The parade lap was a major mistake. We were sitting in the car ready to go then I looked up the hillside and saw the gaps and the speeding. It was on everything that we signed and read, PARADE LAP. Some people decided that they were on the track and to heck with everyone else. It would have been nice to see all of the cars on the track two abreast cruising as planned. It would have been a great photo op for the company and for us. Instead there they were with the "I got mine, screw everybody else". I agree with track officials stopping it. It's all about liability. If you don't follow the rules you spoil it for everyone. Next time you get the privilege to go first in anything follow the rules or chances are another opportunity will not arrive. There were a lot of very angry disappointed Mini owners there. It would have been beautiful instead it was just fun for about 1/3 of the cars there. Sorry to nag but I had to vent this & get it off my mind.

 

Sorry you feel thet way.
However that was not the reason, time was.
Tried to get the word out, Parade Lap resumed after the races were concluded. I would like to thank those who worked with and for us to make this happen!

You went the extra mile, THANK YOU!

 

I loved the parade lap, was in one of the GP that went around at noon. That session ended because of time, the Historics were due to resume at 12:45 and the track had to be cleared.

Everyone who wanted a parade lap had one, it's just that some went at noon and others went at 5pm.

 

i obviously wasnt there ( im in ohio) but i would have to agree. a parade lap is a parade lap. track days have a different set of safety conditions, etc such as helmets, track officals, yadda.

gapping , slingshotting, and speeding on a track with no helmet during a parade lap is never a good idea.

a few years ago we went to a type R track day/meet at beaver run. they lined up the black/white/and yellow R's in order. the pictures were amazing that they took of all of the Rs running the parade lap.

 

Before you bad mouth those that made it on the track, you might have taken a second to speak with one of the race officials...

The decision was made by Race Control to stop the the Parade Lap before all of the cars made it out was due to time... They were running behind, started the parade lap late, and cut the group off to prevent the race from getting even more behind schedule...

When I left, race officials were promising that those who didn't drive on Saturday would get to head out on Sunday. Plus it sounds like after 5PM even more were accomodated...

Heck, everything that I read leading up to the event only guaranteed parade laps for the GP owners, everybody else was to be accomodated as conditions and schedules permit.

Heck, I completely understand why those who didn't get the opportunity to get on the track at noon were pissed... But don't aim it at those who had no control over the situation and did not cause you to miss out on your opportunity to get on the track.

If the decision to end the parade lap was due to unsafe driving, the chance for other owners to get on the track later in the day never would have been provided...

 

I had a fun time on both the parade lap sessions. I didn't see any aggressive driving. Just a bit of dropping back and zipping a turn. No passing or anything like that. I posted a video of the formation in the northern california forum. I am planning on posting some in car video later. Still here today.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=76936

 

Yeah whatever........I was actually only a few cars away from IOmini_punkin and waiting patiently. I did see some GP's passing other cars on the 'Parade Lap'. Whether is was a safety issue or just poor planning it was still disappointing. Rather than bitching and moaning I took off and had a nice spirited drive through the Del Monte Forest where it all started.

" Those sports car events through the winding roads of the Del Monte Forest became immensely popular and brought prestige, fans and money to the area. But as the cars got faster and the crowds grew larger, it was decided that the race was too big for the open road." The event was moved to Laguna Seca and has remained there since 1957.

Since a lot of people were attending the various events on the Penninsula the roads were pretty open. If you ever have a chance to drive it I highly recommend it.

 

Amen! Well said!
(Biting my tounge)
Jim

 

Actually, unlike everybody else the GP's were lined up two by two... They weren't passing that's how they were put on the track. We were stopped before the first turn and lined up double file by the pace car driver. It looked like after the GP's everybody else was single file...

 

Rossi-

Where is that road you mentioned??

 

I was the car they stopped at the gate before the track. I had to pick up the cakes at 5pm. So I got no laps, AND I DON"T CARE I STILL HAD A BALL WITH MY FRIENDS. To the gentleman in the old mini that was screeming at the nice lady from Norcal, my wife says "Hi". I hope to continue the conversation later .

 

Although it's way past the fact I thought I'd give my 2c to this thread.

When MOASF/MOALA goes to the Vintage (Mini Challenge) races every year, with the classic Minis we usually get a parade lap -- usually the track photographer is there as well, and I was lucky to get an awesome picture of me in my classic coming around turn 3 last year, talking with #130 in my passenger seat ;-) So, everyone knows it's a low-speed event where you get to take 2 leasurely laps around the track. No burn-outs, passing, etc., apparently only extremely pampered formula cars get to burn-out

IMHO, technically, since this was called the 'Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races' and not the 'Rolex Monterey New Model Production Car Races' they should have let all the classics go first, followed by the new MINIs, then finally the GP's.

I only say this, thinking that the GP's got to do parade laps when they had the big MINIUSA deliverey shindig Thursday night. (Wasn't this when everyone got their GP? Or was it Friday morning? Not having a GP cabrio available I didn't buy one, hehe) In retrospect, if the GP owners didn't get exclusive track time (which would be surprising) well okay, GP's could have followed the classics, then followed by other new MINI owners. If going down the track 2 cars wide wasn't accomodating, maybe they could have done 3 cars wide, though, not mentioning specific colors or transmission builds maybe certain people couldn't navigate that proximity very well -- so 2 abreast was probably best

All kidding aside, IMHO I feel what happened was, the SCRAMP didn't realize how many MINIs/Minis there actually were, until we were all lined up, and by then it was too late to do anything about it.. so, a lot of people were unhappy when they didn't get to make it.

With massive thanks to Carol (NorCal MINIs) and perhaps others that knew some of the SCRAMP and track folks, we were extremely fortunate they allowed us the rest of us to have a go later in the day.

