LOL...I can't catch you anymore and we're not even talking about the track

 

and please post some weights if you have the chance

 

Watkins Glen is quite fast. I'm not used to a track like this as my home tracks, Lime Rock and New Hampshire I.S. are both about 1.5 miles long. Lime rock time for me is around 1:04-1:06 and NHIS is 1:24, The Glen is 3.4 miles and takes me something like 2:27 (?). Here is a video that I had up for a very short while so many most likely did not see it. Its out my back window at the Glen. http://members.tripod.com/ghmyc_1m/glen1a.wmv
Starts at corner one and ends at corner one. From the exit of this corner (one) your just WOT, floored, all the way until you hit the chicane at the end of the long back straight. This is the area that Larry was giving me grief about . I did get it to 120 a few times, but it was tough. As you can see in the video another S slowly gains on me here.
Here was the problem. My car is set up for tighter and twistier tracks like LRP and NHIS. I never took the time to set the car up for such a fast track. WAY to much rear wing, too much front splitter and too much toe and camber. I did suffer throughout the three days I was there, but for some reason I never adjusted squat . I will say though that once we got in the turns, I usualy made up all sorts of ground.
Was an interesting 3 days as they had me in with mostly quite fast race cars.

 

I will keep you all posted on the CF stuff. I'm told that these parts are about 1/2 the weight of factory steel.

You all seemed to miss the most exciting part of one of my post .. at least to me.

 

...

 

I noticed it

Honestly if the car is going to become mostly a track car i wouldn't paint the CF, thats a pound or two extra weight hehe.

You might as well also go for the little fenders for the complete CF pkg!

 

I was told by the maker that they only saved a very small amount of wieght. The price did not justify the benifits.

Someone did mention the sunroof. It is one of those things that will be hard to part with, like my sterring wheel, power window, and all the other good stuff that I bought the car for in the first place. AC is coming off soon as is the cat and battery box. Carpet, interior plastic, headliner, aaahhhhggg! what am I doing to this great little car?? .

 

Ouch, someone's getting serious. Looks like it might be time to buy another street MINI.

Whats great is that you can replace the Sunroof with a peice of custom made Carbon and save even more weight than stock no sunroof....

 

I'm rubbing my hands together briskly:smile: I've been talking about PC side/rear glass forever...well, not at NAM. I wish someone would make CF sunroof inserts for those of us who did not have forethought

 

Awesome onasled. Will you be doing the swap yourself? I wonder what the in-hand weight difference will feel like, anyway.
Maybe the next time (3rd) I need to buy a new hood I'll just go that route. Paint it except just clear where the stripes are.
Sounds like you need a second MINI for daily driver now

 

So, if a painted metal hood gets a stone chip, what happens to a carbon fiber hood?

 

Carbon fiber comes with a gelcoat clear on it. So any damage would be to the gel coat.

 

and since theres no metal to make it harder it might actually absorb trauma better.......

 

The nice thing about CF over something like Kevlar is that it will always absorb resins. I doubt the stone chipping would be much of an issue, at least for myself.

 

any news? I'm a little bit impatient about CF hood :smile:
I'm pending all my plans till I heard your opinions about it(hope all +)

 

Has not arrived yet. I will keep ya updated. Have polycarb windows coming and wont get the rear lid installed untill the rear window also get here. Still thinking about what do do with headlght openings in the hood.

 

keep us updated on the install. Also about that sunroof... You could take out the glass and motor and such and replace it with a one piece CF panel which you could even make removable for a truely large sunroof. I saw it done on a tv show a while back. I think it would save several pounds...

 

Large duct of some kind?

 

Similar to what I was thinking....

Can you turn 'em into brake cooling ducts?! he he

 

The local MINI race car I saw here in Portland, took the headlight assemblies out, but left the polycarbonate lenses and chrome rings in place. Glued to the CF somehow, I guess.

The brake duct idea could work if you remove the plastic wheel liners, or cut a hole in them.

 

The left headlight can be turned into a great ram air for the intake. And i would leave a shell of the right headlight just for looks. The shell should only weigh about a pound.

Good Luck!

Take lots of pictures.....

 

I loved my turn signal intakes it's so japaneeeeeese

 

Carbon is not very good when it comes to impact but since your hood is not really structural it is not as much of an issue.
Well, other than for your wallet.
But looks great.
H

 

ducts sound good something to remove hot air out of the bay!? maybe.

 

been looking at this mod for a while myself.... as my first mod, on the body.... so kinda on the same boat!!