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 Posted July 25th, 2009 at 10:42AM
So it’s been a month (how many times have we heard that here?) and I feel bad. Last weekend I spent three nights up in Calabogie, Ontario. Those Canadians up there built themselves a fine race car track, and I volunteered to help out with the combination HPDE and BMWCCA club race going on that weekend. We did the on-site tech inspections of student cars, and then grid for the DE. The weather was unpredictable and the work tiring. I snagged time for two ride-alongs, and the track definitely lives up to its reputation. Surfaces are buttery smooth and the scenery surrounding the track is worth taking in. Too bad I didn’t get to drive. But my room and beer were largely paid for, my only real expense being gas money, and being there means I’ll be at Patroon’s October date at Lime Rock, this time driving again.
Oh yes. There was an autocross back there too. A few actually. Since last posting about the National Tour at Seneca Army Depot, there’s been two local autocrosses and a Saturday test and tune. On June 28th I placed 2nd, and on July 12th, 3rd. The V710s continue to heat up and have yet to cord; I’m not entirely sure if they’re as grippy as they used to be, though. The bigger issue is my driving. Specifically, I’m not as impressed as I used to be about driving around cones in anger. I’m less interested and driving sloppier for it. I need to clean up my act and focus out there. As-is, I’m a leading cone killer this year(!)
Posted June 24th, 2009 at 10:54AM
So my MINI survived its first National Tour and second event at Watkins Glen International. Hurray!
On June 13-14, Finger Lakes Region hosted a National Tour at Seneca Army Depot. I was the sole entrant in SMF, the supplemental front wheel drive street mod class. So I won. I wasn’t very fast though. On Saturday there was a light drizzle for all of our runs. I think my Kumhos are starting to feel their age, as I couldn’t get any heat into the tires and the car was super loose all day. I spun during my last run, and the problem with National Tours is that you only get three runs per day, with your best run from each day added up to give you your cumulative time. So I was sloppy all day Saturday and way behind the pace.
Sunday was drier and warmer, so I was on pace with G-Stock (where my car would play if it was stock). I know I’m not a nationally competitive driver, so I’m not heartbroken that my modified car wasn’t any faster. It’s great to get the yardstick out and compare yourself to the national guys, though. Number one in GS, Savini, was still a second and a half faster than me on Sunday. Pretty quick guy. I nearly spun on my last run, recovered it, but the damage to my time was already done. It was feeling fast. I’m fairly confident that I could have driven faster than GS on Sunday, Savini included, given my 50+ HP advantage and suspension set-up. With more runs. *shrug*
June 15-16 was when the real fun began: two days at Watkins Glen International with Patroon BMWCCA. After getting on the track, I could care less about how fast I can drive around pylons in parking lots. I picked up a lot of speed my second time at Watkins Glen, and word is I’ll be running in the intermediate group my next time with Patroon (not sure if this counts if I go somewhere like Calabogie, or with another track group, but still). There were half a dozen other MINIs running, and I parked and hung out with them. Having my parents with the truck made lunch easy both days.
There was a MINI off-track excursion, right in front of me requiring some emergency braking in the toe of the boot (turn 7), but it wasn’t bad and I’m glad it happened early Monday since I wasn’t pushing the car hard. Emergency maneuvering in the toe closer to the limit could have been interesting!
I am now seeing 120MPH on the back straight, and 100 on the front. I shift into 5th gear in the flat transition area between turns 3 and 4 heading towards the back straight. And I short-shift into 5th on the front; otherwise, I’m right at the rev limiter by the end of the straight, and I feel sorry for my car. The only place I downshift into third is before the toe, turn 7, otherwise I leave it in 4th the rest of the time and the car never feels dogged.
Traffic was not a big issue with the Patroon school, especially on Tuesday after I discovered the secret of running in the beginner run group – to get out first.  During my last two sessions on Tuesday, I might have given two or three point-bys, and received a few more than that in return. At one point I had the chance to run down a Viper — always satisfying in a MINI! The driver was parked next to us, and a very friendly guy.
While the driving is very different, I credit my autocross experience to my quick learning on-track. The basic fundamentals of car control are the same, and I’m familiar with my car’s handling and how to make small, incremental adjustments. The physics are the same. I’m also quick to listen to my instructor, and aware of mistakes as I make them. By the end of the day on Tuesday, our classroom sessions were missing more than half of the students. Their loss. I assume these are the people less interested in gaining speed, and more interested in just being able to say they’ve been there.
The cars weren’t quite as exotic as at the Trackmasters event. I knew plenty of the guys though as they’re all the same MoHudders I’ve been autocrossing with. I wish I could get to the Calabogie event next month, but with no money it’s just not in the cards.
I’m feeling more inclined to fully track-out the MINI with roll cage, seats, and harnesses — instead of buying a cheaper car (think e30 BMW) that I wouldn’t feel gutted tossing into a tire wall at 100+. After all, the car I already own is cheaper than the one I’d have to buy, and I’ve invested enough so that I know the car and all of its handling / mechanical issues and idiosyncrasies. For now, it’s all the speed I need.
