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Thx, @Eddie07S. The Glen is one place I don't lose grip very often, but it just takes one time, I guess! Turn 8 would be the one at highest risk, and there's a ton of runoff there, as you know. Of course, I'll use the first couple of sessions on the first day to get their feel, that is, if the track is dry. If it's not, I won't have to change tires when I get to the track! I've backed off on starting pressures as well, and have seen good results.
Well, I missed it too, mainly because I wasn't really interested in losing any more of my hearing. Despite my increasing deafness, I swear I could almost hear them from my house at times...I'm sure they took some insane lines with all that power. Hopefully, that distracting arrow will be gone sooner rather than later. Otoh, if you see it, you know your eyes weren't up high enough!
On another@gkp more than thinking about 7/15. I'm signed up.
I'm back from a couple of days at WGI with a recap. Day one, Monday, was all grip, all day, thanks to the 92 degree sunshine. I lost count of how many bottles of water I drank, but fortunately my garage bay was close to the men's room! The Toyos felt very good, but not quite as sticky as the Nittos. They're very predictable, and they 'sang' nicely at the toe and the following T9. It seemed like SCDA gave an incentive for Vette and P-car owners to register, but no, there were just a ton of them there since this is a classic high horsepower track, at least when it's dry. The fastest car was a gold Porsche Cup car that was doing a 2 minute flat lap when he had no traffic. So, of course, my left arm got a decent workout, but things felt quite a bit faster by the 3rd and 4th sessions out according to my butt dyno. Overall, an excellent day and some very good pointers discussed in the classroom sessions. It did eventually rain, but the T-storms happened after my last session. Unfortunately, the track walk was cancelled as the heavens opened up. I drove to the motel in moderate rain on the Toyos, and they were fine, though I certainly didn't test their limits on the street.
Tuesday dawned cloudy and foggy, and much cooler, as the cold front had come through by then. The forecast was for cloudy skies all day, but no rain. The road to the track was still damp as the sun was AWOL, and I imagined the track would be in the same condition, plus with water hiding inside those famous deep curbs. The fog lifted enough by start time and everybody had their slicks on, so out we went. Just as it started to drizzle about halfway through the session, the black flag appeared and most of us went to pit lane to line up again hoping to be back on track soon. So I sat in pit lane watching the rain get steadily heavier, so after the 5 or 6 minutes we were there, the track surface became definitely moist. I can't turn around and go back into the garage, so out we go to see how good these tires are in the wet. Speeds were reduced quite a bit, but I didn't have one slippery moment going around, as long as you didn't touch any of the painted surfaces. I headed back to the garage after that lap to check the radar. It looked like the second session was going to be in the wet for sure, and puddles were forming around the paddock area, so off went the Toyos (which I had rotated the night before) and on went the streets (Bridgestone Potenzas). Going out in the wet was like driving on a different track. The line had to be adjusted pretty much all the way around, and the track was pretty devoid of any traffic. I got my one and only point by from a Corvette during this session, who was probably doing half is dry speed. Most of the super fast cars took a break for this session. It was a good experience for me, relearning the wet line and having some fun now that the rain had evened up the playing field a bit. The rain then subsided, and ended around the time we broke for lunch, so the Toyos went back on for the final two sessions of the day. This is where my speeds definitely felt faster than anything on Monday, and we also got a half hour of open track at the end of the day. Overall, I was pretty impressed with the Toyos, and they wore much less than the Nittos would have. Plus, the Nittos would have had me sliding all around the track for that one wet lap that morning.
Overall, a great couple of days on a very tiring track; saw some old track buddies and met some new people as well. Looking forward to Lime Rock in less than a week. Forecast looks good as of now, but who knows, as it is 6 days away! I'm not even going to unpack the tires/track gear.
Forecast is still upper 80s to 90 and sun for temps. Bring water and sun screen. i’ll be bringing my red pop up sun shade. I’m targeting being there 11 - 11:30, depending on my gas stop.
Did I see right that there is a Grinder Shop that is going to provide lunch to the drivers?
Sounds like a plan. Isn't that area restricted for MINIs only? I think the Caddie parking area is near the mens room😉
Will you have room to bring a small A/C unit and a generator? I think I'll arrive with the Toyos already on and drive 'em home too. It'll be way too hot to change them out after we're done. Where's the Little Speed Shop when you need them? Super helpful staff 👍
Last edited by veggivet; Jul 14, 2025 at 07:47 AM.
