Good. It sounds like Reg Pridmore's CLASS for motorcycles. I've done that twice and loved it.

Are we supposed to get something in the mail before the event? It's just over a week away; my check's been cashed, but I haven't gotten anything yet.

 

Call Phil Wick and ask ... WWW.MINIDRIVING.COM

 

I don't know for sure as I usually am a procrastinator and sign up at the last minute with no time to receive something by mail. I wouldn't worry about it though. Just go ready to have fun and learn and drive as fast as you can.

Sorry I am gonna miss it. Maybe another time.

 

I did. What a great guy! We talked about the horrible throttle response on the '05s. :-)

Emails were sent last week, but mine didn't show up; he's re-sending it. Basically, show up at 7pm. "Touring" laps will be allowed (sans helmets) for you to take your friends and family around the track during lunch. Aside from that, there's nothing new from what's available on the website.

Whee! Can't wait!

 

Not sure of meaning of: "the horrible throttle response" of 05s

Could you elaborate on that ... and its fixes are ?

 

He told me he'd just brought a new '05 back from SC, ~700 miles, and was asking if I had a dead spot around 3k RPM; he'd never driven one on the street before. I don't feel anything like that, but I do notice what I believe to be very abrupt throttle response. For example, in 2nd gear at 3000 RPM or so, if I let off the gas slightly, the car lurches back a bit; if I give it a little more, the car lurches forward. "Lurches" is kind of strong a strong word for it, but it certainly isn't smooth. It's most noticable when I'm trying to be smooth, like adjusting my speed in a corner.

I'm still getting to know the car; I've got just over 1200 miles on, so far, and haven't put any time into looking if others have had this "problem". It may well just be "how it is"...

 

I don't think I have that, BUT I wouldn't know .....

My foot is PLANTED on the FLOOR 99% of the time, just in different gears

 

That's the best solution I've found so far. I keep bruising the apples doing that, however. ;-)

 

See y'all at the TRACK come saturday morning

I will NOT be able to make it for Friday evening, due to the kids

I should be there by 7am .... Phil

 

Just wanted to remind anyone that MINICCI will be out at Putnam park tomorrow. So bring your picnic lunch and come watch some MINI's on the track. We will be having lunch at noon, and anyone will be able to take touring laps in your MINI during the lunch time. A great chance to get a feel for being on the track. Hope to see you there. Heads up there is a $10 gate/insurance fee for each person coming out to the track.

 

What a GREAT TRACK and great track training ....


Thanks Phil and Instructors ... we had a RIOT and really tore up some tires, Cobras too

Phil ---

RED FURY Approaching at high speeds- -Move aside please - Thank you

 

Glad you had fun but don't tell much more. I'm really bummed that I had too much to do and couldn't make it up there.
We played at Nashville two weeks ago and I really wanted to do Putnam Park.

Just kidding......tell all, especially about the Cobras. It IS great fun, isn't it.

 

Due to some technical difficulties, I was unable to participate, but I spectated for the better part of Saturday, and managed to hop a ride with Phil for a few laps.

There was a good turnout on Saturday, with more MINIs than I dared count, and a smattering of other cool cars: a couple of AC Cobras, an Elise, an Esprit, a newer M3, a 325, a newer Vette, a completely stripped and track-prepped 912 (?), a couple of Miatas, and two A4s. It was really fun watching everyone rip it up, but not as much fun as doing it yourself... I somehow managed to forget my camera at home, too! Grrrrr!

 

I scheduled my day for Saturday. I was kinda bummed when people were saying that it was supposed to rain Sat and be better Sun. But we got in four sessions in the dry on Saturday, and one final one in the rain. I think all groups (novice A & B, intermediate/advanced, and expert/instructor) all did 5 total. Today was a total washout here in Terre Haute. I can't imagine it was any better 40 miles away.
It was my first time on a track, and it was great. First off the ride with the instructor was an eye opener. Then trying to find the lines myself. Wow. Too much fun. And getting to watch the others go was cool, too. The Esprit was belching flames going around. The Cobras sounded great.

I had a chance to meet and talk with some great folks, as well. Red Rage (Phil) I talked to for a minute about his ride. I didn't realize it was the One Lap car/driver til later. And Mick in the Killer Bee cabrio. Thanks for chatting, guys. Of course I spent lots of my free time with our club folks. Mike, I loved watching and hearing you scream around the track. That Alta intake rocks. Jeff Ellis, from Piqua, good to meet you, hope you join us for more events.
The instruction was good, paced for our level. I think I scared Tom once or twice on the track though. I was too ignorant to be scared myself.
All in all, had a great time. Definitely gonna do that again. Soon I hope.
Big kudos to all at Phil Wicks Driving Academy, and especially to the man himself. A great time was had by all.
Cheers!

