Here's the video from my homemade camera setup at a track event last Monday at Virginia International Raceway in Danville, VA. We were on the full course, so at 3.27 miles it's a pretty good length. It's got some really nice elevation changes too which make it fun.

The first session I didn't get on video because I didn't have time to setup the camera rig in the car. It was in the rain and the whole session was under the yellow flag, so it would have been pretty boring to watch.

The second session was under yellow for about 10:00 cause the track was still a bit wet (but drying out). That was ok, because it was the closest I ever got to being on the tail of a 911 turbo!

Second session

After reviewing the second session I realized that the gargantuan rear view mirror had to go since it pretty much dominated the camera's field of vision. Made for a much better video... Got some good passes in on this session, namely the cars that a Mini ought not be passing on a track. But hey, this is the beginner group after all! Green flag went down at ~5:00.

Third session

This is probably my best session here. I started up towards the front of the run group and got up to the front relatively quickly. Had the track in front of me clear for a right long time so i wasn't bogged down behind traffic. Tires start to get too hot about half way through, resulting in me going a little deep into some turns and the tires sreaming.

Fourth session


Any criticism, constructive or otherwise, is always welcome!

Here's the graphic of the track...

Sorry the Google video is kind of grainy, but it was the only place where I wasn't limited to a certain time length video or file size.

 

Looks like a blast. I really want to track a car, but my base MC may be inadequate. Did you remove the rearview mirror for better forward visiblity? Did it come off easily?

 

no car is underpower under the right driver! sides, its the corners where you catch guys with 500 hp mustangs

all part of the fun of the mini

 

I dunno, you might be surprised what a Cooper can do.

Yes, i did remove the rear view. It's a piece of cake once you figure out how to do it. Of course getting there can be aggravating! The best thing to do is not pull the mirror off the base. It's a ball-and-socket joint that's a real P.I.T.A. to get back together. Take the base and rotate it 90 degrees, the whole thing should drop down. It'll still be connected by some wires to the headliner...do not cut these! (They go to the circuit for detecting the remote's lock/unlock features) Pull the plastic "clamshell" apart from the base and you'll see the plug for the wires inside and you can disconnect it there. Voila, you're done!

 

This track puts Firebird Raceway (in Phoenix, I call it Fireturd) to shame!
You did well by listening to the instructor. Fun to watch you reel in the other cars.

 

Fun video. Thanks for sharing.

 

looked like a blast....i take it you were instructed not to pass on a corner or approaching a corner?

 

Correct. The beginner group could only pass with a point-by and on the front/back/and bridge straights.

 

Good stuff! Thanks for including the track graphic - set up side by side with the video makes for instructive viewing. I look forward to tackling this track someday soon.

 

VIR is a fantastic track, I've been on it with a friend in a NASA T1 Corvette. You were doing very well for a stock MCS on runflats, and it looked like you had a good instructor too.
It's fun to get to pass people, isn't it?
As for running justacoopers on track, you'll be surprised just how fast they'll go. The only place they'll be overtaken is on the longer straights where HP rules.
I have an '03 MCS JCW that I run in similar events at Heartland park, Topeka. I take 10 or more MINI's from our KC club when I go and 2 of those are Coopers - one is a CVT and he goes really well!

The more you do this the better you'll get too.........