Well I thought I'd start a thread for a friend's 2011 HS mini that I'm helping prep...so far we've screwed around with some tires, wheels and things...

here's what I've found:

- the e-diff I'm on the fence about. It doesn't SEEM to limit power and SEEMS to help with inside wheelspin slightly...but I'm not sure it helps much...

- the new OEM 175 15s are a LOT better than the old ones on the older style

- not many exhaust options out there...like one? lol

- it's only got around a half a degree on the RF but 1 deg on the LF? lol I'm gonna loosen things up and push harder on the strut to see if I can get a couple more tenths.

- 225/50-16 A6s fit...kinda...up front. Fit fine in the rear...I'm getting spacers machined for the front to be at the max offset variance for HS.

- the TRM wheels fit (ya we ordered some and told them they fit...so now they are listed on the TR website...you're welcome)

- the old HS tires just seem too short...not sure if that's true but it does...

- I'm gonna try the hankook and see if there is ANY way to make it work...they have some interesting sizes...we'll see...trying the slightly taller 205/50-16 now.

- starting with the GRM alignment specs roughly (front camber listed above) 1/4" total toe out up front, 0.3 neg in the back and 1/8" total toe out there.

- going to try custom valving some rear bilsteins...the OEM front sport suspension shocks feel fine to me


- still need to AX this weekend with the new alignment and tires.

Hope to get it down to race weight for the car owner @ Blytheville....we'll see what that is

 

tried the 205/50-16 Hankook C71 compound tires...WOW....they actually worked and are CHEAP! I think they are a great non national event tire...$200+ a set cheaper than the K or H tire

And the slightly taller gearing is nice

 

OK....update time

ran it at the last SCCA event for 2 runs in the double entry class...and it was working GOOOOOD! :D

temp was in the upper 90s to low 100s, surface was asphalt with mediocre HPT like grip.

Tires were the same Hankook C71 compound 205/50-16s. They had about 12 runs at the start of the day so they were in good shape. They'll be run in a divisional event in just shy of 2 weeks then flipped. The hot pressures were 51F/52R.

Alignment is about 0.6-0.8 neg camber and 1/4" total toe out up front and 0.5 neg out back and 1/8" total toe out. OEM sport suspension for this year.


The car felt GREAT...when you flick it it will rotate hard...so it responds well to a good quick lift throttle and flick. Here's the course - http://houscca.com/solo/courses/jul11.jpg

At the top of the map near 3a i was close to the rev limiter...maybe 6000-6300. Had a touch of understeer in the 40+mph corners...but that's more surface I would suspect.

As for times...ran a 38 flat and a 37.780 (29.884 pax). SO since the top pax time for regular runs was a 30.803 I think that's pretty good.


All in all the car ran great...no issues...watered the fronts twice and the rears once between runs. They never lost grip...about 7 min between runs.


Update to come in about 2 weeks from the Div...I hope to have a crappy vid of the run...it's a roof mounted cam that has an off front bumper like perspective.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn_OtQK_Wj0

video is up...sound was crap so i added music...better than wind and no motor LOL.

As for the perspective...it's a bit narrower than the width of the fenders and on the lower middle hood area...not a great place...ah well

 

ok...had the chasecam in the car this past weekend at the divisional. Won my class and snagged top pax at the event. The hankooks started to fall off on day 2 I think...so they can get a good 30 fast runs on them I'd guess and then they slow down slightly...but not much.

AND I found 3rd gear is virtually useless on the car...used it on 3 of my 4 runs...got it right once and picked up 0.17 sec over the revlimiter option...got it wrong on 2 runs (fast run included) and lost time to just rev limiting in 2nd for a good 5-6 sec. :(

So moral is don't use 3rd unless it's straight LOL.


vids to come soon...



P.S. - we're going to knock the front toe out DOWN from the current setting (1/4" TOTAL toe out) to 1/8" TOTAL toe out. This will improve tire wear, make the car a bit less twitchy I think, decrease the scrub and provide more confidence for everyone driving the car.

 

day 1 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir88-7wQ8GM

 

Day 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Chl5_YsBJU

 

Update:

picked up 2 more sets of 16" wheels....a set of SSRs and a set of the old NZO Monza wheels. The TRM wheels will be the wheels used for rain tires if purchased...or some kickin street tires

The SSRs become the primary race wheels and the NZO wheels will be for the older past their prime R-comps

 

Following this thread with a lot of interest. Please keep us posted.

I run the same tire and would be interested in further commentary on their performance. Mine have five 2 minute/1.3 mile runs and three 90 second/1.2 mile runs on an abrasive surface on them.

Who is your source for Bilsteins? I may do struts next year and am intrigued about this option vs. Konis.

Thank you.

 

Just an update...the car is now STF (as of June 2012)...

 

What are you changing for STF?

Edit to add, the answer seems to be over in the STF forum: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...one-doing.html

 

I was just about to reply