Posted June 6th, 2009 at 10:28AM
So last Sunday was the second local autocross of the season, and I predictably took 3rd in Street Mod out of a field of seven:
- 49.362+DNF — 47.474+DNF — 48.057 — 47.394+1 — 47.482 — 46.956
- 49.636 — 49.303 — 48.870 — 53.135+DNF — 48.589 — 49.310
- 50.242+2 — 49.461+3 — 47.768+1 — 48.475+2 — 52.069+5 — 47.256+2
Last season I placed 3rd at every event, besides one 1st place and a 4th place (the NE Divisionals where competition was hot and heavy). I can take both good and bad away from this past week’s results. Firstly, I was more cone happy than ever, not getting a clean run during the event. That’s always disappointing, but as a consolation, I took two fun runs and ran clean 47s both times, so I believe my times are accurately reflected in the results – ie., those cones I were hitting weren’t giving me optimistic times. So really, I was quicker than number two.
But full disclosure? Number two was running the car that wasn’t competitive last season (his Subie wagon as opposed to his monster STi), and he’s still on street tires. And not just street tires, but Azenis, which are by now obsolete and a good second off of today’s top street tire contenders.
So I still have two competitors who are clearly faster drivers. The Evo is better prepared, while the Subie driver gets closer and closer to better prepared. I can’t wait till he finally breaks down and gets the r-compounds. 
My 47 second times (w/o cone-age) were good for 2nd in raw times; there were only four of us getting sub-48 times out of a field of 51. So considering the ways in which the deck is stacked against me*, I am OK with the results.
June 13-14 is the National Tour stop at Seneca Army Depot, which I’ll be attending. Next local autocross is end of June.
* – I’m still on my V710s that I used all of last season (still plenty of life!!).
- I still have less experience than the people I’m nipping at the heels of.
- The MINI was insanely loose, partly because of the wet conditions in the AM, but mostly because I’ve played with the ride height and I believe I’m probably running random toe out at all four corners. I need to get an alignment soon.
- I’m still down two drive wheels and a few hundred horsies from the people I’m competing against. 
I’m wondering about actually keeping some slight toe out up front, if indeed that was part of the looseness, because DAMN the car was turning in. A lot of the cones I hit were because the car turned in better than expected. But I still want the thing to behave safely on-track, so I’ll probably stick with zero toe up front and slight toe in in the rear. We’ll see.
Posted June 3rd, 2009 at 12:04PM
So the MINI sat with its broken axle for about two weeks before I had the opportunity to fix. After researching my options, it became clear that they were… limited.
I could get a remanufactured axle for $75, plus a core charge. Or, fcpgroton.com offers a brand spanking new DSS axle for $139. The OE replacement from Keeler would come in at $516. I checked raxles.com but they unfortunately did not have a MINI application.
I went with the DSS axle, as my research turned up mixed results with them — as opposed to universally bad results with remanufactured axles. Also factoring into my decision was the lifetime warranty with the DSS, and the lack of a core charge, meaning I could keep my stock, broken axle for possible repair at a later date. Ordering from fcpgroton.com was a breeze. Once I had the axle in my hands, it was clear that the rubber boot material was flimsier on the DSS axle than on the OE, however it was the correct size and fit + finish seemed A-OK.
The install was not very difficult, even though I prepared for the worst. I could not figure out the trick to undoing the tie rod or control arm attachment points without the special tools, but by popping out the strut, I was able to rotate the hub far enough away to make installing the replacement axle possible. Install time was 2-3 hours, which is about normal for most people, and absolutely great for someone with my inadequate mechanical skills. I did not have difficulty removing the stock part, and the DSS slid in and locked into place easily.
I’m still on edge about any new roughness or vibration, but as of yet, with perhaps 500 miles and last Sunday’s autocross, it has held up fine and exhibits no worrying symptoms at all. The next big events for my MINI and I are the June 13-14th National Tour at Seneca Army Depot (autocross), followed by two days of track time at Watkins Glen with Patroon BMWCCA.
A post with results from last Sunday’s autocross is forthcoming.
Posted May 7th, 2009 at 11:40AM
So this past weekend, I drove down to Watkins Glen International for two days of a HPDE (High Performance Driving Event). These schools have become an increasingly popular avenue for budding drivers to get real track time in a low cost, safety conscious way. Laps are not timed and in-car instructors are provided. Eventually, with experience, one is allowed to drive solo, and this can be a springboard toward competitive events like time trials or club racing.
The organizing body for this weekend was Trackmasters, and as a first event I could scarcely ask for anything more. The schedule was the same for both Saturday and Sunday; alternating 30 minute blocks of track time and classroom discussion. So each day: two hours on-track, 2.5 hours of class, plus a half hour as passenger in our instructor’s car. My instructor drove a ‘99 Porsche 911 Carrera.
