Your videos have been really fun to watch! I bought a 2006 5 speed r50 with 105k for a couple thousand bucks hoping to take it to a track or autocross it. It's currently fully stock, with new struts, a new clutch, and a new radiator. It's been fun to feel how much fresh parts have improved the driving experience. Your series on making a time attack car has been a big inspiration for me!
When I used to race MK1 GTI’s the first thing I did was relocate the battery to behind the passengers seat and remove the AC. Love these vids! Good luck next race.
Rack looks good which I assume you take off for the race. I was researching this week putting a hitch on my r53. Pulling a little trailer to events might be handy but I bet the hitch mounting system weighs too much and not easy to take off at each event.
I do take the rack off. Trailer would be a good idea, I'm sure there's something minimalistic that you could come up with if you're just pulling a small trailer. Or you could do one of those stationary platforms that mounts at the rear bumper.
Keep up these videos bro! I’m building my first r53 S for gridlife as well. It’s a junker, but perfect for what I’m doing.. you’re inspiring me with your success! Not sure if you’ll ever head to the Autobahn in Joliet Illinois for gridlife, but that’s where I’ll be getting my seat time in when that time comes.. anyway, good luck with your journey, and I hope to geek out with you track side some day. Thanks 👍
I'd love to get out there next season, would love to see another first gen at Gridlife! Junk cars are the best choice for track cars if they've been condemned and given a new life 🤙🏻
Enjoying your videos... thanks! Can you recommend a suspension setup for me? I have an N/A R56 that is in very good condition. I've tracked it once and really enjoyed it, but that really isn't my objective with this car. We have pretty terrible roads in my area and I've gone back to the original 15" wheels from some 16" wheels with lower profile tires to improve the ride around town. I've done some tuning in the past on a Honda Civic with larger sway bars front and rear and I do not want to go down that path with my Mini, retaining the factory design for better independent suspension for better ride quality. What I really want is just a better damped, slightly firmer suspension with adjustable ride height. I'd like to end up with it setting a bit more level and only maybe an inch lower in the rear and perhaps less than that in the front. Curious what you would recommend.
FCP Euro sells a Bilstein B12 struts with Eibach lowering springs as a kit for your car for $1,000. That would probably be the best setup for what you’re looking for. The part number on their website is 46-180469
The Sundae Cup class requires a full interior, plus I don't have enough flexibility in the power to weight ratio to be able to remove that much weight.
Thank you for the video, it's very interesting to watch how you build R50 for tracks. I have a few thoughts and questions. Hope it will also be interesting to comment/answer them. There is a very inspiring example of a track R50 th-cam.com/video/TJo-H6gDfd0/w-d-xo.html, many of what I am going to write is based on his configuration. 1. Don't you think that the number one task is to reduce the weight? To get off everything that is not needed on a track like interior panels, door panels, sunroof of course, roof cover, AC with its radiator which is in front of the main one and takes some air to cool and so on. 2. Are you going to fit a straight pipe instead of the muffler? I guess it will give some HP. 3. What are your plans on the engine? The guy on the video above has a 12:1 compression ratio due to aftermarket pistons, R53 block if I am not wrong, camshaft, R53 throttle body. He also has an R53 oil cooling system as R50 is known to be getting too hot on a track. 4. It's a pity you can't use BKL gearbox with an LSD because of the class requirements. After your story with the 1sr gear failure I understood what people mean by saying that 6st gearbox is most reliable. And it should be a different car with an LSD of course.. 5. The main question is.. Don't you think a facelift R53 05-06 would be a better choice for a track? I can't decide if the compressor is a big of a deal. R50 seems to be simpler and less expensive but R53 seems to be faster. But in reality would there be a difference in performance in the long run? Thanks!
With an unlimited rule set, I would absolutely gut everything out that isn't necessary. The class that I'm racing in is close to a spec class where there are specific modifications that are allowed and disallowed. I have to have a full interior in this class, and the car has to meet a minimum 25:1 power to weight ratio requirement. The engine and transmission are required to be stock with no forced induction, and most modifications are focused on suspension/tires/brakes. I also didn't set out to find a car to take to the track, I instead got the car with no idea what to do with it and then realized that it would make a good track car. At some point I will absolutely move on and go all out, but for now. I'm working on fine tuning the car in its current setup.
Nana motorsports was legit the coolest touch buddy, hugely respectful. My gran gave me my first car, which was my grandfathers over 25 years ago.
She has always been a big supporter 👏🏻
Thank you Nana for sponsoring! Amazing job bro 👍🏽
Your videos have been really fun to watch! I bought a 2006 5 speed r50 with 105k for a couple thousand bucks hoping to take it to a track or autocross it. It's currently fully stock, with new struts, a new clutch, and a new radiator. It's been fun to feel how much fresh parts have improved the driving experience. Your series on making a time attack car has been a big inspiration for me!
I've really been enjoying your channel, it's nice to see a lower budget track build done well. Makes me want to get a track car of my own!
I hope I can convince you to make it happen, it's the best time. 👍🏻
Loved the video! That was so sweet giving your Nana a shout out. I bet it made her smile. In fact, I’m sure it did! 😉
It usually does!
