MINI of Sterling invites us to participate in a fall Track Event!! This is a DC Metro MINIs members only event, due to the limited number of slots. MINI of Sterling may also invite whomever they wish. There are only 45 slots open for DC Metro MINI members. Once they are filled, we will take a waiting list in case of cancellations but will not be able to confirm any more participants.

We will be on the Jefferson Circuit, to maximize our day, everyone needs to be there at 7:00 AM SHARP. This is about an 1 1/2 from DC, so plan to be up EARLY. Most Starbucks opens at 6:00 so make sure you are ready, late comers slow the groups down. You may have to wait for the next event to get squeezed in. Last year some people came up the night before. We can plan to get together for dinner if enough folks are coming up early again.

Date: Sunday, October 15

Time: Plan on being at the track no later than 7:00 am.

Inspections will take about one hour

The event will last likely until 5:00 pm, so plan on being there a full and long day.

Event begins at 7:30 am to 7:45 am. We should be on the track by 8:00 am at the latest.

Location: Summitt Point Motorsports Park
http://www.summitpoint-raceway.com/
Their web site as a directions link to get your there.
The track is about 70 miles west of Washington.

Summit Point Race way. Jefferson Circuit

What will you learn?
Safety Instruction, accident avoidance, breaking, cornering etc.
A 1.1-mile circuit that is exciting to drive and well set up for instructional purposes. Straights, rights, lefts, switchbacks and some
elevation changes. Learn a lot - quickly - on this circuit.

Format of the event: Four exercies on a rotating basis - *subject to change*
*Each will be about 45 minutes long
*Each driver should be able to do about 5 (depending on starting on time) runs
1) Braking
2) Slalom
3) Skid pad
4) Cornering

MINI of Sterling has arranged this to be a group format. MINI owners must be willing to let their instructor MINI.

The participants will be divided into smaller groups and split up between exercises. One group will likely not be on the track and watching.


After lunch is the track time!

The more professional drivers we are able to get (see below) the smaller the teams will need to be!

Inspection: To participate your MINI must pass an inspection. The inspection will include tires, seat belts, looking for loose parts, breaks, gas petal, steering and overall track readiness and safety. No loose items on car, loose bumper covers, undercarriage parts, aftermarket items etc. Gas caps need to be working. This is a safe driving event!

Your MINI must pass the inspection to participate.

MINI of Sterling will offer on Friday night, October 13 a free inspection from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm to anyone signed up for this event. This is not mandatory, but if you come on Sunday morning and the car fails the pre-event inspection, you will not be allowed to participate. This free inspection is a good way to be sure you are going to be OK.

Please be prepared to completely empty your call of all objects not permanently factory attached to it. MINIs must be 100% empty and clean. on the inside. Bring a ground cloth to put them on and storage bags if needed. This includes things like: floor mats, anything hanging from your rear view mirror, the entire contents of your boot, EZ pass, garage door opening, cell phone holders, GPS holders, loose change, CD's and cassette tapes. All CD's must also be emptied from your factory installed 6-CD changer.

Lunch: Will be provided as part of the package. Lunch will be for one hour from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Cost: $125 per driver, helmets are REQUIRED, MINI of Sterling can arrange rentals from OG Racing for $35, that's what they charge, we need sizes, and head count, pun intended! Please give this information when you RSVP if you will need to rent a helmet.

Full payment is required in advance. No refunds will be given.

Riders in the car (non-driving) are welcome at a charge of $15 to cover the cost of lunch please helmet rental if necessary.

Helmets: Participants are welcome to provide their own helmets provided they meet current standards. Most helmets over five years of age will not meet these standards and will not be allowed on the track. Helmets must also have no cracks, missing straps etc.

If you are not sure, rent one to be safe so you can participate. No refund will be given if you arrive to the track and your helmet does not meet the standards

Open face is fine.

Obviously, not bicycle or sports helmets are allowed.

RSVP: Please remember this is a members only event. MINI of Sterling will check their RSVP list against our membership list. Non members who RSVP will be removed from the list.

RSVP's open on Tuesday, September 19. PLEASE DO NOT CALL MINI OF STERLING BEFORE THIS DATE to RSVP. They will not take your information.
To RSVP please follow these instructions:

Call: 571- 434- 2400 ext 1517 and ask for Anna McGuiney between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm Tuesday - Saturday.

If you get voice mail, do not leave your creidt card number on the voice mail. Instead, leave a message for a call back.Speak SLOWLY when leaving phone number, and if calling from cell make sure you have a clear connection when leaving a message.

