Per: Sorry to hear about the delay at the VDC with your MINI.

FWIW, we got to autocross the R56 MC (manual and auto trans) at the U.S. press launch. This was one week after I had done EVO1 and EVO2 at El Toro in my R50. I was very pleased with the way the R56 MC handled on the tight autocross course that MINIUSA had set up. After getting top time of day in my first three runs, and then doing another roughly 15 runs during the remainder of the day, I'd say the R56 MC will definitely be healthy competition for the R50 and will probably best the R50.

We also got to take the R56 MCS out on the track at Firebird. On one of the straightaways to slow things down they had a couple of nice offsets in place that were a good test of the transition handling of the R56 MCS.

My overall impression from both of these experiences was that the R56 in stock form was more than up to the task of taking on the R50/R53 and would probably come out on top (stock to stock).

 

We gambled on this issue. We got our 2006 last year to race this season. We thought about waiting for an 2007, but we saw what Mazda did to the Miata (marshmellow springs) and thought there was a good chance that would happen to the Mini. It's hard to decide what to root for......

We're very interested in finding out if the 2007 is faster.

Worst case, we're hoping they didn't change the suspension mounts (shocks) too much, so we can at least swap everything over to a 2007.

 

There is some interesting talk regarding the turbo at altitude, making a bigger difference for us "Mile High" guys, on a thread Randy started: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=92719

Randy ought to have his soon, and mine is probably a month out so we should be able put them on a dyno and compare them to our R53 stock numbers. I used to get 156 hp / 137 torque (SAE corrected) at the wheel on a dynojet dyno on my bone stock 2005. I think the R56 at altitude will destroy that number. We shall see...

-Kelly

 

We got ours last night. Unfortunately, this is after we cancelled our hotel (easy) and kennel (not so easy) reservations. I think we'll just hang out here and go to a local event on Sunday. That will at least give Kim and me some time to get used to the car *before* you all kick our asses in our marshmallow car.



That said, it's quick and handles pretty f'in well in stock trim. I should have weights and camber numbers soon. I do know that the 14mm bolt fits the Rota wheel.

About the only negative that we have is that the factory headlights were aimed too low and low beam is just about useless. I'll have to reaim them and see about an H13 bulb upgrade.

BTW, Larry at www.iwantamini.com really did bend over backwards to get this car to us so quickly. If you're in FL and need a MA....
Per

 

Keep us informed... we get ours in may.

 

Per,

"I do know that the 14mm bolt fits the Rota wheel."


Excellent, I was under the impression they fit but it is nice to know for sure.


Kelly