There's probably nothing better than showing up for a local club event...which I plan to do once my MINI arrives (ordered 2.4.12, expecting early April).

In the meantime, as I plot and ponder...

a) I found the STL SCCA site that has autocross info, are there club members who are active? Are there autocross events organized outside of SCCA in the STL area?

b) Several on the NAM forum have recommended Hooked on Driving events, are these ever offered in STL? Or other driving schools with a MINI focus?

c) Of course I'm considering a few (minor) modifications. Are there shops in STL that can help with installing such? I'm fairly garage-adept, but might need help / a professional on some things. E.g., who do you trust for alignments on modified cars? Anyone really good at tire mounting / balancing?

d) What's been anyone's experience working with MINI of STL w/r/t in-warranty items on cars with minor mods? E.g. CAI, zoomy exhaust: are these considered no big deal, or warranty-breakers? I plan on asking the SA, of course, but wanted to hear from anyone who'd btdt.

I'm in the Lake St. Louis area, not that I won't venture far/wide to connect with MINI-knowledgable shops!

Thanks for any guidance! Long-time auto & m'cycle enthusiast, certified "car nut", etc.

 

You should know that I'm jealous that you can afford to not only buy a new one but you have the money to special order one and that you are probably not going to be bothered with the problems of the early models. I'm jealous and I welcome you to the cult of Mini.

 

I just ordered my first and I can't wait for it to get here. I didn't think it would be this hard waiting but I keep reading everything about the mini here on NAM and it is making it harder and harder. Hopefully I will have mine by the March 2nd.

 

LOL, if it's any help, this car's replacing (finally) my poor suffering Miata that I've owned since 1999. Yes: part of 13 years with the same vehicle, I drove it 144,000 miles to the total 180k+ now on the clock. Lots of experiences and history, the stories it could tell! I'm hoping I'll get similar life from the new MINI, for sure it (and MINIs in general) will need more maintenance for its systems that are more complicated than my 1st gen Miata had.

I've been reading "db's" blog about his 280k Gen 1 MINI, and what's needed servicing over the years, interesting stuff.

 

Welcome to the club! I'm a former NA Miata driver myself and did the same thing you did, replaced it with a Mini. Although I bought mine used.

I don't know much about the Autocross and SCCA scene here. A buddy of mine used to race in it a while back before he moved out to California but he was in a Subaru wagon so I don't know how the brackets here break down. I do know they used to hold events at Gateway and at River Port.

As far as modding, if you're willing to do some of the work yourself I'm willing to help a bit. I've taken my suspension apart 2-3 times now and have it down to a science. I don't know how the 2013's differ on suspensions. It's been my experience that in the Mini club there aren't many tuners, at least I've not run into any whilst attending the meetings other than Doug and Danno.

What all were you planning on doing?

 

@skippman, thanks! Nothing really major planned, this will be a daily driver with an occasional fun weekend thrown in.

I'm hoping to swap springs on it asap, the poor things are so high coming from the factory...reminds me of the bumper height progression in Miatas over the years, and the wheel well gap just looks bad to me. Nothing drastic, NM or TSW springs, probably, based on what I've read. The DIY write-ups make it look fairly straightforward, and if I get to it right away as planned I wouldn't have to deal with road-grimed and/or rusty parts to take apart.

And it needs more exhaust tone! I've had a blast with the Cooper S hardtops we've had on test drives, they make all the right moves but don't have a "soundtrack" to go with. Again, daily driver, and I'm not a fan of obnoxious loud pipes on anything, so I'm wanting just a bit more to make it sound like it should. I've sampled a lot of choices on YouTube, based on that then NM or VIP probably, and it'd be nice to get a DP-back system so I'd have the entire stock system in reserve. Those DIY's don't look difficult either, again getting after it right away would be best to make the job easier. Over the years, exhaust work at home is likely my least favorite, calling for on-your-back work with rusty cr@p getting knocked off into your face and so on.

This seems like a great car to use to start autocrossing again, I'd done a lot of that way-back-when in the KC area, wasn't SCCA in those days. Sprites, Midgets, TR4s & TR6s, Spitfires, classic Minis, VWs, we'd have 40-50 cars each Sunday. Fun times.

After I've had it a while, and perhaps post warranty, I'd take a run at adding some HP: tune, boost tube, FMIC, CAI. We're eager to try the Texas Mile some year with our Z06, and I'd like to take our MINI there as well. Only MINI I've seen in past results was a Gen2 convertible, stock looking, posted a 126.xxx for that standing mile. Stock [ish] Corvettes and Vipers run 170's+, at least one MazdaSpeed 3 posted 155, the really fast cars are 200+. They use a retired airbase in central Texas for this event, looks well run and managed.

Good to hear from you...and thanks for offering help, it'll be great to link up with some local folks who know these cars well.

 

Most important thing to know ... we still wave here!

Welcome!

 

Ijmattox I just sold my 1990 Miata for my new mini. I had it for 22 year. I guess we both know a good thing when we see them.

 

I DO miss my Miata. That think was a drifting bandit. That's my only complaint about the Mini is I can't get it sideways. But then again, I'm getting older so maybe I should.. I dunno, act more mature...


NAAAAAHHHHH

I do love my QuickSilver exhaust. They're pretty rare on the forum here but I'd be more than happy to let you have a listen. It might be a bit to loud for what you're wanting though. I'm planning to Dynamat the back of my R53 to cut that noise down a bit.

 

im in the same boat @ljmattox! i just ordered mine last week and am waaaaaaaiting, not as patiently as i would have liked.

@ofioliti good to know! i have an 06 scion xB and fellow xB owners used to wave to owners all the time. now as the body has changed and gotten copied a bunch i dont get that as much anymore and i cant wait to be a part of a community of enthusiasts again!

 

Ah, tail out driving in the Miata, always a good time! No drifting for me, but I looked forward to those first couple inches of snow, especially late at night where you could get some deserted roadways or parking lots for some "car control lessons" :-).

So former Miata owners: what's your take on the new Roadster? I'm eager to see one, if you stay out of the options list it can stay in the Miata's price range, similar performance level, I'm sure the "feel" will be quite different.

 

Welcome to the STL Club. We do have many events scheduled for this year. The club has many benefits and I am sure you will find someone to share any particular Mini interest with you. The more members the merrier.