Autobahn in unmodded MCS - over 150 mph on a downhill section. This was on 17" wheels, I'm not sure if that changed the actual speed.

And in an experience somewhat comparable to an MC (Golf 1.6, probably 100hp or so ) I hit 110 on a flat - moderators, that car isn't even sold in America, so I'm referring to that same Autobahn.

EDIT: The MCS was totally stable at that speed. There was a little wind noise, but not too bad at all. The front end felt totally glued and the rear was even better. This is a great car

 

About 115 mph on front straight of Pocono Raceway running the Long Course configuration. Speedo said 130, but I run 15 inch wheels at the track instead of the 17s that came with the car.

There was an extreme amount of wind noise, because at HPDEs you run with both windows down.

Alan

 

110 mph at Portland International Raceway on the back straight. This was in 5th gear with an instructor on board.On the front straight I could only get to redline in 4th gear, too busy to look at the speedo approching the festival curves.

 

Why is everyone citing the "wheel"/"rim" diameter?

Wheel diameter does not have anything to do with a difference in speed as compared to another rim diameter. Now, different tire diameters will have to do with differing speeds at a given RPM in a given gear.

When changing wheel size, you also should be changing the tire size as well to acheive the same overall tire diameter, to keep the speedo accurate.

There are cases where people will change the tire diameter (without even changing the rims) to achieve specific goals in racing (where speedos really don't matter). Some Auto-Xers will go with a smaller overall diameter to get more accelleration, lower weight, lower rotaing mass, lower CG, etc. Some drag racers will adjust the wheel size to get better 60' times and also to help adjust where shift points will be. Hubie, who currently holds the fastest 1/4 mile time in a MINI, runs smaller diameter tires to do just that. He found out that he's having to shift into 5th just before the finish line. This takes time and lowers his max MPH. So I think he'll address this issue when he goes out to make more passes.


BTW, my MAX speed indicated on new 205/50 r16s was 115MPH in 5th gear on the front strech of the main road track at Firebird Int'l Raceway Jan 2004. My friend in his Lotus was maxing out at over 135MPH at the same point.

 

My feeling exactly the last time I drove on a track (and that is why it was the last time). It was over 20 years ago at Willow Springs (CA) and my the fastest segment of the course was timed at 122. The car felt "stable", but the steering wheel was vibrating fiercely from the pavement imperfections, the desert sun was scorching, and my contact lenses were dried out from the heat and velocity. I couldn't see. We had been up 2 nights in a row prepping the cars (2 289 Cobras) and then driving from the Bay Area to the track to make it just in time for the event. It was no fun. Made me wonder why I was doing it. So I will probably not drive my MINI on a track and I'm much too old now to drive fast on the street. However, as a reformed driver I am curious to learn how a MINI behaves at or near top speed so I appreciate the description.

 

The fastest I've been in my 05 Cooper S, was 130mph. It is very stable, I was quite impressed.

Fastest speed I have ever driven was 170mph, in a Ferrari 355.

Both were done on a track of course!

 

Which track(s) have you driven with your MCS?

 

150 mph on a German Autobahn on the way to the Nürburgring Nordschleife :smile:
Straight, flat road, no other traffic.

 

120 on straights of VIR
120 on straight of Roebling Road
110 at Mid Ohio staright
110-115 at BeaveRun, front straight
120 at Nascar Staright on NHIR

and I just started to Track

 

115 at the end of the straight at Blackhawk.

 

I rode along with an instructor at my last HPDE at Putnam Park had his MCS w/mods hitting about 115 at the end of the main straight (just before braking zone for turn 1), for comparison, I hit about 100 in my 914 at the same point on the same track. I haven't tracked my MCS yet, but it cruises along nicely when the posted speed limit is 80mph...

On the autobahn, I was driving in a Renault Kangoo (1.9L turbodiesel, look it up for a laugh) and at 170 kph it felt very nervous. I didn't try to go faster. One of my co-workers at the time said he's reached 200kph on a downhill and that it was "exciting".

 

132 in my stock cooper S. Unused air strip in NJ.

I was in 6th, think that i could have gotten a few more MPH but backed off because things happen to quick at that speed and it was a little scary....LOL

 

Just be careful of sustained full throttle operation with the 19% pulley. It seems as though these conditions have a nasty habit of blowing head gaskets. A search of this or MINI2 should find the thread where this is disccussed. A word to the wise.

 

I was at Thunderhill Park, CA for Big Mini Day on June 2nd. Car FELT slower, but the speedo read 115 at the end of the front straight, and 100+ at the end of the back straight! some is carrying more speed, some from the intercooler, and I added about three gallons of 100 octain, and gain 5 mph. I guess my MTH map is bumping up against too much timing for 91 octaine.....

Matt

 

just had to share


this was entering the straight at button willow.. by the end i think i hit 109. hard to tell with sooo much going on.

we were going about 75 in the picture.

 

I hit 98 in my MCSJCW at whitehouse airfield, it was an autox with a wide 5 cone slalom on the backside and 2 manuvers that only required a twich of the wheel to get through, hit 3rd after slalom and a shift to 4th before the finish
Also did 14.2 @ 97.6mph at Gainsville international raceway on woreout 15" 22.5 diameter hoosier A so3's

 

112 in a completely stock 2004 MC with the windows down, sunroof open and wife in the passenger seat and the 2 kids in the back at Michigan International Speedway. These were un-paced parade laps. We were taking it easy, around 90 thru the high banks. The MCS's were running 135 at the end of the straights.

 

117 mph on the front straight at Portland International Raceway with an instructor in my APR chipped '01 New Beetle Sport. I have yet to track my MCS but hope to soon.

 

Just did about 115-120 down the front straight @ Willow Springs this past weekend. Was also doing about 100 in turn 8.

And oh yeah, those 115 runs down the straight usually involved passing at least 1 M3.

Many an M3 owner changed their opinion on the MCS @ the track this last weekend.

 

So far, I've hit (speedo inidicated) 95 at New Hampshire International Speedway, and somewhere in the 105-110 range at Lime Rock.

I'm going to Watkins Glen in Spetember, so there should be a higher number from that.

 

Front stretch of VIR 125
Back stretch of VIR 132

 

Yeah, but are you the one going 75 mph sideways, or the guy that's hard on the brakes and hoping not to stain the seat?

Enquiring minds...

It's hard really to explore the top speed, even at the track. Above 100 mph acceleration is a lot more leisurely, especially in the Mini with its, err, chunky aerodynamics.

For comparison, in my M3 at Road America I'm well into 5th gear on the long downhill straight leading to turn 5, but still only hit about 135 maybe. I've done almost the same speed at MIS.

While I think that the M3 (software, cams, headers, exhaust, blahblah) would go 155 given enough room, my bet is that it would take a couple of miles to work up to that.

Same for the MCS: it's going to take some space, the kind you get on the autobahn but not on the track. Bring back the Mulsanne straight!

Neil
05 MCS
96 M3

 

115 mph straight at grattan raceway in gratttan, MI

 

im the guy trying not to stain the seat.... click on the gallery mr.

 

Front straight of Texas World Speedway in my Cooper - 125 mph before braking for turn 1 (which is an awesome thing, coming down off the banking, crossing the apron, HARD on the brakes). That was before the new cylinder head and cam - I'd guess maybe 130 now?

Back straight of TWS - almost 100 mph before the sweet G's of turn 7 (on camber, increasing radius, up a hill so you can go flat out).