Hi Everyone,

I plan on running my '04MCS in a few G stock events. I just recently purchased a set ASA Ar-1 wheels( BBS sytle) and Michelin Pilots (205-45-17)( I saved almost seven pounds per wheel ). On the street they are miles better than the stock run flats, but will this wheel combo work in G stock?

I am planning on getting a Miltek exhaust and a foam air filter. What else can or should I do?

Are there any driving schools just for auotcross? If so where could I find out about them?

One last question, what class do people run in if the have a pulley and a modified intake?

Thanks in advance for any and all input!

Steve

 

i THINK that with a pullety and intake you would be in STX...dont quote me on that. But to be sure you might want to check the rulebook.

 

Most guys run 16" tires in G-stock to save weight and I presume get the diameter down a little as well, also R compound rubber (like Hoosiers) is allowed. That said, your combo will work (assuming the wheels are 17x7 and are same as stock (or within 6mm) offset), and most definitely it's a big improvement over the heavy wheels and runflats that are stock on the car.

As to what you can do or should do, check out the FAQ in the beginning of the GS forum to elaborate on what follows.

What you can do in a nutshell are lighter wheels (stock sizes only), different tires, different brake pads, coil, plugs, plug wires, remove front swaybar, different shocks, different filter (must fit in airbox), and different exhaust from the cat back.

As to what you should do, I would think that the lighter wheels with the more grippy rubber are going to make the biggest difference in performance, then the exhaust (more HP + weight saved over stock system) then everything else is icing on the cake.

Though I'm not an experienced autocrosser, I do have a lot a background in roadracing, and I can tell you that one of the biggest things you can do from a performance standpoint is to be strapped properly into the car. For that you can get a CG lock system that fits to your belt and locks the belt down so that you don't move around. I think they're around 40 bucks.

From what I have read the school to check out for autocrossing is the Evolution School -- don't have more info on it than that but I'm sure you can search from there.

G-Stock rules are as I described above (and what the FAQ does a much better job of describing), but adding a pulley would put you straight into Street Modified (SM), some pretty heavily modified machinery there to compete with. STX is the next step up mod wise from G Stock, and while it does allow intakes, ECU upgrades, suspension mods like springs or coilovers, etc., it runs on street tires and does NOT allow for a pulley upgrade.

Hope that helps!

 

I agree with Grthek1, especially as far as exhausat goes. The biggest difference you will recognize is audible. In order to realise a real difference on a mini in the exhaust end, you will have to change your headers as well. Otherwise, stick with the SCCA its the best organization for what you want to do. I was a road racer as a teen, got involved with SCCA racing when I got a BMW in college, and now I rally....its a phenominal sport. Enjoy and drive safely.

 

You need to make sure those rims are 17x7 with an offset of 44 to 56 to remain legal for G stock. If they fall within those specs they will work although they will not be ideal. 16x6.5 is the way to go. See this thread.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=34318
If you are going to run street tires you will want to use Falken Aziens or Kuhmo MX tires.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=20387

Exhaust work for auto x is more bling bling then anything else unless you go with the lightweight supertrapp.
http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...ght=Supertrapp

Evolution driving schools.
http://autocross.com/evolution/

Intake will put you in STX, pulley into street mod. You don't want to go there unless you are just in it for fun.

 

The Evolution schools are AWESOME, IMHO... You might wear out a set of tires if you take both of the first classes in a weekend, but you'll be a MUCH quicker driver!

 

You can do all that and still stay in G-Stock? I know i should listen to my own advice and read the rulebook but this is easier.

 

Believe me, I'm no expert, just a keen observer of the FAQ section in this forum. Pretty clear and concise explanation of the rules there.

But realistically, none of these mods are that significant, they're just the little things. The biggest thing in G-stock that will improve the car's performance from everything I've seen is a set of light wheels and good tires.

