Just looked it up on Google, 4 hr 6 min from Newtown.

 

I take the back roads over to WGI, and I don't focus on the time it takes. The drive, especially the section on Rt. 30 along the Delaware reservoirs is my version of driving the Dragon. I usually stop in Ithaca to grab a bite. I find it to be a beautiful drive...sometimes I wish it was even longer!

 

Never been stopped on 17.....but yeah, I’ve seen the Poo Poo!

 

Valentine One FTW! Saved my *** so many times I've stopped counting!

 

It appears that all of this new accident avoidance stuff they are putting into cars now is messing with the radar detectors. Valentine is advertising that their latest version resolves those problems. Have you looked at getting yours upgraded?

 

No worries on that front. The track MINI is an 02, and the winter MINI is a 14 Paceman; neither has any accident avoidance computer stuff onboard. I'll have to ask my mechanic about the 87 classic next time it's in for something. That thing is just loaded with technology!

 

Oh it is not your car, it is the ones around you. These new ones all have radar emitters that mess with radar detectors.

And yes, that ‘87 classic is a load of technology, just like my ‘59 MGA.

 

Sorry, I misunderstood your comment. I haven't noticed a decrease in the alerts, but I'll now keep a closer watch on it. I believe there are a bunch of apps now that list locations of speed traps in real time.

 

If you get a chance to go run VIR Grand DO IT, the "patriot" part of VIR is absolutely amazing in a mini, ran it last weekend

wish I had 450 hp like that green mustang, he was very fast all weekend

 

Nice driving! Thanks for the vid. VIR reminds me of the track @ Monticello, which, unfortunately, is now private.

 

VIR looks to be a great track and is one that I would like to try. The problem is that it is a 2 day drive there and 2 days back. That is a lot of wear and tear on the car that is going to have a lot of wear and tear put on it.

 

Agreed. It's out of my range, for sure.

 

And I don’t think you can get there from here on back roads.

Now, maybe we could get a half a dozen MINIs to go, we could rent a Semi

 

Just signed up for the April 23rd date at Lime Rock with a twist. Doing the car control clinic in the morning, and then three sessions on track in the afternoon. Looking forward to this since I'll be heading out to WGI a week later, and this will serve as my first track date this year. I didn't want to head to WGI rusty and 'cold'.

 

I didn't realize they added a combo option. I just signed up for the combo and will see you there. It will be a good test for my new suspension. I've done the car control clinic with both the MINI and RX7. The MINI, being FWD, doesn't have much to offer on the skid pad but the autocross loop is a hoot — the most fun you can have in second gear! Be aware that the skidpad can be a tad tough on the tires. Maybe I should keep the old ones on from the last event of last year — you remember, the beat-up tires I thought would be useless and turned out to be awesome in the wet!

 

Great! I asked Elivan about tire wear, and he said it would be minimal on the skid pad since it is wet. I was planning on leaving my high performance summer street tires on for the car control session and then switching over to the slicks for the afternoon, assuming it's not raining. I've got one more track day left on them, and the plan is to head to WGI with a fresh set. Any thoughts on buying 4 year old tires? There's a set of the exact tires I use on eBay for about $180 less than what it would cost me elsewhere...but I can tell from the DOT code that they were manufactured in 2014.

 

Veggie - if your still interested in those used Conti slicks from last year I’ll need to find out if it’s still possible to get them to LRP in July. LMK...

 

Thanks, S-Driver. I'm going to pass on those. Would you trust 4 year old tires on the track, assuming they were stored properly?

 

April 23rd at LRP will be the first time I've run with adjustable coilovers. Any tips y'all have about settings front vs. rear is appreciated.

 

Most people start at about a halfway setting and work from there. It depends on the shocks, though, as some are more linear than others. On some posts I have seen that people wind up at almost the stiffest setting. I would take care not to get the rear too stiff and get an unexpected oversteer. It will be a work in progress for a while as you figure out how you like the car.

BTW - I may try to make it down there to watch a bit. My first day out may wait till the LRP days in May.

I also have new brakes going on the car. I got Todd’s kit with the thicker, heavier rotors to try to control the WGI overheating.

 

Oh I would....and have. I bought takeoffs from the old RSR Mini team although they came from a 3rd party seller. In any case....not sure the tires can be brought to LRP via a team transporter as Freedom isn’t running. They’d have to be shipped....

 

I used to crank my coliovers up all the way in the front and less so in the back.

 

Hey, if it has stopped snowing, freezing raining or doing some other crappy thing from the sky on the 23rd, I think I’ll take a day trip to LRP to meet up with you guys.

Is there any interest in the May 21/22 at LRP w SCDA?

 

Great, Eddie! Hoping the weather cooperates. Looking forward to seeing you. Both May dates @ LRP are open on my calendar. I'll see how the car and driver perform at WGI before I commit.

 

If the weather is not the best, I suppose I can come down there in the Wrangler...