Good point,
MINI Korea had not been launched MINI with manual transmission.
Almost all minis in the racing scene are equipped with Automatic tranny.
"Moving" mini cost me like $6500 USD (mostly taxes and registration)
Most of the minis are auto here, but I will post a video I raced with another manual mini in Korea. There are some, and some more are getting built.

 

The video IS SCARY...
Can't even imagine I can run on that kind of flooding. hehe.
Pretty sure the race organizer will suspend the race(if not HPDE) if it was in Korea. hehe.

 

Thx for the reply bro, will post updates today! :D

 

So,, finally got to update on my build. I have been working for co-operative and vip driving events as an instructor,
I am basically away from home, staying at track. :(
BTW, Here is the latest build. The day I set the fwd course record(shaved my own record by almost one full second.).
My desire for Lightness keep goes... So...



I copied what Porsche is doing for GT3RS.






How is it?






Adding some details on my quarter window.






There was a private track event for variety of cars. It was a well prepared one for track guys and gals.






Good to have chance to run with other well balanced FWD cars,







Good to have chance to....







My Mini grouped with other FR, AWD cars including those above.







Subies and Evos.







And a Porsche. 30 cars on track, My Mini was the FASTEST car(with official GPS transponder record) in the session for all day(4 sessions). Here I have 3 videos,




1. Short Best Lap onboard cam(Clean lap, no other cars).






2. Out cam shows my car is 3-wheeling here and there.






3. MINI vs WORLD. 17 minutes of onboard cam, I just "played" with other cars on track, Suby, Evo, Scirroco R, BMW 420d and others.







And...

Some more action shots from the event.


Actually I set another record from other track in the country, will update soon!

 

Some nice driving.

You are relaxed and have your eyes up, looking to where you are going. You make good use of the whole track and move smoothly around it. Glad to see the gloves.

2 comments - don't rest your hand on the shifter in the straight. Keep both hands on the wheel except the second it takes to make the shift you have planned to make. The second is to get a HANS device. Driving at the limits like you are and with the other not so good drivers on the track, you are going to need it if they do something you don't expect.

Have fun and be safe.

 

Thx for the comment!
Acutally, I've started to use HANS after that track event,
you will be able to see i am wearing the device from the next update.

here is my device. (I am working at official Simpson/Hans dealer in Korea)

 

What harness are you using?

 

Sorry for the super late reply!
I am currently using Schroth quickfit, I don't want to go with full 6+point harness without having proper roll cages.

But since I don't have plan for roll cages for this year(and next year), I will keep the quickfit for now.

 

I AM BACK!! Been busy due to too many projects(all related to motorsport/car makers)

Happy to still be in one piece with my beloved Green Turtle.

So, I've took my MINI to the other major track in Korea, (And where I am working as a test driver) Korea International Circuit(Korea F1 GP circuit).

Designed by the famous engineer Hermann Tilke, the course is very hard to "clear". If you miss one small thing here, then you mess up with rest of the course. You really need to maintain flow to have a good lap time.



I went to a practice day with my boss who builds an IS200.

An IS200?

Yes,, Lexus IS200, but with 3S-GE 2.2 stroker / cams / itb / wide body
Like I am doing for my mini, he have been putting his precious 5 years to that car,
and the car is recently featured in SPEEDHUNTERS.



Link to the Speedhunters article : http://www.speedhunters.com/2016/05/...s-is200-korea/







My Green Turtle usually rests in my office with that IS200,







You must be shocked if I say that IS200 weighs same as my lightened MINI.
(He gutted all the unnecessary wirings during last winter, and chopped the unnecessary metal portions from the front)






So, we are on track.

KIC track is known as Korean F1 GP track, but instead of the full F1 course, the half course gives a lot more fun for most of the cars
(Straights are too long, and our car can't do 300+km/h like F1 cars on the straights)

Here is my half course onboard cam (Initial test run for tune)







The logger. Shows I only did 2 laps. After that, I did hot pit for tire temperature check.

And that short test run made my mini the fastest MINI in KIC, Korea.



