Autocross Video

Last week, I mentioned that I had some video from my last autocross, but no place to serve it (since my web host only allows for 300 MB trasfer/month).

However, Jason was gracious enough to host the videos on his box, and they’re now available in DivX format. In case you don’t have DivX, I’d recommend the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack, a software bundle with just about all the audio & video players you might need.

There’re two versions of the file, a high-quality version (63 MB) and a lower-quality version (55 MB). Both are the same length and are made up of two separate runs at the autocross. And, both are unaltered; no sound effects have been added.

Update 2005-08-13: I've changed web hosts and the files are hosted locally now.

Hosting for Autocross Video?

I have some DivX footage from my last autocross. I’d like to post it, but it’s 63 MB (and even the low-quality version is 55 MB). And, with my current hosting plan, I only get 300 MB trasfer/month.

So, if anyone would be able to host the file, please let me know :-). I figure that it wouldn’t be downloaded more than about a dozen times, but even that would still bust my trasfer quota.

Update: Hosting found — the video is now online.

Mini Cooper

I was talking with my brother over the phone today and we got to talking about the new Mini. Renowned as small zippy cars, the Mini corporation was bought by BMW. And, later this year, they’re releasing “the new Mini” (officially, the “Mini Cooper”), a complete remake of the old classic. I recalled, speaking to Adrian, that I had heard good things about the car, but I decided to find some specifics.

And, I found specifics from this Car and Driver road test of the Mini Cooper S.

Here’s some advice: Don’t buy a Mini Cooper unless you own an enclosed, lockable garage. Otherwise, you'll get to talk to your neighbors until 11 o’clock at night. They’ll come a-knocking, begging rides, trailing kids with disposable diapers and disposable cameras. And during those rides, other travelers will shout questions at you. From their moving cars.

[…]

There are two Mini flavors. The standard Cooper, with a base price of only $16,850, is powered by a 16-valve 1.6-liter four-banger producing 115 horsepower. The Cooper S fetches an extra $3000 but is supercharged and intercooled, producing 163 horses funneled through a Getrag six-speed. It’s simple to tell the two apart. The S is the one with the Royal Mail slot in its snout.

[…]

What the Mini does best is devour corners, thanks in part to its 3-series-style multilink rear suspension and spring rates that must be close to a Ferrari F40’s. On even the wildest kinks and whirligigs, there is simply no perceptible roll, dive, or squat. The car hangs on beyond what its grip of 0.85 g suggests. By the time you get the tires howling, your passenger will be dialing 9-1-1. Eventually, the Mini understeers, but on dry, public roads, you'll have a deuce of a time inducing it.

[…]

Our test car was loaded with $4150 of options, none of which increased its fun factor. The car you want is the $19,850 “base” S. Everything of consequence is standard: anti-lock brakes, traction control, 16-inch wheels that grip as well as the 17s, even a six-speaker stereo with a CD player.

[…]

All things considered, the new Mini appears to be the car to buy for around $19-20k.

Interestingly, one of the testers says at the end of the article “For the price of a Mini Cooper S, you could buy an Acura RSX Type-S or a Subaru Impreza WRX”, but actually those are $23,650 and $24,520, respectively. On the other hand, if you were considering something in the range of $23-24k, then both of those would be excellent choices.

Autocross — With the Upgraded Rear Sway Bar

I had a great time at the autocross on Saturday. Of course, though it's held by the Lone Star Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America, all cars are welcome (that’s how my Alero fits in).

And, with the rear sway bar that Andy and Jason (not Jason) helped me install on Wednesday, my understeer was greatly reduced.

A sway bar tends to reduce the independence in the suspension (independent suspension is what allows each wheel on a single axle to be at different heights). And, I have it on good authority that, during tight turns on the autocross, my inside-rear wheel has a predilection to lift up to 2" off the ground.

Oh, and as with most cars, Aleros apparently have the tendency to stall after a 180° spin. It was actually more fun than you might think, though it was a bit disorienting to view an entire panoramic view of the airfield in less than a second ;).