Big thanks to Siddhartha who worked with me at Thunderhill yesterday. I started out slow, still trying to learn my MINI (2nd track day with the car). I was tentative and cautious, not really knowing the limits of the car. Jerry was there too with Sad Authar, and he worked all day at getting me on the MINI line and making me feel more comfortable with my car. A huge MINI thanks to a fellow motorer and all around good guy!

 

Jerry rocks!

 

HAHAHA... SId's got love everywhere!

 

Jerry's cool because he's a nice person (met him at the Nikki Run) and he can make a Mini fly

 

Jerry was my instructor at the Phil Wicks track day at Laguna Seca last year.

BLT - BRAKE - LOOK - TURN Still doing it buddy!

 

Way cool. Nice to hear from you! Now add the rest of the steps: BS LT G
Brake/shift, Look/turn, Gas!

 

Thanks guys. Feedback like this makes what I do worthwhile. My best students seem to be MINI folks because they are happy to begin with.

The best part for me is when I see the lightbulb go on over their head and they get that wide-eyed amazed look on their face and say, "Oh I get it! So THAT'S what you've been talking about! WOO HOO!"

It usually happens in Turn 8 at Thunderhill after we blow through there a few times on maintenance throttle at 6K arpies while everyone else is braking at the approach.

For those who haven't tried it yet, it's the most fun you can have in your MINI with your clothes on. Forget about waiting until you have installed (insert whatever mod you think you need first here). This little car seriously rocks the track right out of the box, from MCa to JCW GP. The first mod you should make is to tighten the nut behind the wheel, and the place to do that is with an instructor riding shotgun at a purpose built track. Come join us.

Sid and katmeho at work.

 

Jerry,
Do you ever do any DE's in the OR area?

 

not yet.

 

What is the closest venue?

 

Closest to you is Thunderhill just off the I5 in Willows, CA, about 350 miles/6 hours. That would make it a three day trip. Gates open at 6:45 AM and you wouldn't want to drive home after a day at the track. Too tiring.

 

Do I hear a Portland Raceway roadtrip in the making?

 

Thanks Jerry. Could you suggest to Mr. Wicks to add a date up in the NW? Lots of owners up here !

 

The 2007 season opener will again be in conjunction with AMVIV on March 24, 25 but this time at the OUTSIDE track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. No other dates have been confirmed at this time but will most likely not include the Pacific Northwest due to unpredictable weather and the relatively small number of MINI owners in the area.

Since SoCal and NorCal still have the most MINIs and since these events appeal to less than 5% of MINI owners, it makes good sense to choose a venue that is close to these two major markets. We must draw this small percentage of participants from a large enough base to populate the Phil Wicks Driving Academy track days because that's what pays the bills for now. Maybe someday we'll have enough sponsorship money to allow us to put events on in more remote locations.
Thanks for asking.

 

Thanks Jerry. I take it the venue at Pahrump (sp) been dumped?

 

As far as number of MINI owners, I'd say that the Northwest is catching up!

Shoot, in out little PDX MINI club we've got 175 members and 114 cars.

How many would we need to make a Phil Wicks day possible? If it moves along a couple years I thing it's plausible to do an event at Portland International Raceway. A 2 mile track that hosts professional racing throughout the summer. It's just a couple miles out of center city Portland as well.

As far as the weather, just plan it in July through September. Bulletproof sunny forecast .

I'm just campaigning now... in hopes of consideration in a couple seasons. Then I can get Sid to ride along with me in a session or two.

 

I got first dibs Bronson.....lol