I'm starting a new topic here. This got lost in the ST Paddy parade post.

I'm wondering if there is any interest in going to Nelson Ledges race track for a fun day on June 15th. A few folks here & on NEO MINI have expressed interest. The more the merrier.

Details here... http://www.nelsonledges.com/GOTSched...26&thisMonth=5

I talked with Kerri Lane about convertibles & she said she did not believe the MINI roll bar is sufficient to prevent serious injury in event of a roll over. That means no convertibles at Nelson. Sorry folks.

 

I'm interested for sure. Glad you started a new thread on this.

 

I might be interested, but just what does a "Fun Day" include?

 

Jeff, we'd love to have you come.

Everything you need to know can be found by following the link I posted.

Here's the short answer....

You get track time from 10:00 to 4:00.

No instructors will be there, but if you need some help there will be folks there that will help you.

Passing only on the straights & only if given a point by.

This is not an exclusive MINI event. For that to happen we would have to come up with $4,500 dollars or so. At $120 for each driver it's best for us to use one of Nelsons scheduled track days.

Nelson isn't a glamor track like Mid-Ohio, but it's a very nice one. In fact I like it more than M-O. The owners & volunteers have made many improvements to it since the last time I raced there. I guarantee you will have fun.

 

Chuck, I've never raced and probably will never race. I enjoy the HPDEs, though. I'm kinda leery of being on a track I don't know [and with no instructor], and even more uneasy about passing only on straights, especially with the inevitable hotdogs who will try to pass elsewhere, too.

Also, I have heard that their track hasn't been repaved and is very uneven...is that true? How long is it? How many turns? How many straights?

 

damnit!!!!! wish i was still in ohio. i love nelson ledges fun days!!! so cheap for good track time.

Just a few facts on nelson from someone (me) who has run on the track multiple times.

-the track is basically the AAA of motorsports, it is in farm and hill country and very low budget
-generally people WILL ONLY pass on the front and back straight with a finger point. people are not insane, and if passing occurs on other points of the track they will be black flagged and brought into the pits, warned or told to go home. safety is always first
-the track needs re-paved in a lot of areas. It is not smooth like mid-ohio, etc. expect to run the track a few times before you punch it to learn these problem areas.
-if the grass is wet on , say after a previous nights rain, you are going to want to avoid run offs and slipping off the road at all costs. you WILL get stuck, flip your car, do serious damage, etc

other than that it is only a 7 or 8 turn track. it is very high speed with a lot of sweepers, and a few off camber sweepers so be wary.

the back straight has a small dogleg to the right about 75% of the way, but you can typically go through it full throttle with the right line. right after that is the trickiest part of the course as it is a HARD* braking zone into some uneven road, then a 45deg shoot to the left and a 180 keyhole onto the front stretch. if you can get a good line you can get onto the front stretch blazing!!!

leave your traction control on untill you get comfortable. i left mine on a lot. it is a bit slower in the turns, but it will keep you out of the dirt. and you dont want to go into the dirt on this track!

pic is from nelson on the right. you can see the track condition.

 

OH YEAH. also the track is REALLY narrow. 2 car wide just about

more pics of track:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericwright/24577227/

i believe this was at classics track day:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/daveronku/224182754/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/daveronku/224182637/

lots of good minis on nelson pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/daveronku/page26/

not my pics but i am up there with the black wheels...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/daveronku/224181846/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/duckpix/144098399/

 

So, it's OK to run it kinda slow a few times until one "gets his bearings" [and do a lot of point bys in the meantime], without getting blasted off the track by the guys who DO know their way around it?

 

defylogik's description is pretty good. Falling off the track at Nelson isn't really any worse than other tracks. It's a fun day, not a race, so don't do it. Drive at the level you are comfortable. You won't be flat footing the kink your first time there.

You will have no problems running slow until you get your bearings. As was said if people are passing where they shouldn't they are black flagged & talked to. Anymore problems & they will show them the door.

If you are uncomfortable because it's a new track, don't be. It's a great one & loads of fun. I'd be willing to ride around with you to help you.

You can pass between 13 & 2, the front straight & between 9 & 11 on the back straight.

Here's a link to a track map.....

http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Nelson_Ledges

 

Thanks, all. It looks a lot better than I had imagined...funny what a track map will do to ease some apprehensions! Ok...unless something evil happens to my car or me between now and then, count me in!

One more question, though. Is it $120 per car or $120 per person [as in perhaps 2 different drivers]?

Jeff

 

Glad to hear you'll be coming Jeff. The way I read it, each driver will have to pay $120.

 

Thanks again, Chuck! Well, if my friend can come that day, it will be a homecoming of sorts for him, as he has driven it several times. I'm hoping he can show me around a bit, too. Day-ummm...NOW I'm getting excited!

 

Hey Jeff, when I get to Putnam I'll ask you for some help there. Looks like a Fun Day is shaping up.

Good luck there this weekend. Take your rain gear.

 

Rain gear, hell...I'm taking a snow shovel! I am NOT looking forward to another weekend of "windows down and rain with snow pellets shooting thru the open cabin". Oh well, at least the heaters do a great job on the hands, and I DO have seat heaters, too. Looks like I'll get full use of my sweatshirts and thermals!!

 

I hope your weather is better that ours was.

Snow you say??

 

My dad would be really interested. We have a e90 325i, and if it is alright with everyone, we would love to join! Just wondering what's required (besides money) i.e. helmet, license (track) other stuff I don't know about... Thanks!

 

Hi mcbrendan, sure Dad your could come. All the info you need can be found by following this link....

http://www.nelsonledges.com/GOTSched...26&thisMonth=5

This event is open to all cars not just MINI's.

 

How about my Jeep Cherokee?? Hopefully we can make it... I will be out of the country until the 14th, so I am sure I am going to be exhausted, but it sounds like soooooo much fun.

 

Jeep Cherokee eh? See you in the tire wall.

Hope you can make it.

 

Tire Wall Schmire Wall, this thing drifts like a Supra. I think we will be coming the 15th and maybe again on the 22nd with a friend (Z06 anyone???).

 

i may want to go

 

Great Doug. Are you going to be hunting with the stealth MINI?

 

Chuck...it was so bad at Putnam Park on Saturday with the sleet/wind/rain/low temps that they closed the course in the afternoon for the last 2 track sessions. In a way, that was strange to me, as Mid-Ohio never closes in inclement weather...well, at least they didn't close last October during our ice/snow/rain/wind/sleet/lightning/low temp event. However, the people at Putnam say that since their course is out in the open [while Mid-Ohio has lots or trees around it], they need to consider their corner workers! Hell, it was so cold and windy that most of their corner workers had taken refuge INSIDE their own cars while we were driving.

You'll want to pay close attention to turn 7...it's as slick and nasty a right angle turn after a short straight as you'll ever want to try, especially after coming off a burst of speed and a then hard brake as you approach it. I made my instructor grab the "ohhh crap handle" as my Saturday skid started, LOL. He was impressed [said to me, "wow, THAT was fun!"] that I knew how to regain control without spinning off the course and continue on my way. Anyway, it made me super-cautious whenever I entered that turn for the rest of my tracktime there.

Sunday was a perfect, sunny day, although the wind was brutal. The course dried out and we all just had a ball.

You will, too!

 

Thanks for filling me in. I was wondering about you guys as I checked the weather radar for Putnam. If the instructor isn't grabbing the OH GOD handle you're not going fast enough. Sounds like you were Jeff. Sounds like a fun time.

 

I started in intermediate, and ended with my instructor saying I could get into advanced intermediate...so I was pretty happy with my driving.