Ahh but NJ, you were probably watching her on a fuzzy black 'n white television.... While I was carefully observing Andrea sittin next to me in math class live and in living, steadily growing color. 
Sigh, I kinda miss those days.... But, there again, I figure she thought of me as a total creep. Such is youth.

Re: Zip:
            The math comments remind me of one of my favorite Sidney Harris cartoons.......

 

Don

Re zippy...

Haha, so I'm not the only one....drove for a few days on a completely flat 008 a while back....somewhere I've got a pic of mine at mmw '90 with Jack H and I lifting the back bumper to chest height.... It always amazes me how a car with such terrible weight distribution car handle so well....

See there, Zip...it's all about age. I tuned in every afternoon to watch Annette Funicello's chest grow.

Uncle Roy kinda creeped me out, though.

Gee whiz Duane, if I would've known there was gonna be cyphering involved, I might have studied harder in math class... Instead, I occupied myself with the careful observations of the seemingly daily growth in Andrea's chest area.

Picture to the right has been circulating around the inter-web thingy for a while. "Formula for women"

My Mini is probably pretty close to 1500 lbs "empty." But en route MMW with all spares, tools, floor jack-in-a-box, luggage and a passenger, we stopped at a truck weight station and tipped the scales at 2180. Wow.

Determining Parameters Related to Vehicle Static Weight Distribution

When either at rest or under conditions of zero acceleration, a vehicle will have a fixed distribution of mass (more commonly referred to as weight) which results in the four corners of the vehicle each suspending a fixed percentage of the total. In the side view, the sum of the left front and right front weights will equal the front axle weight and the sum of the left rear and right rear weights will equal the rear axle weight. If these values are known, then one can quickly calculate the static weight distribution as follows:

 

Percent Front Weight = VF/VT x 100

Percent Rear Weight = VR/VT x 100

• where Vf = the front axle vertical force (weight)

• where Vr = the rear axle vertical force (weight)

• where Vt = the total vehicle vertical force (weight)

 

Or in the case of MK1 Saloon using the data from Mini Mania website

//www.minimania.com/ArticleV.cfm?DisplayID=596&SCatagory=PANELS&DisplayType=Technical%20Information&CarType=Mini

 

587KG = 1294 lbs.

Percent Front Weight = 828/1294 x 100 =64%

Percent Rear Weight = 466/1294 x 100 =36%

 

If the static weight distribution is known, then calculating the longitudinal position of the vehicle’s center of gravity (CG) is simply a function of geometry as follows:

CG(f) = (Vf/Vt) x WB

CG(r) = (Vr/Vt) x WB

• • where CGf  = distance from the front axle to the CG
• • where CGr  = distance from the rear axle to the CG
• • where WB = the vehicle wheelbase (distance from the front axle to the rear axle)

 

CG(f) = (828/1294) x 2036 = 1303mm or 51.30”

CG(r) = (466/1294) x2036 = 733 or 28.86”

 

To verify data: CG(f)+ CG(r) = WB

1303+733 = 2036

Always thought the designer put the jack hole in the sill where the centre of gravidity was?

Tulka

That doesn't look like a "Cooper"....looks like a regular Mayfair    

I don't know on a standard Mini sedan but my Moke rolled across the scales:
Front axle-820 lbs
Rear axle-360 lbs
Total-1180 lbs
So that would make it around 68% front 32% rear

When I first got her she had a set of old rotted Candian Tire mud 'n snows mounted. I puttered around the neighborhood for a few weeks before ordering up a set of Falken radials. When loosening the lug nuts on the right rear, I discovered that the tire had no air pressure. zero, nada, none.
That kinda explained why the car felt a bit squirrely around left turns.
You couldn't tell by looking at it though. Held the car up just fine.

 

Thanks Joe - thats perfect

I'd love to see the split, just for laughs.  50:50 is the goal, and I'm thinking Minis are somewhere closer to 95:5.   

I was wondering the same thing when I saw this BBC program with James May:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc9ILfIeHY4

(Please excuse the crude comments on-screen. Some Philistine's attempt at humour.)

Assuming that the Mini shown has full mechanicals and is otherwise stock, it appears the center of balance front-to-rear is about where the A-pillars meet the roof.

 

 

 

 

That depends a lot on which parts you have removed for servicing.  But seriously, the crossmember below the front seats is a bit behind the true center of gravity.

Where's the "balance point" of a std mini - front to back ?

I'm guessing somewhere in line with the front door seam.