I'm reading Brock Yates great book "Cannonball" on the real history behind his infamous "Cannonball Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy" rally. Boy did those folks have guts. Ok, they were a bit nuts too. Given that Mini drivers are nuts in their own way as well, I figured that if that event were held today, a Mini would be in it. This led me to ponder what would be the best set up for a trans-continental rally in a Mini?
I wonder if an MSC or even a JCW or some other tricked out Mini would be the way to go? (Brock won in a Ferrari in '71 in no small part because he and his partner could cruise at a very high speed.) From what I can tell high speed combined with fuel economy (fewer stops) is the way to win. Is a straight cooper modded to get good power (enough) fast enough to compete?

I vote for an MSC with JCW (or its reliable aftermarket equivalent) optimized for the best MPG. I'm thinking speed with decent enough MPG.

How should this Mini be set up? Tires? Spare? Mods? Ditch the back seat? What would be the best Mini in which to do a "Mini-ball Rally"?

 

Cannonball is a great book.

Ive been talking about trying to break the record with friends for years.

32 hours would be quite a task....

 

I read the book a couple of years ago, and have done a few long-distance non-stop trips, but haven't done the New York to Los Angeles trip yet. My plans are to do it in a few years. One of the trips my wife and I did a few years back was Western Montana to Eastern PA straight through in my Dodge Neon. 2200 miles in 32 hours for an average speed of 69 mph.

To do the 2800 miles from NY to LA in 32 hours would require an average speed (including stops) of about 88 mph, which would mean an average speed on the road of around 90-95 mph depending on how many stops and how long they each took. A Mini would probably do well, but it wouldn't need many mods to keep up an average speed of 90-95 mph. At that speed, I'd worry more about lighting.

IMO a newer Corvette would be an ideal car for the trip. It would get close to 30 mpg at speed, and the aerodynamics wouldn't suffer as much at high speeds like they would on a Mini. The Corvette could relatively easily and safely hit 160-180 mph if needed, while an MCS couldn't. At triple digit speeds or close to it, a Corvette could probably get better gas mileage than an MCS as well.

 

I think an Acura sedan with the real-time traffic info would be the best car because it would give you the best chance of avoiding traffic jams. Any modern car would be capable of maintaining a high rate of speed, the key to being fastest would be minimizing stops, both for gas and for traffic.

Since you asked about a MINI, though, I think a Cooper would be the better choice than an MCS because of the mileage. Any small margin the MCS gained over an MC in acceleration to cruising speed would be lost when the MCS had to stop for gas more often.

 

I just ran some quick calculations, and if the coast to coast trip is 2800 miles and you can get 400 miles to the tank with an MC, you'd have to stop for gas 6 times, and if each gas stop takes 10 minutes, you'd lose an hour of travel time to stops. You'd have to average 90 miles an hour at that rate to make it in 32 hours. My MC feels very stable at 90-100 mph.

Two of the biggest things my wife and I found to maximize efficiency was to minimize fuel/food/bathroom breaks (typically 6-8 minutes each) and to plan our start time and route to avoid major cities at rush hour times. You can lose up to an hour or two hitting a big city at rush hour in the morning or afternoon.

-Keith

 

dont forget about our friendly law enforcemnt.

a cb would probably need to be on the top of the list with a police scanner.


SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCMENT!!!

 

got gumball?

http://www.gumball3000.com/

 

Yeah, I think a V1, scanner, and CB would be required equipment for any trip like this. You're safe in most states at 10 mph over the speed limit, but that's only 75-80 mph for most of the states. Not enough for any kind of record.

-Keith

 

if you're seriously trying to get accross the country in record-form, you're going to be cruising on the highway at 140+ mph.

I've known a couple people who've driven/ridden in the Gumball, and to 'compete' at that level you're looking at jailtime, and thousands and tens of thousands of dollars in fines, lawyer fees to keep you out of jail, impound fees, etc.

It's a high stakes game for those with serious coin. The guy I know who drove (a modified 996 Turbo) was pulled over 3 times in a day for speeding, two of those were north of 120mph. Imagine your insurance rates when you're done with something like that

 

I agree with Aviators. If you are going to get across country in record time you need to go as fast as possible as often as possible. But in a lot of states (CT) for example if you are going too far over the limit you'll be arrested on the spot which will KILL you chances of making it any record time. But it would be fun to try.

 

www.onelapofamerica.com Is run by Brock Yates and his son, Brock Jr...

The closest you will come to a LEGAL event, at real tracks and timed events on the track

Look under: Upper Choice bar: 2006 Entrants with Photos

See you there ... 4,000 plus miles this year !!!!!

3 MCS will be competing this year in the Retro Class

 

I think you should maybe dress up like a couple of priests and use a red Ferrari 308, or even EMTs in an old Dodge Van ambulance.
sorry, couldn't help it

 

How about dressing up like a couple of hot chicks and using our chests to get us out of tickets.....well I'd have to shave mine first.

*Side Bar*
The Cannonball Run has to be one of the best speeding movies
*End Side Bar*

 

Very true!!
You'd make awesome time if you let HIM drive!

 

Let the "Doc" drive ....LOL

 

DA DA DAAAAA

Captain Chaos!

 

That's too funny man.
The Doc was one scary bastard.
Do you remember the thing with his middle finger?

 

That's HIM!!!

 

What, the only tool he needs to do his work with?

rofl, that was disgusting!

 

 

Doctor Nikolas Van Helsing

 

Whaddya got, a Cannonball Run picture book over there?
I'm still laughing while I type

 

I just burst out laughing reading this thread. Man I damn near peed myself. Too funny. Check out this page for Cannonball Trivia. "Whaddya got, a Cannonball Run picture book over there?" Too funny.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082136/trivia

 

 

Me too, man!!
not-so-rednwhite is killing me with the pics
cool link, weegas

jdor1, sorry about the hijack of this thread