappy run-flats

As soon as I have some free time, the MINI is getting the Klasse treatment. I can't wait.

We'll see you guys soon!

 

BostonMark, How about some pictures of your BRG. I almost got that color. Klasse is a great product, just stinky. I also mix it with water, put it in a spray bottle, keep it in the car and use it for cleaning windows and bird poo.

Rachel, From your description of your last track day, I assume you and Noah are sharing your car. Are you doing 2 consecutive run groups? If so, how do your brakes feel on the latter one?

Andy

 

I only have a few pics at this point...too busy motoring and dealing with rain!

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze4jqck/

I have typically used Carnuba waxes in the past, but considering the car is parked outside and it's hard to find time to polish/wax every 30 days, I'm going with the added protection of the Klasse. Now I just need to get a chance to use the stuff

 

lol, From your description of your last track day, I assume you and Noah are sharing your car. Are you doing 2 consecutive run groups? If so, how do your brakes feel on the latter one?
>>

Yes, we're sharing a car, generally two consecutive run groups, though sometimes the organizers will pity us and stagger the runs when there're three intermediate groups (or make one of us torture the inexperienced groups!). Otherwise I'm waiting in the pits to pull Noah forcibly from the car.

We swapped to motul brake fluid and run ferodo pads both front and back now. The brakes feel absolutely fine after two sessions of 30 minutes each. No real signs of fade, though I'm sure we'll start to see it more if we ever actually get HOT weather when we're at the track. It probably helps that the wheels we run with are relatively open to help cool the brakes quickly. If fading starts to be more obvious, we may switch to the PowerSlot rotors. The only fast track we've taken the car to was Watkins Glen, with longer straights to build more speed that needs bled at the end, but the car handled that perfectly as well. Definitely felt the need to bleed them a few times at the last event, though...

You may drive the car harder than either of us and might see more fading (though that's pretty hard to believe after seeing what Noah does to the car when I'm not in it ).

 

>>You may drive the car harder than either of us and might see more fading (though that's pretty hard to believe after seeing what Noah does to the car when I'm not in it ).

I doubt that I drive any harder tnat you. I am still running stock brake pads, and although I haven't had fade yet, I get the sense that one more 30 minute session would bring it on.

In the past most of my instructors have been cmc drivers with big heavy powerful cars that need to slow, and then use lots of power to regain speed. Last time I had a spec miata driver who "learnt" me a whole new line. Lot's more fun, and lots less braking!

 

>>I doubt that I drive any harder tnat you. I am still running stock brake pads, and although I haven't had fade yet, I get the sense that one more 30 minute session would bring it on.
>>

actually, I tend to be *much* more conservative on the track than many other people out there. I concentrate a LOT on learning the line very well, and then slowly building my speeds. I'm getting more confidence! My instructors tend to think I'll react like some 'typical' blonde chick, I think, and get nervous pretty quickly until they realize otherwise

>>In the past most of my instructors have been cmc drivers with big heavy powerful cars that need to slow, and then use lots of power to regain speed. Last time I had a spec miata driver who "learnt" me a whole new line. Lot's more fun, and lots less braking!

I've been lucky that most of my instructors have had true momentum cars... some E30 M3 drivers, other small old BMW's. I'd love to have someone with experience with the miatas and minis give me more pointers. My instructor last time actually HAS a new mini, but it's his 'play' car... he couldn't believe I not only had it on the track, but that I was sharing it with someone. Ah, well...

Definitely learning to use the line to your advantage is a saver on the brakes. I have to really watch how late I brake going into turns - not many other drivers can pull it off, and they're shocked to see me behind them

 

Welcome to the vBulletin version of NAM. The April Club officially lasts longer than the site itself!

ooh, btw, H-Sport now has their production up and running, YAY!

 

:( but I won't get the parts in time for the track event (leaving tonight)!

ah, well... there'll be another event or two (or three) this year.

The Minis on Top second annual drive up Mount Washington to see the sunset is coming up on the 19th. Should be a great time with something like 125 minis hiking it up the mountain after scaring the town silly for the day.

The wheels definitely look better covered in brake dust I'll see if I can get any pro shots of the car on the track that show the wheels in their glory.

 

Great! I feel better about letting the wheel cleaning go to each tank of gas instead of every fifty miles. (Hope that holds true for the stock wheels!).

Did I mention that I appreciate this car more every day I own it? I think it was a great performance value box stock.

Regrds,
Red

 

Hey! Where is my picture? And all of my "private messages" gone. That's progress for you!


Regards,
Red

 

After one year plus of quiet motoring (except my nice throaty exhaust tone of course) the infamous dash rattle showed up this week. It is hideous!

I guess I need to schedule a trip to the dealer soon.

Happy motoring all.

Andy

 

How many miles Andy? Let us know what the dealer finds.


regards,
Red

 

Andy - so sorry to hear about the rattle. I get the windows gapping when I hit any imperfections in the road at higher speeds. I'm not sure the dealer'll be willing to replicate that . It happens at low speeds, too, but not as consistently (read: never when I have it at the dealership).

I'm back from the track event. Had a GREAT time, got lots of video. Best compliment was my instructor, during my last run, telling me that he was having FUN in the car with me.

Still waiting for the suspension parts *and* my street wheels to be painted.

 

Rachel take it easy on the instructors. Are you going to paint your street wheels black and red like your trackers?