After many years of watching, wishing and wanting.... I did it. I've officially entered the 2022 OLOA. Technically, I'm on the waiting list. But I talked with Brock Yates Jr the other day and he seemed pretty certain that we would get in the event. As a quick aside, he's a Mini guy. Had an '05S that he loved until a truck pulled out in front of him and totaled it. I think he is excited to have another Mini join the competition. Here's the route:

This will be my first time. My dad is the co-driver, and his first time as well. So, we're Lap Pups. Which means we don't know anything. It's daunting. Looks like our class we'll be competing against a Focus, a Rio, a Fit, and a Mazda 2 that I can tell so far. I'm certain that we'll have the cheapest car on the grid, coming in at $1700 (I actually have more money in the wheels and tires I use for AutoX). We are starting to put together the many lists of things we need. I'm hoping that I can lean on this community for some support leading up to and during the event.

Our initial budget for the event and all the minimal prep work is looking at $10,000... which is a lot. Some of that is modding the car the direction it was going anyway, so it's not lost money. I'm expecting $6,000 for the event itself, $3,500 of that is entry, then add in things like food, gas, and a place to sleep during the event and the dollars add up quick.

Here's the history of the Mini all the way to where I am today: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...build-out.html

We have some decisions to make, I could use your opinions as we go. If anyone has run OLOA before, let me know. I could use your experience.

 

I don't have any experience to share since I've never done anything like this although I have some lapping experience and about 7 years in autocross. I'm pretty much here to cheer you on. It's awesome that you're doing this with your Dad, too!

Please keep us all posted on progress and challenges. I'm sure the community's communal experience may be able to help you.

 

I'm really surprised that no one in the community has any experience with the event. A Mini won (class) at a previous event. Anyway, I'm trying to get prepared for the event and could use some help. Specifically:

• Does anyone have experience towing a trailer with the a Mini? What trailer? What hitch? What do I need to watch out for?
• Can you recommend / provide contact for friendly and knowledgeable mechanics (or mechanical people) on the route (in case we get into mechanical trouble that we can't fix on our own)?
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Tennessee
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Georgia - Already know my way to Way
  • Alabama - (this is my state, I can handle this one)
  • Mississippi
  • Arkansas
  • Oklahoma
  • Kansas
  • Missouri
  • Illinois
• Do we know anyone how has taught HPDEs at any of the tracks on the list? CMP and Barber, I have some experience, but could use some help with:
  • Nashville Roval
  • Hallett
  • Heartland
  • Putnam

It's a lot of asking for help. My thought is to build a support list and keep it with us in the car on a trip. So if we run into trouble, we can call down that list as a first start for help. That's seems like a way better idea than trying to scramble around after you've broke something.

Then, the format of the event is a single sighting lap, then 3 timed laps. That's it. Every lap counts. So, the more I know about a track before I get there, the better I should perform. Everyone watches videos, but watching one with a coach that has driven the track and knows the details makes a huge difference. For example, here are my CMP track notes:

 

I have a MiniDoMore hitch, but I’ve only used it for a bike rack. Other people do tow with it though.