Cooper S Trackday project

[Number 5]

I'm going to build a trackday car from a R56 Cooper S and I'm looking for some guidance. A bit of background ive been doing trackdays for a few years now in various kit cars and road cars but ive never had a front wheel drive track car before

The vehicle I have is:

R56 Cooper S
Astro black
Chilli pack
Black leather
Re-mapped
Owned the vehicle for about three years with no major issues.

Thoughts so far on what needs doing, at this stage I have not decided on brands of components but I would welcome advice and additional recommendations to my list:

Wheels & tyres
Coil over kit
Polybush kit
Front 24" stabiliser brace
Rear 18" stabiliser brace
Front upper strut brace
6 Point bolt in roll cage
Full brake kit
Remove all seats and replace with two buckets & harnesses
Air filter kit
Full exhaust system
Steering wheel & boss

I intend to keep the vehicle road registered so this could restrict some component choices and of course the noise has to be controlled for the tracks.

I will post some pictures of the car so you can see it develop, thank you in advance.

[ging84]

if you are not already a member take a look here
http://www.minitorque.com/

[Sir_Dave]

Do a trackday as it is.
Assess the weaknesses.
Modify as necessary.

Too many people just tinker with stuff for the sake of it imho.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Sir_Dave said:

Do a trackday as it is.
Assess the weaknesses.
Modify as necessary.

Too many people just tinker with stuff for the sake of it imho.

Very good advice. Until you've tried it you don't know what needs to be done.

[ging84]

good advice to track it before making any changes but you need to do your maintenance to make sure it is track ready first

[Loui]

Www.trackmini.com will probably be useful. The mini is very capable even stock just make sure all the levels are topped up and enjoy it

[stefan740]

What about an oilcooler and some actual brakes, stock ones are crap. The first items that will fail on track...

[MrC986]

OP, a friend of mine is doing this already & is actually doing 2 cars at the same time through his business - 1 for the road/show scene & 1 for the track. Send me an email if you want his details

[Number 5]

Thank you so far for the input and thank you for the suggestions, I have been on the recomemded sites and tonight bought a AP coil over kit for £420 also put an offer in on a strut brace.

I had thought about track daying it first but to be honest it would a waste of time as it currently handles like a pirate ship so I intend to put the coil overs on and the brace before I take it on a track day. I will keep you posted.

[Number 5]

MrC986 said:

OP, a friend of mine is doing this already & is actually doing 2 cars at the same time through his business - 1 for the road/show scene & 1 for the track. Send me an email if you want his details

Thank you PM sent

[nickfrog]

stefan740 said:

What about an oilcooler and some actual brakes, stock ones are crap. The first items that will fail on track...

Are you talking out of experience ? Std brakes on std lines but Mintex 1144 pads will take a lot of track abuse before giving up.

On the other hand I see quite a few MINIS on BBK carrying a lot of extra unsprung weight driven at 6/10th...

[MrC986]

OP....YHM

[stefan740]

nickfrog said:

Are you talking out of experience ? Std brakes on std lines but Mintex 1144 pads will take a lot of track abuse before giving up.

On the other hand I see quite a few MINIS on BBK carrying a lot of extra unsprung weight driven at 6/10th...

Yeah there are two fronts, the one group keeps the stock calipers and buys nitrac discs, mintex/carbotech pads with decent fluid (still serious money all in) I have a similar setup, it does work but it does not give me that confidence i would want if it would be a track specific car. The others go for a bbk with discs like 320x28mm 2 piece discs which can take some serious abuse and have that multiple piston rock solid pedal feel.

All that talk about unsprung weight is a bit forum bullst imho. Like you said, if u want to be faster get some tuition and you will shave of seconds, not a few tenths for the higher unsprung weight. Is it overkill? Probably a lot of the time it is, still, its the best overkill you can have imho.

Just my 2 cents

Edited by stefan740 on Friday 22 March 02:05

[jackh707]

Get 2 sets of wheels, one with some toyo r888s for damp, warm and dry days. You will wear them past road legal after a few trackdays but will still be good for loads more track miles.

2nd set with some road orientated rubber that has loads of tread depth suitable for wet trackdays and winter trackdays, for getting too and from the track and general use. Something like a rain expert or T1R.

Besides that, I'd upgrade the brake pads and fluid. Strip it, harnesses, seats and remap it.

That would be plenty for starters, look at suspension once you've reached the limits of the stock stuff.

[Woolfie]

we have been a similar debate then journey with an R53 Cooper S. Tracked first as is, then slowly built up the changes as we learnt about ourselves and the car on the track. First port of call was brakes: from fluids to braided lines, and if you can afford it the JCW kit. Then a whole range of modifications. I am in the middle of writing it up. We also use Mini 1320..they are totaly brilliant. Here is the current car www.facebook.com/iamr53 - from the mini's POV but i do need to put in the mods list as its quite extensive now. Oh and a few spare £s......