Comments on: MINIUSA Autocrossing http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/ MotoringFile | MINI news, reviews and opinion. MINI Cooper, Cooper S, Clubman, Countryman Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John Dewey http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20308 John Dewey Thu, 02 Jun 2005 18:09:40 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20308 <p>In Chicago, Salt Creek Sports Car club will be having an Autocross in the Parking lot at Maywood Park Race track on Sunday June 5, 2005. My EB 2004 MCS will be there, possibly with two drivers. Occasionally other MINI's show up. For more information see.</p> <p>http://scscc.net/</p> <p>We are a laid back fun club. Bring a Helmet and $30. Show up about 8:30. Plan on scraping a few hundred miles off of your tires.</p> <p>John</p> In Chicago, Salt Creek Sports Car club will be having an Autocross in the Parking lot at Maywood Park Race track on Sunday June 5, 2005. My EB 2004 MCS will be there, possibly with two drivers. Occasionally other MINI’s show up. For more information see.

http://scscc.net/

We are a laid back fun club. Bring a Helmet and $30. Show up about 8:30. Plan on scraping a few hundred miles off of your tires.

John

]]> By: TSizemore3 http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20307 TSizemore3 Tue, 24 May 2005 20:37:48 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20307 <p>Gabe, You'll find the autocross bug bites hard! Once you take delivery on your new MCS, after you buy a helmet your first purchase should be a dedicated set of wheels & tires for the track. While the stock run-flats do fairly well on the street, they leave much to be desired on the autocross course. The bonus to a second set of tires is that you are not burning up your street tires.</p> Gabe, You’ll find the autocross bug bites hard! Once you take delivery on your new MCS, after you buy a helmet your first purchase should be a dedicated set of wheels & tires for the track. While the stock run-flats do fairly well on the street, they leave much to be desired on the autocross course. The bonus to a second set of tires is that you are not burning up your street tires.

]]> By: greg http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20306 greg Tue, 24 May 2005 16:33:35 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20306 <p>Gabe. Did you say "under $500" for the JCW suspension?</p> Gabe. Did you say “under $500″ for the JCW suspension?

]]> By: Gabe http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20305 Gabe Tue, 24 May 2005 16:15:44 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20305 <p>Actually both of the manual Cooper S had LSD. They both felt fantastic in that regard.</p> Actually both of the manual Cooper S had LSD. They both felt fantastic in that regard.

]]> By: Erik http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20304 Erik Tue, 24 May 2005 16:10:27 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20304 <p>Gabe,</p> <p>I'm guessing none of the MCS's had the LSD? It seems inside wheel spin would have been common on such a wet day.</p> <p>-Erik</p> Gabe,

I’m guessing none of the MCS’s had the LSD? It seems inside wheel spin would have been common on such a wet day.

-Erik

]]> By: Ben http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20303 Ben Tue, 24 May 2005 14:52:24 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20303 <p>The JCW suspension on the white MCS seems to lower the car a lot... I'd get it for looks alone, it's a bonus if it makes the car feel better!</p> The JCW suspension on the white MCS seems to lower the car a lot… I’d get it for looks alone, it’s a bonus if it makes the car feel better!

]]> By: michael Boice http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20302 michael Boice Tue, 24 May 2005 14:22:14 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20302 <p>Awsome Gabe, Thanks!</p> Awsome Gabe, Thanks!

]]> By: LTL M CPE http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20301 LTL M CPE Tue, 24 May 2005 07:14:52 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20301 <p>Steve, me too! </p> <p>Great article Gabe. Sounds like you have caught the autocross/track bug. Welcome to the club!</p> <p>Jim</p> Steve, me too!

Great article Gabe. Sounds like you have caught the autocross/track bug. Welcome to the club!

Jim

]]> By: Steve http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20300 Steve Tue, 24 May 2005 05:51:30 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20300 <p>I want to be like Gabe when I grow up!!</p> I want to be like Gabe when I grow up!!

]]> By: Gabe http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20299 Gabe Mon, 23 May 2005 23:49:15 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20299 <p>Yes - most WRC cars are now equipped with paddle shifting sequential manuals (similar to F1 cars).</p> <p>However, up until recently they were mostly operated by the shifter.</p> Yes – most WRC cars are now equipped with paddle shifting sequential manuals (similar to F1 cars).

However, up until recently they were mostly operated by the shifter.

]]> By: RB http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20298 RB Mon, 23 May 2005 23:46:06 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20298 <p>Josh.....</p> <p>in the NAM article it was stated........"This could be done with the stick or from the paddles. Personally I found the stick more comfortable (ie - WRC style shifting)" Aren't almost, if not all WRC cars paddle shifted now?</p> <p>Both are nice articles thanks guys. They will help in my search for my next used MCS.</p> <p>RB</p> Josh…..

in the NAM article it was stated……..”This could be done with the stick or from the paddles. Personally I found the stick more comfortable (ie – WRC style shifting)” Aren’t almost, if not all WRC cars paddle shifted now?

Both are nice articles thanks guys. They will help in my search for my next used MCS.

