Several members have mentioned they are building road race cars. Do any of them wish to share with us the status of the work they have done???

I drive a Spec MINI here in Arizona (I am out of the seat for 5 months due to a compression fracture of L1 vertabra). As some of you know our cars are built by our local Penske owned dealer. You can buy a new Spec for about $42-44K prep'd and track ready with two set's of wheels (OZ's). We race locally with two organizations, NASA and ProAutosports. NASA only runs at Phoenix International Raceway and Pro Autosports at Firebird Raceway (which has 3 track's we alternate race date's on). This weekend the Spec's will run at PIR with BMWCCA which is the first time to run with them. We run two "championship" point series, the Dealers (MINI North Scottsdale) which is for all the races we run and ProAutosport which has a MINI Challenge group for the races we run with them. Both pay $$ and hardware.

Give us your updates!!

 

Hello Mark,
I also race with the BMWCCA since 2004. I started racing in a local road race series here in Louisiana in the "Grand Bayou" road race series. Mostly guys from the New Orleans & Baton Rouge area.
Katrina cancelled our first-to-be BMWCCA race at "No Problem Raceway" last October so I have been racing in Texas (Motorsports Ranch & TWS), Barber in Birmingham, Roebling Road, Ga.
I started with the BMW series in J-Prepared but soon had to switch to D-Modified because of the smaller pulley which they rulled illegal in JP after I qualified on pole at TWS.
DM allows practically any mods, we have the car pretty competitve at the moment and feel ther is still room for improvement.
I will try and post some photos of my car.
Sure wouls like to arrange a MIni event here in Louisiana...we will see.
Regards,
Paulo aka, Steve Diniz #53 DM

 

Here is a recent photo of my car, Jason Atranha in forground.
Recent mods we have been working on are: wing, difuser weight loss, gauges etc...
Regards,
Paulo #53 DM

 

...no photo???

 

Well, as many know I'm shoulder deep in the middle of building my car.
Car is being built to compete in the BMWCCA D Modified class as well, and also hope to get to some NASA GTS racing.
Car has been stripped down to bare chassis and everything is being done within the rules to get the weight down, ounce by ounce. I'm looking for a case of some true Canadian beer....
Nothing factory is really remaining in the car but for the chassis, sub frames, motor, ECM, tranny (upgraded to an '05), steering rack, PS pump, and hubs. Everything else is aftermarket.
Of course a full custom built cage is being built. This is where most of the time is being spent at this point. Being that I'm doing this work myself along with two long time Trans-Am, GT-1 designers and builders, it's taking a bit longer then I would have hoped. But the car will be quite state of the art and I believe one of the more extreme late model Minis on the track.
Once again, the motor will only be slightly modded at this time, but by next year I will have that taken care of.
Pictures and web site will come soon.

 

I am in the process ....


Roll Cage has arrived, waiting for someone to install it



Seats have arrived, I have issues with them ... I bought Cobra Suzuka GT (wider=GT) and .... they are a bit too wide to install on the stock sliders so far, may need more bending and drilling of brackets



Quaife and Stage 2 clutch have arrived, awaiting install

EvoTech software ECU flash to be done to raise redline and HP

Battery switched


Madness Header to be installed

Race License ...Not yet

NASA event in April 22-23rd? weekend. I may have to switch to HPDE if the car is NOT ready

OneLAp of America in May .... I will be ready and car should be too

 

I'll try again with the pics....
Paulo

 

Paulo

Great pics of your car and update on your car. Thanks

Onasled, thanks for the update on your car, what a huge project. Keep us abreast of your progress.

Red Fury can you go with narrower seats??? Where will you run with NASA??

Keep the updates coming!!

 

Greg, The beer is chillin. And if by "chance" you don't get there, I will drink it for you. If you come to pick-it up, I'll make sure there's 2 cases in the fridge instead of one.

Now here's my race car build story:

1+1 = 1 . Pictures in order.

Now if I ever find enough time, I'll someday put a web-site up.

 

Woah! You bought an entire new body/chassis? Sweet! What'd that cost?

