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It was great to meet up with @gkp and his new ride, which is actually a little smaller than the Coupe DeVille in the video above. It is such a different car from a MINI, it will take some time along the learning curve to figure things out, but it is a serious machine. Now if he can just figure out what all the track settings do! 😉
Today was my first time back with BMWCCA in a long time. I came away very impressed with the way they run things. Very well organized, serious classroom time (with attendance taken, and no shows banned from the track for the day!), excellent camaraderie and most importantly, track manners. I was placed in their 'A' group (advanced), and for some reason, I didn't have an instructor to sign me off solo. They said I didn't need one. OK, no argument from me on that! Morning clouds looked a bit iffy for rain, but I put on the Nittos and out we went under caution for two laps. Well, by the time I hit the uphill, I felt a vibration so I pitted in to find 2 loose lugs on the LF. Retorqued and re-entered the track and had a good 'moderate' session, driving around 5-6/10. After the wheels had cooled down, I retorqued as usually, and there were 2 loose lugs again on the LF. Pressures were very even all around at 37 (track hadn't warmed up yet). Now I'm getting a little concerned, because if there's one wheel you don't want problems with @ LRP, it's the LF!😱 Are there two bad lugs? Is the problem in the hub? Well, no worries, all 3 sessions after lunch went without a hitch and the car felt just like old times. Traction increased throughout the day as temps topped out at 84! Just 7 days ago, we had 4 inches of snow in the backyard.😱
The classroom sessions were worthwhile, and the teacher said that if we 'behaved ourselves on track' we would have a combined double session (40 minutes) with the Instructors on track with us, with passing allowed anywhere, with a point by. Although I wasn't prepared for this possibility, I felt very comfortable afterwards. All the drivers were predictable, and I got several 'thank you' waves as various cars were passing me.
All in all, a very nice way to start the season. So nice, in fact, that I booked a last minute slot with SCDA tomorrow running in INT2. Might as well go in with both feet, right?
I'll attach some pics of some of the standout cars in the paddock. I think it must have been 'Bring your wing to work' day, as you'll see. If anybody's around tomorrow with time on their hands, swing on down and say 'hi'!👍
This bad boy lapped me 3 times in one session. Word around the paddock is that it took him 8 hours to drive from Montana... Electric Blue looks better on a Porsche than on a MINI, I think. I should've measured the wingspan. Just gorgeous! A slammed Porsche 914, which developed alternator problems later in the day. Porsche 914 Interior
[QUOTE=veggivet;4694141] It was great to meet up with @gkp and his new ride, which is actually a little smaller than the Coupe DeVille in the video above. It is such a different car from a MINI, it will take some time along the learning curve to figure things out, but it is a serious machine. Now if he can just figure out what all the track settings do! 😉]
A fine reunion indeed! But the BluRulz (?) license plate is gone on veggivet's Mini and that was a bummer. Other than that, a fun and familiar sight to see lapping LRP.
The enduring image of Cadillac 'land yachts' is why I so often get the comment, "That's a Cadillac??!!??" The Caddy wheelbase is 109.3, just 1.2 inches more than the 2023 M2 and weighs just 50-ish more pounds. It's built on the GM Alpha platform used for compact/midsized cars including the Camaro. It is categorized (by whoever it is that categorizes these things) as a LUXURY COMPACT!
Luxury?? For sure!!
Compact?? Define compact, I guess. That would then make first gen MINIs microcars😁
Before I reveal the new plate, any guesses? I'll give you a clue. There is a plate on NAM by a long time user that is different by just one letter. Remember, I like Zs. Good luck!
If one were to go on YouTube and look ATS-V (hope I got that right) vs M2 comparison, you will find they compare quite closely. I find it impressive what Caddy did with those cars.
VV - That is great! Getting right back into the swing of things. Go You!
Great pictures! I am amazed as to the variety of cars at these events. A lot of time, there are ones I have never seen before, like those.
GKP - how did your event go? That might be something I might like to try.
The polls have closed, and the result of this contest is I won; nobody else guessed the right plate. And I deny all claims and accusations that it was rigged!
GKP - how did your event go? That might be something I might like to try.
The event I did was sponsored by Gorman Engineering, a company in CT that fabricates parts for classic muscle cars. As I told VeggiVet, if you measure seat time per dollar, and compare it to a track day, it's ridiculously expensive. Over the entire day I did 12 laps around the course, a total of about 12 minutes (which equates to a day of sitting around 95% of the time). But it's a totally different kind of driving experience, and a lot of fun and learning in those 12 minutes. One tight turn after another. I'm doing a few more of these days as a way to get on top of controlling the car and feeling comfortable getting the car to rotate. Better to do that at 40-50MPH than 80-130MPH. The OEM tires are still on the car and I went sideways twice. I promised VV I would post video soon.
In May I am going to do a FCP Lapping Day (I think that's what they call it) and see how much seat time I get at that event.
I did exactly one autocross event. Idle time approximately 99% of the day. Used 2nd and 3rd gears. Very difficult to be smooth on an autocross course. One and done for me.
veggivet: I agree it is hard too be smooth, and to some extent that is what autox is about — figuring out how to be smooth on a tight track where there is no time to think from one turn to the next. I was one and done with autoxing around cones. Totally confused, lost in a sea of orange dunce caps! The FCP facility is more of a mini track. Cones point the way but it's a defined track.