Ranked at 76th in the middle of Ferrari/Porsche/M3 cars. (Amatuer lap board in Korea)

The most exciting and challenging corner with KIC half course is the last two corners. Watch below. (T9-T10 compilation)








The F1 full course.






I had a chance to drive several cars on the F1 full course,
Just wanted to share the onboard cam.



2'42"45 on the first lap, couldn't shave more.
The logger is saying,, from the middle of the second lap, the car didn't wanted to accellerate due to IAT/EGT.
It was a hot day with 84.2'F(29'C) air temperature and 147'F(64'C) IAT.





At this point,

I've used up all my tires and brakes. (Have been saving those to do this short lapping)






Due to tire wear, the car was feeling like a skate on the full course.. hehe..










I had a chance to do a comparison test on the same day,
I sat in the new F56 Cooper S(The one in the picture above, Automatic tranny, stock Dunlop Sport Maxx tires) and took it for a spin.

Laptime difference between brand new stock F56S and my Green turtle was...



...15 seconds... (due to many factors.. mainly chassis response to make motions on corners)



For the build record, I've purchased another pair of RE71R tires in 16" size, and went to the same brake pads(Carbotech XP10 for the fronts).

The car feels little too light in the middle of corners with my 16" setup, I am planning on front/underbody aero updates after 2016 season.


But for now, I don't have time to perform major updates due to 2 reason.

1. Car feels good in terms of overall balance, and need to be in the time trial regulation.
2. This...





Will update soon!

 

Very nice!

That must be exciting to be out on the F1 track and even with the long straight it looks like it is a good MINI track.

I am amazed that the brakes did as well as they did. The cooling you put in must be really working.

Wow, you looked like you were on an ice skating rink with the way you were sliding around the corners. Yup, time for new tires.

Say, do you know what kind of oil temperatures you are hitting when you are out on the track? That seemed like a pretty warm day; comparable to what we are having now. I am interested in seeing how your oil temps compare to mine.

 

Before the DuelL hood/AC removal, Oil temperature went upto 138'C which is scary. (I cooled the car down right away I notticed it)

Now the number stays around 125'C thx to hood vents, a/c removal, radiator guide panels.

Both numbers are monitored with Scangauge Mini firmware version, and after 3 -4 attack laps on 2.5 miles long track.

Now as a time trial car, water temp/oil temp isn't issue, but the IAT is a key to be more competitive in the class. Thinking to put heat reflective film on the intake pipings first.

Thx for the reply again!

 

That works out to be 280 and 257 deg F respectively. I'm seeing similar temperatures and as high as 275 deg F. I also find the oil temp to be very dependent on engine RPM. If I upshift at 5500-6000 instead of holding it close to the red line, I can drop the oil temperature by at least 10 deg F.

I guess these engines just run hot oil temperatures. I wonder how much of that heated oil is from it being run though the turbo bearings? Maybe the return line needs an oil cooler....hmmmmm?

Any thoughts on that?

 

Oops, sorry I forgot to convert Celcious to Fahrenheit.
And good to know that "shift under 6000" method really changes the numbers.
(I would need to use that if I got to take my car to an endurance events later)

Yes, as we know, mini set the "normal" working temperature parameters pretty high compared to other sport compacts. 248'F water temperature is a scary number for cars like S2000.

And for the oil temperature and turbo bearing,, I am only guessing that it will be okay if I only do time trials (2-3 continuous lapping followed by 2+ laps of cooling).
And last time I had a chance to peep into my turbo, everything was like new.
Oil cooler is the item I am keep planning on(the location and the type/size),
but due to chance of cooler damage on track(due to crash with other unexperienced drivers), I wouldn't go with it until I decide to use my car as a Sprint race car(Wheel to wheel).

 

I didn't think to ask about water temperature. Thanks for the input.

248'F is higher than what I remember seeing. My MINI runs at 216'F on the road. I have seen mid-230'F on the track.

