If you're just talking parade laps, they do something like $5 deals on opening day, info should be on the Glen's official site and it ought to get you itching to do it at speed.

slinger - I've ridden along at Calabogie, it's beautiful. I want to drive it this year as well, we'll see.

 

Opening day at the Glen: 4/24 & 4/25. $25 for 3 paced laps & for $50 you get 6 more laps. Saturday is for car clubs or groups. Minis from central NY, southern tier of NY (Tiermini.com) and western NY (Buffalo, Rochester area) are meeting up on Saturday morning at the track. Cathleen (Yellowmininy) from western NY has reserved 11:30 track time. You're welcome to join us. Link to more detail:http://tiermini.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=122. Also see theglen.com and http://miniclubofwny.activeboard.com...picID=34712094.


RE: MINI tracks. Watkins Glen is my home track. Fun to drive & challenging.

 

I get to Mid Ohio 4 times a year [sometimes more] for BMW CCA HPDEs. It's very technical and I like it most of the other courses I've been on [Autobahn, Putnam Park, Nelson Ledges]. If I were to list my second favorite, though, it would have to be Putnam Park, as I get there 1-2 times a year and took my first HPDEs there. I'd love to drive that Bluegrass course in KY, someday, too...IF they ever get it opened.

 

Seems like the paced laps have a max speed of 55 mph according to the link.

I find that WGI has the fastest top speed (just going into the bus stop) for my Mini compared to any of the other east coast tracks I have been on.

Anyone staying or going to the SCDA event in WGI Aprl 26-27?

 

I have to put Mid Ohio on my list of tracks to do... But it may have to be next year. Too many tracks, too little time.

 

Too little time??? You're retired, remember?

Regarding WGI's back straight, I heard one of our track stars hit 155 before having to tap on her brakes before the bus stop.

 

[quote=veggivet;3026990]Too little time??? You're retired, remember?

As a fellow retiree, I can honestly say that, once retired, there really IS NOT enough time in a day to get everything done in a normal lifetime. So, THAT'S why I put almost everything else on hold, and just go to the HPDEs!

 

Hmmmm, I wonder who that was....

 

Schao may be going.....and/or TM's a few days later with me.

 

You guys are too funny...

 

[quote=welshmenwillnotyield;3027064]Maybe soon to be an ex-retiree...

Thinking of trading 20 months of work for 10 years of track time (25 days a year) and a new track car...

Still a hard choice. Just liked my ability to do what I want...

 

That sounds like a pretty good trade. See you tomorrow at Lime Rock. The new Enkeis are waxed and the car is all packed.

 

See you at LRP tomorrow.

I cannot use my Enkeis this time. The lug bolts they sent along are M12x1.5 not the M14x1.25. The stock lugs are too short... Found that out this morning when I was swapping rotors, pads, brake fluid etc...

 

They probably sent me the same ones so I'm out of luck, too.

 

You are fine since you have a r53 with M12 lug bolts and you have studs.

 

After trying the VIR Grand East, I would have to say this is one fantastic Mini track.

 

Arrgh....sorry I missed it.

 

I had a chance to run a VIR half track with Tar Heel & Toe BMWCCA on a rainy weekend in 2009. Loved absolutely every bit. If I had the time off this summer I would have gone again. Great crowd, absolutely beautiful scenery to run in. I'm used to HMS and Sebring, where shade is as scarce as the foliage.

Nothing beats ******* out a high powered 911 or Corvette owner at Sebring.

 

Come back to VIR in October. 1-3rd we'll be doing it all over again and it should be a little cooler than it was two weeks ago.

 

That doesn't sound like your stock MCS to me ....And I thought that hitting 115 before the bus stop was doing good. Well, maybe for the 3rd day ever (2 day'er at WGI) it was ok.

Veggi - you missed a great Tuesday at WGI this week. Half the people left Monday night and we had the whole track to ourselves .

This post caught my eye as Moticello and WGI are the first 2 tracks that I have been on. My impression as a beginner - Monticello is a really good learning track. First off - the guard rails are a ways off the track; much less of a pucker factor and one less thing to worry about. Not to say you don't have to be concerned about going off the track, you do - saw one wreck -, it is not as intimidating WGI so you can concentrate on driving. It is also a bit of an ego track - 125 in a stock MCS down the back stretch on the 1st day out was quite a rush.

WGI is definately a "drivers" track with plenty of pucker factor. But, my Mini seems very "secure" on the track and never gave me cause for concern, even through the mistakes I made. However, this is a track where brakes rule. Extra Hp is alway nice, but, a lot of the braking is going downhill (turn 1, the toe, etc) and there is extra momentum to get rid of. A good high temp track pad is a must.

Overall - Both tracks are a rip and completely different, but that just makes them 2 great tracks to go to.

My Beginner advice to any begineer - forget all of the upgrades you read about here, except for brake pads for the front. No cross-drilled rotors (I made that mistake). Suspension mods, wheels and tires can come later. Then if you're serious, engine mods. For pads, get real race pads; something for over 1000 deg F. I over heated a set a Hawk HPS my first day out in my first session.

Buy your helmet at a local motorcycle shop. Get a full face.

Cost ~$150 for pads, ~$150 for the helmet, ~$250 HPDE day on a great track, adrenaline rush -PRICELESS

As for Mods - The Mini come very track ready from the factory. But if you want to do mods, start with a 19mm rear sway bar set on the mid setting or a 20mm on the softest setting (they are about the same). This will make any tire work well on the track and it will keep the fronts from rolling over onto the sidewall. Leave the 22mm bar to the experienced driver and other serious mods. Next - a set of Ireland fixed camber plates (R56 camber can be up to -1.6 deg) and the steering feel will be greatly improved.

Anyone up for Monticello on 8/30?

 

Eddie, you must be JS.

You have just been to, in my opinion, the two best tracks in the NE. Glad you had fun at WGI. Thanks for your help trying to retreive my brake reservior cap. My car is now at Keeler', Kyle is working on the CV.

I am not going to Monticello. My next track day is SCDA Sept 13-14 at NJMP.

 

VV is just joking about the stock Mini MCS R53 getting up to 155 mph at Monticello. It was something a novice driver told us last year when she drove on the track for the first time. Even s-driver could not acheive those speeds in his souped up track car.

 

155!!! That would be cool if possible in a MINI but 130 is about the most you could hope for there. Myself - best was 122mph on my 15" rims.

Slinger.....how did your new coilovers feel last time out? See you at NJMP in Sept...

 

Coils definately feel much better than the stock suspension. Turn in could be much better if I retained the camber plates. I just have marginal camber at -1.0 which is too little for the track.

I am thinking of either replacing the stripped bolts on my old IE plate and moving them over or buying some new ones perhaps some Voshlags.

 

I saw about 210 kph (Canadian) on my instructor's outstandingly modified M3 on the back stretch before the bus stop. Going up through the esses in that car with him at the wheel was a real learning experience. I found out that they were not as limiting as I thought. It allowed me to open up the turbo. 210 kph is about 130. 155 kph would be about 95 mph which would be resonable. Maybe there is some truth in the legend .