Anna will need:

Your full name
A credit card number. Including the name on the card, expiration date, and the security numbers from the back of the card.
Your phone number
Your e mail address
If you need a helment rental, the size
If you are bringing a non-driving spectator or rider, that information

Spectators: Are welcome to come. Charge of $15 to cover your lunch please. You can pay at the track.

Drivers: If you are a professional driver and would like to participate in this event as a teacher, please contact Mike Arata at MINI of Sterling. He is looking for drivers and will compensate you extra track time before, during and after the event.

Let's MOTOR ....... really F A S T

 

SWEEEEEEEEET! I'm SO in, as soon as MoS opens up the RSVP. (As you can see, I'm on a short break, I just HAD to check NAM...)

 

Random question, as this will be my first track event, I need a helmet, right? Will there be any available for rent from the track or to borrow from MoS or a fellow MINI lover?

 

sounds fun

 

Last year the event hosted by Towson supplied the helmets...

When they open up the RSVP system, they should have that information available because that's something people need to know when they register.

 

Ah, ok, I was jumping the gun a little...thanks Wagnbat!

 

First post is updated with some more information, but we still do not have RSVP information, so sit tight!

 

Minor nit to pick.
OG Racing, not OZ.
They have a "Pro Shop" at Summit Point along with their main store in the Sterling area.

 

So two/ three people are driving the same MINI all day? I am a bit confused.

MD STREGA2
MD GyPsy 0142

 

My understanding is that there will be 45 participants, but probably not 45 driving instructors. Therefore, we will have to share instructors in a team format. Teams of 2 or three people will share a MINI. Each taking turns driving/being instructed and being a passenger. It will be different from last year where the entire group was divided into three groups. This is a different format.

 

Does that mean only 15 (of 45) cars will be used, if so how is that choosen... and what if someone else crashes your MINI?

 

Someone else driving my MCS? At a track, at high speed, I feel a little...wait make that Very uncomfortable w/ that.

Me driving someone elses MC/MCS? At a track, at high speed, I feel a Very uncomfortable with that as well.

I know people aren't out there to wreck or damage anyones car, but it would make me feel very uneasy.

 

I hereby volunteer to drive Marina's GP!

 

This is the information I have at this point. Things may change. Let's wait and see what MINI of Sterling is able to tell us.

 

I would assume it would be run similar to the one Towson ran last year. In which case there wasn't an instructor for every person, but there was an instructor for every car on the track. So while there were probably 30+ people there only 10 or so cars were ever on the track at one given time.

So everyone was divided into 3 groups. Red, Blue, and Green. In the morning during the exercises there were probably 5 or so instructors at each of the 3 different exercises. Each person was in their own car and an instructor would jump in for one run of the exercises, get out after that run and go find someone else at the front of the line needing an instructor.

During the afternoon when it was open track time the groups were still used. One group was on the track in car, one was in the infield of the track on a corner watching with an instructor who was explaining the application of what you learned earlier in the morning, and the last set of people were in the classroom learning and reviewing.

There was also some fun time with the instructor. During the lunch time the instructors were given their track time and they were really pushing it. Also after lunch there was a ride along with the instructor. So the instructor had 3 different students, each student would be given a ride seperately (alot of the instructor cars were 2-seaters).

Something tells me this is how it will be run again. I don't think you're going to get too many people who would be willing to let someone else flog their car on the track.

 

Will be keeping a close eye on this.....I would not want anyone but me or someone like John from LDG putting my loved one through its paces

 

I hereby NOT volunteer GyPsy
Being GyPsy only for two people she cannot be driven by anyone else but moi and the instructor ..maybe...


GyPsy 0142

PS: Haemish once I finish breaking her in you might take GyPsy for a mini spin she is FANTASTIC !!!

 

im not gonna be able to make this event, i cant afford it too poor. hope you guys/gals enjoy yourselves out there and motor safely

 

We can't go. Too expensive! I wasn't expecting to have to fork out 250$!! Will be getting vinyal installed anyway. That is my only day off next weekend.

 

Just to give some people some perspective on things NASA schools are ~$300 for a weekend (Saturday & Sunday). Car Guys is $475 a weekend.

Look at this more like Advanced Drivers Ed. You'll learn more in a day on a track than you do in a year on the street.

 

for me, thats a car payment i dont forsee any track days in my near future

 

I agree, but still wouldnt mind riding down with someone to take pictures and watch.. if that is allowed. Unless I do get the JCW by then and end up getting window tint that day.

 

the JCW wont be broken in yet, would it really be worth it to take it to the track while still in its break-in period?

 

I will not be particiapating if I have the JCW by then.. I will not be participating period, too expensive!

I need to be able to get out of first gear consistantly before I attempt anything else.

 

just launch in 2nd sure, its not good for your transmission, but wheres the fun in being good