New 82mm? So far mine has made dreams come true! Its been in for about 6 months. The quietest my car has been. Even after having new timing chain and tensioner installed.... the first 3 times
Went and did some qualifying laps around the Monaco F1 track in a MINI. Leaving the pits Coming up to turn 1 Going a bit too fast, even for a MINI, into the chicane A shot of me going into a corner too wide from a TV view replay.
I think they could make those computer car racing games even more realistic by calculating the monetary cost every time you crash, if you were in the real car, on a real track. :biggrin5: CD
lots of Mini action in the garage today. First checked my car's brake pads if possible to re-use the rears after rotor change, but looks like new pads are a must when replacing what appears to be original rear rotors (95k miles... yikes). Front Wilwood rotors are near new. Guess another set of Akebonos for the rear need to be ordered, or a full set of front and rears of matching compound, which means HAWK or EBC pads. No rush, the brakes are still fine. Looking at my axles (RF outside boot still spitting grease), I saw a scrape mark around both axles from what must have been the drop links. Need to take a closer look with the car on the ground to see if this is from the new BC drop links or if the stock parts I pulled last summer did that. While the wheels were off we found a nail in the RF tire,. Doh. Went to Costco for warranty repair but the nail is near outside edge and they can't repair, So, they will replace tire, but needs to be ordered. No leak, but clearly needs attention. Red Mini was next in the garage, checked our power steering hose replacement job from last week and it seems to be holding. Then the planned brake work began. Parts are new Centric rotors front and rear, Stoptech stainless lines front rear, Akebono Pads front rear, new caliper bushings (rubber), plus full fluid flush with ATE fluid. We got most of the front done, ready to flush, but we'll do the rears first, since proper flushing begins with the rears. Thing is, we have to get new caliper bracket bolts. Passenger front side look like they got overtightened (stretched in center) and I think they are a part that on my Tundra were a one-time-use part anyway. Don't have them on hand, and they are probably hard to come by on a Sunday unless O'Rileys or Napa stock such parts. Very common bolt on a BMW and almost all Minis, so should be in stock at Mini or BMW in town. Still, not going to get the car on the road until Monday. Spring Break, so my son doesn't need the car.
Pulled the race car motor today. Load'n up and heading to Portland a week from tomorrow to install the new one. Hoping VARA 2016 will be another great year!
Yesterday got her on the lift and installed a new set of Koni FSD struts all around with NSM springs. Today took her in for a full alignment.
Nice, is VARA doing any street type races this year, what cities if so. They stopped doing Palm Springs a number of years ago, I liked that race. As for today, I washed off a pound or so of road sand and mag. chloride from last Thursday small snow (11 inches of wet), it is still around but it is 55 today. The Earl Grey on the Countryman looks much, much nicer clean with some Hydro to bring up the shine.
Not sure that there are any street races at all any more. We've never done any in the ten years we've been running...
Street races just happen, I'm sure they happen all the time. It's the only kind of racing I've ever done.
Well that sucks, guess it has been a few years since I raced and spectated with VARA. Like 15-20.... Sure wish RMVR had Steamboat. Now that was a fun race to work and to drive. Putting new brakes on the front of the 11 Countryman on Tuesday, Zimmerman rotors with Acebono pads (sp)..... Per the shop, we shall see how they work out.