For those of you itching to get your Mini on a track you have a couple of good opportunities at relatively low prices coming up.

First, the SCCA is sponsoring a PDX day at Thunderhill on July 25th. For those who aren’t familiar with it, a PDX as run by SCCA is basically a HPDE event. You run with folks with similar experience, and have a classroom session or two and instructors ride with you. The day is shared with IT class competitors qualifying for a race the next day, so you can have some fun spectating when you’re not on track. You get four sessions, cost is $150. For details see:
http://tinyurl.com/nlfgjk

Second, the Golden Gate Chapter BMW club is sponsoring a two-day HPDE school at Thunderhill Aug 8-9th. This is IDEAL for your first time on the track. You’ll learn a ton, and have enough seat time to put it in practice. There’s also a BMW club race the same weekend, so you’ll get to see a lot. And a lot of what you learn at the track isn’t just when you’re driving. The cost is $400. You have to get your car checked out, and you need to have completed their Car Control Clinic (it’s July 25th; I know that last year the Clinic filled so they excused that requirement for folks that couldn’t get in. I’d recommend an autox as an alternative at least). Info here:
http://www.ggcbmwcca.org/?page=calendar&id=395
I would say that the BMW club is probably the best way to learn to drive on a track this side of one of the pro schools like Barber or Russell.

I’d love to see some more Minis out there (although I’ll be driving a rental Miata on the 25th). The instructors love ‘em and several drive them. And they are the perfect car to start on the track with IMHO.

Rob

 

I was going to mention Hooked on Driving they're having the Weekend of July 4th/5th at Infineon (aka Sears Point), but that's almost sold out. I'm booked in for that one. They have regular dates at Thunderhill as well.

 

I'm signed up for that one on the 4th. Infineon's a great track And close to home for me.

 

http://www.nasaproracing.com/norcal/...09calendar.htm

We have several MINIs that participate on a regular basis:
HPDE groups 1 thru 4.
Instructors (MINI owners)
USTCC racing
Time Trials competition

I've been with NASA Norcal for several years. On track (at least) every month of the year.

 

Are you only there on the 4th? I'm there on the 5th. Infineon looks like an interesting track, but those concrete walls are scary.

 

Yeah, running off there would be a bummer. I did the BMW two-day there in the spring, and it was pretty intense for a first-timer on that track. I’d say of the three up north it was the hardest to learn, and I had two days and great instructors.

You’re always doing something there: up, down, left, right. And the Carousel and turn 11 are more difficult to get right then they might seem. I saw more mistakes than I’d seen before at a track day, and BMW is pretty conservative. That being said, it’s a great track because of that. When you hit stuff right it’s amazing. Check out the in-car cams from the NASCAR dudes this weekend; it’ll provide an interested perspective even though they now run a slightly different course. You’ll love it.

Rob

 

I'm only there on the 4th. If you haven't done infineon, check out some in car videos.