I am about to sign up for a Speedventures track day at Willow Springs on July 1 and 2. It will be fun to get a group of Minis to go together. Anyone interested? Here is the info:

http://www.speedventures.com/7-1-2006_event.asp

matt

 

You know what I already have this in my calendar as a maybe. I have been there a few times but not in the Mini. It is a fun track. Wide open in to Turn 8 at top speed. It is about a 6 hour drive from the Bay Area on the Freeway. There are backroads routes if you have time. Have you done a Speedventures trackday? I am wondering how they are. I have heard they run a good event. I am going to see if I can make it.

 

I have done Speedventures before and I liked it. Fairly well organized but also fairly loose, as they don't have a lot of manpower. You do your own tech. Point bys are required for all passing. The event I went to (Buttonwillow) was not crowded at all, so we got a lot of track time and didn't have to worry much about traffic.

This will be my first time at Willow Springs, as well as my first track day in the Mini. Got any tips for this track?

 

Bring water! Bring a sun shade! Bring food!

As far as the track, when I go to a new track I just do the regular thing and start out slow and learn it. If they have instructors I usually ride with one and have one drive with me for a session.

Willow Springs is tricky in places. Turn 1 is faster than it looks. Turn two is fast and long so you have to stay on it and the transition to 3 is deceiving as it is up hill and blind. Turn 5 takes practice to drop into as it is off camber and you feel like you are going to fall out of it. After you learn it Turn 8 is top speed and it is long so you have concentrate to stay oriented as you see nothing but desert. I remember seeing a buddy of mine go way off in to the distance in a cloud of sand. Turn 9 is a kink and running wide can send you towards the pit wall, so have to set this up right. Later in the day it can get very windy so have to pay attention as it can push the car.

Here is a turn by turn

http://www.willowspringsraceway.com/...ion/hotlap.asp

 

Well we made it. Having a good day at the track. It is a bit hot. Two Minis here. matma92ser and me.

 

Have fun, be safe, and take pix!

 

Here are the two Minis in the Paddock. Mat's uncle brought the truck and trailer and two Porsches. It is getting to be over 100. Taking a break in the cafe.

 

Heres the track.

 

Were you on the big track at Willow? I was there last weekend and we drove on the Streets of Willow. The Streets is a more technical track and speeds are generally kept below 100mph.

Definitely, hot hot hot out there. It was 107 degrees in the shade.

 

Yeah the big track. I'm there now. Going back out in a few minutes. It is way hot now. Can't stand in one place too long. I'll have to check out the Streets some time. Never tried it.

 

very cool! thanks for photos and notes.

 

My uncle was napping near our trailer when the Ford GT guy came over. He completely ignored the Porsche 911 Carrera 2 and Porsche 911 GT3. "Is that your Mini? It's pretty nice, what does it have in it?" My uncle couldn't figure out why this guy was so interested in the Mini and completely not interested in the Porsches. Later I told him it was because I had just passed the Ford GT on the track.

 

That's a funny story. I remember seeing the Ford GT out there. I bet he enjoyed seeing the Mini go by.

 

Oh yeah....I'll just bet he "enjoyed" that! Woo hoooo!

 

Here are a couple more photos:



PS - How do I insert the photos without first attaching the thumbnails?

 

Here's a 4 minute highlight video from our track day:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?p=1220562