SCMM MINIs make their mark at Bonneville

Thumbs Up!

Known more for their agility than their speed, MINI Coopers are not normally seen on the hallowed Bonneville Salt Flats, but a group of drivers from the Southern California MINI Maniacs (SCMM) set out this past fall to change that.

SCMM member Jack Belcher of Huntington Beach, who tried unsuccessfully to get his MINI to 130mph in the legendary salt flats in 2006 and 2007, returned to this year’s World of Speed event with a 20 member support team and eight MINIs.  Dubbed the Fantasy Racing Team by Belcher, their goal was to get into the 130 Club.

“Getting a MINI to do 130mph is not the challenge,” explains Belcher, who drives a 2003 JCW.  “The challenge is reaching that speed on the salt flats from a standing start on a one-mile course.”

The condition of the salt, which changes after seasonal rains, only offers about 60 percent of the adhesion that you’d normally have on asphalt — leaving little room for error on the one-mile course.  Too heavy on the throttle and you’re spinning your wheels.  Miss a shift, and you can forget that run.  Sounds simple enough, but as Belcher learned in his earlier attempts at the World of Speed, it’s not so easy.

“It’s Jack’s passion for Bonneville that inspired us to join him this year,” says Dan Skorcz, the team’s designated racing director, who also accompanied Belcher in 2007, along with a handful of other supporters.  “This year we’re not only here to support Jack, we brought our own MINIs to race too.”

The Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFRA) sanctions the annual World of Speed every September, which includes the 130mph and 150mph club races, as well as a number of specialty classes including bar stool, go-cart, electric and the 36hp VW Challenge.

No Racecar Needed

“The 130 Club is a good way for people to get their feet wet in salt-flat racing,” says Belcher.  “A racecar is not needed.  You can run your street car in this class as long as you have the required safety equipment and the car passes the technical inspection.”

You may not need a racecar, but if you hope to make the 130 Club in a MINI, it better have at least 230whp.  Of the eight MINIs that ran, only the three with 230-plus horsepower under the bonnet made it into the club.

The first member of the team to make it in the 130 Club was Jan VanGreuningen in his 2002 MCS.  Dyno-rated at 231whp, VanGreuningen recorded a speed of 132.2mph.  Engine modifications to his car include a 15-percent pulley, K&N intake, Revolution MINI Works head and cam, tuned header, Borla exhaust, 440cc injectors, Gintani air-to-water intercooler, lightened flywheel and a limited-slip differential.

Dan Skorcz’s MINI GP, with Ken Hamlyn behind the wheel, put down the fastest speed among the team at 135.4mph.  However, even this beefed-up, limited-edition model was not quite fast enough in its stock configuration for Bonneville.  To get the “required” 230whp, Skorcz added 440cc injectors, a Revolution MINI Works cam and header, ECU tune, custom-made skinny wheels and dragster tires for the rear, and topped it off with some high-octane racing fuel.  Skorcz, himself, also earned his 130 Club membership, driving his GP to 133.26mph.

The third MINI of the group that cam with enough muscle – a whopping 248whp – belongs to Craig DeGarmo.  Modifications to this 2002 MCS include 440cc injectors, Revolution MINI Works cam and cat-back exhaust, as well as an ECU tune.

It should be noted that DeGarmo, who recorded a 132.6mph time, was the only one of the three who drove his MINI to Bonneville, some 1400 miles round-trip.  Because he drove it there, he had to leave the mirrors on it and didn’t benefit from some of the aerodynamic enhancements made by the other drivers who trailered their cars to the salt.

When it became clear that only these three had the horsepower needed to make the 130 mark, Skorcz, VanGreuningen and DeGarmo offered their MINIs to the other drivers, so that they could take a shot at reaching 130mph.  These new members in the 130 Club were Mark Blair (134.2mpg), Van Hazewinkle (131.8mph), Leon Watts (130.85mph), and Jack Belcher (133.84mph).

“We’ll be back next year,” says Belcher, who couldn’t be more pleased with all the attention that the Fantasy Racing Team received at Bonneville.  “So many people came by our pit area to see the MINIs and we made many new friends who share the same passion.”

The team has already begun planning for the 2009 World of Speed and hopes that many of their members will be able to join the 150 Club, the next level up.  But it won’t be easy: more horsepower, more tuning, and extra equipment – such as a rollcage – will need to bee installed.

Good Luck, guys!

MINIs At The Bend

Story and photos by George Marsh

Originally published in MC² magazine – Issue 18, Jan-Feb 2009)