Who has seen it?

 

.

 

I saw it, but no where near 143mph!

 

Hang on... a 172BHP MCS tops out at 143MPH?

I've never really looked at the data, but I'm really stunned! It's definitely not a slouch!

 

I've seen it

 

never seen it...

I've never been on a track with sufficient straightaway.

Now that I think of it, even at NHMS on the front straight I never got out of 4th gear, which put me in the braking zone at about 105.

not wishing to pee on anyone's cornflakes, but as I am not aware that there is ANY road course in the country that would allow a Mini to hit top speed, I tend to assume that contributors to this thread might be pushing the site guidelines a bit.

I'd leave the topic alone personally.

Unless someone has been to the salt lakes, or is posting from DE.

Kind regards,

Charlie

 

old runways

 

Whilst stationed in The Netherlands, I would routinely go Motoring across Belgium, France und Chermany. I can tell you, without regret and in complete confidence, that the cruise control on my US spec 2010 JCW will hold speed at 250KPH. Maggie was as stable as the road conditions provided but I only did that once in the 6 months I had her there. Typically, on Der 'Bahn, I would cruise along at about 120MPH, going with the flow of traffic. A fellow Cherman MINIac, abuzavi, posted a couple of years ago some analysis of per capita vehicle deaths comparing the US to Europe across rural, urban and highway death rates and it was rather surprising that there are FEWER highway deaths in Germany, per capita, when compared to US rates. FWIW & YMMV.

Cheers!!

 

I've never had the pleasure of driving those roads - I gather from the odd TV show that the number of unrestricted or very high speed highways is shrinking.

I wonder how much of the original posting on the Autobahn remains?

For me the risk is closing speed - if the right-hand lane is running 160 and I'm running 240 that's one thing. If I'm overtaking much faster than that though it might make me nervous.

Of course I'm old now, and a mere mortal. When I was younger - not so much!

 

I've gone much faster then 143 on the Autobahn and on The Ring.

 

Bloodycow,

There is an excellent drive coming out of Vaals heading into Belgium that criss-crosses over the ridge all the way down to Valkenberg and beyond. Give it a shot. I'd do that almost every weekend after hitting Starbucks in Aachen on Saturday. That's if there wasn't a 'Ring Run with the crew from the NCSA Help Desk. Give 'em a shout.

Cheers!!

 

Road America? Daytona, Talladega, I-270 between DC and Frederick... (I joke)

I actually hit a higher speed on the Autobahn headed towards Frankfurt than I did on the Ring.


I also seriously doubt that you were actually going 250Kph. (156.25 mph) in a Mini... The speedo might have said it, but it probably wasn't that close.

 

Bloodycow,

There is an excellent run coming out of Vaals, behind Dreilandpunt, that criss-crosses over the ridge heading towards Valkenberg that I'd run almost every weekend after hitting Starbucks in Aachen on Saturdays. Ya might wanna hit up the crew from the NCSA Help Desk who make trips to der 'Ring. As for 143 on the Ring, well, like cmt52663, I'm old and mortal, so I was only able to hit about 120 at the Gantry in Maggie, Too.

Cheers!!

 

The long front straight at road America is very much uphill and not long enough for a Mini to hit it's topspeed. Cars that have the ability to go 200 mph only hit about 165 there.

 

I wonder if there are any deserted runways or airports around my area where I could safely test MINI's top speed...

There's one private airport, but I doubt the owners would be kind enough to lend it to me for few hours...

 

I have seen 140 twice and it was much more stable with 2 other people in the car. Not recommended but just an observation. I helps if you have access to an airport or 2.

 

I take that on my bike every once in a while when the wife and I want to get Ice Cream at that little stand that gets crazy busy. Were you the one with the red JCW?

 

Yup, and the 06R53, too.

Cheers!!

 

I wish there was someplace safe for me to try and get to the top speed as well, the only racetrack really close is Lake Erie Speedway, and it isn't very big at all. Someplace like Daytona or Indianapolis would be nice, but too far for me. Mine is a Justa so I don't have the higher top speed like the S but would still like to see what it is like to go that fast!

 

You'll need more than most private airstrips, and many commercial airports have to offer. Even supercars need more than a mile to hit their top speed. Most regional airports have runways in the 6000' range -- about 1 and 1/8 miles long. You'd have to hit your international airports to get in the 8000' to 12,000' range (1 1/2 to 2 1/4 miles).

I know a couple guys who have Ford GTs (top speed: 205+ mph), and at a car show at a gentleman's private airport, they got got to take them out on the 4200' runway (a little longer than the typical private airstrip), and the best they could do was about 165mph before they had to throw out the anchor. One of them went to a race in Texas where they had a "standing mile" event. He hit 185 before he crossed the line. The other one got to take his out on a closed interstate (it helps to have friends in high places) and hit 206 mph (passenger photographed the speedo), which took about two miles.

 

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