The only thing I did Mini related today was kick another Russian off the sight. Thanks Chuck for telling me about the last guy.
Everyone goes off the track sooner or later. I was lucky, but it scared the crap out of me. When I did mine at Mid Ohio, it was because I didn't let my tires heat up before I left the Keyhole. As I rounded the turn for the back straight, I floored it and the tires didn't grab...slid off the track, did several doughnuts and stopped about 5 ft. short of the tire wall. The dust factor inside my S helped to soak up my body fluids........
Everyone will go off track once in a while. The thing is don't panic, slow down gradually & regain the track when it is safe to do so. Work up to your limits at your own pace. I think you should do a track day Lee. Start slow & work up to it. This may not be a popular opinion with a couple of folks here, but you are much safer doing a track day as opposed to going balls to the wall on a certain road with zero room for error & oncoming traffic.
The Porsche club is having another test and tune next month I plan on going, its a one day event. I planed to go last month but I didn't get the cam repaired in time. Maybe now I will have time to get use to the Lotus first. I have a favorite road near the house. I took the Lotus there the other day. Once the motor was at running temp(at least 15 min of running) I thought I would accelerate around one corner. I came in at around 35 when I exited it felt very very fast I looked down and was just a tick below triple digits. Had no idea it was that quick. I hit the brakes. I really need more time in the car. When it gets on that second cam its a hole new car. As Clarkson on TG said its "angry"
I agree with getting some seat time before you hit the track. How about taking the Helmet to the test & tune? You know that car like the back of your hand. I'm sure the Lotus has crazy high levels of performance. IMO you want to walk up to those limits somewhat gradually. What ever you choose to do have fun Lee, you've earned it.
The key is to go into them with the goal of becoming a smoother driver. Smooth over time with get you to fast. If you go in like Ricky Bobby (I wanna go fast!), you will wind up going faster than your skills can handle very quickly. For a reasonable person, the first 3-4 track days are safe (you always get a few numbnuts who don't understand limits). I did 6-7 weekends at the track when I lived in Texas. The first 2 weekends were safe as I finished the novice group (green) and they promoted me to beginner (blue). There was a LOT for me to learn in blue... not just learn as in reading in books but LEARN as in being able to apply that knowledge when the back end of the car is stepping out on you at 75+ MPH. I made it into the standard group (yellow) at the end of my last weekend and then wound up selling that car and moving a few times for work. I'm not sure if I want to make track fun a regular thing... it is exciting and scary all at the same time. I will admit that I am a MUCH better driver on the street after my track experiences. I did make it out to a "Track Night in America" event a year or so ago and it was fun. I was out there to have fun, see a new track and be smooth. I met some nice folks and had an enjoyable day.
No one wins a track day, but I have seen people lose one. If you get to drive your car home it's a win & that is the real goal. For me being on track or a rally stage is as much fun as a fella can have with his pants on. agranger is right, smooth is fast. So many people never get that.
I hate this. I went down to take a couple pictures of Checkers at the detailer's so I could keep a record of how they did and now my photo shops not working. Whats new. It seems to always seems to happen to me.
The Helmet I love that car. That is not a bad idea but I am too picky about it, and now that is is for sale I don't want to take the chance. Speaking of the Helmet. The couple of weeks sitting in the hot Memphis sun made the HK amp go out! This is the second time. That happened the summer before last. I would never spend the money on an HK unit! It's tucked away in the garage now. The Lotus lives outside under a cover.
One more comment on track days.........you only have to go as fast as you feel comfortable with. No one is going to push you to go faster. No passing unless they are given a point by. I love doing track days. And I am going to be stuck in the intermediate group forever, as I refuse to be pushed past my comfort zone to go fast enough to get bumped up to the advanced group. Remember, you are there to have fun.
My goals on track days were few. My primary goal was to drive my car back home after the school was over, but I also wanted to have fun and see what my car and I could do on the track...safely. I learned about braking, point bys [which were many in my case], since I realized that the other drivers were there to have fun, too, and I didn't want to spoil their fun by not letting them go by. After the other cars went by, I could pretty much have the track to myself and learn more braking and acceleration before the pack got back to me again for more point bys...LOL. I feel I am a better driver because of all my track day experience, and am a better driver on the interstates, where way too many drivers in their fast cars have no idea how to drive and hardly ever use signals or safely merge back in front of me.
2 minor tweaks: Replaced diverter valve with latest version (116658636606) Turbo resonator delete (already did the noisemaker delete a while ago). Next on the docket is measuring the chain and replacing the tensioner with the updated one if it’s not stretched to over 68mm, and checking out the intake valves and ports with the new Teslong NTS500 borescope I just got.
I figure the updated tensioner (slightly longer with slightly stiffer spring) will give the chain and guides a little extra insurance and longevity over the next 43K. It’ll probably be a few more weeks before I get around to this. I’m pretty meticulous about keeping the oil topped up and changing it every 5K miles.
@cristo I did the change and tensioner on the Helmet around 50k. It needed the tensioner but I decide to do the chain and guides at the same time.. I got a kit from Detroit Tuned that had everything.
Talking the tensioner on MINI engines, my 2007 MCS N14 engine, 3 tensioner installs, 2 on the dealer one complete on me, MINI lost the lawsuit on the N14 engine, they paid me back for #3 after I had sold the car. I did track my 2007 and it was highly modded 207HP at the wheels and 264 Torque. My 2011 S ALL4 Countryman, no issues, the N18 has been solid. My 2016 S ALL4 Countryman no issues, the N18 in the 16 was solid but I sold it with 29K miles for my 2020 Clubman JCW, we shall see what develops with the B48 BMW engine, it has been around a few years and is rated reliable, the JCW pushes 301HP but built internals, I am sure I will get a chance to stress it soon, only 275 miles on it, this could be awhile. Might go put on some track laps and break it in correctly for how I drive. Don