As far as experiences go, driving on the track is one of those things that can’t be conveyed in words or images. I studied track maps and watched plenty of WGI in-car video in preparation beforehand, but still spent much of Saturday flubbing braking points since I was never sure of the corner I was entering (or approximately how much speed I could carry). But by Sunday I was able to relax and actually enjoy myself lap after lap. I even began to appreciate the view of Lake Seneca, as you hurtle toward turn 1 on the front straight. For a moment…
My instructor came away impressed with my initial abilities, and that of my car. He began our first session by explaining that he had never instructed in a MINI Coop, but stressed the short wheelbase point (which can really bite you in the ass, should you do something dumb like lift off the throttle suddenly mid-corner). Coming into the weekend with 3 years of autocross experience, and understanding most of the fundamental concepts in driving on the track, I had an edge over some of the other first-timers. I wasn’t fast, but I picked up a consistent line, found my braking, turn in, and track out points, and demonstrated an ability to realize and correct mistakes.
This isn’t to say that everything I learned autocrossing was applicable. One of my first issues to deal with was braking smoothness. Specifically; lifting up, as you turn in, settle the car, and prepare to add throttle back in and apex. I’ve gotten used to using my brakes as an on/off switch autocrossing, which actually isn’t best there either. But it’s a downright dangerous habit on-track, so we fixed that right off the bat.
But concepts like creating the widest radius arc, and looking ahead into the corner, and how we’re best able to use the grip that god and Falken Tires gave us… All of this was a great help.
So I had a blast, right up until I started experiencing a horrible shudder in the steering wheel under heavy braking. It happened five minutes before the end of the last session on Sunday, so I limped the car in, and eventually found my driver’s side outer CV joint boot torn apart, with grease splayed throughout the inside of the wheel.
I tried to limp the car the 250 miles home, but curiously only made it 100 miles before the joint gave out, leaving me temporarily stranded on I-88. Fun fun fun. I called family, and we were able to rent a dolly and get the car home on Monday. I’m now working on figuring out the best replacement option for the half axle, and plan on doing the work myself. Guess you have to pay to play.
 
Posted May 5th, 2009 at 12:57PM
(Photo courtesy of ‘Dannyboy’, full 500 image photoset available here)
April 25th was my first chance to autocross this season, at our old site at Adirondack Community College. We were unable to run there last season because of construction. But most of the lot was repaved, so conditions were better than ever except for a few rough spots.
Saturday the 25th was a test & tune, where I got the chance to see if my Kumho V710s still had life left. Turns out they do…
Sunday the 26th was MoHud’s first points event. Final results for Street Mod following (best times in bold, yours truly italicized):
- 50.561+1 — 49.626+1 — 49.819+1 — 49.576 — 52.753+1
- 51.776+DNF — 53.557 — 52.304 — 51.544 — 51.856
- 53.557+1 — 54.052+DNF — 54.558 — 53.228 — 53.123
- 56.806+1 — 55.736+2 — 55.157+1 — 54.574 — 54.613+1
- 61.098 — 60.068 — 59.121+DNF — 56.165+DNF — 57.106+1
- 65.341+DNF — 59.838 — 59.256 — 60.432 — 60.654
- 83.224+DNF — 63.529 — 62.749+DNF
So I took a class win, off to a good start for the season. But the bigger accomplishment for me was taking FTD (fastest time of the day), by 6/10ths of a second. That’s a decent margin of victory, but of course I can’t take all the credit. Among my usual competition for top time of the day…
- The Evo was having teething issues with it’s new set-up, forcing him back onto street tires
- The STi did not make an appearance
- The green mod mk1 GTI wasn’t there; the driver had his (also prepped) ‘94 Integra (EP class, ended up with the 2nd fastest time of 50.187)
And numerous others (like the CSP CRX Si) were simply off of their top game. And I was on mine. So it was a fun two days with good courses, and I ran well. What more can you ask for? (Stay tuned for the answer to that rhetorical question.)
Posted October 27th, 2008 at 4:15PM
So we ended up having a bonus 7th event on October 19th at a new location in Clifton Park. It’s a very small parking lot and I’m not sure how many events we’ll hold there in the future. Cramped.
I finished 3rd, as usual. Didn’t bring the r-compound tires since it was a cold Sunday and I wasn’t even in the mood to go. As far as the season, it looks like…. I finished 2nd in Street Mod, 3rd in the overall street class. This is due to the STi missing a few events. If I was truly interested in year end trophies, I should have stayed in G-Stock. Especially now that there’s a new R56 MINI making it to most of the events, which would make for a good benchmark. But I’m not that interested, I’m just there for fun.
What’s next for the old MINI Coop? I still really want to get a header and cam, and then re-tune early next year. I’m also looking around for some race buckets to better grip my rear-end, but that’s on the back burner ($$$). Mostly, I’m looking forward to getting to the track next year, which means saving for entry fees and wear items like brake pads and tires.
Looks like I’ve lined up alternative transportation through the winter months, so I won’t be driving the MINI through salty, icy sludge. Thank jebus!
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