Most liked posts in thread: To track, or not to track, that is the question...

You mean Nabeshin isn't that little asian hottie in the sig?

Bummer.

 

The beauty of the MINI is that in nearly stock (JCW) form it can hang with (and torment) some serious metal. Cars I have passed in intermediate groups include E-30,46 and 92 M3s, Porsche Cayman, Lotus Elises, and a Porsche GT3 (very bad driver). You don't need to spend much money on the car to have a LOT of fun out there. And I drive my car 80 miles round trip to work 5 days a week. 110k on the clock and still kicking azz.

 

Don't forget corvette's, those guys aren't usually very polite about letting you past though....

 

My point isn't that it's competitive on the track or not...

but that it's expensive to run on the track, it wears out the car faster than anything out there short of NVH test tracks, and that if one really has anthropomorphized the car to being a member of the family, one will be upset when the car gets stacked up or just worn out.

On the competitive front, it really depends on the track one runs on. Higher speed tracks aren't the Minis strong suit, that's the arena of higher HP cars.

Matt

 

I'd submit that if you keep your driving smooth and clean, HPDE-style tracking will not "wear out" your car any faster than aggressive city driving, mile-for-mile. Sure, you will go through brake pads and tires (and maybe CA bushings...) faster, but they are designed to be replaced over time and are relatively cheap. And, if you are into the whole "anthropomorphization" thing, track time will add a whole new dimension to your car's personality.

Now, driving over your ability and wrecking is another issue altogether. If you don't trust yourself to know your limits and drive well within them, then definitely stay away from the track.

 

I don't diagree...

but Marks column is about taking the plung and getting a competition licence and the like. If you do that, it's way beyond HPDE events, wheel to wheel with the whole track being a passing zone. Then it's not if there's an issue, it's when there's an issue.

He's the one that has turned his car into part of the family. Seems to me that if the relationship with the car is that close, it's a good idea to stop with the mods and the like before the car becomes too raw and the competition too fierce.

So I think that Mark shouldn't go too far down the competition path with his car. That's not a global statement that all should stay off the track with thier Minis!

Matt

 

Life is short and cars are... just cars. Do it!!

 

Ok, but I say you guys are really over thinking this...

What else do you need to know!? You can analyze life's decisions in endless internet posts or... actually live your life. Your call.

[End unsolicited life coaching... ]

 

Yea, this is along the lines of the e-mail feedback I'm getting from the column, too. The MINI is great fun on the track, but to really turn it into a competitor, you're talking big bucks.

And this is why it's so intoxicating on track!

Yes. Full-on anthropomorphization. I have no clue what I'd do if I wadded the thing up. No idea. In this sense, I'm with Nabeshin. That doesn't stop me from beating on it, though.

Agreed. This is really where all of the discussion has led me. I can survive with this car as a worthy track car while still road-going. Matt is right - a RACECAR is a tool, and to ACTUAL racers, is something almost disposable. I don't think I'm evolved to that level quite yet.

So what does it all mean?

Roll bar? Yes.
Proper seats? Yes.
Proper harnesses? Yes.
HANS? Most likely.
Club Racing School? Probably.
Racing in VINI S. Cooper? Probably not.
Perhaps following the path to instructorship? I'd love to, and my instructors all tell me I'm on my way, whatever that means.

I get angry when there's something wrong with the car; I can't imagine how angry I'd be if someone on track caused me to crash. Couple the crash with my competitive (read: angry) streak, and I'd be banned from C/R forever:lol:.

So, is anyone planning to make their MINI into a real racer?

- Marc

 

Siddartha (Jerry Bradbury) did...

and his car got really bent when an idiot did something in front of him with no where to go. Fixed it and got back out there.

Anyway, racing is expensive and descructive. If either one of these is a problem, stick to HPDEs and leave it at that.

Matt

 

...and wrecked it again pretty badly not long after getting back out there.

Amen.

