I am wondering which trackday events people take their Minis too. Of course there is Big Mini Day that is all Mini's but it is only once a year. What I am looking for is which of the more frequent, like the monthly track events, that get some Minis. So who on NAM goes to track days and which ones? I am trying to decide what to sign up for, and I probably don't want to mix it up with Vipers and Corvettes so much. Miatas maybe.

 

The Golden Gate Lotus Club www.gglotus.org runs 6-8 track days a year, usually at Thunderhill or Buttonwillow. Very reasonably priced, self tech. If you're a track newbie, you probably want to attend the Big MINI Day or the like, so you can get some seat time with an instructor first.
asodestrom recommended another club, but I don't recall the name.

 

I go with Northern California Racing Club. I know the name says raciong, but the club does way more. DE days, Time trials, relay races, wheel to wheel racing. This is a great group. There are a few MINI's who go but we need more. Very low pressure. Typically 4 run groups which puts you with cars who are similar to you. All sorts of cars from miata's to Ferarris.

I'm planning on going May 5th except my car is wrecked now and If it's totalled then I'll have to wait for anew one

Give us a try. It's a great club.

Andy

 

I've tracked with NASA for over the last three years or so.
Good bang for the buck.

Heading up this weekend to Thunderhill with a fellow nam'r as a matter of fact.

Here's their link:
http://www.nasaproracing.com/nasa_event/list_events


others:
http://www.hookedondriving.com/index.cfm
http://www.amracing.org/
http://www.ncracing.org/
http://home.onemain.com/~bonster/teamracing.html
http://www.trackmasters-racing.com/
http://www.unlimitedlaps.com/
http://www.ggcbmwcca.org/

 

Thanks for the links guys.

I have been using this site to find events:
http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/index.cfm

There are a lot of them, so hard to choose.

I have checked out NASA and they look pretty good.

Has anyone gone to a Speed Ventures or Checkered Flag event?

I had done 3 Big Mini Days and an SCCA day at Thunderhill and a school at Reno/Fernely.

My goal is to find something inexpensive with lots of track time and with a variety of smaller cars to check out and hopefully a few Minis.

I am thinking of going to Spring Mountain in April and Buttonwillow in May then maybe Willowsprings in June. I also want to get back to Fernely and drive the new section but most of their open track days are on the old course.

 

and present. I go with the NorCal Shelby Club. They run at Laguna, Sears Pt, Thunderhill and partner with others that go to the above and Buttonwillow. There's also Green Flag Racing as well.

NorCal (www.norcal-saac.org) let's anyone run with them, it just costs $20 extra if you're not a member. Next one is in April at Thunderhill, and sat morning is a driver school. Afternoon and Sun is open track. I think some other NAMers are planning on going.

Matt

 

I've tried both Speed Ventures and Track Masters. They are both small clubs that give you lots of track time in a casual atmosphere. Track Masters is a little on the expensive side, while Speed Ventures is about average in price. With Speed Ventures, they let you rent timing devices for only $20 extra. I've only gone once with each club, and there was never any issue with too many cars.

I have gone with NASA several times, and lately they have been really maxxing out the the field. There is a place for this - it is good for those who are intermediate+ skill level and also enjoy driving with a lot of traffic. You will learn how to pass or be passed at every corner. However, I would not recommend it for a beginner, nor anyone who is interested in running clean laps and measuring their progress via lap times.

matt

 

[quote=matma92ser]
I have gone with NASA several times, and lately they have been really maxxing out the the field. There is a place for this - it is good for those who are intermediate+ skill level and also enjoy driving with a lot of traffic. You will learn how to pass or be passed at every corner. However, I would not recommend it for a beginner, nor anyone who is interested in running clean laps and measuring their progress via lap times.


I have just finished HPDE 1 with NASA, very safe group with limited passing, with good in-car instruction and down loads after each run.
I would recommend it.

Eamon

 

Don't forget Big Mini Day at thunderhill on May 11th

 

Then come on out to Thunderhill on June 19th. Just a month away from SAMOA's track day. We already have 43 paid with another 5-6 in the mail...more than $7000 in raffle prizes have been collected. No Mini's are signed up yet, but we can always hope.This promises to be a super event and a successful fundraiser for CCFA. Thanks to all for helping to make it a success. We still have space in A and B groups for experienced and intermediate drivers, but just a couple of slots in C (novice). So get your applications in. Hope to see ya there.

Ron
http://www.gotgutsatthunderhill.com

 

NCRC is great. I have done about 4 events with them. I'm looking to start taking my MINI out to a monthly event as well. It would be nice to get a crew of MINI's to committ to regular track days. As for Vipers, Im sure we will eat them up in 3-4 at Laguna....

Im also going to check out the BMW CC of A, because I hear they have a smaller sized fields with lots of M3's who need passing...

Just signed up for Hooked On Diving in June at TH, TrackMasters at Infineon in July.