What I don't get is why on earth do they allow the R compund rubber in G-stock? To me this should be a class for taking your street car and seeing what you can do with it, and it should be light on the wallet. I'm an autocross outsider, but this just seems backwards. I don't get it. STX is a street tire class, why not G-stock too. Cheers to whomever can explain this to me.

 

Taken straight from the G-Stock FAQ............


G Stock is where the MINI Cooper S is classed

- It's main competitors are cars such as the Toyota Celica GT, Dodge Neon, Subaru Impreza 2.5RS, BMW E30 318is, etc.

- What modifications are allowed in SCCA Stock class?
Any front sway bar, end links, and bushings may be used.
Any exhaust from behind the catalytic converter and back may be used.
Any spark plugs may be used.
Any spark plug wire may be used, including those with an in-line capacitor.
Any performance coil may be used.
Any wheel that is the same diameter, width and offset (within +/- .25 inch or about 6mm) as a factory wheel. Wheel spacers may be used to meet the offset requirement as long as the spacer is no more than .25 inch thick.
The allowable sizes for the MCS are 16x6.5 offset 48mm and 17x7 offset 48mm.
Any D.O.T. approved tire that fits on the rims stated above may be used. This includes Hoosier A3S03, R3S03, A3S04, and R3S04, Kumho V700s and V710's, Yoko A032R and Rs, and Michelin Pilot Sports. The best tire choices for the MINI Cooper S is the 215/40R16 from Hoosier (as of 1/15/04) with 205's available in both 16's and 17's. Some 225's are available, but are much taller diameters and have fitment problems.
Any air filter may be used, as long as it is the same size and shape of the original. The air filter must fit in the original air box. Running without an air filter is also allowed.
Any shock absorber with no more than two adjustments may be used. The shock must mount in the original location. On shock absorbers with adjustable spring perches, the perches must be welded in place.

 

First, what most refer to as "race tires" are not in fact race tires. While they are used exclusively by racers, if you look on the sidewall of a Hoosier 'S04 or Kumho Ecsta V710 you'll find a DOT stamp proving that they indeed are street tires. Stock rules allow any DOT approved tire, while STX puts an additional restriction on the treadwear rating, in this case 140.

Second, the allowed stock mods all fall under what I've heard refered to as the "Midas rule." You are allowed to replace the typical wear items that a shop would replace; brake pads, exhaust, tires, shocks, spark plugs and wires, and air filters. I'm not so certain about the history of the front sway bar rule, but I've heard from several sources that it came about because in the early years of autocross some popular sports cars had horribly sized front sway bars or lacked them entirely.

 

The tire explanation is a simple one:
There weren't pure "street tire" classes at all before, they're very new in autocross history.

For example, back in the day, one company comes out with a sticky DOT tire, then another makes one stickier. This continues until they're all hoovering the DOT boundries. At that point, you have DOT stickies. All the companies have the same legal boundries.

Years later, the SCCA sees the need to cater/invite the typical street modifications into a class with less expensive (only in some cases) and longer lasting tires.
Too many younger competitors (the type any organization needs) would show up with typical street mods and be put into Street Prepared where they would never be competitive, even at the local level.

Brian
(been to STX, back in Stock and happier spending less money)

 

For normal daily use I have a CAI, but when I hit the track I revert back to a standard air box and run in G-Stock. Having no other mods except a cold air intake, I’d be crazy to jump class with that being my only mod.

Even G-Stock will be very competitive depending on the region and number of cars that show in your class. I’ve done track days against 20 cars and only 2 were MINIs.

If you are a very good driver plus have very deep pockets for all the mods you’ll have to have to be competitive, stick with G-Stock for a season to get the feel of it.

 

Use this link to read the actual SCCA Solo II Stock Class Rules.

http://www.moutons.org/sccasolo/Rules/stock.html#s135

 

Thanks for the explanation about the sticky tires. As an outsider just looking to run some autocrosses, it was easy to overlook the fact that things develop over time, so it just seemed odd coming into it that the Stock classes allowed R compound tires, but now I get it.