When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hey all......we're just a couple of weeks away from this annual MINI sponsored event. Great day hanging out with hundreds of MINIs and Minis at a local winery, rally to the world famous Watkins Glen International Raceway, car show at the track, lunch with live music sponsored by MINI USA, and then....PARADE LAPS around the track available at a discounted rate of $25!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There's a feeder group headed to this event for Friday AM for anyone coming from the DMV/PA areas .. meetup details on Carlisle MINI (Meetup) but roughly Scranton area 10am.
Post away if you need more details. It's always more fun to travel with MINI friends ..
I've attended this one year with my R52 S, it was a really good time.
I stayed overnight at an AirBnB with my wife, and we met up with the Whine Country Coopers club for the cruise the next day through the finger lakes - I hope they are still doing that, it was the highlight of my trip.
If any of you guys get infected with the track virus while you're at the Glen, you can sign up for one or two real track days with SCDA (Sports Car Driver's Association) the very next two days! They'll be running the long course both days, and they run a tight ship; they are typically on time to the minute (barring any bad accidents that require long clean ups), and the courtesy level on track is usually pretty good. I had these dates on my calendar at the beginning of the season, but I ended up going in early July instead. There's nothing like the feeling of going up the esses at full throttle until you hit the braking zone for the bus stop after the long back straight...
All you need is a helmet, and an upgrade to your brake fluid and pads.
What is the required brake fluid/pad upgrade? Because I KNOW ima be jonesing for track time after Satuday, and I've already committed to staying in Watkins Glen through Monday evening.....
Any DOT 4 Racing brake fluid, like Motul, or Super Blue. I can't recommend specific pads because I have a BBK and only use Brembo pads, but there's a ton of info on track related stuff in the 'Racing and Competition' forum subsection, with an epic thread in the 'Driver's School' sub-subsection. You can also PM @Eddie07S who knows a lot more about pads at WGI than I do. You may be able to rent a helmet if you contact Elivan @ SCDA soon. There's also a very convenient shop adjacent to the garages called 'The Little Speed Shop' that I'm sure has brake fluid. They probably have pads as well, but wouldn't guarantee they'll have pads that will fit what you're driving. Ignore the torque wrench and socket. You can borrow one for sure.
Any DOT 4 Racing brake fluid, like Motul, or Super Blue. I can't recommend specific pads because I have a BBK and only use Brembo pads, but there's a ton of info on track related stuff in the 'Racing and Competition' forum subsection, with an epic thread in the 'Driver's School' sub-subsection. You can also PM @Eddie07S who knows a lot more about pads at WGI than I do. You may be able to rent a helmet if you contact Elivan @ SCDA soon. There's also a very convenient shop adjacent to the garages called 'The Little Speed Shop' that I'm sure has brake fluid. They probably have pads as well, but wouldn't guarantee they'll have pads that will fit what you're driving. Ignore the torque wrench and socket. You can borrow one for sure.
Well, I am only running DOT 4 fluid in all my cars, so that's all set already.
Curious, I thought ATE had discontinued the SuperBlue racing fluid....I haven't seen that available anywhere in years.
As for pads, I imagine they want metallic, I'll check it out. Wife would rather I play golf, but we'll see...
If you are going to do a full track day at the Glen you will need to do a full flush (not just a bleed) of the Motul 600 brake fluid. That will need to have been done within the last 6 months. That is actually too old in my book, but it was what the GVC Chapter of BMWCCA allows. Being a DOT 4 has nothing to do with the boiling point temperature of the brake fluid. This is a list of the best and worst of the brake fluids. You have to read the container. Actually the BMW/MINI brake fluid is pretty good for a first day out. Don’t scrimp on this and don’t ever go on the track with older brake fluid. It absorbs water. It will boil and you will have no brakes.
Second, stay way from street or street/track pads on the track. My first track day ever, I toasted a set of Hawk HPS pads (high end street pads). I have also toasted EBC Yellow stuff pads (a street/track pad) WGI is brutal on the car’s brakes. I highly recommend the Carbotech XP 10 pads for what you are doing. You can call them directly to order them. Ok, I lied a bit… You can use the MINI brake pads in the rear brakes.
If you can’t get the Carbotech pads in time for this event, get a set of Hawk HP+ Sport pads. As for the MINI pads, I have heard of people wearing through those in less than a day…
You can install the track pads before you go and drive the car there with them. Just be aware, they will squeal when stopping out on the street.
