I went to the MINI DE at CMP last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm trying to get lined up to do another one this year and I've noticed a few changes. It seems this year the DE's will be run in addition to the Race Series, and I'm wondering how that's going to work. Last time, the 3 different groups were rotated out on the track all day long, so you were driving about 1/3 of the time. If they run the Race Series on the same days, wouldn't that take a fair chunk of time? Seems like the price has gone up, and the seat time would go down. Maybe I need to get hooked up with BMWCCA or Carguys to get in some more track time.

Anyone have any insight or observations to add?

The minidriving.com website seems to be "under construction" this morning.

 

I talked with phil Wicks yesterday. he said that for the DE/Race in Sebring FL, all participants in the DE will be on the track at the same time. Then a practice for the racers, then more track time, then qualifying, then more track time, then the race. I will be leaving from Charleston SC on Sat. Night, April 1st. Any one else going?

 

Prices have gone up. Not sure about the rest

 

Me me me me me!

We had race practice and qualifying at Laguna and he has done it at Nashville Superspeedway too. There was still plenty of track time for DE. There is no track time wasted. I think most of the club schools give you about 4 sessions. You get 6 to 8 with Phil so even with the increase it is still a good value.

 

Race practice will be in the Instructor-Expert group, if needed

Don't sign up for Expert if you don't like aggressive speedsters blazing past you...LOL

EDIT: Seriously, the run groups are safe but get more advanced, faster cars in the expert run group, passing is less restricted

 

Yikes! Sounds like the Wicks program is poorly thought out.
As far as I'm concerned, BMWCCA is the very BEST way to go. Well thought out, very safe and very spleenful.

 

Have you attended one?

 

Me? A Phil Wicks? No. But what I have heard on this forum, they sound dangerious.

 

Why don't you call the man himself and ask questions about it? Phone number is on the web site. He is the one who usually answers it.

 

for driving schools and seat time. Look at the schedule for your local track. There will be lots of groups that do what you want to do.

Here's one example that I'll probably do at Thunderhill north of Sacramento.

1/2 day driving school (not open track with coaches, but stuff like slaloms, brake areas, wet figure eight and some turn coaching). 1 & 1/2 days of open track. Coaches available for any session you drive. $425 (+ $20 if your not a club member.) This is April 22nd and 23rd with the Nor-Cal Shelby club. And I don't have the only Mini that runs with the crowd. 4 skill levels, typically 3 sessions per half day (sometimes two longer ones), and if the crowd thins in the afternoon, they may combine newbie with the next level, and the advanced with the crazies, and really run long and hard! www.norcal-saac.org

It's great if you had fun at the Wicks events. But please don't get offended if others (especially with more track time under their belts) suggest that other venues may be worth investigating. In several years of running with the Shelby crowd, there were less total off track events than at the last Wicks at Laguna.

That being said, I may do the Wicks at Las Vegas, if $ and time permit. But there are lots of groups out there. Find out the options and find out what works for you.

Matt