Scorching hot hatches on tarmac
20 Mar 2013|7,179 views
On a bright and sunny Saturday, sounds of pocket rockets whizzing around the Johor Circuit in Pasir Gudang were heard as MINI held its MINI Track Day to a crowd of 40 participants. This privileged bunch was treated to a day of sun, water, burnt rubber and tarmac. Not forgetting - a hell lot of fun. And for their driving pleasure, MINI brought up a few of their hottest models to the circuit.
Also making their guest appearances were the Cooper S, the Cooper S Coupe as well as the Cooper S Bayswater.
Participants were split into groups of five and took turns to try the cars out in two different segments. After a quick toilet break to ease off the excitement, participants were whisked off to their respective stations.
Skidpan
In the skidpan, participants had a chance to try three different exercises that demonstrated the safety and stability of the car. In order to prove the difference, electronics such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) were switched off.
360 degree spin
The objective of this exercise was to feel the effectiveness of the ABS in action. When the brakes are slammed hard on a slippery surface, the tyres lose traction and the car goes into a 360 degree spin. Vice versa, with electronics turned back on, the car comes to a halt as usual, as the ABS kicks in to allow the car to stop safely.
The J-Turn is used to reverse a backwards-travelling vehicle so as to continue driving in the same direction, but with the vehicle pointed forward. This manoeuvre is performed by reversing in a straight line, followed by lifting the throttle and then flicking the wheel to one side. The vehicle is then shifted into forward gear as the nose comes about. The basics of this turn are all focused on the physics of weight transfer of the car during the process.
Handbrake Turn
Used to slide a car sideways deliberately, this driving technique is used either for negotiating a very tight bend quickly, or for turning around well within the vehicle's own turning radius. The manoeuvre is started by steering in the direction intended, thus shifting weight to the outside tyres. The handbrake is then applied to lock the rear wheels, reducing the adhesion between tyre and road surface and allowing the rear end to keep moving in the original direction (inertia) and slide out.
On a bright and sunny Saturday, sounds of pocket rockets whizzing around the Johor Circuit in Pasir Gudang were heard as MINI held its MINI Track Day to a crowd of 40 participants. This privileged bunch was treated to a day of sun, water, burnt rubber and tarmac. Not forgetting - a hell lot of fun. And for their driving pleasure, MINI brought up a few of their hottest models to the circuit.
No doubt the star of the day, the MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Hatch is one of the hottest models in the MINI range. This hot supermini came dressed in its unique red and black combination with matching door mirrors, quickly attracting eyeballs of eager participants.
Also making their guest appearances were the Cooper S, the Cooper S Coupe as well as the Cooper S Bayswater.
Participants were split into groups of five and took turns to try the cars out in two different segments. After a quick toilet break to ease off the excitement, participants were whisked off to their respective stations.
Skidpan
In the skidpan, participants had a chance to try three different exercises that demonstrated the safety and stability of the car. In order to prove the difference, electronics such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) were switched off.
360 degree spin
The objective of this exercise was to feel the effectiveness of the ABS in action. When the brakes are slammed hard on a slippery surface, the tyres lose traction and the car goes into a 360 degree spin. Vice versa, with electronics turned back on, the car comes to a halt as usual, as the ABS kicks in to allow the car to stop safely.
J-Turn
The J-Turn is used to reverse a backwards-travelling vehicle so as to continue driving in the same direction, but with the vehicle pointed forward. This manoeuvre is performed by reversing in a straight line, followed by lifting the throttle and then flicking the wheel to one side. The vehicle is then shifted into forward gear as the nose comes about. The basics of this turn are all focused on the physics of weight transfer of the car during the process.
Handbrake Turn
Used to slide a car sideways deliberately, this driving technique is used either for negotiating a very tight bend quickly, or for turning around well within the vehicle's own turning radius. The manoeuvre is started by steering in the direction intended, thus shifting weight to the outside tyres. The handbrake is then applied to lock the rear wheels, reducing the adhesion between tyre and road surface and allowing the rear end to keep moving in the original direction (inertia) and slide out.
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