 

In NASA:

I will run GTS2 ?.... You can run ANY tire and ANY mods, just need Dyno and cars weight

If you run MINI Challenge, you must run Toyos 205-40-17 on 17x7 wheels, must follow strict rules on upgrades, I may run that later in year IF I buy Toyos

 

PART NUMBER 41001515626. $6,642.00 Canadian

 

Update on RED FURY:>

Parts Installed by Detroit Tuned (Chad is Awesome and worked his **** off ), parts supplied from Mini-Madness and m7 and Detroit Tuned:

1. Quaife LSD and Stage 2 SPEC Clutch, new stock flywheel - ShockProof RedLine Gear Oil-Fluid

2. Updated my Throttle body from M7 -Version 1 62mm replced with a Version 2 60 mm ( Special thanks to Peter from M7 for the switch )

3. Installed m7 Under Strut system -Very NIce !!!! BUT had to remove the center front bar after it contacted and rattled on the CAT

4. New Rear Hawk Brake pads and rear stainless lines, bled system with ATE Super Blue

5. Bypass Valve Spring Mod by Detroit Tuned

6. New Plugs Ik-22, old ones were too far gapped- burned?

7. Oil and filter Change with Redline 5w-30, New Pulley belt, old one showed minor wear at 22,000

8. New Front sway bar -H-Sport

9. Sleep ? None for Chad ... A few hours for me

Header, engine bushings, Intelligent IC sprayer were not shipped in time for install

 

Sounds great Phil. I'm getting envious of you guys out there that actually are getting to drive your Minis...

 

Greg, your car is going to fly ...Mine still gets the groceries ...LOL

Here are some pics too:


Do NOT attempt this at home ... hehe


Hey, Isn't this missing a few pieces ?

Is my car ready Chad? Where is my Frame ? On the floor ...Hmmmm



Notice the new front sway bar ? NICE


Pulley system exposed and new belt

 

Phil

Great progress, it looks like you should be on the track very soon. Keep going and thanks for the update!!

 

Help ....

My cage has been placed and is bolted in BUT car is BARE and I'd like to get some lightweight panels back on, for some comfort and sound benefit, however the full 6 point Auto Power cage is pretty big and abuts the door panels, arm rest inserts ...Seats

Header is now installed ... Suspension being set and alignment, Camber adjusted

I use this car for the ONELAP of AMERICA, 7-8 days on the road, 5,000 miles easy in a few weeks

QUESTIONS:

1. Can I remove the arm rests from the door panels and re-install panels ...without ruining them ?

2. Does anyone have pics of how they cut pieces-holes and put back panels on in the rear , side panels ...ALL wiring is exposed, looks a bit unfinished

3. Seats are tight, may be tough bolting them in, they flare out at the sides and hit the bars along the door

No more glove box usage ....LOL

 

Randy @ m7's car...maybe he will post how he did it for you

Personally I like the bare look :P

 

I now have the car ...feels tight !!! AWESOME alignment ... It is NAKED inside

I still have bracket-mounting issues with the wide seats, currently having a machinist make some modifications to get me fixed up

 

Phil

Good to hear things are moving along. What kind of seat are you using?

Also, do you want another picture of how our cage and rear side panels were done or is that issue behind you.

Post pictures when you can.

Mark

 

Those side panels are the hardest part of the install. I ended up making a slot upwards from the bar in each side panel and then having a leather cover made similar to the temporary one shown in the picture. How did you resolve the door handle issue in the front . I am getting ready to help a buddy put a 6 point in his car in the near future.

Randy
m7 Tuning

 

Redfury:
"Quaife LSD and Stage 2 SPEC Clutch, new stock flywheel"

Why the stock flywheel and not lighter one?

 

Randy ...

I have not resolved the door handle-oval insert issue, door panels remain off for now ....The door panel is molded in one piece, can't remove the plastic shell without cutting it or destroying it (500$ part?) ...Let me know if you find a way

SteveS:

NASA rules .... if I run in MINI Challenge, Spec MINI ... No lightweight flywheels allowed

 

Mark,

Yes, i need pics of how you did those

 

Phil I should get several pictures to you tomorrow.

I just PM'd you