In my opinion, the best track(s) to drive a Mini Cooper are Watkins Glen and Monticello. I do like the New Jersey Tracks (Thunderbolt and Lightning) but they are a little flat for my tastes.

What other tracks does everyone like to drive on?

 

As far as the east coast is concerned, the best track for any car is the Glen. It's world class (and a former F1 track). I've never done it, but I hear VIR is also very nice.

 

VIR has plenty of elevation changes.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...=jcw+vir&hl=en

 

I'll second the nomination for WGI and Monticello, and throw Lime Rock in for those who don't mind some scary corners. No other track has an uphill like it, and the downhill before the front straight is truly exhilarating in a MINI. If you like a lot of runoff room, Lime Rock isn't the track for you, though.

 

I like elevation changes too, so I nominate The Glen, VIR and Lime Rock back east, Laguna Seca out west.....

I haven't driven it yet, but the new HPR just outside of Denver looks promising too.

 

I like Laguna Seca as well, but I have only driven it on open wheels.

 

I like Laguna Seca and Infineon/Sears Point. I'd love to get to try out Watkins Glen, and just about any other track.

 

Here's a video of the full track configuration at VIR. It's a blast and i can't recommend it enough.

http://vimeo.com/5448371

 

The one closest to home is the best. I am fortunate enough to live less than 4 hrs drive from Homestead, PBIR (formerly Morosso), Sebring and Daytona. Run whatever track that you can get to and put the others on your "bucket list".

 

I am also fortunate to have a few tracks that are relatively close.

LRP and Monticello within 1.5 hours
WGI, NJ Lightning, NJ Thunderbolt, Pocono and NH within 3 hours.

 

VIR is fantastic, in every configuration.

Much more speed on the full course. But the South Course config is just about a perfect MINI track - uber twisty and deceptively technical. Not hard to drive for a newb... but takes significant skill to master.

 

S-Driver and I are scheduled to do VIR in June, running the 4.2 mile course. Any tips on that course?

 

BThayer will have tons - he's the best guy to ask on that config.

 

The track that you're on!

 

Love LRP.....pucker factor is a 10 at West Bend and the entry to the Uphill until the car grips!

WGI.....I'm thinking this in the end will still be my favorite of the tracks that I'll most likely go to. High speed corners are where it's at for me..., so with that said I'm looking forward to the uphill esses at VIR.

 

I found Gingerman in South Haven MI to be nearly ideal. It's a very technical track with wide open runoffs. I was whoopin' on race-prepped Mustangs!

 

I'd like to call VIR my home course but it's not really the closest. I'm a big fan of their full and north course. The north is better i guess for MINI's since there is no back stretch where the vettes hit 160 and blow past us. The MINI's also kick butt in the up-hill esses. Also, i'm a fan of CMP, that should be my home track. It's an hour away from me. Barber is also a great low hp course. not a lot of long straights for the big motors to take off.

Here's one of me last weekend at VIR full. Running 2:21 laps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA7ln8FJoLA

 

VIR without a doubt. The old Summit Point track is great. Think they still run Friday at the Track. Now that I am in CA, Laguna, Sears and Thunderhill all rate, though I still put my time at VIR through the Snake, up the Climbing Esses and around Oak Tree as just great

 

I'm about 90 minutes from Watkins Glen, but I do not have any racing experience (or money for what its worth) to go and race. I plan to someday when I get my "real job"

 

It doesn't take that much $$$ really to get on-track experience in the meantime. Our local track - Heartland Park - offers what they call "Touring Laps" which is track time supported with full turn crews, emergency crews and firefighters, they just don't time your laps. We get up to 5 sessions run on Wed afternoons till dusk, all for $65!

You don't run 10/10ths, but you go as fast as your skill level and car setup allow, which is plenty for me!

I've done 10 of these events over the last 3 years in addition to running sponsored HPDE's. I consider them all good track time, and all mega-fun!

