I have been to 3 ALL MINI track days so far. I will be going to the June 19th Thunderhill event which will have everything from Miatas, 911s, Lotus etc. Here is the registered driver link listing all the car types. http://www.gotgutsatthunderhill.com/DriverList.html

My question is, what will be different or what kind of etiquette is there to observe when you are out there on a track with cars MUCH faster and probably cars that can't take the turns as fast as a Mini?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

 

Pass em ...have NO MERCY ... Just wait for their signal and GO

 

Well if its like any track day I have been to, they wont really have much trouble taking the turns as quickly as MINIs unless it's a highly technical track.

 

Don't worry about it. Just go out and have fun and be safe. Watch for faster cars, and point them by and when you want to pass present yourself and wait for their point by.

 

both higher and lower power cars, and you'll pass higher and lower power cars. The biggest problem I've found at events where there are a lot of high horsepower cars is some novice drivers forget the cars that were in thier mirrors through all the turns, and just hammer it in the straights and don't let anyone by. Usually they'll get the "blue flag" but if they don't and it's getting to you, just pull into the hot pit to give them some space, and go on back out and enjoy your run.

Have fun and be considerate. If everyone else does that too, then a good time will be had by all.

Matt

 

asking for space is for whimps!

just kidding...although, your better off filling his rear view until you get the point by (assuming one has the skills to pull off such a task) and then you both get to maximize your time for that session.

Ive seen guys go in for space 3 times a session, only to then complain about only 3 full laps...

 

If the driver in front is too challenged to use his or her mirrors, riding his or her *** isn't the safest way to get around a track. The corner workers are there for a reason, and they have the blue flag for a reason. If they aren't using it (and I've been to one or two events where the corner workers were a bit off thier game), usually a brief word to the track mashal will take care of things.

If the offending driver is too much of a ***** to be considerate, then a comment in the pits or to the event coordinator can usually get things taken care of.

Usually, this is more a problem in the novice group. Keep in mind that this group has the largest distribution in skill level, and for some very new drivers, having someone on their butt scrubbing the chrome off their bumper can make them nervous and unsafe. Not to mention, it can really turn off a new driver to the whole thing, which isn't good for anyone, or our hobby.

Just some other things to think about.

And pulling in for space is one of the best habits of an experienced driver. A brief pause can often get one access to large enough gaps that you basically get an open track. Some of the best drivers I know would rather do that then fight through a pack of slower drivers, especially with limited passing zones....

Matt

 

If there are instructors in the cars, there shouldn't be any problems. The instructors are there (among many other reasons) to remind the people that only go fast in the straights to give point bys to the people that are running faster laps by being fast in the corners. The instructors are also there to let you know that you need to let someone past you.

If drivers cannot figure out these two points on their own, they shouldn't be out there without an instructor.

Sure, I've had people in my way for 2 to 3 laps, but they eventually let me by. And I've held up faster cars for a passing zone or two - because I didn't notice them in time to let them past at the first opportunity, or because for some reason I didn't feel safe letting them pass in a certain spot.

The biggest problem I've run into is when there's a high power car in front of me that I am running faster laps than, but that car doesn't point me by for a while. Then, cars that are faster than I am start stacking up behind me. The best bet is to force the cars behind you to wait until you can make the pass on the roadblock in front. Point a car by you when you're being held up usually doesn't work well, but I wind up doing it a few times. If the car behind you is really fast, they might be able to get past both you and the car in front of you in one straight.

Errr... don't worry about all this. Just listen to your instructor and the rest of the staff.

 

This has not been my experience at all. In fact I've had more hold ups with cars that have instructors in them. Don't depend on them to be aleart that you want a pass by.

 

I've done 3 all Mini trackdays and 3 other car trackdays in the Mini. I didn't really have any problems and enjoyed all the trackdays. It goes fine as long as people pay attention and play by the rules. It can be annoying if high power cars drop the anchor going in to turns and if people don't point you by. You can usually see who they are and stay away from them though. I found the Miatas to be very fast in the corners and the Corvettes to be fast on the straights. I guess that figures.

 

Hi Matt,
Not totally sure I agree with you, so im going to respond to lend another perspective...but Im not trying to start a fight or anything..

The blue/yellow is a suggestion flag, if you get Blue flagged, its mearly a reminder to look at your mirrors, not move over... so corner worker or not, its the lead drivers responsbility to deal with traffic..in front or behind...

My comments were with the assumption that this group of drivers who are worried about "getting through" have enough experience and skill to justify the pressure and the subsequent passing...novices need not apply. ( I think I saw red fury's sparco suit and thought I was in the racing forum) If you are a novice and you are looking to get through in non passing zones at a track day, save the money and go get a race license right!?!? But going back, I guess this is more of a novice thread...in which case, I would say, "Novices, play it nice and safe and dont run up on people...get an instructor and pay attention to yourself, your car and the track"

But to your space comment... People always say at these HPDE's "you can come in and ask for space"... but its not supposed to be that way. If everyone is aware of themselves and their surroundings, space sorts itself out. This Pit Space concept comes from racing where if you are running a group qualifying heat in a race session and you want full open track to try to set your fastest lap and you keep catching the back runner... Ask some of the resident marshalls, some will laugh at you and tell you to make your own space.... they are not being mean, just trying to get the field sorted on their own. Maybe its different in the novice run groups, and theres value to asking for space. At the advanced/racing levels, it seems like a bit of a premadona move...but this is a HPDE thread so I think Im in the minority here.. which brings me to my last point specific to this thread:

2006mcsasteve

Lots of racers go to HPDE's but not as many HPDE's drivers race. You'll be on the track with people much better than you, and there will be people you never want to be on a track with ever again.....Do only what you are comfortable with and make sure you get to drive what you brought home at the end of the day. If everyone gives the other participants a little mutual respect on the track all will work out for everyone...Since this is not a race, dont worry about holding anyone up. Give them the point by when you can safely and be prepared and ready to pounce when you should be getting a point by...anyone getting pissy about passing at an HPDE needs to think twice about why they are at that non competition event...

 

If you miss/ignore enough blue flags, they will turn black.

 

Thanks everyone for the great feedback. I was worried about being on the track with such a diverse group of cars, but it clearly sounds like, as long as everyone goes out there with the respect, patience and gusto for fun, that all will work itself out.

 

I would say that the majority of us that have tracked our Minis have never even done an all mini track day. I think that would be awfully boring myself..

 

These are the words to live by for DE, especially when there is a diverse mix of cars that are participating. Don't worry so much about the higher HP cars - but do mind your mirrors and let people by when it is safe and they have room. Depending on the track layout and location of passing zones, there might be times when a train will form. If people start getting uppity they can either pull into the hot pit for a moment, or wait patiently until the next available passing zone. Remeber that the 'E' in DE is for education. You aren't going to be learning anything if you are constantly worrying about potentially faster cars. Relax and have fun. If you've never run with other marques, you will be amazed sometimes that, for example, a Viper that was fast approaching on a straight will no longer be in your mirrors after you finish a set of corners.

 

As a follow up, the track day with non-minis went awesome. I was very impressed with a G35 driver and M3 driver, the only two who I consistently had to move over for in my group. The miatas were either easy to pass or at the same level, so that was fun. Luckily I wasn't in the advanced group with the race prepped Viper, Vette, Lotus etc.

The Miata guys with SAMOA were really awesome and it was a fun day.