Saturday, August 30th, 2003 was my first day at the track. I attended Phil Wick's Driving Academy at Gateway International Speedway just north of St. Louis.

Wow. I'm still blown away by it a day later. It was really an amazing experience. There was a group of about a dozen MINIs in the novice class with me, and whenever it was track time, our group went out together (with the addition of a beatiful Cobra and a couple of Miatas).

I don't think that I can really accurately put into words how much fun I had. I was really blown away on many different levels. I'll just conclude with some random impressions that I have had in the last 24 hours:

*) The MINI is a flat out blast to drive. I couldn't really believe how well it handled and what it was capable of. It does what you want it to do, period. Sure there are some areas which could use improvement, but all in all it is a very powerful and responsive automobile.

*) MEMO to all Mod-heads: Forget the mods for now. You don't need really need them that much on the street, and MINIs are serious beasts to be reckoned with on the track in their stock form. Save your money and spend it on track time, and especially on a good driving school. Sorry to join the herds that have said this before, but the best $200 mod for you car really *is* driving school.

*) OK. So you twisted my arm. Yes, I really want a firmer anti-sway bar, but I'm in no hurry. And good GOD do I need some new tires. I've heard over and over again what crap the Pirellis (or Dunlops or whatever) are, and I'm now on the bandwagon for that as well. One instructor in the car with me shouted as we screeched through one turn, "These tires are PIGS!" Truer words have never been spoken. And yeah, coilovers or just lower springs would be nice, but I stress again, there ain't a whole lot of roll in these babies. They're nice right out of the box.

*) Driving at speed is something that is really counter-intuitive in many respects. It seems incredibly odd that the most dangerous thing that you can do in many situations is to hit your brakes! My point here is that those of us who like driving fast typically have a lot to learn, and contrary to "TF&TF", I really don't think that it can be learned on "da streetz."

*) Never underestimate ANY car, regardless of looks and personal prejudices. The car that impressed me most on the track was **drumroll please** a 2000 Honda Civic Si. Believe it. This guy was totally stealth. I saw the car in the morning, and I admit it, I dogged it a little. OK, I dogged it a lot. The guy was running what looked like a stock Civic with nice wheels and nothing else. He had the stock cat back! Well this guy was taking out M Coupes and Corvettes out on the track, and we couldn't believe our eyes. I was thinking there was a twin turbo jammed under the hood somewhere, but here are his actual mods: headers and an intake. Period. And uh, oh yeah, like $10,000 in suspension modifications, coilovers, control arms, sway bars, camber plates, freaking everything that could be done, period. The point here: you don't need massive HP numbers to haul. Suspension work is great, but the ability to drive (and this guy could DRIVE) is really the key.

So that's about it. Track day rules. The Phil Wicks Driving Academy rules. People: go to the track. It will create grins that you didn't think that your face was capable of making. It will make you a better driver. It will make you love your MINI oh-so-much more. It will make you forget about your Stumble (or whatever silly nit-picky complaint you have). In short, it will make you the happiest guy or gal on earth.


Maxwell

(Maybe this ain't the right forum, but I wanted to have the gearheads' attention more than the general public's.)

 

Congrats on the fun you had. I had an AutoX event on friday, which is something you should look into. AutoX events are the greatest, tons of nice people, and great cars. But you can't judge a car by the cover. The fastest Street car that day was a 1988 Honda Civic with around 100 HP. He has the car lightened, some sticky tires, and was running away from every one with his times.

Good Luck in your future Race events!

Dan
Pilo Racing

 

Chitown_COOP,
It's great you had an excellent and safe track day. We will add you to the growing list of MINI owners that have learned the importance of driving school. You can never be "too skilled".

>>Saturday, August 30th, 2003 was my first day at the track. I attended Phil Wick's Driving Academy at Gateway International Speedway just north of St. Louis.
>>
>>Wow. I'm still blown away by it a day later. It was really an amazing experience.

You get to see alot of nice cars and see them go up close. Safety issue- always be careful and lookout for trouble. Things happen and there are some high speed stuff going on very nearby.

>>I don't think that I can really accurately put into words how much fun I had. I was really blown away on many different levels. I'll just conclude with some random impressions that I have had in the last 24 hours:
>>
>>*) The MINI is a flat out blast to drive.

Absolutely- in fact every MINI is fun, just in a different way. You have to use your skill to drive the car and get the most out of it regardless of which one it is. That is what the driving instructors are doing all day long. They take each students' car and make it look and feel great on the track.

>>*) MEMO to all Mod-heads: Forget the mods for now.

I noticed that my instructor drove my stock MCS with some reserve and it was still faster than I could muster with whatever mods I could add. I was impressed. It's the driver not the car.

>>*) OK. So you twisted my arm. Yes, I really want a firmer anti-sway bar, but I'm in no hurry.

Swaybar is good- try a medium setting and see how it works first. You can make it too firm so what you are doing is to try to balance it's setting with the rest of the suspension which includes the tires. Yes wheels are important. Tires, engine and the brakes take a beating. Be gentle.

>>*) Driving at speed is something that is really counter-intuitive in many respects. It seems incredibly odd that the most dangerous thing that you can do in many situations is to hit your brakes!

I think it is kinda neat how things work. It sounds like you really learned alot. I took much of what I learned back out on the street. Basic stuff- drive smoother, less shifting, less steering, less brakes, smooth throttle control.

>>*) Never underestimate ANY car, regardless of looks and personal prejudices. The car that impressed me most on the track was **drumroll please** a 2000 Honda Civic Si. Believe it. This guy was totally stealth.

We tend to have big egos on track day. Stealth is nice. Skill is obvious. Focus on yourself and driving as one with your MINI. Don't get too distracted. It all goes by so quickly. There is a ton of things going on all at once. That's why you can learn gobs more each time you go out. And talk to your instructors and get feedback. Try new things.

>>So that's about it. Track day rules. The Phil Wicks Driving Academy rules. People: go to the track. It will create grins that you didn't think that your face was capable of making. It will make you a better driver. It will make you love your MINI oh-so-much more. It will make you forget about your Stumble (or whatever silly nit-picky complaint you have). In short, it will make you the happiest guy or gal on earth.

Thanks so much for your comments- you had a great day.
Stumble

 

So true. I caught the Mod bug on my RX-7 and quickly learned the driver is everything.

"A car is as fast as the driver can make it"

Words from Evolution driving school.
autocross - evolution

They have teamed up with The Porsche BMW Club of America and are helping with open track days. I highly recomend it. I have yet to do one of their road course schools but have completed 3 phases of their Autocross school as well as attend Chin Motorsports.

chinmotorsports

Congrats on a positive first open track experiance. It sounds like you were one of the few that know how to check his ego at the gate. The biggest problem people have with driving schools is listening and being humble. Your not there to show off your awesome driving skills your there to learn.

Did they teack you about red mist?? Being Italian I have to check myself in this category a lot.

 

If anyone's interested in seeing pictures from my day at the track, then look no further:

http://home.mindspring.com/~mheathco.../trackday.html

Enjoy!

Maxwell