My brother in-law just placed an order for the supercharged 163hp Mini-cooper. I want to run my 94 lude with him at Thunder Hill track in Cali next year. Is he going to smoke my A**? It will be my first time at the track and will practice my "heel-toe" on a bunch of mt. runs before I go...

I have Eibach pros, tokiko illumina's, upper and lower rear strut bar and front upper tie. (Aside from all of the HP mods)

I have just heard that the mini-coopers were great in the turns...

 

Your car and mods are, for the most, part going to be irrelevant on a road course. The single most important factor is driver skill. The second most important factor is probably tires.

I'm assuming that you are talking about an HPDE/open track day scenario... If your brother in law has any experience in driving a car on a road course (particularly this road course), and you have no experience: 1) You will almost definitely be turning slower lap times regardless of what you are driving or he is driving 2) You will likely be placed in different run groups anyway. You hopefully would be grouped with other novices and have instructors available.

HPDEs aren't about whose car is better anyway. It's all about learning you and your car's limits in a safe environment, and it's about having fun!

Andrew

P.S. Please don't ever do this...

 

heel toe is almsot irelevant for first time trackers, hell, I am an advanced level driver that knows how to heel toe and I still don't utilize it, plus heel toe on the street with stock pads and low heat build up and track driving are two different animals

ask Corey how much heel toe he uses running 10/10ths on a road course

 

Hmm, I was just under the assumption that most of the people on the track used that method as it is the fastest way to get into and out of a turn. (Maybe just for the advanced?)

 

yeah, but it's a bitch to learn if you don't know what you are trying to accomplish with it, plus if you aren't experienced on the track at all, you don't know when you would even have to use the breaks, and not when to use them

 

I am fully aware of what I'm trying to accomplish with the technique. I also know that it would be harder for me because I do not have an "open track" to practice on. (I basicially am not able to "push" my lude on the streets/mountains at it's full potential.) It's fun trying to hone your skills though.........

 

hell toe is not required on FWD cars... It is for RWD cars to keep from locking up the rear tires... Granted, it helps w/ smoothness downshifting, but I rarely do it when racing, of course, I am mean to my bitch and she likes it...

 

I owned a Prelude for several years, and have driven a Mini Cooper S very hard as well. The Prelude VTEC (especially w/ bolt ons) will accelerate way faster than and MCS in a straight line, but he will likely out handle you if your suspension is stock. I've never personally driven a car that I thought handled better for most daily driving situations than the MCS, and I've driven almost everyting. Depending on the track, you may lose, but you may win. On a high speed track, you'll kick his ***. On a technical track, he'll win, assuming that both of you are good drivers.