Hang on a second, lads - just a cotton pickin' minute there, y'all.
What's all this about Falcons and Galaxies and Rustangs. The original discussion was a comparison between a heavily breathed-on Mini and a Porsche 911, TVR, Corvette and Jaguar. You may note that I left the Jag out of the arguement, because I haven't driven a late model.
Please, lets not be under the misguided impression that a C5 Corvette is anything but up to date in terms of chassis development, traction control, roadholding and power. The differences between the C5 and its predecessor are enormous. This is not some lumbering yank tank. It has electro-magnetically adjustable computer controlled active damping. (The Mini has knicker elastic) It is light, hi-tech and very, very fast. I should also point out that I actually acquired the car in UK and drove it there for a year - often on twisty country roads oop north. The TVR (Tuscan) is ferocious, if a little unrefined and insanely grippy, right to it's limit. The 911 is in a class of it's own. Dave H has a spanking 996 TT and it is the ultimate street weapon. Acceleration is pure madness, the brakes are incredible and it just goes wherever you point it. Tightly curving motorway on-ramps are mind-melting, as the lateral forces build up. I've driven many hopped-up cars and lots and lots of Mini's. I'm English and lived in England for 40 years before moving out here. I've ridden motorcycles both there and here, so I understand power/weight. Minis are not faster than 911's or Corvettes or TVR's (or Ferrari's, Lambos, Saleen S7's Mitsubishi Evo 7's etc. etc.) If they were, we'd all be driving them.
I accept that they are fun, easy to work with and on, cheap and plentiful. They also seem quick, because they transmit feedback, are small and close to the ground.
I'm in no way belittling what sounds like a great project car, but kidding yourself that an antiquated 4 pot sub 1500cc automotive antique will outrun a modern supercar is a load of bollocks - sorry, I can't think of another way to put it.
Yes - being caught in the upper stratosphere of speed in Ohio would probably lead to some unpleasentness with the Highway Patrol and incarceration and loss of virginity. My 160+ dabblings were actually in the vacinity of Le Mans to and from the 2000 (wet) race.
A thought just struck me - I've seen plenty of 911's TVR's and Vettes in top class motor racing, but strangely, no Mini's - wonder why that is? Before anyone says "Ah, what about hillclimbs", I have two words - Pikes Peak - never seen a f**k*n' Mini there either.
Bring it on, Mini lovers, I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this!
Matt
