All,

My new MINI is coming in next week, and my friend (with an Infiniti G-35 coupe) and I want to go to a track and drive at speed. Trouble is that we live in Northern Virginia and where on earth can we go? The only thing I found was Summit Point which has a Friday at the Track thing where you get some instruction and then get to take your car at speed (and can then graduate to track time without the instruction). It sounds absolutely perfect, except the people over there at Summit Point are such jerks that treated me so badly I would love to find some other place.

Is there any other place within a 4 hour or so drive from Northern Virginia that offers something equivilant to what Summit Point offers? Or am I stuck with then even though they do not care one bit about their customers?

Thanks,

- John Connor

 

With mapquest, BeaverRun is a bit of a drive (about 4 1/2 hours). But it looks like a fun track.
http://www.beaverun.com/track.asp

 

A quick check also shows that VIR (Virginia International Raceway) is about 4 hours from Northern VA (Fairfax).
VIR is around Danville, VA, the center bottom of the state, a great track to try as well. So, realistically when you look around the country, your location is not bad for having THREE tracks within 4-5 hours of you.

Brian

 

I'd be happy just to have the beltway closed just for me between Kensington and I-270. That stretch is like an 8-lane Dragon with the turns and banking.

 

Try a track event through one of the many for profit organizations or car clubs, that way you're not dealing directly with the Summit Point people. BMWCCA is a good one to join, they will automatically assign you to your local chapter. You can then generally participate in the events of other chapters, though sometimes other chapters will require you to join them, though that doesn't cost as much as the original membership. I think it's about $40-$45 for a one year membership. www.bmwcca.org

Another group that I like who runs a bunch of events there is NASA/Mid-Atlantic. www.nasaracing.net

Also look at this to find other organizations and events: www.trackschedule.com

VIR is a great facility, and the new track at Summit Point, Shenandoah, is getting rave reviews.

Good luck!

 

Oh, and there's Pocono Raceway, with road courses that utilize parts of the tri-oval, the East Course is my favorite.

 

Thanks all, I will definately sign up for the National Capital Area BMW club (if they allow MINI's). The NASA looks good, I'll go the FATT at Summit Point first. I just wish they were a little nicer over there, it seems since their events always fill up that they do not need to offer any customer service or be nice to their customers. Oh well.

- John

 

They allow MINIs, they allow all kinds of cars. You don't necessarily have to own a BMW, just be a BMW "enthuasiast". Anyway, the BMW chapters that I've run with love MINIs. I have heard that your chapter is pretty conservative in their HPDEs......you'll find the different chapters have very different personalities. Have fun!

 

WOW, they didn't have those in 2001, right? I didn't see them if they did.

Thanks,
Brian

 

I do believe that they've been there for years!! It is common for oval (Nascar) tracks to have road courses utilizing the infield and portions of the oval. NHIS is another that I've been to that does that, I know that there are many more.