There are two very good upcoming schools at VIR. If you haven't signed up now it's to late. I'm talking about the 3 day porsche school on May 19th and the BMW school on July 7th. Just wondering if there will be any other MINI's out there.

They are not as unsafe as usually presumed. Get out there and learn what your cars can really do. it doesn't void your warrenty, you have an instructor in the car and you have to go to class. It really is a learning experience. These cars do so well and are so forgiving on the track. I wish we'd see more of them at events. Come watch if you can. you can usually get a ride with an instructor at some point.

 

I just dropped my application in the mail yesterday for the Tarheel and Toe driving school on July 8th and 9th, VIR North Course. Is that the BMWCCA one you're talking about? May 1st is the first postmark they accept. Hopefully I'll get in, and if I do, I'll see you there. I love the North course. My goal this time is to figure out Hogpen.

 

Anybody for the skip barber three day June 2-4?

 

Do You Have The Web Address?
Tarheel

 

www.virclub.com

 

When posting events like these it would always help if you would also post links to the event's hoste's web site.

 

www.tarheelbmwcca.org

 

i'm sad to say i didn't post those links because it's to late to sign up for them. The BMW schools do fill up the first day they allow applications to be mailed in. This particular school was like bullfrog said on the first. some of us go and drop off our applications sunday night after midnight to assure they get a May 1st post mark. They do go by post mark and not by arrival to keep it all fair.

The porsche school has been full for more than a month. the limiting factor for them is instructors. as they find more instructors they add people.

Bullfrog, i'd be happy to help you with the hogpen issue. I've gotten completly sideways in that turn in the rain and i was gun shy of it for a few years. much better now. i enter it at about 70 with just maintainance throttle then get hard into the gas when the track starts the right hand turn. coming out of that i'm going about 90 then 100 by the time i get to the first set of tire wall on the entrance to pit-in. I can send video of last weekends school if you'd like :-). please see another post of mine, ferrari school to get any updates on that one.

 

Yeah, that'd be great. Are you gonna be there July 8th and 9th if your postmark works?

Actually, my problem is probably that last little downhill left-hander at the Roller Coaster before you turn right on Hogpen. I can't seem to get it just right so that you kiss that left curb and then let her run down thru Hogpen. I think I did it right once, but the hard part is doing it consistently. I guess that's the fun. In a Cooper, it's all about momentum and consistency.

 

No Namphyles for the Skip Barber 3-day Racing June 2-4 VIR?

Any tips for a first timer on the South Course?

 

I'm in! They posted the confirmed list on http://www.tarheelbmwcca.org/summerschool.htm and somehow I managed to get in. I think bluesmini will be there, who else? Anyone? Maybe bluesmini can explain hogpen for me. Looking forward to meeting everyone there. We have to uphold the MINI name surrounded by all those BMW's.

 

I'd be happy to work with you on hogpen. Have you done VIR before? If you have a brake bleeder bring it. you can get some superblue there. If you ever considered aftermarket pads for the track bring em. Look forward to seeing you there.

 

leaving the house for the track now. see you there bullfrog.

 

Hi i am a PCA member and am going to some events this month at whenever VIR's upcoming events will be. I love VIR!! It is my favorite track and this will be the first season with my Mini. How has yours held up on the track?? Any issues or anything get worn out??

 

Back from VIR this weekend, a major good time. First off, there were no incidents other than a few 4 wheel offs, and the weather was great for July. Finally got to meet Bluesmini and watch him run with the big dogs, hey, I saw that black BMW with the big wing finally get by you, but he never got away. I was in the D group with Blue MINI Dan, but I don't know if he's a NAM'er. I only saw him once on the track, first the grill in my mirror, then the rear bumper, but hey, he didn't get too far away. Of course, being a BMWCCA event, there were a bloody million BMW's, but I am not ashamed to be passed by an M3. Bluesmini had a cracked rotor that stressed him for awhile, but after he got that squared away he was his amiable self. All in all, a great time, and I don't really know of anything in particular that one would need to do to get ready for VIR over any other DE. Just take the pre-tech inspection seriously, and make sure you have good brakes and rubber. One guy in an M3 had about 1/8" of rear rotor when he came, had to leave early Sunday. Makes me wonder which mechanic signed that one off.
JCSMiniS - what course are you running? North, Full, Grand? My Cooper has held up just fine, no issues whatsover so far, except chewed up tires. Be safe and enjoy.