Eddie07S: Any powerful RWD car tends toward getting loose. But when the rear is both loose and under control, it's a fine feeling behind the wheel. That said, the next time I see you I will show you the video I showed veggivet where I was loose and, uhhhhh ... let's just say not quite under control.
I want to learn more about RWD driving before my days of screwing around with cars are over, and I am definitely accomplishing that.
Hey - for anyone looking for track tires, Tire rack is having a clearance sale on the Falken RT660 tires that are being phased out and replaced by the RT660+. Might want to buy now. Who knows what might be around in the future.
Also, for anyone interested, Patroons chapter of BMWCCA is having a 2 day event at LRP on 6/20 & 21. Looks like they are both half days. Friday is open track and Saturday is a usual session event. I will likely do that one. Likely both days.
And for any long term planning. I am still seriously considering going to VIR in September with SCDA. Hmmm - maybe I’ll need to get 2 sets of tires?
Thanks for the tire tips, but I think I will 'stick' with the Nitto NT01s. Based on a suggestion by a Mazda guy I met last time out, I've got a set of Toyo Proxes r888r to compare to test once my current tires wear out. I may join you in June @ LRP if it isn't too beastly hot.
Got Albert out for a spin to meet up with veggivet at LRP. Albert and I were there for the great weather (well, yes and no ), and VV for the auto cross event.
There was also a vintage car track event going on, which meant a lot of neat old cars to see. A couple of Morgans
With Morgans it is hard to tell whether one is vintage or not. But they all look “vintage”
MGA - my first car
This car was quite the learning experience. The Fiat 124 Spyder I had after that was a far better car in every way imaginable. But I do fondly remember my MG.
This was a unique Twin Cam version
I forget how much HP the twin cam version of the MGA made, but in its day (circa 1961) it was a lot for this type of sports car. This was the first I have ever seen.
Back in the day, this was called a race car
When a small car (yellow Lotus) is made to look large by an even smaller car…
Our MINIs parting ways at the end of the day.
Within minutes of this picture being taken lightening flashed, thunder boomed and the skies opened open up. Once again I was happy for the wonderful Conti DW tires that are so excellent in the rain and standing water.
This turned out to be much more fun than I thought it would be. Lime Rock has lengthened the autocross course, and it flows very nicely, more so in the clockwise than the counterclockwise direction. I didn't put my track wheels on because rain was in the forecast, and indeed our session got cut a little short by nearby lightning/thunder. I'm pretty sure the late afternoon group got totally rained out. The car performed pretty well on the street tires, and the course was done in 2nd and 3rd gears only. There were a couple of pretty slow cars (an old Morgan, for one) and since there was no passing allowedl, you just had to hang back on occasion. I got a lot more runs in than I thought I would, based on my previous 'one and done' autocross event over 10 years ago. I may do this again, if the timing works out. This event was run by the Vintage Sports Car Club of America (www.vscca.org), and I met a bunch of very nice people, although I have been to events that have been better organized.
Next up is an SCDA event at.....LRP.....yes again, but this time with a twist, or two. We'll be running the course with both chicanes included. I've only done this once before, and it totally changes the driving experience on the back half of the track. Weather looks picture perfect (no lightning in the forecast this time), and I'm very much looking forward to this 4 hour afternoon event. Slicks will on for sure this time!
Here are some pix of some of the other cars than ran in the autocross event. The craziest one had to be a custom built Beetle, which was a perfect recipe for chronic understeer. The Porsche was piloted by a super nice guy who drove up for his first track event from New Jersey. His car looked quite smooth, albeit slower than I had expected. The Alfa was in my group so I couldn't assess his lines or smoothness. The Beetle was very consistent in that it missed the apex on every corner. And not by a little on some of them! Best looking rear end at the event. Ugliest rear end at the event. Best badging at the event.
Glad you enjoyed the FCP Euro track. They can configure it every which way and sometimes include the skid pad. The biggest problem for me is that due to the limited seat time I leave those days wanting more versus leaving a track day thinking, "No mas, I'm pooped."
I felt satisfied, even with the slightly shortened time due to weather, but nowhere near as mentally tired as a full track day. I think my sweet spot is a four-hour afternoon session. Even though the full day events typically offer similar time on track, the extra hours just being at the track take their toll. If you're free Monday afternoon, swing on up if you like!
Today I got a new set of Falken RT660s. They’ll only ship 4 at a time, but I mount 5, the 5th being a spare and a swap-out for the left front. I’ll order the 5th one after I get back from WGI. I’m “getting” while the getting is good.
Last edited by Eddie07S; May 6, 2025 at 11:46 AM.
Reason: typo
Mine will be resting in the basement for a bit to “age” while I wear out my current set.
That was my plan as well — to wear out the OEM tires with a few autox events before I put on the Falkens. Then on Monday night, coming home from PA, I hit a giant pothole. Blew out the left front tire. Destroyed.
The FCP facility is more of a mini track. Cones point the way but it's a defined track. 