FWIW, Vince Parker picked up Jerry's MINI mantle in USTCC this year driving Randy Webb's old "mule" and did pretty well.
[ame=http://www.motoringunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17146]USTCC final race at Infineon Raceway October 25, 2009 - motoring|underground[/ame]

 

Turned mine into a race car. Wildly expensive. Don't do it unless you've got deep pockets, buy somebodies built car.

Also do a racing school. Racing and DE's are very different animals.

 

This is where I'm headed. Gonna make the car as capable on track as possible while still enjoying it on the street, and I'll definitely do a CCA C/R school.

 

I watched the documentary movie "Love the Beast" yesterday. I heard about this movie on an episode of Top Gear from this season. The interview and the clip they show gives away a critical incident. But this was a pretty profound movie. A few of the lines in it match how I feel about my car.

"It is safe to say that if you are ever going to consider doing an event like that (Targa Tasmania) again that you would just have to do it in a car that you have absolutely no respect for other than as a performance vehicle, but no emotional attachment. You'd be an absolute fool to do that sort of event in a car that you cared about." - Eric Bana to audience on his wrecked car.

"It's a car, right? No, it is a symbol of your history. It is a thread of continuity from whence you came, to where you are. It's important that you don't want to forget who you are... You're not who you are today in this moment, that is a freeze frame. If you took a snapshot and you'd freeze frame right now, that is who you are today. If you look at the film (your whole history with the car), you've been that (person) longer than this (freeze frame.) That is a majority of who you are. That car is an important part of your history, it is an important part of your identity, it's contributed to who you are as you sit here today." - Dr. Phil to Eric Bana on his wrecked car.

"If your wife gets a cold, do you turn around and say 'well, we've been married for 12 years now, you're not working as well - runny nose there - as you used to, I think, if you don't mind, I'm going to trade you in for, I don't know, for something much younger. So see you, goodbye.' Would you do that?" -Jeremy Clarkson to Eric Bana on his wrecked car.

Anyway, you have to rent this movie.

 

It's on SpeedTV every now and then. Check your DVR.

 

While I don't reccommend this...

I had a motorcycle accident in grad school. Spent 9 months in a wheel chair. Lost a child at 2.5 hours old. youngest child had a form of cancer this summer. All this puts things in perspective. There now isn't a car that I wouldn't walk away from (or any other physical possession) if the circumstances made it prudent. And I wouldn't have a second thought. The physical item isn't the thing of value. It's the memories it creates and the life it helps one lead. Both of those are really, really independant of the car/house/whatever.

While to some degree, we do show how we define ourselves by what items we choose to own, to me they are but a very feignt reflection of what makes one of us what we are. And poor mirrors they are indeed.

Jeremy Clarks quote is a good laugh line, but it is utterly without content. And for those that really personify and bond with thier possessions, if you were to walk down any of the three paths I happened to find myself on, I think that you would end up where I am with regards to physical possession.

Yeah it sucks to have a favorite possession go down the tubes. But there will be other comfort items after it, just like there were others before.

Matt

 

One of the joys of getting a little older is realizing that all these possessions are just "stuff".
They are sometimes great fun, but if my house caught on fire, after I was sure my family was safe there would be a lot memories I would want out of the house before I moved the MINI.

 

My 2c?

The right way to do this is to buy a race car that's already built. Make it yours with your own touches, but then go race it. And yes, you need a trailer and a tow vehicle, and the cheapest way to tow it is a truck, but a big work van (or SUV) also gives you a place out of the sun to take a nap and you can haul plenty of tools and spares and such out of the weather, too.

Back in the day I raced a Sprite in the SCCA's HP class (998cc engines - my car was #13HP, which we used to joke was about right) and we hauled it on a single axle trailer behind a Volvo 122 wagon. We put up a tarp to work under to keep us out of the sun and rain, and we slept in the back of the Volvo when the weather didn't co-operate and cooked hot dogs on a tiny hibachi. THAT was how you did lo buck racing, and it was more fun than you can imagine!

Nowadays it seems you need a 40 foot motor home and a semi to haul your stuff in.....