 

I just typed out a long reply to another forum you posted on. "first track day" i think it was. It's a long version of why you need a big brake kit. Brakes have always been a problem for me at the track until i got the BBK. I got them last July and they lasted until this July. The rotors that is. Like bullfrog said, I had one crack on each one that went through that side. I had a few micro cracks before so i brought new rotors with me just in case. Other than brakes you should watch your tire wear and keep an eye on that S/C belt. I've blown a few belts at the track. Not to difficult to replace but, you have to have that one special tool to do so. If your running with your stock brake calipers bring a bleeder with you. They sell superblue fluid at the shop there but no brakes is no fun. lots of people wrap a rag around the brake fluid reservior so when the fluid gets hot and comes out of the top it doesn't make a mess and removes the paint under the hood. be sure to rinse if it does. hope this helps.

 

Yes I got that post, thanks. I believe some of the events I am going to are Full and some are North. I have been on most of it before, and I have also spectated there many times My fav seat is the benches beside the up-hill S's. I love to hear the GT3s tearing through. Also, there is a Fall Fling event usually in Oct or Nov every year by G&W Motorsports, i think. They have a lot of test cars there, like team cars and prototype cars. Very fun to watch!!!!

 

Fall fling is a great event. You get silly amounts of track time.

 

Did you go to Fall Fling last year? There were so many accidents esp. in the green group. Mostly Focuses. One smashed into the guardrail on the uphill S's. Thats kinda why i dont want to go to it, its very unstructured and people were driving crazy. It ws great for my husaband in the white group but wouldnt be so good for a beginner like me..

 

I agree with what Bluesmini said totally. In my limited experiences with DE's, I have seen MCS's with boiled fluid, warped and cracked rotors, and exploded pads. I see you have an MCS w/JCW, so you're going to push the capabilities of your brakes unless you take it easy. Do you have JCW brakes?

I'm going to go way out on a limb here, and float an observation, someone please chime in if I'm wrong. I see many fewer MC's at the track, but still, I have yet to see an MC with so much as boiled fluid. Think about it. On the front straight at VIR, Bluesmini is hitting 120+, while an MC is good to about 105. Now if you figure the entry speed to turn 1 is about the same, he's gotta scrub off a lot more speed than I do, and I think the difference is huge. Dropping from 120 to about 60 is a lot tougher than going from 105 to 60, plus an MC is a few hundred pounds lighter. MINI seems to have sized the brakes adequately for an MC, but not for an MCS.

How about it? Anyone in an MC having lots of brake issues at the track?

 

Bullfrog

I met you last fall at the Phil Wicks school at CMP. CR/W

I have done 3 track events in my MCS, Road Atlanta, CMP, and Barber. I warped the rotors in all three, even with DS2500 pads at Barber. If you push the MCS, you will have brake issues. I guess a big brake kit needs to be on my mod list.

By the way, how did you like VIR compared to CMP? I have toyed with the idea of making a trip to VA to check it out.

Roger

 

Even with a Big brake Kit, pads are an issue ... I have trouble slowing down enough with the hawk pads and the supposed street-track pads

Get the right pads for the track ... You will see a huge difference

With comfort and confidence comes higher speed and better times

 

Hey, Roger! Sure, I remember, we had a good time down at CMP. Hydraulics, right? That was my first DE, and your rotors were some that I remember warping. I think VIR has it all over CMP, the surface is much better, (CMP is pretty abrasive), and there are 3 different configurations. North is more like CMP, pretty technical, short and tight. Full course has that long back straight (I get murdered) and the Grand East is the longest in the US. The facility itself is great, and the course workers are top-notch. Lots of elevation changes. Highly recommended. People up here say I have to do Road Atlanta, that it's great, too, so I might be heading down that way one day. Mazdadrivers.com comes to VIR a couple of times a year and they do a good job. Check it out. Glad to hear from you, hope you're doing well.

 

Man i just want to go to VIR so bad!!
I would like to drive the Mini but if I have to drive a 911 its ok too. I think i will have more fun in the Mini. I love the way it drives with the short wheel base and excellent balance...oh man i cant imagine how awsome it will be at VIR. I hope I can do the full course, but anything is fine with me My husband is signing up for a few events so i will let you guys know which one when i find out.

Are you are going with the BMW club?? If so which ones are you going to in the next few months, and maybe I can plan those as well. Right now i am only planning Porsche Club events, but it can change.

 

check it

http://www.tarheelbmwcca.org/fallschool.htm