I don't remember seeing any "No U-Turns" signs.....

 

I think she was listening to the GPS in the GP!

Some really good pics. I am amazed that anyone found the time to take pics. We seemed to be busy running around all the time.

Sorry I didn't take my camera but I was worried about leaving it around unattended. Turns out as long as you didn't leave anything in your motel room, everything was safe.

 

Oh yea....Marina's U-turn, I just missed getting that on camera! I believe that was a first on the track!
I just read through the comments and viewed the photos, which are great and thanks to all that posted them. The video was great too; however, I'm surprised there was not more of my rear bumper in that one! (blue flag coming)
For the Novice, I was looking forward to the Curriculum that included Emergency Braking and Stopping, Slalom, Emergency Lane Change and Braking, and actual Skid Pad. And my instructor was mostly experienced in just Autocross vs. Track. However, the Track time was great.
Comments on low on Gas; one Mini didn't make off the grounds and ran out.
I forgot to reset my trip/MPG, which was on 34 MPG (easy/slow trip from the farm on Sunday); however, after the track it was 18 MPG.
The last track time for the day when I got to go solo, I finally did my best into and out of the Oak Tree, which resulted in my highest speed down the straight away "110", I was all smiles when I glanced at the gage; but then it was serious breaking time!
I headed back to the Farm straight from VIR, up #501, which was a nice road. Did some chores for my Aunt on Tuesday and got home about 7PM.
I look forward to next time!

 

okay, i just tried to edit down a video clip to show just Marina zipping by, but it went from 300MB for a 3 minute file to 750MB for an 18second clip. What am I doing wrong? LOL

 

BTW, was anybody else extremely tired ALL week? I haven't been the same since the trip. Very tired....and time has been creeping by at work LOL

 

This is grainy, but you can goto the actual YouTube page and select high quality version. Sorry for the crappy videography! I was able to identify MrMellowYellow, MiniMobile, and I think Ambrosia (#1 right?) Also an appearance by Ed and Laura at the very end .... I love watching everybody having fun out there

 

I agree with your comments about the Curriculum and that is what I passed on to PWMDA. I really enjoyed the track time and my instructor was great since he races a Mini. I attended this event in the hopes of learning how a front wheel drive vehicle reacts in extreme maneuvers and I did come away with the confidence that I can handle emergency situations in my Mini.

I will be doing more of these events in the future but I thing I will change is working on abilities at a slower speed (to much testosterone this time). I did notice that I was losing a lot of my momentum because my line on the track was not that smooth.

I hope that everyone that attended will be honest with Phil Wicks about their experience and what they think should be done to improve this event.

See ya on the road and hopefully the track in the very near future

Brian

 

I think one of the blue streaks was me and my Mini.

Great video and thanks for sharing, B.

PS I was extremely tired for 2-3 days after getting home but I was lucky enough to be on vacation all week

 

Thanks...great video! Yep, we were car #1, however, I believe Jackson was driving this time as I see that little sparkling silver blur passing people at the straightaway!

 

Great video, Larry! Thanks for sharing.

Not only was I thrilled to see myself out on the track but I was able to get a rough estimate for my lap time. I show up at 0:05 and 1:50/1:51 so my track time was somewhere around 1:45 to 1:46. I'm very happy with that number!

g.

 

I noticed some of that too. I was thinking at the end that I needed some time on the track by myself so I could drive a few laps at a slightly more sedate pace to gain time to think about how to do things and what to do where, without worrying about annoying someone behind me who wanted to go faster.

I know I loved the going fast bit, but I think I might have done more of those slightly slower laps (with more focused learning) if I knew I had time to build speed more gradually. See, that's why we need 2 days.....or at least that's why I need 2 days.....more time for fundamentals without sacrificing time to put them to good use.....

 

Did you guys participate in the touring/parade laps? That was a leisurely (50-65mph tops) 5 or 6 laps around the course by oneself, and I found that it helped me tremendously. I almost didn't participate in it because I didn't know what it was about. I would definitely recommend that to anyone who might have missed it this time.

 

Here's another video folks. Sorry again that its lengthy, jumpy, and unedited. But, you can see Marina/Lastrega flying by right at the very beginning And, then you can see the Mini-Mania race car launching at 1:22 and then screaming by at 3:05. My apologies for the expletive as I heard/saw the Mini-Mania car pass at the 3:05 mark Again, you can view this in much higher quality if you goto the actual YouTube page and click on the "Watch in high quality" link.

 

.... love the expletive. Properly used if I say so myself.

Another great video!

g.

 

Thanks for posting the videos.
They sure are whiny little cars.

 

Good pictures, vids and comments guys. I encourage you to email Phil with any thoughts or feedback you have about the event.

Does anyone remember the name of the fellow from Flow MINI pictured below? I took him along for some laps and he seemed to enjoy it - no barf bag required. I wanted to mention his name when I email the Flow Bro's thanking them for their sponsorship.

 

We should have a Phil Wick's Alumnis get together party.

I will be there, eventhough I'm not an alumni ......... yet. Cause I love party.

 

His name is Joe ... Joe Culp, I think. Anyone else care to confirm?

 

Exhausted...extremely exhausted still. I usually work out for around 2 hours a day but I can't muster the energy to do anything at all......

It's akin to the worst jetlag I've ever felt except I didn't fly. Oh wait....in a way I was flying!

g.

 

Last photo set. (yea!)

Ed and I were telling some of you all about our great two day road trip through West Virginia and Virginia on our way down to VIR.

I'd just like to thank Ed for suggesting the trip and for letting me tag along and for being such great company. I can honestly say it was by far the best road trip that I've ever experienced. We came across beautiful rural American towns, some funky roadside attractions and we hit what I believe were the best roads that I've ever run across.

Here are our combined photos.


1) We traveled west on Route 50 from Winchester, VA on Saturday morning. Once we turned south onto Route 42 we ran across dozens of wind turbines where we were able to pull over and get some cool photos.




2) Barbarella with a wind turbine.




3) Here's Dr. P at Seneca Rocks in West Virginia. What a great scenic drive this entire trip was!




4) We stayed at the rural town of Monterey, VA. Nothing like waking up and hitting these amazing roads at 7-something in the morning. If I remember correctly, my GPS said we started at 2800 feet and climbed to 3900 feet within a two miles.




5) Letting the GPS take us on the rural roads to VIR lead us to some fabulously funky roadside attractions. Foamhenge? Oh, we HAD to stop there!




6) Ed with Dr. P and Barbarella.




7) View from the main road.




8) Okay....how could we resist.....




9) After VIR, we split up with Ed taking 10 hours and the rural route back home. I took six hours on main highways and regretted every second.




10) <sigh> Barbarella turned into an old lady on the way home. Total trip was 910.80 miles and I had the time of my life! Thanks to everyone that came along and especially thanks to Ed for his patience with me!

Glenn

 

Correct! jculp@flowauto.com

 

Good enough confirmation for me! Thanks guys.

 

Sweet photos and narrative Glenn. I really like the sunrise shot for Monterrey. How far away is Seneca Rocks from here?

BTW, were there any foam Druids to accompany Foamhenge?

 

I think you can get to Seneca Rocks in under four hours....but we took the fun route and so it took us a little longer. Ed may be able to give you more specifics since he's been out there a bunch of times.

And, no...no foam Druids.

g.

 

Well, I sent the videos to friends and family. Thanks for posting those, Larry. However...I just got a call from my mom and she said, "(pause)...there are some things a mother should never see."

BTW, I keep forgetting to ask...which one of you yahoos shouted out that I should go home after Phil Wicks didn't assign me an instructor? Brian?! Had to be Brian.

g.