R50/53 Big Mini Day 2005 at Thunderhill
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5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
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Big Mini Day 2005 at Thunderhill
Who made it?
I won a LoJack in the raffle.
A very nice group of Mini people. I enjoyed meeting many owners.
The down side: At $300, it is an expensive track day for Thunderhill. The organizer should be less greedy next year. 80 cars, $24,000 gross - he made some nice cash on this one, I'm guessing he netted 8-10k or so, not a bad take.
I'd be less forgiving on the cost if we got more track time and fewer groups. From his web site:
I ran the A group and we got 5, 14 minute sessons, and the A group was finished for the day at 3:30! He ran 4 groups. That is a RIP for a $300 track day.
While the attendees were great, I will not return next year because I expected more track time for my money. While I won an expensive gift in the raffle, that was just plain luck and does not change the facts for the day.
I won a LoJack in the raffle.
A very nice group of Mini people. I enjoyed meeting many owners.
The down side: At $300, it is an expensive track day for Thunderhill. The organizer should be less greedy next year. 80 cars, $24,000 gross - he made some nice cash on this one, I'm guessing he netted 8-10k or so, not a bad take.
I'd be less forgiving on the cost if we got more track time and fewer groups. From his web site:
How much track time can I expect?
You can expect between six and eight on-track sessions. Each session is approximately 15-20 minutes in duration.
You can expect between six and eight on-track sessions. Each session is approximately 15-20 minutes in duration.
While the attendees were great, I will not return next year because I expected more track time for my money. While I won an expensive gift in the raffle, that was just plain luck and does not change the facts for the day.
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 322
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From: Santa Clara, CA
Congratulations on the Lojack 
.. at least you kinda got something for the $300 you paid for..
The reason I didn't go this year was the price too.. I think it's a bit much.. When I run w/ the Miata club in ThunderHill, I only had to fork out $190, and we only had 3 groups so more track time..
Hopefully this price goes down cause I sure would love to join a bunch of MINI's..
///Gilbert
.. at least you kinda got something for the $300 you paid for..The reason I didn't go this year was the price too.. I think it's a bit much.. When I run w/ the Miata club in ThunderHill, I only had to fork out $190, and we only had 3 groups so more track time..
Hopefully this price goes down cause I sure would love to join a bunch of MINI's..
///Gilbert
Exclusive price for commodity product
I went last year (shared a car), and would have loved to go again, but the $$ kept me away. It's neat to run with all MINIs, but for the $100+ premium, it's not THAT neat. 
But hey, it's like at the dealership - if they can fill out the field at $300, why charge less?
Last year we only had three groups. There were about a dozen in A, twice that in B's, and about 50 in C's. After two laps my new-to-the-track* friend was ready to move to B's to get some space to run!
*After our first session in A's (I'm not fast, but have done a few track days) she says, "That's okay, I don't think I want to drive." And it was HER car! Apparently she had about wet herself on turn 9.
After I convinced her to go with an instructor, though, she had a blast!
But hey, it's like at the dealership - if they can fill out the field at $300, why charge less?
Last year we only had three groups. There were about a dozen in A, twice that in B's, and about 50
in C's. After two laps my new-to-the-track* friend was ready to move to B's to get some space to run!*After our first session in A's (I'm not fast, but have done a few track days) she says, "That's okay, I don't think I want to drive." And it was HER car! Apparently she had about wet herself on turn 9.
After I convinced her to go with an instructor, though, she had a blast!
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: California S.F. East Bay
Originally Posted by betet
Congratulations on the Lojack .. at least you kinda got something for the $300 you paid for..
The reason I didn't go this year was the price too.. I think it's a bit much.. When I run w/ the Miata club in ThunderHill, I only had to fork out $190, and we only had 3 groups so more track time..
///Gilbert
.. at least you kinda got something for the $300 you paid for..The reason I didn't go this year was the price too.. I think it's a bit much.. When I run w/ the Miata club in ThunderHill, I only had to fork out $190, and we only had 3 groups so more track time..
///Gilbert
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5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
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Yeah, and there were some drivers in the A group that didn't belong there... And very limited passing zones for the A group. I was not happy although I did have my share of fun while on the track - short sessions as they were.
The SCCA perf driving school is well worth the $195 Thill charges.
Also, the NCRC is worth looking at for $40 (I'm member #997). With that group, I have to drive pretty hard to feel at home in the high intermediate group. Their A group is really, really fast.
www.ncracing.org
www.thunderhill.com/html/driving_school.html
The SCCA perf driving school is well worth the $195 Thill charges.
Also, the NCRC is worth looking at for $40 (I'm member #997). With that group, I have to drive pretty hard to feel at home in the high intermediate group. Their A group is really, really fast.
www.ncracing.org
www.thunderhill.com/html/driving_school.html
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