Phil Wicks is having another MINI Driving Academy @ Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC the weekend of November 13-14.

I attended this school back in April with Mini03Tiger84 and MiniNC. It was alot of fun, learned alot about what the car do and got more track time than I could handle.

I had gotten my car only 1 month prior to this event and didn't really have a feel for it yet. At the end of the weekend I was much more sure of my and the car's capabilities. Great experience and can't recommend it enough.

http://www.midwestdriver.com/sched_pwda.htm

http://www.carolinamotorsportspark.com/

The School is sponsored by Hendrick's MINI of Charleston, as it was last time. And there is a discount for M2C2 Members.

$160/ day or $300 for both days with the discount.

I am signing up for this right now.
Be forwarned... it is addictive

 

Just saw this on Trey Rogerson's website (cat-dogracing.com) and was going to call him later today to find out more about this event - mainly if anyone had heard about it yet! seems like at least two people have!

this looks like a great event and i will say that i will do everything in my power not to miss this event.... that being said, anyone want to go through my Bentley manual with me this weekend to learn how to remove the lower sub-frame off the front end to pull the transmission???

oops, almost forgot to add another link, directly to Phil Wicks' website, appropriately named....

http://www.minidriving.com/

 

I'm coming to this one.

Are the 2 days basically the same classes? Do most people go to one day?

Also, I do not have a helmet. Do I need to buy one or does the track have them?

 

I was also there in April, and you're right, it's totally addictive!

Can't say how it will be this time, only how it was set up in April. The first day the track was divided in two, turns 10-14, the slower part of the track, was set up for ABS and slalom exercises in the first half of the day for the beginning groups. The second half of the day the beginners used that half of the track for track experience and learning.

The other half of the track was used for the intermediate groups and beyond for track driving. The second day the whole track was set up for full course driving, the groups continued to be divided up, novice, intermediate and so on. I would say that most people went for both days. There was more than enough track time to be had for all drivers.

The "track" does not loan helmets, the driving school may, they all have different policies and availability. Contact them directly through the website(s) given.

Good luck!

 

Hello Tontobird

I spoke with Phil this morning about this and the format is unchanged from back in April. I'm glad about that because it really seemed to maximize seat time.

LeeL, I believe Phil Wicks school can provide you a rental helmet if you let them know your requirement when you register (This was the case back in April) I think you could also purchase one from them at a reasonable price.

If you know someone with a motorcycle helmet you can use, that would do as well.

 

Yee Hah! dust off those track tires from last April.

I have a new anti-sway bar installed I'll be looking forward to trying out.

Well...
Here's my 2mm of tread worth ...

April @ CMP was a lot of fun. So much so, that I passed on the last 1/2 hour driving opportunity of the 2nd day, Sunday. There is more than enough opportunity to push your car to the limit and beyond (off the track that is).

After being at another track recently... here is some likeness and contrast:
(I don't mean to dampen the fun, just setting some expectations)

CMP Park: out in the middle of nowhere. bring all your provisions. This ain't no VIR (country club of tracks)

CMP track:
You will get good opportunity to drive fast and hard through corners.
Very hard on tires. Go ahead and order your replacement set. This track will melt your tires if you drive aggressively. Ask how many April attendees wish they had ( maybe it was just the Liquid Yellow MINI's that were going so fast ). Someone had to go out Sat eve to get a new set.

Phil Wick Instructors:
Very knowledgable. Can guide you well around the track. Will let you push yourself. Be sure to try several instructors 'til you find the style of instruction you like. Try to get an instructor early on so as to enjoy later laps on your on.
Class time was weak. If you want information, you will have to ask for it.


Buckle up and hold on!

 

I 2nd that on the tires. After about 9k miles. I'm about ready for a new set.
Will definitely have to have them for CMP.

Which bar did you go with?
I've been looking at them for awhile and now is as good a time as any... especially with Phil Wicks on the horizon.
I am going to change out the brake fluid and go for some better pads, maybe Stainless steel lines (I've been reading the debates on those ).

Can't wait for Nov.

See you there.

 

Just how out in the middle of nowhere is it? Are we talking camping if we want to do both days or are there hotels nearby?


Chris,

The tires you had at your house for the pulley party that were trashed, were they the ones you had on last time?

 

I will be attending an event with a different group on the 12th to reacquaint myself with this track, and receive instructor's instruction. :smile: I will have attended 19 track days at that point.

I will be instructing for Phil on the 13 & 14. Who's going to be there?

