There is still a lot of time before June 15th to make plans.

 

I'll admit i have a problem of my own making here. I like BOTH courses! However, since I just returned from Putnam Park, and since Indy is all torn up as they create the "Super 70", it looks as if Mid-Ohio will see me this August as well as in October. The ride back here from Putnam took almost 4 hours...I can just picture it in the August heat, and at vacation time, too....

As for the wallet...hey, an old retired teacher has to have SOME fun! Besides, didn't ya know teachers are rich?

 

True. I just hope my friend goes with me...don't get to see him much anymore, especially since he got tired of being retired and went back to work.

 

well since my friend greg (bean) started this thread I feel it necessary to chime in. I agree with everything said previously

HPDE is the best mod for the money

You are all old farts

I would also like to add some other points to the thread.

There is one very important secret to going fast - having confidence
in both your ability/skill and your equipment.

Since we have three tracks that we get to run on Homestead, Moroso and Sebring and the weather to go year round, Greg and I have many events to choose from. In addition to that, we have a good core group of mini owners that also agree (DE's are the best way to learn) so we have usually 5-10 minis at our events each time on the track. In addition to all of that, we also have many other events to go to and watch (SCCA, Grand Am, NASA). Well we have learned that your brakes and tires mean the world to you.

Running on a set of R comps, with upgraded brakes could be the truly best way to go fast (go figure, go faster because you can stop better)

A friend of greg's that runs SCCA SSB class runs with, stock rotors, race pads, 16in rims with R comps. He's faster then greg or I could hope to be and our cars have more mods then he is allowed to run in that class. Of course he has been racing in SCCA since the 70's

yeah did I mention you guys are all old farts

 

They are, not me...

Think I'm gonna have to sit down with Google Maps and see just how far Dallas is from Mid-Ohio. Whats the group thats doing the track days with the Mini's there?

 

BMWCCA, Buckeye Chapter. The first session is August 25-26; the second is October 27-28. The August session should be warm and maybe rainy. The October session is anyone's guess...last year, we rain in low temps, sleet, wind, snow, ice, rain, thunder and lightning on the Saturday, but the Sunday runs were just partly cloudy with wind and low 50s.

Yeah, I AM an old fart, I guess, but I REALLY love driving HPDEs...even at my 'old fart' age! Hope YOU live long enough to enjoy it at my age, too!

 

I resemble that remark.

Youth is wasted on the young.

August looks like it's out for me. I have a commitment on Sunday. I said have a commitment, I'm not being committed.

Most likely October for me. Even though the weather is iffy, it can't be as bad as it was on April 7th.

 

well, I'm not that young, 34, but I do get to appreciate my toys while I am still this age. Looking forward to some more track time here in 1 weeks time.

Since Bean and I are local to eachother we tend to pair up at events and make sure there is more then 1 mini running. He and I are both intermediate/advanced and looking forward to getting our solo credit soon. Then the true fun can begin - no instructors and a couple of minis out there passing - M3's and Porsche's hurting some feelings and bruising some ego's as my one instructor said.

 

First - this is a great thread!

Second, to the comment above - last event at LRP I passed a 996 GT3 (intermediate group with a vast range of abilities) and my instructor said to me, "Look at that, you just saved 100,000$!" haha. Now once that guy learns to drive his car...

I've also had incredibly great experiences with instructors at BMW CCA events. PDA was a different story, but it's still track time to learn a lot.

mb

 

Greg and I are running with PCA on May 5/6 so that will be a new bunch for us.

We were normally running with PBOC and that was good fun, but PCA doesn't have any race, so you actually get more track time as there are only 4 groups on the track for the weekend. PBOC now has:

Novice, Intermediate, Advanced (solo), Super Solo (almost wheel to wheel racing) and Race Group. So now only are you all trying to get your time on the track between the normal groups but the race group has practice and a race each day so that is effectively another group as the race is 1 hour.

PCA is just run groups so that works, more track time for the $$$$

 

In the event any of you are in the area next month, we'd love to have ya........this is a great momentum track......very sticky as well.........

Roebling Road Raceway
Savannah, GA
May 19-20, 2007

HPDE 1-2-3-4
Instructor Clinic Level II
Competition License School
Time Trials

Thunder and Lightning Sprint Races
Performance Touring
Super Touring
944Cup
American Iron/CMC
Honda Challenge
Spec Miata
Spec E30

Host Hotel
Comfort Suites
Savannah Airport
1 Yvette Hagins Dr
Savannah, GA 31408
912.580.4300
$69 per night
you must ask for the NASA group rate.

For more details: NASA-SE.com

FYI: HPDE 2 is almost full and the other groups are filling quickly.

 

I don't know how it is in your part of the country, but around here I believe the BMWCCA bunch has the best events, best instructors, and safest, most well-run operation. They don't tolerate hot-*******, 2 spins and you're out. Nice bunch of people, too, they have been very nice to the MINIs. During one session, they have what they call "exercises". For the first half, you take everything as off-line as possible, for the second half, you're not supposed to use your brakes. Some people think it's stupid, but I was amazed at what you could learn.

 

In my part of the country (the northeast), the BMWCCA are up at the top of the heap also.

 

Hey Phlash thanks for the offer, that is my wife's b day weekend and there is not a chance in hell I am making it to the track without a visit to my neighborhood divorce attorney.

I do think that Greg and I would like to make it up to Savanah to run with you guys, and maybe you guys could join us at an event in Sebring - the mini is really fun on the full course, with the exception of the long back straight you really don't see the lack of power.

Keep the dates posted for Savanah, even though I can't make the May event there may be a chance on something later in the year.

I have a house in Daytona so that cuts down on the travel time when you can make that pit stop on the way up.

 

Bean and I are lucky, we have about 7 groups to run with in FL and so far all have been good.

NASA
PCA
PBOC
CHIN
SAFE MOTORSPORTS
BMWCCA

and I think there are one or two more - haven't run with BMWCCA and PCA is next week so that will be the first time with them

PBOC was good so far, looking forward to CHIN or SAFE much more time for the money from what we are hearing, anyone have any experience with these groups.

 

Here is the schdule for the rest of our SE season.

http://www.nasa-southeast.com/schedule.jsp

NASA FL is their own region.....but I sure would like to run Sebring.....I hear great things about it.

 

I like to think that I'm a competent driver on the track (not fishing for affirmation here). I also like to think that I'm not that competitive. I like to see other people succeed, even if it means they're going faster than I am.

But, I also get frustrated when I'm feeling slow.

Anyway, I finally got on the track this season! Here's a little video, and I'll write up a report soon:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...38078360&hl=en

 

Completely agree! Last time out there was an Mcoupe and an e36 M3 in my group. We were with each other all day; maybe I was a little quicker for the first 2.5 sessions. Then as stuff started to click for the drivers, they were freaking gone. I was pumped for them since they obviously learned how to get a lot more out of their cars. That's what this is all about at this stage!

mb