 

I had the pleasure of instructing a couple of the folks at the Phil Wicks event in Indiana and meeting a lot of the Indiana MINI Club members...great people! I had a wonderful time and hope you did, too.

BradB (white MCS with black wheels)

 

John, aka. Binkysmini, you were great and really improved and relaxed during the event. I certainly enjoyed working with you. Don't look at it as scaring me, I'm old an you helped exercise the old heart muscel. I hope to see you again. If I can be of any help just drop me a line.


Tom

Motor on

 

Brad and Tom...THANKS SOOOO MUCH for being my instructors!! I never had so much fun driving...and being driven to drive! What a fantastic way to find out what you CAN do with your car as well as what it can do for you. And then, riding WITH the instructors and seeing how they drove the track was fantastic! I just gotta do another Phil Wicks' Driving Academy again...the sooner, the better! Thanks for being such a great lecturer, Phil. It was a pleasure and honor meeting you and all the rest who participated.

As for the driving on Sunday, ohhhhhhhh yeah, it was wet all day...but so much fun! What the heck, we can't have dry drives all the time, and this gave everyone some great runs and invaluable experience in slippery and unpredictable conditions. What an absolute blast!

 

I had a great time and really learned a lot. Although Tom is really disapointed that I am still a scardied (sp?) cat (at least when he drives)!Sorry to all those that I slowed down!! I tried to see you and go to the pits to let you by .

My instructor was Chris (blue M3 w/l8apex on the plate and from KY) and he was awesome! They said there would be no pressure to go fast or do anything you didn't want to do, and there wasn't. It was super to go around the track with Chris to see the lines he took, even though some of the lines I didn't see because my eyes were closed . I don't know if you read NAM Chris, but if you do thanks for making the driving school so great!!

Hats off to Phil Wicks and his entire staff for a first class school. I would like to do it again, even though I know I will still be in novice . It was an invaluable weekend!!!!

Cheryl

 

Tom, Thanks again for instructing me. I know it must take a lot of patience to ride shotgun while some rookie tries to play Fangio (or Paddy). Your input and advice was invaluable. I will look you up if I have more questions later.
I have read things over the years, and actually trying to use them was an eye opener. And it seems things written years ago are not quite fully usable now with fwd and big sticky tires the norm. Anyone know of any good, modern, pieces about getting around either a track or auto-x course?
Cheryl, I don't know if your instructor was a member of LateApex or not. That group seems to be based here in IN. They have lapping dates at Putnam. But their website needs updating, so I don't know this years schedule. When you click on the dates, the form shows up for 2004. But they might be an option.
Thanks again to all involved with putting this event on. I would highly recommend it to all.

 

Although the school is now full, Bluegrass Bimmers is holding a Drivers School and Club Race at Putnam Park Friday June 24 through Saturday 26.

If you couldn't make it out to the Phil Wicks school or would just like to see what it's all about, spectators are welcome and admission to the track property is free. The Club Races, Sprint on Saturday and Enduro on Sunday are always fun to watch. We usually have a few Minis in the school.

You can usually catch a track ride with an instructor on Friday (instructor practice day).

Neil
05 MCS
96 M3

PS: The attached photo was taken during our May school at Putnam. I was giving a ride to a student.

 

The true Beauty of the Phil Wick's MINI Driving School is the attention and small run group to really get your money's worth

Look at this Pic from another driving school at Putnam, a few weeks ago:
http://ericmeyer.smugmug.com/gallery/579107/11

 

Here are some "better pics" of the group (20 MINIS)

 

Interesting - we wouldn't call that a school. BMW CCA doesn't allow passing in turns (we call that a race...) and we limit run groups to 10 cars per mile of track. That comes out to 18 cars/group for Putnam.

Neil
05 MCS

 

That pic of the Miatas doesn't look like a "school". There are strict, straight-line, point-by-only passing zones at the Phil Wicks schools, just like any BMW CCA or PCA school. And there were hardly ever more than 10 cars on the track at once...at most. 18 would have been CROWDED for us.

 

True, likely a "club race"

here is what I had for LUNCH:

http://www.printroom.com/ViewGallery...J47SF3U2QP4D1C&