I just realized I never posted pix from The Glen... Front brake on a very fast Porsche. I think the diameter is larger than my Classic Mini wheel...😱 The brake was attached to this beast, doing a sub 2 minute lap at WGI😱😱 I heard him more than I saw him when he passed me like I was in reverse. The MINI went bananas with all the Vettes and Porsches on track (except in the rain!)
No worries about the Caddy parking with us. The only MINI rule went out a while ago when ZRE exchanged his MINI for a BMW….
As for the Porsche, we had three last fall that were blisteringly fast. I know at least 1 was under 2 min. At the end of the last day the 3 were out together running laps. Amazing cars and really something to watch.
Lime Rock Park in July…. Yesterday… It was hot. 90+ deg.
I counted up the containers of liquid I drank. 20oz Energy drink, a couple of half liter bottles of water, an 8oz protein drink, a Red Bull, a 20oz lemonade from the food stand, 12oz of OJ, another glass of water (~12oz), a 30oz bottle of Smart water (I need all the help I can get in that department ). You would think I would have been hydrated. Barely so…. And more when I got home.
Other than that, the weather was perfect. Mostly clear, blue skies, with a few puffy white clouds.
Met up with veggivet and gkp for an afternoon of fun turning laps a this great little venue. Great to meet up with these guys. And I forgot to take a picture of our MINIs and the lone Caddy all lined up. A sight to behold.
Smokey felt the heat too with 280 deg oil temps. I think the aux water pump to the turbo bit the bed, again. The oil temps shouldn’t be that high. Other than that, the car did really well. Tire wear has been exceptional since upping the front camber to about -3 deg. With that the old RE71R tires, which lasted a day longer than I thought possible are now pretty well shot. Doubtful they would last another day. I did okay too, despite the heat, and had a good time. However, as I write this, I am feeling the aches of yesterday’s activities. Ugh!
This was an “unmuffled” day, with no sound level restrictions. So, along with the regulars with their “quiet” cars, there were a couple of stock cars, a stock truck, a couple of vintage Mustang race cars and a newer model Mustang race car. Maybe a few louder Porsches, too.
And there was a MINI Coupé
A B-Spec MINI Coupé
According to the owner, the MINI Coupé is now the “hot” car for B-Spec racing. I always thought this version of the MINI would make a great track car. I had considered ordering one instead of the hatch that I ultimately ordered, Smokey.
Every once in a while a car shows up at these events that is getting to be priceless. At this event there was a vintage (1966-ish) factory Mustang race car. This was one of 32 or so that were made. Think 7 figures for its auction value:
Vintage Factor Mustang race car
And, yes, it was being driven in this event.
Then there was a variety of other interesting cars.
An Audi with a properly placed V10 engine
A GT2 Porsche
A GT2 is made with about 100 Hp more than the GT3, but with less aero, but this looked to have plenty of that. Note the fancy wheel covers in the rear. Owner says that is to smooth the air to the wing… Hmmmm Maybe
A very fast C8 Z06 Corvette
Corvettes have become blisteringly fast on the track and don’t have to be driven well to be so…
So I'm up at Canaan Motor Park in NH this weekend and one one my Falken 660s decides to delaminate. I kid you not -- when I saw this my first thought was that @S-Driver would look at this and say, "I can get another day out of it."
Crikey - smashed *ss! Reckon that got too warm?
Cheers, Charlie
Defective tire. More research needed but I think one of the reasons Falken has the 660+ tire is to address this known problem. I've tracked 660s before and all was good. But not too long ago I heard some paddock chatter about 660s delaminating so.......
The good news is that Tire Rack is going to bat for me and trying to get some good will compensation. Stay tuned.
Just curious - inside or outside of the tire and what camber? And what pressure?
I learned something new about tires this past weekend at WGI. There were people talking about tire chunking, which might relate to this. Sorry, I forget the actual brand and model (not Falkens) this discussion was about, but it involve discussions with both a representative of the tire mfg and Tire Rack. The gist of the discussion was that the tires need to be heat cycled just once and then let sit for 24 hrs. Just one heat cycled. If that can’t be done then they need to be shaved. Or bought with a heat cycle.