On that note, I wasn't upset about not getting to go the first round, but what did make me dissapointed was when several folks, having already had their turn, decided to cut in front of everyone, knowing full well that many didn't get to go. I may expect that sort of behavior from certain car drivers, but not MINI owners. That was just plain rude.

I do hope that these people regret being so selfish and will do better next time they get such a rare opportunity. If you want to flame me please do so in a private message, I don't want to start anything here on the forum.

All in all, this was a very fun event and the whole Monterey Historics/MTTS is totally awesome memories I will cherish forever

 

The GP delivery ceremony was early afternoon on Friday. As far as I know, there were no GP-only parade laps.


Mark

 

Lots of GP owner bashing here. I was one of the lucky few to get one on the early delivery program.
As far as I know not one of us even attempted to pass the PACE car. You know that’s the car in front “THAT SETS THE PACE.” I’m new to MINI’s but not to car clubs. Most of the people I’ve had the pleasure to meet have been great. I would like to say sorry if our fun ruined your day we sure didn’t intend to offend anyone.
---Dean

 

and forgot what the event was about. It's about having the best historic race cars in the world out and doing thier thing. PRetty balsy, considering for some of those cars, you loose a piston and you have to have one custom made! Don't even talk about the all aluminum Alfas running hot laps!

Those that lost it have no excuse for poor behaviour. They didn't know that those working the corral were volenteers, and forgot that there were real races going on that day. If I'd known how long the lines were, I wouldn't have done it and let another car make it onto the track.

After hot laps, parade laps are nice, but that's about it. Before I did track evenst, that was the only time I'd been on a track, and they were very special moments.

No need to bash the GPs. Some attendees forgot that part of what made the event was the participation of MiniUSA, and that the delivery of the GPs was the start of Mini Takes The States. All in all, the parade laps were a very small part of a very big endevor.

Sorry about not agreeing that all the classics should have gone first. But here's an idea. If any of you really feel a need that things be a certain way at events like this, put your time and effort into making it happen. If not, just quit your bitchin, shut up and enjoy. In talking to Carol she was really effected by the guy who was yelling at her. She's nice, and put time and effort into doing what helped make a great weekend.

Also, side-by-side is typically a no-no inparade laps. This isn't universal, but it's pretty close to it. Even though there are wavers signed, there's no certification of driver skill. Would you like to be next to a driver with less than a months driving under his or her belt through something like the corkscrew? Not me, I'll pass on that one. For those that don't get to tracks much, the parade lap is a nice thing, but it's really not the purpose of the event. Typically corner workers are on brake and the like. The Parade lap is the first to get time shifted or worse. That's just the way it is.

Matt

 

I have to agree with Matt - although I was one of the people who did not get to do the parade lap I don't 'blame' anyone. Too many cars - not enough time.
I was surprised that there weren't more MINI / Mini's there on Sunday when the Mini's took the track.

T

 

Sunday is Pebble Beach Concours, and for all those that drove a long way and have to be back at work on Monday, it's a travel day.

Matt

 

Actually I did see several GP's passing the other cars after turn 5 thats why it got my attention. Really doesn't matter at this point anyways.....life is too short.

 

I hope the guy giving Carol a bad time realizes what a total *** he made out of himself. Really puts a good light on "Classic" owners,too.
Jim
Oh...BTW isn't the term "Classic" a bit overused these days? I mean, when you see it on a jar of MUSTARD!......

 

Sorry, but considering the GPs were lined up two by two, and the track isn't that wide, I don't believe that the GPs were passing anybody... BTW, I was IN a GP...

First the GPs were in front, the only person they could have passed was the pace car... Not going to happen.

More likely you saw GPs that were driving at uneven speeds compared to the cars surrounding them thus not staying in the same position relative to each other...

Finally, if unsafe behavior like that was going on, why would the track officials have been foolish enough to let the MINIs back out later in the day? You better believe that race officials were watching what was going on out on the track while the MINIs were there. If anything unsafe had occured, there wouldn't have been another opportunity for MINIs to get out there.

As I said before, anybody who wants to take aim at the GP owners and scapegoat them for missing out on a chance to drive Laguna Seca needs to speak with the track officials and find out the REAL story...

 

It's all been said and done.
There should be NO BLAME to anyone.
The event started as MINI USA with the GP's.
We had people working for us behind the scenes.
I hear it is almost unheard of to be allowed back on the track
AND
for that we should all thank MINI USA, SCRAMP and Laguna Seca.

I know those who have never been on the track before are still smiling!

 

In that case there must have been people driving unsafe on the track during the first outing! Obviously special considerations were being made in the hopes of further displaying wanton recklessness right?

 

they don't just go 30 mph. All "in the know" know that most of the safety workers are on break, and that while the task is supervised, it's not supervised anywhere close to what a hot lap is. So most play the game of a good average speed. With an occational stomp on the gas in a really fun turn.

But to close my input on all this, thanks to all that made everything happen. I couldn't have been more pleased with the weekend (OK, I lied. I could have found a winning mega-lotto ticket that weekend too, and been asked to personally masage the swedish bikini team!)

Life will go on.

If you helped make the day and weekend fun for others, you have my thanks. If you were a pain in the rear-end, sorry, but I have no sympathy for you, and it's not a downer for me at all that you weren't satisfied. Loosen up, ride the wave, and enjoy! Life is too short to do otherwise....

Matt

 

amen!!!

Had a blast!

Carol & Greg "ROCK"!!!! Thanks for looking out for all us MINI/Mini people.

May the "BAD" person be bit in the *** by a horn-toaded frog.!!!!

Enough is enough, let's move on and motor on!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep the rubber side down.

 

Ah, what would NAM be like without a glass of that fine vintage August Whine?