Most liked posts in thread: MINI Newbie

First off, what year?

and....welcome to the site.

 

You have come to the right place - Welcome

Give the pros a little more info about your MINI.

 

welcome to MA!
have fun here on the forums, its a really great place to look up stuff for your mini


and yes more specs on your whipppp would be awesome

 

post pics!

 

Wellll.... it depends on what you want to do with it. Fun on street? Twisties / Canyon carving? AutoX? Track days? Drag racing? Ken Block Gymkhana? Because intended use has a huge impact on the mod plan I'd recommend.

That said... my top three overall: 15% supercharger pulley, air intake, front camber plates (or 19mm adj rear swaybar). And ditch the runflats if you still have them.

Top three performance: pulley, intake, exhaust

Top three handling: camber plates, swaybar, good tires.

But you can't stop with just three.

 

But wait...there is more...

Fix the lose nut behind the wheel...

No one wants to hear it but the best money spent is that spent on yourself. A few track weekends will teach you more about the car and it's potential. I'd be you can't use all it has now and here you want to give it more. Plus these are lessons that live with you forever.

 

Yep.

Modder, mod thyself.

Amen.

 

To deviate from Paul's suggestion slightly:

Top 3 Overall: 15% supercharger pulley, exhaust, front camber plates (fixed or adj)

Top 3 Engine: pulley, exhaust, intake

Top 3 Suspension: camber plates, springs, good tires.

As Nathan points out, driver training is great but it can be intimidating the first time.
Car Control Clinics are a great way to learn more about your cars's capabilities and only cost about $100 for a full day of fun (BMW Clubs put them on around the country).
A good way to do your first track day is at an all Mini track event. You can take a stock Mini with no concerns.

 

forget the springs, get coilovers instead.

 

If Road America is your home track...

1. I hate you

2. Focus on brakes first. Those long straights will tax the stock brakes in a few laps with the heavy braking zones Road America has.

From there re-access your needs. Is cornering sloppy or do you need more power to get down those long straights. Prioritize as the budget see's fit.

 

Brake ducts first... I know folks who drive brake killer tracks with OEM calipers and ducts (and good high temp track pads). But if they still aren't enough, then upgrade calipers.

You have no idea how prepared I was to flame you when I read "Even though im only 16 i believe i have my behind the wheels skills tuned quite well"... then I read the next part. :lol:

Still.... cars and karts are VERY different animals. At least for me they are.

 

dang 16 and already fifth in nationals? so that makes you.. like 20 now right? or you're curently 16 and 4 years ago you made 5th in nationals? lol.

cars and karts may be different, but MINIs and karts are much more similar in handling

 

It IS important to decide NOW whether autocross is something you want to do - because MANY mods (including pulley) will catapult you into the ultra-competitive street mod (SM) class - where most MINIs don't compete well against other fully prepped autocross cars. You'll be most competitive with your MINI in one of the stock classes - in fact, with your karting experience, you might be REALLY competitive there.

 

If you have any serious autocross intentions, the MINI is really only (nationally) competitive in stock classes, which really limits the mods (good for low budget, though not as fun on the track, no doubt). For SCCA auto-x, about all you can do is a little suspension work, the exhaust, and lighter weight (stock size) wheels... and some very sticky tires of course

Other than that little bit of advice I completely agree with the advice that you feel your way through the mods. Work on driving it first, then upgrade the things you feel are lacking. Once you know exactly what you want to change about the car, there are plenty of people here that can tell you the best ways to go about doing it.