While on this road trip I was able to get an hour of service time scheduled at Mini of Murray(Salt Lake) to install the NM short sift adapter and cover.



This is a great mod, really tightening up the shift linkage. It makes the throws about 20% shorter, and feels very direct. It's playing quite well with the other mods.


-Steven

 

These "leaning trees" are messing with my mind!

I straightened one up just to see (hope you don't mind...). That was quite a slope!

 

@spiney-

LOL, don't mind at all



-Steven

 

Fantastic shots! You should go work for BMW as an advertising photographer.

 

Thanks Mark I'll have a few more soon as I make my way home.


-Steven

 

Man I am SO jealous right now, great car and an epic trip to take it on. Superb photos

 

Hey there Steven. Where did you purchase your NM springs from?

 

Thanks, it's been a great trip
NM Alpha springs purchased from WMW.



-Steven

 

You can also pick them up at Moss in Petersburg near you G33KGUY

 

After a week of time spent between Provo and Park City, it was time to move on. The plan was to head north through Idaho and on to Big Sky. However, looking at the map, I realize there is something I've always wanted to do, visit the Bonneville Salt Flats. It would mean traveling way out of the way, but in the end, so worth it! This place is surreal, strangely quiet, blinding during the noon day sun and not as smooth as you would think. If you look closely at the pics, you get an idea of the surface of the flats. Driving this was a dream come true for me.







The salt is very sticky, almost feels wet to the touch...



















-Steven

 

Great pics and very cool, once it a lifetime experience but.... ... all that salt on the beautiful Roadster !!!!!

 

Lol...we had to drive to Wendover, Nv. to find a car wash. That day we were in four states. I'm still going to get it up on some jack stands and make sure I got all the salt off when I get home.


-Steven

 

It's always great when you fulfill one of your dreams congrats Steven, now go get rid of ALL THAT SALT

 

Hi Steven,

Now, with all your miles, can you give your current feeling on all the mods you've done?

Are you happy with the springs and engine mounts?

Are you bottoming out on driveways and roads much?

Do you notice the larger intercooler and plumbing?

Great photos as always! Almost looks like snow! I saw a recent photo of a Porsche 356 on the salt. Yikes! A couple car washes and you'll be fine

So,... how fast did you go?

Franny

 

Steven- You're trip sounds like a blast.. Those pic's are SO damn cool!!!

 

Agreed, it's had four washes since Bonneville Each time I'm under there rinsing it off.
Give me a few more posts, and I'll answer your questions, that's exactly where I want to go with this thread...good useful information

It really was pretty incredible. Thank you, appreciate it!


-Steven

 

Last of the trip photos

Late afternoon in Idaho



North Gate Of Yellowstone Park. We entered in West Yellowstone, and exited here...what a treasure the Park is. Everytime I've been there it blows my mind



This was pretty much what the front bumper looked like every evening after 500-600 miles.


-Steven

 

All right, on to Franny's questions. As I spent time behind the wheel of the JCW, 500-650 highway miles a day, running constant 80-85 mph, or top down carving up perfect mountain roads, this machine is amazing.

Let me re-cap the way my Roadster is currently setup, in the order I did them:

-NM Alpha springs

-12mm spacers

-19mm H-Sport rear sway bar

-NM Torque Arm Insert

-Helix FMIC intercooler

-NM Air Charge/Discharge Pipes

-Alta Foam drop in filter

-Alta AP Stage 1 tune, a few tunes custom tweaked by Alta(Jeff). A quick word about the AP. This device is amazing at how it unlocks power and drivability, all the while delivering stock gas mileage numbers. Also, it allows me to carry multiple tunes, for different fuel situations. Example, in Chicago, I run the Stage 1 FMIC 92 octane tune. Out West, gas is 91 octane, so I would run the 91 octane FMIC.

-NM Short Shift


One thing I came away with through this experience behind the wheel, is the JCW Roadster in a really great Grand Tourer. The seats are comfortable for the long haul, the engine produces power that allows crazy passing speed. For a single layer canvas top, the Roadster is surprisingly quiet inside at speed. The brakes are incredible, at one point, I stepped out to try and pass two semi's and was surprised by an oncoming car. I got on the brakes hard traveling about 68mph and momentarily locked the wheels. Cruising at 80-85, I was seeing 35-37 mpg.

So, to recap, the NM springs work very well. They ride better than the stock, and handle better as well. I can clear speed bumps, and most road hazards. I take it easy on very steep driveways(Park City). You are riding 1.20" lower, really sharp bumps will cause you to bottom out, making strut tower reinforcement mandatory (NM Strut Tower Brace).

Everyone should do the NM Torque Arm Inserts. They're cheap and take care of torque steer.

Intercooler/Plumbing, power never lags, so it's working

Top speed...131 That was on pavement...in the middle of nowhere. The salt is surprisingly rough, at 90mph, I backed it down.

The best part of all of this is the mods are really working great together. It's really important to me not to "unengineer" the JCW, mod for mod sake and end up with less performance in the end. I set out to sharpen the sword, and it's getting really sharp.


-Steven

 

[QUOTE=
One thing I came away with through this experience behind the wheel, is the JCW Roadster in a really great Grand Tourer. The seats are comfortable for the long haul, the engine produces power that allows crazy passing speed. For a single layer canvas top, the Roadster is surprisingly quiet inside at speed. The brakes are incredible, at one point, I stepped out to try and pass two semi's and was surprised by an oncoming car. I got on the brakes hard traveling about 68mph and momentarily locked the wheels. Cruising at 80-85, I was seeing 35-37 mpg.



-Steven[/QUOTE]

Wow so glad to here it. getting ready for my first road trip and was a little nervous comfort wise.

Have to say your photographs are outstanding and inspirational. So many beautiful places to see in this country. Mount Rushmore, national parks, all on my list of places to see when i retire next year.

 

I just went through all 8 pages of pics and posts looking for some indication of that it is that you do, that is when you're not working on or driving your Roadster.

Photos are great! Your narrative is likewise 1st rate. I urge you to consider putting it all together in a Blog format.

 

Best R59 on NAM by far. Thanks for the great info! Seeing the salt flats made me think of the R58 ad MINI did (Best Test Drive Ever) doing ~140 out in the desert. I will heading out on my first road trip in the R59 next week and the basic stuff, MPG, etc was very helpful! Now, got all that salt off yet?

 

It's so nice to be able to pull into some place on a nice day/evening and put the top down...takes driving to a another level.
Thanks Mark. I had a chance to detail the Roadster today...all clean again. Have a safe and enjoyable trip.

 

Thanks so much for the update Steven. Sounds like the springs are in our future

Franny

 

I already ordered the springs. Will let you know my impressions after install.

 

My pleasure
Good to hear...looking forward to hearing your thoughts.


-Steven