Love what your doing. Good to see things done to a budget instead of throwing money at it.
Gotta start somewhere! The Sundae Cup was the right choice to starting point, being a simple suspension/tires/brakes class
🎉 another great video, I like this one because it builds excitement before the race
Three days to go 🫨
When I used to race MK1 GTI’s the first thing I did was relocate the battery to behind the passengers seat and remove the AC. Love these vids! Good luck next race.
Sounds like I'm on the right track then 👏🏻
Love the content. It’s been amazing to see the progress from start till now.
It has been a really fun journey 👏🏻
Looking forward to seeing this back on track 😎
Keep up the great video’s they are helping me out with my build.
Thank you 👏🏻 happy to help
Still loving the R50 content 😁
Keep up the good work dude 😀
Someone's gotta do it 😁
Great inspiration to my r56 build, nice work!
Thank you! 👏🏻
Thanks for the content
Thank you for watching 🤙🏻
good stuff, content wise
Rack looks good which I assume you take off for the race. I was researching this week putting a hitch on my r53. Pulling a little trailer to events might be handy but I bet the hitch mounting system weighs too much and not easy to take off at each event.
I do take the rack off. Trailer would be a good idea, I'm sure there's something minimalistic that you could come up with if you're just pulling a small trailer. Or you could do one of those stationary platforms that mounts at the rear bumper.
I love to see a base mini video don’t see much of them as I have a gen 2 base
I have noticed that. I have an R53 as well that I love, but this car has my attention right now and it is fun in it's own way.
Keep up these videos bro! I’m building my first r53 S for gridlife as well. It’s a junker, but perfect for what I’m doing.. you’re inspiring me with your success! Not sure if you’ll ever head to the Autobahn in Joliet Illinois for gridlife, but that’s where I’ll be getting my seat time in when that time comes.. anyway, good luck with your journey, and I hope to geek out with you track side some day. Thanks 👍
I'd love to get out there next season, would love to see another first gen at Gridlife! Junk cars are the best choice for track cars if they've been condemned and given a new life 🤙🏻
Great video!
Thanks!
Enjoying your videos... thanks! Can you recommend a suspension setup for me? I have an N/A R56 that is in very good condition. I've tracked it once and really enjoyed it, but that really isn't my objective with this car. We have pretty terrible roads in my area and I've gone back to the original 15" wheels from some 16" wheels with lower profile tires to improve the ride around town. I've done some tuning in the past on a Honda Civic with larger sway bars front and rear and I do not want to go down that path with my Mini, retaining the factory design for better independent suspension for better ride quality. What I really want is just a better damped, slightly firmer suspension with adjustable ride height. I'd like to end up with it setting a bit more level and only maybe an inch lower in the rear and perhaps less than that in the front. Curious what you would recommend.
FCP Euro sells a Bilstein B12 struts with Eibach lowering springs as a kit for your car for $1,000. That would probably be the best setup for what you’re looking for. The part number on their website is 46-180469
Take out the passenger seat that’ll help🤙
The Sundae Cup class requires a full interior, plus I don't have enough flexibility in the power to weight ratio to be able to remove that much weight.
Thank you for the video, it's very interesting to watch how you build R50 for tracks. I have a few thoughts and questions. Hope it will also be interesting to comment/answer them. There is a very inspiring example of a track R50 th-cam.com/video/TJo-H6gDfd0/w-d-xo.html, many of what I am going to write is based on his configuration.
1. Don't you think that the number one task is to reduce the weight? To get off everything that is not needed on a track like interior panels, door panels, sunroof of course, roof cover, AC with its radiator which is in front of the main one and takes some air to cool and so on.
2. Are you going to fit a straight pipe instead of the muffler? I guess it will give some HP.
3. What are your plans on the engine? The guy on the video above has a 12:1 compression ratio due to aftermarket pistons, R53 block if I am not wrong, camshaft, R53 throttle body. He also has an R53 oil cooling system as R50 is known to be getting too hot on a track.
4. It's a pity you can't use BKL gearbox with an LSD because of the class requirements. After your story with the 1sr gear failure I understood what people mean by saying that 6st gearbox is most reliable. And it should be a different car with an LSD of course..
5. The main question is.. Don't you think a facelift R53 05-06 would be a better choice for a track? I can't decide if the compressor is a big of a deal. R50 seems to be simpler and less expensive but R53 seems to be faster. But in reality would there be a difference in performance in the long run?
Thanks!
With an unlimited rule set, I would absolutely gut everything out that isn't necessary. The class that I'm racing in is close to a spec class where there are specific modifications that are allowed and disallowed. I have to have a full interior in this class, and the car has to meet a minimum 25:1 power to weight ratio requirement. The engine and transmission are required to be stock with no forced induction, and most modifications are focused on suspension/tires/brakes. I also didn't set out to find a car to take to the track, I instead got the car with no idea what to do with it and then realized that it would make a good track car. At some point I will absolutely move on and go all out, but for now. I'm working on fine tuning the car in its current setup.