 

There sure are a lot of events to choose from. I missed Big Mini Day due to work. I finally got out to another trackday. Went to Buttonwillow yesterday with TEAM http://www.team-racing.org. I met Bonni the organizer when I was at Fernley where she was instructing and decide to give her event a try. The day turned out well. Got plenty of track time. A good mix of cars. There were 3 other Minis there. Posted some pictures.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=69654

 

MCLeonard, it was very nice meeting you at the TEAM event. I was in the white checkmate and thanks for the nice picture you took.

After the TEAM event at BW, i did two more track days with NCRC at Fernley. It was great... some rain&snow(!!) in the morning of the first day but the weather for the rest of the event was very good. The track is challenging and technical... learned quite a bit there.

I try to run 1-2 track days per month (mainly on weekends, difficult to get off work on weekdays). I've run with NCRC, Trackmasters, Speed Ventures, PCA CDS (Coastal Driving School), GGLC (Golden Gate Lotus Club), TEAM, PDC, Unlimited Laps & BMWCCA... they all run great events. If you need good instrcutions, i think BMWCCA events are probably the best.

My next events are likely NCRC at BW, trackmasters at Infineon, PDC at TH.

Katmeho, will see you at Infineon with Trackmasters... By the way, i think i found good solution for replacement JCW brake pads (see my thread in the brake forum)... this will save us some money without having to go to BBKs.

 

Looking forward to it. We MINI's should try to group together in the paddock.

Off to look at your pad discussion...

 

Apriorism nice to meet you too. I enjoyed talking Minis at the track and checking out your Mini. Thanks for the notes on the days you are doing. That was quite a drive from BW to Fernley. I plan to go there with Team on August 26 and 27.

 

Anyone interested in going to Willow Springs on July 1 and 2? Let's get a group of Minis to head down together! Here's the thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?p=978106

matt

 

I just bought an 06 MCS. It's all stock, but I'm thinking about taking it to the track. Is that a bad idea, or should I do some mods first? I'd be a novice driver and probably not too hard on my car.

If I was to do mods, what should I do to make my MINI more track-worthy?

 

Go to the track first, for say 6 times to learn about the car in stock form. Then find someone who really knows how to drive, and ride with them in their car. Then find someone who has modded a MINI and knows how to drive and then see the difference. You will see its mostly the driver that makes teh car fast. Small mods will make a difference once you know whats going on behind the wheel. The ONE mod that I would make right away is ditch the runflats and stock wheel (im assuming you have slites). they are poor for the track. If you want to come out to CA, Id be happy to show you around on the track...

 

Taking your MINI to the track is a good idea Don't worry about making your MINI more track worthy until you have done a few track days to make YOU more track worthy. Then you will have a better idea of what you want to do with your car. Have fun and be safe

 

Thanks for the input...I think I'll sign up for the open track day at Reno-Fernley this coming Friday...I still have about 400 miles to go until I've broken-in my car. Looks like I'll be taking a road-trip this weekend!

I'm definitely ditching the run-flats ASAP...

 

the stock front camber settings is hell on the outer edge of the front tires. Just keep it in mind, because if you drive hard on the track, you'll take a lot of life off the tires....

Matt

ps, this is a real good way to accerate the demise of the runflats!

 

Taking the Mini to the track is a good way to get to know it better. I took my 03 MCS to the track when it was stock. It was a lot of fun. It did push the front tires and wore the outer edges some so I rotated them when I got home. They still lasted 25,000 miles which is about normal. Later I changed the rear anti-sway bar, brake bushings, shocks, wheels and tires. The Mini works even better now at the track, and I have a reference for how it was at first.

As far as driving cost the tires that I am running cost $432 for a set. If I get only 15,000 miles including a few trackdays that is under 3 cents per mile. They currently have over 10,000 miles on them including one trackday and are holding up well. At the current price of $3.45 per gallon gas is costing me over 13 cents a mile on the street and over 28 cents a mile on the track. Many people bring a set of track wheels and tires with them if they do a lot of track days. I'm not sure how long they hold up but the cost and enjoyment factor does increase.

By the way Fernley is a fun track, but I would check for when there is a school that is using the new section. That way you get lots more turns and some useful instruction and having the big motor cars blasting by on the straights isn't such a factor. I took the Next Level School and got signed off to do open track days. As I recall you have to have a driver school card to run at open trackdays there. http://www.tnldrivingschool.com/

 

Since we're on this topic, any recommendations on track events near bay area in June and July? Would love to go with other Minis if possible.

 

I am considering going to Willow Springs July 1 and 2.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=69917

TEAM is having an event at Thunderhill June 30th.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=70012

I'm also thinking of going to Reno / Fernley with TEAM on 26, 27 July.

There are other ones that have been posted on here in the Driver's School forum.

Try this link for a broad list of events. Select the distance and put in your zip and it will show you lots of trackdays.
http://www.motorsportreg.com/calendar/index.cfm

 

June 23rd at Thunderhill with Hooked on Driving. See you there...

July 21 at INfineon with TrackMaster (you need to be a member - think its a "show us you have experience and your in" type of thing)...See you there...