SCDA HPDE Schedule
#2751
$27.50 shipped racing pads
Just signed up for the Aug 27th date with SCDA at LRP...Wooo Hooo
Now I get to try out those new brakes I have and a new brake pad (YUP, just one pad....I’m going cheap an just putting in one pad...NO, just kidding). This is a new set of brake pads that I have not tried before.
Time to get a MINI group there. Who else is in for this? Let’s get GOING!
Now I get to try out those new brakes I have and a new brake pad (YUP, just one pad....I’m going cheap an just putting in one pad...NO, just kidding). This is a new set of brake pads that I have not tried before.
Time to get a MINI group there. Who else is in for this? Let’s get GOING!
#2752
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
Woo Hooo
Hmmmm...I heard that those pads got great reviews....Oh, wait, that was you!
Yah, I am going to try them at LRP. Lime Rock is pretty easy on brakes, so it seems like a good place to try something new. Also I am expecting these to be less aggressive than the Poly H and DTC 60s I have been using, which seems like a good option for the shorter tracks I visit. I’ll let you know what I think.
Is this the fleaBay $27.50 shipped BP-30 racing pads? I am very impressed for the performance/$ ratio. I wish that I bought more, though I was embracing informed risk taking, and bought as many sets as I reasonably could giving the limited information and insufficient time I had on the first set. At least I am covered for two seasons.
Yah, I am going to try them at LRP. Lime Rock is pretty easy on brakes, so it seems like a good place to try something new. Also I am expecting these to be less aggressive than the Poly H and DTC 60s I have been using, which seems like a good option for the shorter tracks I visit. I’ll let you know what I think.
#2754
I too signed up for 2 consecutive days of fun and excitements, and this time there will be more of my Miniac frienemies.
#2755
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
LRP is a day trip for me and most people who go there, and most events are single day events. WGI is about 3.5hrs away for me, and tends to be a hike for most people, so at the least it is an overnighter to do one day there. Then again, most events there are 2 or 3 day events, of which I have done both. I just bring a lot of replaceables with me; things like tires, rotors, brake caliper rebuild kits, pads, etc. They also have a full mechanics shop there. They can’t do an engine rebuild, but I am sure they can do a lot of other things if you have or can get the parts.
#2756
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
Well, I finished the chech-out of the car today. Crawled under it, pushed, banged on and wiggled everything I could think of. I declare it fit for the track. Oh no, wait a minute! What is that imbedded in one of my RE71R tires? Is that a rock? Yes it is! A very sharp, pointy pyramid shaped piece of rock, about 3/8” across the bottom flat and it is pointy end into the tire. It pops out easily, but it has penetrated deep into the tread. How far is the next question...which is quickly determined with a small screw driver which easily touches the exposed steel cords that the pointy end of the rock was pushing up against and beating upon with each rotation of the wheel. Phew, good thing I caught that before going out on the track as it wouldn’t have taken much for that to go through the tire, causing a flat. Now, where are there sharp pieces of rock that look like that? Now I’m not going to name any specific track, but it seems like something I saw at a track near Palmer MA, which was the last place I went to. Hmmmm, that track was not kind to me. What, with 2 tires that went mysteriously flat on me and then held air and now this, I may think twice before going back there.
The good news is, I have 5 tires/wheels in this set, and this one will now really just be a spare...until I can get a replacement. Crap, this tire had a few more good days in it. The second tire in this set to be lost to damage.
The good news is, I have 5 tires/wheels in this set, and this one will now really just be a spare...until I can get a replacement. Crap, this tire had a few more good days in it. The second tire in this set to be lost to damage.
#2757
#2758
#2759
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
Actually that set came from a guy in Buffalo who drives the snot out of a base cooper at WGI, Mid Ohio and Mosport. He shows up with a folding chair and a spare tire/wheel. Then runs a few hours on the track. At the time I got those he said he had 600 days at WGI (WHAT? REALLY?). Yup. Good enough for him, good enough for me.
Looking forward to next week too. That is, after running Saturday with BMWCCA (Patroons) and the first test of my new brakes.
Looking forward to next week too. That is, after running Saturday with BMWCCA (Patroons) and the first test of my new brakes.
#2760
#2761
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
Had a great day at LRP with Patroons yesterday. They have initiated a new run group; an “A-Solo” group like GVC has. There were only 11 vetted people in the group. Nice. And I thought I would take it easy for my first day out this year. Well, that didn’t happen. Within 2 laps, I was back in the groove and passing everyone. I got Zre’s roll bar and that stiffened the rear of the car slightly, which loosened the rear slightly but not so much that it became unforgiving. The car is still as forgiving as ever (eg: having to hit the brakes just prior to the apex of the downhill turn when the car in front of me decided to do the same - ugggha - and not having my car spin. That is a bad place to have to lift off the throttle).
The new brakes worked well. I like the thicker rotors with the wider vane width and more cooling for this track. I ran the 11.75” dia rotors with the 15” wheels with no indication of over heating. I also got to tried the new Wilwood BP30 pads and they worked well. Not overly aggressive; not the jarring bite of the DTC60s but plenty of stopping power and were able to handle the heat. I found that these were easy to modulate, not over brake and easy to trail brake. Added bonus, they are easy on the rotors. At the other end of the car, I have DTC60 pads and they did a “good” job of chewing on the rear rotors. Not enough heat in them for them to work right. I am thinking that a set of Carbotech XP10s back there would be good.
I’ll be back there tomorrow at 7ish for another day of fun. See you there, GKP!
