AWESOME!
(Helix will be posting a Vendor announcement soon!)

 

What size is that front bar?

 

16mm

 

ahhh...the MINI1 bar, or is it custom made?

 

I wish someone would make a front bar that had adjustment holes to adjust bettween the Mini-One bar and the Cooper front bar, and maybe even a third hole if there's room.

Changing the front bar is a pain!

 

That's a fantastic idea.

 

I actually talked to a race car fabrication guy today about it. I've worked with him in the past and he said it'd be no problem to weld new tabs on to an existing sway bar. He says everyone is worried about the heat screwing up the bar, but that hasn't been his experience. (I think he keeps the bar cool with a wet rag or something...dunno)

He also has a jig to measure the rate of a sway bar. So I figured I'd bring him my stock Cooper S bar, a Cooper bar and a Mini-One bar (if I can get my hands on one) and have him create a bar with three holes that match those stiffnesses. Thoughts?

But unfortunately he's booked up until the middle of April building NASCAR type cars. But he did say he'd like to help me with it when he has time.

Heck, maybe between now and then, some aftermarket manufacture will build one. (crossing my fingers)

 

There is place in Florida that makes custom bars, I think Motoring might know the name of the place. The MINI1 bar isn't cheap the only place I know that carries it is Mini Mania. Some size between the 1 and the standard cooper bar might be interesting, but who is going to be the ginni pig?

 

Kudos to helix for going the " packaging " route. There are all kinds of parts " packages " available for other makes it is about time the mini had its share

 

Yeah, it's Saner. I know about them. But they mostly make "Speedway" style bars. I'm not sure they could duplicate the complicated curves of a Mini front bar......but I haven't actually talked to them.

 

Saner will bend anything, you either send them exact specs, or send them a bar to copy.

 

I doubt you could acheive the range of stiffness from MINI-1 to Sport Plus with a single bar. The stiffness of a bar increases exponentially with an increase in bar diameter. A 21mm bar is about 3x as stiff ans a 16mm bar.

 

Nice job with the package. What is everyones take on the 15" vs 16" wheels? Any opinions?

 

For SCCA H-stock racing which is for base Coopers only-

You must use either
15x5.5" rims
or
16x6.5" rims
in stock sizes- offset about +45mm to +48mm

You have various tire options in H-stock including R compounds or street tires.
For 15" rims usually choose 205/50-15
For 16" rims you have serveral choices. Go to tirerack.com and find Kumho V710 or Hoosier A6 tires and check the various sizes.

15" stock rims weigh less than 16" but you can also find some aftermarket wheels in 16" stock sizes like Rota Slipstream (13 lbs) or Rota Boost or SSR comp R (hard to find now).

Much harder to find light stock 15" rims in aftermarket. 15" stock holey rims are about 12 lbs each.

So for light weight and more width the 16" wheel is best but costs much more.