Yipes! Glad no damage to the car. I managed to make it through a counterclockwise day at Palmer without any drama. By the end of the day, which included half hour of open track with very few cars, I felt good about most, if not all of the corners. Tires held up very well, though the TOYO 888s aren't quite as sticky as the Nittos, but it looks like they will last me the rest of the season. Palmer is a technical track, as you guys know, but even when you get everything right, to me it doesn't have the natural rhythm that Lime Rock has. And though it has more elevation changes than Lime Rock, they don't seem as exhilarating, at least in the MINI. Probably more exciting in a higher hp car. The place is still pretty bare bones, and there is literally no safe place to run off anywhere on the track. I rented a carport to stay out of the sun, and it definitely made a difference by the end of the day. Car and driver much cooler for the ride home, which took barely and hour and a half. It's one of those of those tracks I'm happy to do once every 2 years or so...anyway, back to my fave place, Lime Rock this Saturday. Forecast looks perfect, and the car is all set. 👍
@gkp I hope Tire Rack stands up for you and does the right thing. Obviously, you don't want to replace with the same tire!
I remember chunking an Azzeni tire @ LRP once….and I think it wasn’t one that I had stretched the life out of. But ya - cords showing = a bit more track time!
I once ran a set of corded Hoosiers up in NH at an Autox (The Rumble) in 30 degree weather! Slippery!
Lol
Originally Posted by gkp
So I'm up at Canaan Motor Park in NH this weekend and one one my Falken 660s decides to delaminate. I kid you not -- when I saw this my first thought was that @S-Driver would look at this and say, "I can get another day out of it."
I remember chunking an Azzeni tire @ LRP once….and I think it wasn’t one that I had stretched the life out of. But ya - cords showing = a bit more track time!
I once ran a set of corded Hoosiers up in NH at an Autox (The Rumble) in 30 degree weather! Slippery!
Lol
I remember riding with you once at LRP and we almost slide off the track twice in the same lap. Once was turning into T2. You were sawing back and forth on the steering wheel to find some grip. The second was going into the uphill. I think you said something like “that didn’t feel right. I think we should go in”. You found both front tires corded…. My guess is there is a post about this early on in this thread, if someone wanted to look.
Hey!! I resemble that remark! I remember chunking an Azzeni tire @ LRP once….and I think it wasn’t one that I had stretched the life out of. But ya - cords showing = a bit more track time! I once ran a set of corded Hoosiers up in NH at an Autox (The Rumble) in 30 degree weather! Slippery!
Lol
I knew you'd get a kick out of that. Glad to see you're still lurking.
Just curious - inside or outside of the tire and what camber? And what pressure?
I learned something new about tires this past weekend at WGI. There were people talking about tire chunking, which might relate to this. Sorry, I forget the actual brand and model (not Falkens) this discussion was about, but it involve discussions with both a representative of the tire mfg and Tire Rack. The gist of the discussion was that the tires need to be heat cycled just once and then let sit for 24 hrs. Just one heat cycled. If that can’t be done then they need to be shaved. Or bought with a heat cycle.
Outside. Hot pressures were in the mid-30s. Camber -2. At one of the autox events this year I heard paddock chatter about 660s delaminating. Falken offered a credit of 25% of the purchase price but I had to ship the tire back. Unfortunately, I had to leave the tire in NH. Room for only one tire in the car and I took the good one with me.
@gkp I hope Tire Rack stands up for you and does the right thing. Obviously, you don't want to replace with the same tire!
Tire Rack went to Falken. Falken offered a credit toward a new Falken tire — 25% of what I paid for the delaminated 660. Since I bought them on closeout, that came to $54. The kicker is that I had to return the delaminated tire and I left it behind in NH. No way I wanted to drive home on it so I went to a local tire shop and had cheapo rubber put on the front. I only had room in the car to bring home one tire and I chose the good one. Oh well.
I have two autox events scheduled but my track days may be done for this year. A friend of mine has two Re71R tires in his garage and I will probably put them on the front for autox but I'm not sure about doing LRP with different tires front and back. The tread designs are very similar; I'll see how the autox days go. Those guys do different tires front/back all the time. On a related note......
The Canaan Motor Club is a fun track for MINIs. Two tenths of a mile shorter than LRP but with 11 turns, most of them tight as a duck's butt. Average speed around 70MPH. Like autox, the turns come at you fast. It's kind of the ultimate local track — built in a field by a local enthusiast for auto, motorcycle and go kart events.
That is a very lame response from Falken. I've never bought a tire made by them, and going forward given your experience I wouldn't even consider them. Is this track in Canaan, New Hampshire?
). You would think I would have been hydrated. Barely so…. 
And more when I got home.