The new brakes worked well. I like the thicker rotors with the wider vane width and more cooling for this track. I ran the 11.75” dia rotors with the 15” wheels with no indication of over heating. I also got to tried the new Wilwood BP30 pads and they worked well. Not overly aggressive; not the jarring bite of the DTC60s but plenty of stopping power and were able to handle the heat. I found that these were easy to modulate, not over brake and easy to trail brake. Added bonus, they are easy on the rotors. At the other end of the car, I have DTC60 pads and they did a “good” job of chewing on the rear rotors. Not enough heat in them for them to work right. I am thinking that a set of Carbotech XP10s back there would be good.
I’ll be back there tomorrow at 7ish for another day of fun. See you there, GKP!
#2762
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
Well, gkp gets the Iron Man award for today, completing all 4 session from start to finish. Better than I did and others also seem to have wilted under the heat. I also found the track lost grip as the day when on and I even had the back end of Smokey step out on me on a couple of turns (remember this is a MINI with a big fat front sway bar which “will give it terminal understeer...). While the RE71Rs have a lot of grip, they also fade away with the heat and this seems to be a bit worse with wear and heat cycles. Or it could have just been the heat of the track. Either way, this person felt that the better part of valor was to cut his sessions short and not do the last. And drive the car home. But not before setting a personal best lap time... Again the brake were flawless, so maybe I now have a solved my braking issues.
Oh, there were also crazy fast cars in my run group. Ferraris, Porsche GT3, ARC Vipers and other things that I didn’t get a good look at as they passed me. That isn’t to say that Smokey didn’t have a good showing. He did and the MINI community should be proud of him mixing it up with these other beasts!
Oh, there were also crazy fast cars in my run group. Ferraris, Porsche GT3, ARC Vipers and other things that I didn’t get a good look at as they passed me. That isn’t to say that Smokey didn’t have a good showing. He did and the MINI community should be proud of him mixing it up with these other beasts!
#2763
Oh, there were also crazy fast cars in my run group. Ferraris, Porsche GT3, ARC Vipers and other things that I didn’t get a good look at as they passed me. That isn’t to say that Smokey didn’t have a good showing. He did and the MINI community should be proud of him mixing it up with these other beasts!
#2765
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
Finally got around to having the Koni FSDs put into Blue (our base Cooper). OK, why didn’t I do this sooner? I know the MINI shocks are crap, but I thought the relatively soft Cooper shocks wouldn’t be that bad. But, guess what. Even those are crap. The FSDs are sooooooo much better, even in pothole city here. They smooth out everything (not going to try and see if they smooth out a really big pothole...LOL) and the car handles like a dream. Best of all worlds.
#2766
Finally got around to having the Koni FSDs put into Blue (our base Cooper). OK, why didn’t I do this sooner? I know the MINI shocks are crap, but I thought the relatively soft Cooper shocks wouldn’t be that bad. But, guess what. Even those are crap. The FSDs are sooooooo much better, even in pothole city here. They smooth out everything (not going to try and see if they smooth out a really big pothole...LOL) and the car handles like a dream. Best of all worlds.
#2767
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
I’ve put a few more miles on Blue, even highway miles, with the FSDs and find it hard to believe how well the FSDs match the rest of the suspension. Even with the base Cooper’s relatively soft springs the car doesn’t seem to be over-dampened. I had these on my 07 S and liked them on the street, but found they were too soft for the track or autocross. The valving in these seems to be perfect for the street with what seems to be the right stiffness but the valving doesn’t seem to be up to the task when the car is pushed to the limits. Just my thoughts on them.
#2768
I’ve put a few more miles on Blue, even highway miles, with the FSDs and find it hard to believe how well the FSDs match the rest of the suspension. Even with the base Cooper’s relatively soft springs the car doesn’t seem to be over-dampened. I had these on my 07 S and liked them on the street, but found they were too soft for the track or autocross. The valving in these seems to be perfect for the street with what seems to be the right stiffness but the valving doesn’t seem to be up to the task when the car is pushed to the limits. Just my thoughts on them.
#2769
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
I share your excitement with the Koni's. When I swapped the OE ones with the Yellow the difference is more than dramatic. It felt like some suspension genius just give the magic touches to the Mini. I too asked why I didn't do it 12 years ago. I read nothing but good about the FSDs. I would like to get a first hand side by side experience with the FSD, B4, and the Yellow (set not so stiff).
Maybe we we should pose that test thought to Tire Rack. Think they’ll do it?
#2770
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (1)
HEY!
Monday is is an SCDA Track day at LRP and several of us MINI folks will be meeting up there for a bit of socializing and some will actually be driving in the event. I’ll be there along with veggi, and I understand that slinger688 will be making an appearance. Any other takers out there?
Monday is is an SCDA Track day at LRP and several of us MINI folks will be meeting up there for a bit of socializing and some will actually be driving in the event. I’ll be there along with veggi, and I understand that slinger688 will be making an appearance. Any other takers out there?
#2771
I'm doing Clockwise Palmer the following Monday. Have any of you done that? Any tips?
#2772
HEY!
Monday is is an SCDA Track day at LRP and several of us MINI folks will be meeting up there for a bit of socializing and some will actually be driving in the event. I’ll be there along with veggi, and I understand that slinger688 will be making an appearance. Any other takers out there?
Monday is is an SCDA Track day at LRP and several of us MINI folks will be meeting up there for a bit of socializing and some will actually be driving in the event. I’ll be there along with veggi, and I understand that slinger688 will be making an appearance. Any other takers out there?
#2774
Well, yesterday I did Palmer in the clockwise direction and if you haven't done that yet I highly recommend putting it on your schedule for next year. The track is more mature than it was when I was last there a few years ago. Not as much loose rock along the edge of the track plus many more tire walls which were desperately needed given the non-existent runoff areas. The paddock area is slightly improved, with a few more paved sections, but it's still pretty rugged. I think I like clockwise a bit more than counterclockwise, but either way it's a great track.