THSCC Forums

Figured this quote was approriate...

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David Teague
2015 Lexus IS 250c
1994 Honda Del Sol HS 39
2009 Dodge Journey R/T
http://teaguefamily.us

In my opinion, the Ayer courses fed into everything the Mini does well:

- Slaloms
- High speed transitions
- High horsepower sections

The courses were tailor made for a Mini S. I think the '02-'04 Mini S would have worked a Celica GT on that course. Rob Foley stated he drove about as good as he could (ProSolo Champion, has finished top 5 at Nationals at least 5 times, many Tour wins as well), yet Mark was too fast. Funny, for Jeff Jacobs had nothing for Rob.

Chiles has done stuff like this in the past, when driving a HS Mini. I do think that the Mini has an advantage, but it's not an overdog. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

- Slaloms
- High speed transitions
- High horsepower sections
What else is left? Sweepers? The Mini does those well too!
Mark is excellent in the Mini, but he doesn't have super powers to make it fly, it can't do more than the car is capable of!!!! (and he showed just what it was capable of...)
Jeff had an off day as he himself described it.

Aaron, you can champion the Celi until the cows come home, but no matter how much you wish it neither the GT or the GTS can come close to matching the 05 MiniS with the new shocks (only been on since week before Oscoda), they are a dead horse:

Ayer:
Mark C. (1st G/S PAX .782) Raw time 102.833
Rob F. Celica GT(2nd G/S) 104.851
Jeff Jacobs (3rd G/S) 106.238
Jeff Hurst (2nd STS PAX .799 ie faster than GS) Celica GT 105.668
6th in STS 2004 Championships
Aaron B. (5th STS) Celica GTS 107.152
Talk about not having anything for the Mini, even driven by Jacobs!

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

I never said I drove well and won't comment on your results in regards to the Mini. If Jeff had an off day, did the rest of GS/GSL have an off day as well?

I'm not going to say the car isn't good, but Jeff Jacobs, Jeff MacRae, have all done well at more than a handful of events/Nationals. I know Donna would have done better in her Celica than the Chiles Mini, regardless of the mixed conditions on day 1 for her.

I could care less about what goes on in GS. I'm not going to run a Celica in stock ever again, but you make a lot of bold conclusions out of one event. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Yes, Donna did have an off day, driving the Mini on the new shocks in the wet for the first time with too loose a set up on it Sat, and coning her best time on Sun because the car turned in much quicker than her Celi. She would NOT agree that she would be quicker in the Celi given the fact she was driving the Mini for what amounted to the first time, it handled TOTALLY differently than it had at Atl. She drove probably the best she ever has in her Celi at Oscoda (where she was quickest of any non Celi GS), but could not match Garfield's or Tunnell's minis which were also on the new shocks. Keep watching...

_________________
SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

Aaron, I was not trying to put down your driving, but you happened to be the only competitive GTS there. What I was pointing out is that no Celi even in STS trim is going to compete with the MiniS now that they are getting dialed in. It isn't just Mark either, Garfield is as fast/faster as well as Tunnell should he decide to run GS again.

_________________
SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

As a non-national competitor, I've yet to see an '05 Cooper S come anywhere close to a Celica in local competition. Now a base HS Mini, those are what I'm skeerd of.

Scott

I think that's because the local '05 Cooper S aren't set up the same way that the three mentioned are set up. To my knowledge, the ones running in NC/SC that I've run with don't have the new shocks. I haven't had one of the drivers that I've talked to say that they had changed anything else either. Most have said to me that they have done nothing at all except change tires and play with air pressure. All of the ones that I have spoken with are quite happy with the car and are having fun with it, all though that might change if they decide they want to advance and they may go looking for more to do. As far as I know, most of them haven't had that much seat time in their cars either.

In my opinion, as far as the base Mini...that car is an extremely easy car to drive. I've had the opportunity to drive two of them for a few runs this year, and frankly... just get in, put your foot to the floor, stay early and go. The car will do exactly what you ask it to do. I am not in any way trying to take anything (talent) away from base Mini drivers though.

The S takes a bit more practice and, because of it's added "whistles and bells", more careful technique. You can't just simply put your foot down. The limited slip and extra, as I call it "kick in the butt" power coming in requires more finesse and better timing. If you can learn to drive it well, there's very little that the other cars can do to stop you from just getting faster and faster. A few people have gotten to that level already.

Yes absolutely, locally the Celi still can reign, unless the local Mini S drivers develop deeper pockets and get hungrier. Just my opinion after quite a bit of personal research.

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GO FOR IT! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

I find this fascinating since I'm starting to consider a Cooper S as a daily driver. The coilovered, catbacked, failing AC Miata is a bit much for meeting clients.

In July and August.

But I would be kidding myself if I thought I'd never autox a MINI.

Do the MINIs rotate well out of the box with tweaked tire pressures?

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

The one I drove did! Best damn FWD car I have ever drove!

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

That's not saying much

(yes I've become a RWD snob!)

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Test of RWD snobbery
Pick one:
1985 Buick Electra Station Wagon - RWD
or
2005 Mini Cooper S Works - FWD

Still a snob?

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Rich
http://www.v8mongrel.com/

I don't know, man, that's a pretty freaking cool wagon. Hmmmm.



EDIT:

Veh Wt 4000 lb
Engine, 5.0L 8 Cylinder 140 hp Gas

ACK! Give me the MINI! The MINI!

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

140 hp from a 5 liter V8!! Now I remember why I used to hate and make fun of American cars back in the 80s...

IMHO the MiniS is very good right off the showroom floor, and AWESOME if fully prepared! Downside was that when we went looking for one there wasn't a single one available in the entire Eastern US with LSD that wasn't also loaded with every other option possible and were told that they were not taking any more orders for '05s nor were any LSDs available in the dealer parts supply chain.
The good news is the JCW package (210 HP!) will be a factory option in 06 rather than a trunk kit thus eligible for stock class (in SS???)

_________________
SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.