 

"Touring Laps" is what I want to do. I really don't care too much about timed laps. The fee to run is not expensive as you stated, but what would be costly are tires and things like that. I would also have to buy a helmet which runs $200 and up I think.

I wonder if The Glen does touring laps at all. (I haven't really looked into it a whole lot.)

 

Anyone tried Road America or Autobahn? What do you think of some of those midwest tracks?

 

I have limited experience but Barber here in Alabama is amazing. Watch the Indy cars in three weeks to get an idea. Next up a BMWCCA HPDE end of may

 

Road America--20 minutes from my doorstep. Love that track, but it's not exactly MINI friendly. Some consider it the nicest road track in North America, and I wouldn't argue--it's beautiful, especially the back half. But it definitely favors high HP--there is a long uphill straight, and two long downhill straights--that uphill straight is a MINI killer. Nice thing is there are some areas of the track that favor the MINI, just not enough of them. The same cars that I have no problems running faster times at Blackhawk just kill me at Road America (same cars and drivers). But yeah, I love to go out there. It's why (now that I've got the brakes and suspension for the most part sorted out) I'm beefing up the engine a bit. As for runoff, it's all or none---there are parts with plenty, and parts with almost none. The speeds are fast, and I've seen more totaled cars here than anywhere else, although Blackhawk has more incidents. Paddock space can get tight, as the track is usually fairly crowded, and many times I wind up in the grass instead of on cement.

Blackhawk is my favorite track, in South Beloit. Very technical, and relatively short, compared to Road America where one lap feels like a highway road trip--at Blackhawk, if you screw up one turn, you've also screwed up the next two. Road America gives you plenty of breathing space to catch your breath between turns; you can drive like crap there, and if you have enough HP, you can make up for it against smaller engines--not so at Blackhawk. It's not very forgiving, and this is the track I'm fastest on, which is why I like it so much. I love catching things I shouldn't (a GT3 last year comes to mind). As for runoff, all I can say is there are plenty of things to hit out there--trees, walls, tire barriers, you name it. I see more offs that lead to damage there than anywhere else--but the speeds aren't nearly what they are at RA, so the damage is usually relatively minor. Food is decent, facilities are good, although the paddock area could be better, but their is PLENTY of shade--I'll usually go back to one of the tree lined areas, makes for a pleasant day. The people that run that track are about as nice as you'll ever meet.

Autobahn is very nice too. It's more MINI friendly when they split it into two (North/South); one of the tracks has a bunch of sweepers, the other, a bit tighter and more technical--very MINI friendly. When both tracks are hooked up into the big layout, there is a huge front straight that's a bit of a pain, but there are enough tight areas that you can still have a bunch of fun with the higher horsepower cars. Autobahn is sort of in between Road America and Blackhawk--it has some tight areas like Blackhawk, and some High Speed sweepers like Road America, although I prefer the short tracks over the combined long track--high top speeds just don't get me like driving ***** out through the turns. It also has first rate facilities, and the biggest paddock I've ever seen--great food too. Not as pretty as RA or Blackhawk, but really well thought out. A TON of runoff in most areas. A lot of thought went into the design of this place, and it shows. Really a great place to start out; although I've seen a few offs, I've seen very few damaged cars.

Someone mentioned Gingerman--not my favorite. It's ok, not a very pretty track, technical in some places, but a lot of sweepers in others--for some reason I feel like I'm driving on an aircraft runway when I'm out there more so than a track. It has some very weird lines. They've changed it this year--it has a new layout, and looks to be significantly improved for next year, I might make the trip out there again this year. Nice people out there, I'll give them that, and it looks like they're really making an effort to spruce up the track. Good runoff except on the last turn, where most of bang ups seem to occur. Plenty of paddock area.

The tracks within driving distance I really want to give a shot are Putnam, Grafton, and Mid-Ohio, which I hear has some killer elevation changes (apparently Grafton does too).

 

I am looking into doing Calabogie, perhaps this summer. Any opinions.