I was wondering how your day went. Glad it was good

Just don’t tell the guys in the Corvettes, Porsches, etc what kind of gas mileage you get on the track with the MINI. They won’t be happy...

Interesting that my JCW does a lot worse on the track than my S does. I guess that is the difference that ~50 added Hp does to gas mileage...

 

I wouldn't share that info with any Porsche/Vette driver. They're jealous enough when they see all the tires and the rest of my track stuff come out of the boot!

Yeah, the JCW as a lot more torque/power for sure; the gas mileage tradeoff is so worth it!

 

I wondered about that when I saw some drivers were clearly into their 80s. I had the same thought about the driver who totaled the formula car at my last track day. I remember reading a story about Paul Newman racing in his 80s at LRP and once forgetting to make turn 1. A total brain fart. However, do not tell my daughter any of this. I am lobbying to do track days until I'm 90.

 

I was at Lime Rock and saw Paul being driven around the track in a Volvo. This wasn't too long before he passed away...

 

Great proper racing and racing the way it should be.


Now, we can only wish to have this much fun in the States.

 

I watched this race live...what an incredible save in the chicane @ 41:40! Only in a Mini! Quote of the weekend IMHO was "How...Did...He...Do...That?"

 

I need to watch the full race later. Looking at just the first few minutes, I think those engines must be modified to add quite a bit of power. I wonder if there are specs they need to meet or if it's 'anything goes'. Speaking of 'anything goes', I was at a Caffeine&Carbs show in RI this weekend and saw a Mini V-Tech conversion up close for the first time.

 

I watched one Mini race that was in car video with data. The engine was running between 7000 and 9000 rpm. So clearly modified. As for spec - I have read that some have spec limits for mods. Not sure on that race. But it seemed that the cars were pretty evenly matched and the differences were in the drivers, much like a Spec Miata race.

That is a really professional looking conversation with that V-Tech. Nicely done.

 

Elivan is competing at Indy in the SCCA runoffs...
The Spec Miata race will begin at 11:25 on Friday, October 1st. Live spectating at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway is permitted, and race fans can also watch from home on the SCCA Broadcast found on www.SCCA.com

 

Thanks, Eddie! I'll put that on my calendar for tomorrow Who knows, maybe it will be as exciting as the Russian Grand Prix!

 

Is it October already...

I thought that came next week...

Well, not really. I knew it was tomorrow but was wishing it was not. Time is going too fast.

I watched the highlights of that GP.... Crazy

And to try to tough it out in the rain on slicks, in an F1 car? Of course 20-20 hindsight is always the best...

 

Hey, the SCCA runoffs are live, today, on YouTube


Remember... 11:25 for Elivan’s race.

 

Sochi was one wild race. I'll be at LRP on 10/11. Anyone else?

 

Unfortunately I have another commitment for that day.

 

I won't be there either. Pretty sure everything is sold out except INT1 as of yesterday. Have a blast!

 

It was a perfect fall weather day at LRP yesterday and it appeared to stir up gallons of fresh testosterone. The first two Int2 sessions were shortened by black flags. There was a crash at the end of the first Advanced session and that delayed the start of our session. Then, in the second session, a Porsche in our group went ***-first into the wall on the left side of the main straight. I'm sure that was a quick $15k down the drain. At least a half dozen other cars were seen spinning through the grass and a few cars in my group were ignoring traditional point-by protocols. Another car had his shifter break off coming around Big Bend! Many black t-shirts, blackout cars, and bulging tattooed biceps. As one of the drivers in the Corvette group that often sets up near us said, "It's a **** show out here today!"

Fortunately, I was generally able to find open track and do my thing without significant interference. The extra negative camber and new-ish Falken 660s continue to have the Mini running better than ever. One other MINI was there, a red R56 JCW in Intermediate 1. Around lunchtime, a beat up 1960s Mini Cooper S drove through the paddock. I waved him down and he told me he had done the autocross in the morning. (VV: Next year?) I wish I knew he was up there, I would have gone up to watch and take pix.

But the highlight of the day, by any measure, was the "track ready" late-1990s Buick Ultra. I spoke to the owner and had to laugh when he said, "It's not like you can call up Koni and ask them to send over performance coilovers for a Buick Park Avenue Ultra." They jerry-rigged their own suspension setup using brackets and other bits that essentially created a hard suspension. I watched it go through the turns and it was surprisingly steady. If you remember the Ultra, it had a supercharged V6 and there are performance upgrades available as there are for any GM engine. The interior was vintage Buick — comfy sofa-like seats that offer zero lateral support other than the drop-down middle arm rest which at LRP only helps on the left hander. Overall, it was quite respectable on track and I salute the owner's imagination.

 

I saw you had great weather. And glad to hear your car is doing well. So a good day for you.

And the old Buick is great. That is probably the same turbo 6 that they put into the Grand National. No doubt there are engine parts for it. I am surprised about not being able to get performance suspension parts, though. That was the same car as the Chevy Caprice whale and that had a performance option. Maybe just not popular enough... At any rate... go him...

Said, "It's a **** show out here today!"

Maybe cold tires along with Testosterone...

One reason I don’t run in the intermediate groups is they tend to have the most problems. As of late, I have had little to no problems with the advanced group. Maybe a few passes with imaginary point bys, but if they were safe, I figure we are all big boys and no harm not foul. Just as long as it isn’t all the time. I will also say, I think problems in all of the groups have been greatly reduced since Elivan took over. He must have not liked yesterday with people going off and having to tell them they were done...

Reminds me of the time a while back guys with race trucks showed up and had no clue how to behave. That was a **** show...

 

Apparently some in he advanced group are not happy that this year instructors have been running with the advanced group.

 

Instructors tend to be a different breed... A lot of them are racers or ex-racers and feel they don’t need to follow the rules or forget that they have rules to follow. I wonder if that is the issue or if people are not happy that they are taking up space on the track... Or all of the above. I don’t remember any particular issues when I last went.

 

you could always defend the corner entry! Lol….

 

Most of these sorts of passes come from drivers of high HP cars on the front straight and well before the corner. Not sure I could make the MINI “wide” enough to make a difference on that section of track....

But at LRP I’ve also had to deal with a few “low percentage” lunges over the years from other drivers. Most memorable was a GT3 who thought it would be a good idea to duck under me as I am about to turn in for the uphill. After the session I thanked him for backing off...

S-Drive... Good to see you still follow us. Did you make it to crew at any races?

 

I fly in about 2 1/2hrs to Indy for the SRO 8hr race that’s on Sunday…

 

Fabulous!

Who will you be crewing for and car #? At any rate, good luck to your team.

I watched a lot of this year’s SCCA runoff races that were held there. I like the looks of their road course better than the Daytona course. The Indy course seems to promote better racing.

 

Good luck, S-Driver!

 

Bimmerworld cars 36 & 82. They won their class a year ago…