RB

]]> By: Gabe http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20297 Gabe Mon, 23 May 2005 23:20:14 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20297 <p>I am... I went into the event not sure what to think of the 18s when it comes to the track. I'm happy to say that they felt fantastic and weren't really any more harsh than the typical 17" runflat.</p> <p>The suspension will be hard to pass up for me personally. For the price (under $500 if you look around) I can't think of much out there that I'd rather have.</p> <p>michael Boice - in answer to your questions about the JCW suspension... yes. It certainly makes the car more balanced. However I think a better word for it would be composed. And the more composed the car is the better you can put down the power. I felt this really helped in the high speed turns (especially on uneven pavement). The other really nice thing about the suspension is that it seems very compliant over road irregularities. It may not be the ultimate track set-up... but it's probably the ultimate compromise.</p> I am… I went into the event not sure what to think of the 18s when it comes to the track. I’m happy to say that they felt fantastic and weren’t really any more harsh than the typical 17″ runflat.

The suspension will be hard to pass up for me personally. For the price (under $500 if you look around) I can’t think of much out there that I’d rather have.

michael Boice – in answer to your questions about the JCW suspension… yes. It certainly makes the car more balanced. However I think a better word for it would be composed. And the more composed the car is the better you can put down the power. I felt this really helped in the high speed turns (especially on uneven pavement). The other really nice thing about the suspension is that it seems very compliant over road irregularities. It may not be the ultimate track set-up… but it’s probably the ultimate compromise.

]]> By: dgszweda http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20296 dgszweda Mon, 23 May 2005 23:13:14 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20296 <p>Glad to hear the good review on the JCW. Guess you are feeling a lot more happy on your choice of 18" JCW rims on your new Mini. Are you thinking of getting the JCW suspension now?</p> Glad to hear the good review on the JCW. Guess you are feeling a lot more happy on your choice of 18″ JCW rims on your new Mini. Are you thinking of getting the JCW suspension now?

]]> By: Gabe http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20295 Gabe Mon, 23 May 2005 22:56:07 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20295 <p>You're right... made the change.</p> <p>thanks.</p> You’re right… made the change.

thanks.

]]> By: MINIAC http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20294 MINIAC Mon, 23 May 2005 22:51:27 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20294 <p>Gabe,</p> <p>You said the JCW MCS had 18" wheels with Pirelli tires. I thought 205/40-18 Dunlop SP Sport 01 DSST tires were OEM :confused:</p> Gabe,

You said the JCW MCS had 18″ wheels with Pirelli tires. I thought 205/40-18 Dunlop SP Sport 01 DSST tires were OEM :confused:

]]> By: Jono http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20293 Jono Mon, 23 May 2005 22:35:03 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20293 <p>Gabe, My "Moxie" is the exact same and opposite of the car you drove... it's loaded to the gills with JCW options but is black with white stripes instead of white with black stripes. I'd have to agree that the non-engine JCW parts make the car a whole new beast. Turns that normally would have overtaken the car are now no problemo. What a blast! The only caveat is to not out drive the brakes in the twisties...the JCW brakes do stop faster but then they also seem to lock up a whole lot faster too...</p> Gabe, My “Moxie” is the exact same and opposite of the car you drove… it’s loaded to the gills with JCW options but is black with white stripes instead of white with black stripes. I’d have to agree that the non-engine JCW parts make the car a whole new beast. Turns that normally would have overtaken the car are now no problemo. What a blast! The only caveat is to not out drive the brakes in the twisties…the JCW brakes do stop faster but then they also seem to lock up a whole lot faster too…

]]> By: Deborah (aka NekoWoman) http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20292 Deborah (aka NekoWoman) Mon, 23 May 2005 22:32:02 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20292 <p>Okay, we're all now very jealous! Thanks for the play-by-play...</p> Okay, we’re all now very jealous! Thanks for the play-by-play…

]]> By: michael Boice http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20291 michael Boice Mon, 23 May 2005 22:30:44 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20291 <p>Gabe,</p> <p>Would you say the JCW car was much more balanced than the Standard MCS? I know the MCS was an auto. I'm torn between aftermarket set-ups and the JCW suspension; JCW won't give out spring rate info and I don't want more understeer. My apologies, I know this is not realy the place for this.</p> <p>Thanks</p> <p>Michael</p> Gabe,

Would you say the JCW car was much more balanced than the Standard MCS? I know the MCS was an auto. I’m torn between aftermarket set-ups and the JCW suspension; JCW won’t give out spring rate info and I don’t want more understeer. My apologies, I know this is not realy the place for this.

Thanks

Michael

]]> By: Josh Wardell http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20290 Josh Wardell Mon, 23 May 2005 22:13:51 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20290 <p>I too was autocrossing my MINI in the rain, yesterday on its birthday. (see my site)</p> <p>Mark has <a rel="nofollow" HREF="http://northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43589"> posted a writeup</A> as well.</p> <p>Glad you had fun, and being able to simultaneously tryout all the models gives you a great opportunity to compare them accurately.</p> I too was autocrossing my MINI in the rain, yesterday on its birthday. (see my site)

Mark has posted a writeup as well.

Glad you had fun, and being able to simultaneously tryout all the models gives you a great opportunity to compare them accurately.

]]> By: Dillon http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/05/23/miniusa_autocrossing/comment-page-1/#comment-20289 Dillon Mon, 23 May 2005 21:31:30 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2005/05/23/#comment-20289 <p>...great job,Gabe...keep up the good work.</p> …great job,Gabe…keep up the good work.

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