Has there been any interest from either Sterling or Towson on another track
day this year? I know that Sterling said it was interested in doing more this
year but I have not heard anything more from them. The one last October
was great.

 

MAy be Kurt could call Mike Arata and ask, I would love to do it again

 

I would definitely be in and, given enough notice, would probably bite the bullet and get some performance mods beforehand.

 

The next Car Guys track day is May 26/27 at Summit Point. I'll post the info soon.

 

New to this as I just took shipment of my MINI in Nov. but what basically happens with track days? I am very interested. I even went out to Summit Point in Feb to try to get info on driving out there, but it looked expensive and sounded like you had to have someone from Summit Point in the car with you.

 

Depends on who is running the event.

The event I went to sponsored by MINI of Towson back in September 05 they ran exercises in the morning and track sessions in the afternoon. The exercises were things like slaloms with a reducing distance as you pass each cone, braking exercises (braking in a turn, threshold braking, and accident avoidance braking), and skid pad time (big circle they use sprinkler to wet down so you get into skids). There were also classroom sessions where you learn more about how certain cars handle and the best way to deal with certain situations.

The event that MINI of Sterling sponsored in the fall last year was going to be similar, but they decided to just run track sessions, classroom time, and skid pad. I liked that format better as I had a bunch more time on the skid pad then I did at the previous school I attended.

I believe the Car Guys events are similar to the last Sterling event.

Keep in mind you always have an instructor in your car. They will guide you through the track and help you feel more and more comfortable with higher speed/performance driving. You should never have to go any faster then you are comfortable with going.

With all the events I have attended there is never any passing without an indication for the driver that is being passed. Most schools will also break you up into experience levels. The more experienced drivers go out on the track with each other so you never will feel intimidated by someone sitting on your bumper.

I would highly recommend going to a Performance Driving School. It's amazing the kind of things you learn. It also helps you become more and more comfortable with your car. You'll learn about how it handles in certain situations (like skids) and how to avoid getting into that situation.

 

Whats a Track Day?

 

See Also HPDE (High Performance Drivers Education)

 

Why do you need performance mods?
Can you out drive your car now?
All you need is fresh brake fluid.
These are schools. You will learn more with someone in the right seat than on your own.
If you just want seat time then you need to go through Friday at The Track at Summit before you can be signed off.
I've been doing this for +6 years and usually learn something new everytime.

There are several car clubs that host driving schools.
National Capital Chapter, BMW do not require membership but give priority of chapter members.
Mazdadrivers does not require membership. There are others.
Some require membership, others do not.

People should also read their insurance policies.
Insurance companies are rewriting them to exclude any coverage on a racing surface. Regardless if it is a school.
You also risk loosing coverage just by calling your insurance company or agent. Just read your policy.

 

Because I've taken my car to a previous track day, enjoyed it immensely and was actually driving at the limits of my current configuration (braking and tires, most notably).

I've been wanting to get some performance mods (vs. cosmetic mods) and a track day would be the perfect compelling event to get it done and then try them out.

So that's why *I* want (not "need") performance mods.

However, the track day is absoutely fun and extremely educational with just the stock components of the MINI.

 

I would just suggest a few more schools before modding a car.
I drove my wife's stock Cooper S with crappy runflats and old brake fluid.
It was very capable and needed to hold back because it was my wife's car.

An instructor friend of mine went in a student run session.
People did not believe how quick he was getting around the track in his Cooper S. Only thing he had were R-comps.

Then there are some people that have a natural ability.
I am not one of them.

Good luck and be safe.

 

You can't effectively use the power you have unless you have grip. At the Sterling event I was passed by Derrek in his stock MCS w/ R Compounds.

I'm looking at running some Toyo RA-1s at the next event I do. While the Hankook all seasons I run now are fine the Toyos would be much better.

 

One thing all my instructors have said is there is nothing scarier than riding with a 1st timer on R componds, g3t some events under your belt before going to R componds.

 

This will be the last comment.
Derrick can outdrive any car he gets his hands on and he has had many.
He has driven my car on the skid pad and has excellent car control.

Until someone is on the edge of street tires, R-comps are not going to get you going quicker. For 2 years my times at VIR where within seconds between Toyo T1S and RA1. That told me I was driving within my comfort level. It took another year until I passed that plateau where I shaved 11 seconds. This also told me I was not using my T1S tires to the fullest.
I can only share my personal experiences. YMMV.

 

R compounds should be avoided until you really really REALLY know how your car handles and the signs of understeer, oversteer, etc. They usually don't provide the same audible cue that they are about to break loose. They just grip grip grip until they slip.

Don't get me wrong. I know I can be faster/smoother with my street tires. The thing is they are exactly that, my street tires. So by picking up a set of RA1s I don't have to worry about trashing my tires I need to get home. They will also last me quite a while using them strictly as track/school tires.

 

I am def. interested in doing a track day, please post more info when available. Thanks!

 

Keep us posted, I can't wait for another track day

 

Fyi, the cheapest and best track events by far are put on by BMWCCA. There are a ton of BMW owners who have MINIS and they are discovering just how capable and fun MINIS are on the track. I did a Towson MINI school, and frankly, the BMW schools are better organized. You have to join BMWCCA, but the savings in track costs are more than membership, and the club magazine, the Roundel, is starting to feature MINI articles and news. And MINIs are always welcome at BMW events!
www.bmwcca.org