 

Lee, there are motels in nearby Lancaster that are about 40 minutes away. I don't believe that camping will be available at the track.

 

There is a hotel there in Kershaw

The Executive Inn
301 S. Hampton St.
803.475.7575

Looks basic and Clean.

I've reserved there $45/ night.

 

Yep... my Yoko's with 5K miles are now my track tires. They've been to VIR since and did ok. We'll see how they handle a return trip to CMP. It will be interesting to see how the cooler weather affects grip/slip.

 

Bump...

Roll Call... which M2C2'ers are attending?

Mini03Tiger84
Audioman
WindMeUp (?)
QueenB
richrecovery


Looks like it will be a beautiful week-end?

 

Two MINIs out of Knoxville for Sunday:smile: I just did last Sunday in Nashville and am not ready to quit for cold weather just yet.

Thanks for the heads up on the Executive Inn. I wasn't sure where to stay. It will be Saturday and Sunday night for us and a phone call to say I am running a little late for work on Monday morning.

 

I'll be there. Newbie to M2C2 and NAM.

 

richrecovery

Welcome to M2C2 and NAM.

Where are you located?

 

Thanks. Glad to be here. I'm in Kernersville and have a Black 2002 Cooper and a Green 1960 Austin Mini . Pictures coming soon.

 

Welcome aboard richrecovery

It will be good to see some old MINI friends and new ones as well.

See you all this Saturday

 

audioman, FastLaneTurning, LeeL, Mini03Tiger84, QueenB, richrecovery --

I'm sure all you folks are exhausted (and QueenB's not really gotten home yet), but how was the Phil Wicks school this weekend? Let us know! Post a follow-up!

Lee

 

Lee, we all had a great time. I made it in to work by 9:30 this morning. We stayed overnight in Spartanburg and left out early.

It was cold, the track was great and great fun. I learned alot and left alot of rubber behind. David now needs rear brakes. We found that there were a few differences between ac cobras and MINIs. MINIs are ALOT better.

That was my 3rd track school (2nd Wicks school) and I am now addicted. I really like the atmosphere of the Wicks schools. I would encourage anyone (especially those inexperienced) who would like to play a little on the track with their MINIs to do a Wicks school. I may have to start robbing banks to feed my addiction.

 

It was great to see so many familiar faces and some new to the MINI family.

Congrats to queenB and WindMeUp for getting Most Improved Driver... enjoy those goodie bags
So much was learned by all about car control and about ourselves as drivers. The instructors were awesome, offering great feedback for improvement. I recommend this school to everyone with a fanaticism about their car.

queenb- you've already got the perfect getaway car for that bank heist

The Cobra people kind of kept to themselves (I think they were intimidated by the MINI's )
It was fun to see how this little car does compared to something with 3X the bhp.

Next time I'm putting a Mongoose sticker on my car, the MINI's would always out perform in the corners... but we already knew that didn't we?

I had a great time and can't wait to do it again. I hope to see even more M2C2'rs out there.
Cheers,

 

Thanks for the reports! I keep thinking I need to get to more driving schools (a lot of people on the roads around here think so, too ), but haven't. Your enthusiasm is infectious; I'll keep my eyes open for the next announcement.

Lee

 

Man what a awesome weekend! I'm hooked. Special thanks to all the M2C2 guys that pitched in and helped with the small brake problem I had! Here are a few pics. Don't expect much from a disposable camera. 1st one is audioman and mini03tiger84. 2nd is me.

 

It was great to meet you richrecovery. Hope we can play with classic Minis sometime too. And yes, Mr Wicks does spread around a contagious disease Sorry you've got the bug.

 

This week-end was definately a blast. I have to say I think Phil Wick did a better job this time staying on schedule and providing instructors for those who wanted one. Thanks to Hendrix Motorsports and Flow MINI for sponsering the event to help keep our costs down. I think Flow may been disappointed in MINI turnout for their contribution, so if you get a chance be sure to thank them.

It is a great opportunity to get out and have fun with the MINI and not worry about police and other traffic. I finally got myself in a situation where the MINI was out of control and have to recover (and I stayed on the track ). It is good experience to have in case it happens in daily driving. The MINI handles so well it would be unsafe to put yourself in an out of control situation to practice on regular roads.

Being on the track with the Cobras wasn't too bad. Only one or two seemed to have too big an ego let a MINI by, but I would go again on a week-end with them. Eat Snakes!!! ( an inside joke... one of the Cobra license plates was "EatMice")

See you next time at the track!