Wes, I ordered the stage 1 kit from Helix and the caliper brass bushings.
http://www.helix13.com/html/products...ew.php?p=9&h=m
Do you think that will be good enough?

 

That should do. Just check you pad wear - front and rear after every two or three sessions. Check wheel torque at the same time. I recomend checking tire pressure after every seesion on hot tires and bleed down to 40 front 38 rear. This will translate to a cold pressure of around 32 all around probabaly.
Wes

 

What do you torque your wheel at?
I have them at 90 ft. lb. right now but was wondering if it wasn't a little too much?

 

I think the range is from 86 to 92 - I will check later. I use 90 also, and I do find I usualy need to tighen them a bit after a few sessions.
Wes

 

120 nm or 88.5 lb-ft.

I always check mine just before going out for the next session. Want to let them get cool. Usually find a few that need a bit more tightening after the first session (heat cycle). After that they stay snug.

Alan

 

Thanks guys, I guess 90 lb ft was a good guess.

 

JCWMiniS

Let me first start by saying you are going to have a great time at VIR. There were 4 MINIs there this past weekend. Better than usual. Here's my advice, take it as you like. You will learn alot from your car in the stock format. works kit or not. My only concern is that you'll be sharing the car with your hubby. The MINI's brakes are insufficient on the track. If your going to be using them double duty you really want to do something before you get there. Much like everyone else on here i took the long route to fixing this problem. First you start using hotter fluid then hotter pads maybe even different rotors, lines, bushings... I even got cooling ducts fabricated. These are all just bandaids to a bigger problem. I did all of them and still had to bleed my brakes after EVERY two sessions. It's a lot of messy work. Everybody at VIR knew me as the guy that bleed his brakes all day long.

At some point you will figure out that you need a big brake kit. With out trying to scare you, two people tracking a MINI in differnt run groups will ruin the brakes in a day. VIR is a fast track. I'm over 120 on the front straight and don't hit the brakes til the 3 marker. 120 is a bad time to find out your brakes have left the building. The amount of money you will spend on all these little things will add up to well over 600 bucks. There is a vendor on this site that sells a wonderful BBK for 1200. I just finished my 4th track day in a row without having to bleed my brakes at all. That's what i used to spend all my time doing. This is one upgrade that you will appreciate more and more. It gives you time to learn while your at the track and not worrying if your brakes will make one more session. Easily the best upgrade i've done to my car. Lots of upgrades make your car go faster or handle better. All fun and exciting but you have got to be able to stop your car with confidence.

You can try and fix it baby steps or just do the right thing and get what you know you need. I'm sure the 997 driver will back you on this one.

 

This was also my final solution having destoyed my factory brakes. I di think you can try with the JCW brakes as they may be better than the base factory brakes. Just watch them and be prepared to cut your day short and head home early if they start to go.
Wes

 

Thanks guys. I totally understand. We had to do just that with our SVT Focus when we tracked it. We had it all fabricated and it was sooooooooooooooo expensive!!! Hoepfully some carbotech pads will help. I have found a few big brake kits for the Mini on TireRack and diff. places already that I am considering.
Also, my husband has tracked many random (rental, ahem...) cars such as Maxima's and PT cruisers hehe. totally stock of course. So I have heard many stories about not having brakes after 1 lap inthe first session. Poor Hertz... He just slides his way around the track.... not me, i would be scared shitless
Hehe. Well i will talk about this with my husband, and we are planning on taking the 911 to the track with the Mini so we can have it as a backup. Not a bad backup hehe

 

Anyone gotten Fabspeed or other types of exhausts for their Minis?? I want straight pipes sooo bad but I think it is asking for unwanted attention by the Cops. Right now my Mini is invisible to them, and maybe I should keep it that way...
But man it already sounds so good, it is tempting

Also, I totally agree with seats for going to the track. I pretty much slide all over in my seats and the lack of lateral support can get painful even for driving to work and back. But I am kinda small and I never fit in any seats. I want to get a sport seat, but not full racing shells. If any of you have sat in the new Porsche 997 or 987 sport seats, that is what I am talking about...

 

carbotec is just outside of Charlotte in Shelby. I used to drive there to pick up my pads. I used the 9s in the back and 10s in the front. very grabby but they do bad things to your rotors and wheels.

 

On slippery seats:


http://www.hmsmotorsport.com/store/s.../quick-fit-pro

 

JCWminiS - are you going to be at VIR this weekend? Ill be there in my British Green S with LTZ MTR on the plate. I am a guest and only allowed in touring lites, but still looking forward to the full course! I am also a former 911 owner, so I'd love to meet up and swap stories on the goods and bads of each !