Woofcast #21

1. AWESOME show. Took me about 2 hours to listen and rewind to take notes.

2. AWESOME show. So much Information… took me about 2 hours to listen and rewind to take notes. Great job guys!

3. Feelin’ the Cooper love! Even for those “brown” ones. 🙂

4. Feelin’ the Cooper love! Even for those “brown” ones.

   Niiiiice. The best description of the color of my car I’ve ever gotten was when someone told me it looked like a rootbeer float! Much the same as yours 😉

5. Anyone have a copy of that Tony Nuzzo video? A quick Google didn’t turn up anything.

   Regarding “skating” with the Goodyear all-season runflats, it’s not all bad. 🙂 I did the Autobahn day with Phil Wicks in July, too. On Saturday (which is the day Gabe was there, I think), the runflats gave a nice slide going through turn 4 and into 5. It’s probably not a bad thing to have your tires be a limiting factor your first time out on the track. Getting that slide easily allows you to experience using throttle for directional input at more forgiving speeds. Autobahn track map “here”:http://www.autobahncountryclub.net/NorthSouth.pdf

   I did SoW with my motorcycle back in ’02; it was an *absolute* blast. It’s such a fun track. I love the “bowl” on the back side of the track. It’s so steeply banked, you can go pretty much balls-out and let gravity do the work. Watch out if you run wide, tho; that first step’s a lu-lu! 😉

   Here’s a linkto the Mityvac one-person brake bleeding kit. I believe you can also use it to change fluid (but it might take longer than using a pump for the purpose).

   (any chance of getting a comment preview option? or could you provide a little summary of how to insert links? I can’t tell if you’re using Textile or Markdown syntax…)

6. Not using either of those. Not a bad idea though.

   I think I’ll turn on markdown plus add a preview option. gimme a coupla days ;).

   Thanks for the links. Sorry, but I’m still leaving those moderated if there are more than 2. It’s not you, you understand. It’s those damned spammers!

7. Some interesting facts for you:
   Edmund Fitzgerald, who financed the ship named for him, has never heard the Gordon Lightfoot hit.
   Fitzgerald was once invited to meet Gordon Lightfoot; however, he declined the offer.
   Fitzgerald’s son, Edmund Fitzgerald, Jr, has met Gordon Lightfoot, and found him to be very personable.
   In 1986, a musical was written about the wreck of the ship. It was not performed until 2005.

   For more fun facts like these, visit your local library.

8. Moved here by request…

   I finally got around to listening to #21.

   I’m glad you guys are covering track days. That’s the path that got me to owning a MINI.

   I’ve been to 12 events in the Midwest (almost all of them weekend events) over the past 5 years. First several were in an Integra GSR, another handful in an E36 328i, and the last 2 in my 2004 MCS.

   I just want to reiterate how great and eye-opening these events are. If you think you are a good driver, you will realize just how much you have to learn your first time out there.

   For the first-timers, you can show up with your bone stock car and do fine. Even after several schools under your belt, you really only NEED to improve the brakes (upgraded pads and fluid). Yes, better tires, harnesses, and improved suspension bits are great, but not necessary.

   Most of my events have been with the BMW Car Club, and I can say the 3 chapters I have dealt with have put on top notch events. Very safe, very well organized, and you get a lot for your money.

   One last random comment. I’m glad to hear my MINI is not the only one where the rear end dances all over the place under hard braking. If anyone has a good confirmed fix for this, please let me know.

   OK, one more comment (I am re-listening to Woofcast #3 while I am typing this). I am going to have to disagree with db and Todd on the brake rotor comment. I am a firm believer that stock rotors (with any pad) are the way to go. This was the case for my former BMW and current MINI. They are going to last almost as long as the best aftermarket rotors, but at like half the cost.

9. One last random comment. I’m glad to hear my MINI is not the only one where the rear end dances all over the place under hard braking. If anyone has a good confirmed fix for this, please let me know.

   Rear sway bar helps with this some. Otherwise, try adjusting the air pressure in your tires and/or making sure you are perfectly lined up when braking hard. The only time I’ve had this problem is when I come out of a corner fast and get on the brakes hard without being totally pointed straight.

   OK, one more comment (I am re-listening to Woofcast #3 while I am typing this). I am going to have to disagree with db and Todd on the brake rotor comment. I am a firm believer that stock rotors (with any pad) are the way to go. This was the case for my former BMW and current MINI. They are going to last almost as long as the best aftermarket rotors, but at like half the cost.

   My front rotors were warped after less than 40K miles which included some canyon carving and 1 track event. I’ve heard others that praise the stock rotors, but my experience with them isn’t that great.

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