I have read other posts where people have identified that MINI made a mid-year coding change in the 2012 model year to lower the coolant temperature to 185'F when the sport button is turned on. I don't know if that can be added to earlier cars, though.

 

I had a chance to talk to a guy who has something to do with Red Line oil (executive of some sort) when I first notice the high oil temp. He said an easy way to lower oil temp is to go to a heavier weight oil. I had been using the recommended 5-30 weight and went to a 5-40 and it did lower the oil temp, maybe by 10-15 deg F.

 

Loved going through your history on this car. Made my day at work go by a bit better and faster!

 

This is such an awesome build thread and a testament to the trackability of Mini's.

After a few autox's with mine I'll be taking it to a track and will need to make some brake ducting like yours...

 

Thx for the reply, (Sorry for the super late reply)
good to know the heavier oil can lower the oil temp, I am also using 5W 40 oils and happy with it.
and the thing is since I removed the a/c condensor and put the engine hood with lots of vents, EOT isn't that matter now for the time trial events, but the Intake air temperature kills the performance. Thinking to cut the lower front grille off to help the inter cooler. :(

 

Feels great to hear that you loved my thread.
The history goes on, didn't have time to post (too many things are happening with my mini hehe)

 

Right. MINI is so track able. All Koreans are aware of that now.
And some said my brake ducting is no use for time trial/hpde cars, but I have been happy with it since I never afraid of sudden change in brake feeling on track. I am always confident with my braking hehe~

 

It has been long time since my last update,
My Spring and Summer 2016 was so challenging in terms of my motorsport carrier and was full of interesting events.


1. Radical sportscars Korea

My company, MotorKlasse became the official dealer for Radical in Korea region.



I know radical is not exactly related to MINI, but it shares the british motorsport sprit.






Getting used to setting up/moving the radical.




Also rented the two major tracks in Korea for shakedown events,



And the radical SR3 RSX proved this is the ultimate form to get the 200% joy from track driving, and easiest and economical way to becoming the fastest one in the country.


BELOW is the preview on the Korea F1 circuit shakedown(video edited by myself)











Had a full support from the British government and British Embassy in Seoul.






Radical and my team "BROS Motorsport"
Not a professional racing team, but always pursues the pure motorsport spirit(doesn't matter if we are fast or not)









My Green Turtle got a friend.

So, back to the original subject,

Story on my MINI continues below.



2. featured on "CAR" Magazine

Early in summer 2016,
I had my Green Turtle in the showroom.



Put the car in the middle of showroom upon photographer's request, photo shooting...
While the photo shooting,



Speedhunters featured IS200 racecar and the Red Radical SR3 RSX had to went out and wait outside for the best shot on my MINI.






The shot.






The "CAR" Magazine(originally famous auto magazine in UK, and this is Korean edition)







The article. "Ardor of Green Turtle"




Detail shots from the photographer(below)























3. Dancing in the rain. Time Trial R4

So, I couldn't do major update on my mini mainly because of Radical, even missed Time Trial Round 3 due to tight schedule...

So here is pictures from Round 4 held with full of rain.




My other team members are all driving FR cars mainly S2000.






I feel happy my mini can get respect in the middle of higher powered FR racecars.





Hot pit. My friend helped me with radio.







My fellow mini driver. He is on wheel chair, and racing with a R58 MINI Coupe.






My favorite racing model. (Oh my hair.. right after the race)







Also had a chance to have a deep conversation with engineers from Kumho tire on their V720 tires.






Action shot.






Action shot 2.







As you know from my previous posts, I really like to racing in the rain,
I made 1st place with 3+ seconds difference from the second place.
(entry 704 is me)







MINI RULES!







After that event, my car went through some surgery due to little contact during the filming Korean MINI Challenge event..

My next posting would be about the MINI Challenge Korean edition.

 

Thanks very much for the posts you share here. I enjoy reading them very much.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

What settings do you run on the Ohlins?

 

You gave me an idea - remove the flappers from the fan shroud to let more air into that area.

Your pictures are great! You look like you are having a grand time.

 

Glad to hear that! I still have bunch of stuff to post.