I keep hearing that "there's nothing that can be done to improve the Mini
S". Let's tell the truth: "I'm not a good enough chassis setup person to
know what to do to improve the S until someone who is shows the way". For
two years people said the same thing about the Celica, "put a set of Koni
sports on it and learn to deal with the throttle lift oversteer, that's as
good as it gets". It took a good chassis man, Brian Priebe to jump in our
Celi this summer and start adjusting on it before it really started to come
alive. He figured out what it needed and had Mike Ekert's GT set up by
Topeka, we all know what the results were. Now all the "can't get better
crowd" are scrambling to duplicate his setup. It will take someone like
Priebe to figure out the S, then he'll be walking away from the rest of us.
I can't think of a single street car that can't be improved upon for AX!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Monday" <boysrus_racing@yahoo.com>
To: "Andy Hollis" <awhollis@swbell.net>; <cfgold@intrex.net>; "autox"
<autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2003 8:18 AM
Subject: Re: New Car Classing
> I have both a Mini S and a Neon ACR (SOHC). The Mini handles much like
> my 'fixed-up' Neon. (You may recall all the 'press' when the ACR first
> came out... certainly not a bad base to start with!) I believe that the
> Neon is still quicker to 50mph, though haven't been able to test that
> here in the midwest winter. Above 55, the Mini will walk away.. how
> much acceleration above that do you get on a course?
>
> The Mini also has a HUGE disadvantage in corner exit wheelspin, much
> more than the Neon had. I don't think that the 'tricks' we used on the
> Neon will suffice for the Mini. I've always had a concept that if you
> put more than 150hp in a FWD configuration and no LSD, you're just
> marketing. The Mini also has ABS that you cannot turn off. The ACR
> didn't have ABS. I consider that as another disadvantage to the Mini.
> It's not as bad as some I've driven, but the system does take over.
>
> There's no doubt that the Mini S will be a good car for GS, but I don't
> think it is a hands-down winner. Depends on who is driving what most of
> the time. Those at the top tend to stay at the top no matter what
> they're driving. Put a bunch of hotshoes in the S and it will look
> pretty good.
>
> Nobody is complaining about the ACR being in GS...
>
> And neither of these cars holds an autocross candle to my F125!!!
>
> Bob Monday
/// unsubscribe/change address requests to majordomo@autox.team.net or try
/// http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo
/// Partial archives at http://www.team.net/archive
|