I there on Sat. & was stuck in one traffic jam after another
in group 2! Big mistake.

I was the grumbly guy with the red and black JCW - switching
out my brake pads & wheels as fast as I could because
the damn beginner driver meeting took an hour and a half
and I only had 20 minutes to get my car ready before the first
session- when you walked by and said hello.

I got checked off for group 3 during the second session
but they didn't want me to switch groups mid day and confuse
things or something. I didn't press too hard because
I was helping my neighbor with his first track day in his 911
and he was in group 1, so we could at least do a little lead follow.

Since you were in group 4, I wasn't going to
get to try and chase you around anyhow. I'll look for you at
the next one! If I can Ill pass you, If I can't I'll learn all your
tricks. - I'm an A student

Glad to see you got to try your hand a "real racing" and get your
butt kicked for a change!

 

Oh. Sorry, I had no idea who you were. I wish you'd come down and joined the enclave and hung out. Vince (minispeedrcr) got moved up from Group 1 to 3 due to his superior karting skillz and I 'm sure we could have gotten you up there too. Plus it was fun hangin' with the racecar drivers. Maybe next time.

My current target is Kim Ouye who is just into the 0's with a 2:09 in his Spec Miata. We're close, but he has about a second on me. Jacques is tweaking the car to be stiffer all around and I'll be going after Kim next time, probably Wednesday the 21st at Laguna.

 

Sandbagger (Grumpy), I couldn't agree more about Group 2, They should be seperated from Group 1. It ends up being a race down the straights and a crawl round the corners. I did get an insrtuctor to go with me on my second run and it was very helpful since this was my first time with my MINI on a race track. On Sat afteroon I ent for a ride with Jerry. Holy S..t! It was amazing to see what our little cars are really capable of doing. On Sunday afternoon I was able to move to Group 3. So much better. I was able to keep up with the pack an dpass a few people. Learned a lot more by beng able to go the whople session at full speed and not worry about running over the slower cars. After learning the correct MINI line from Jerry I was able to gain about 10 MPH down the straight and take turn 8 at WOT. Thanks again Jerry. Looking forward to meeting some more fast bay area minis.
Vince Aka minispeedrcr

 

You know how it is when you come up on a gaggle of Miatas and have to thread your way through them to clear track beyond? Well, my goal is to lead a flying phalanx of MINIs through their formation like hawks through a flock of pigeons. So it behooves me to show you guys what I've learned by circling T-Hill about 2000 times. I'm always available to ride with you or have you ride with me if you can hold on tight.

Having lost the FMOD hat fair and square to Canyon Bob (and I don't think there's a MINI driver in the country who can take it away from him) I'll have to think up some other incentive to get you fast guys' blood pounding.

I'll be in NASA Group 4 for awhile, but I'm moving up to TT soon and I'll also be driving the #31 racecar more as the summer progresses and we get it ready for the 25 hours in December.



Sid on the grid





Photo by minispeedrcr

 

Jerry,
Seeing you all hunkered down in that race mini makes me
think that you guys could chop about 8 or 9 inches off
the roof height. - Think of the lower center of gravity, the
loss of weight, the loss of drag, the faster lap times!!!

 

Great idea! Sounds like a Chip Foose project. "Hey Chip, build me an aero MINI!"

Only slight impediment: the rules. Oh yeah. Rules. Rats.

 

"Well, my goal is to lead a flying phalanx of MINIs through their formation like hawks through a flock of pigeons.Well, my goal is to lead a flying phalanx of MINIs through their formation like hawks through a flock of pigeons."


2nd wing...checking in sir...

 

We should setup our own little gang of fast MINI's...what do we have, 8 or 9 people who are group C/3 (fast) or better? We should be able to put 3 cars together for the 25 hours...or get a good pack in BMWCCA club racing, most of our cars could run in showroom stock

in true english fashion, we would all be know as "double o's"

something tells me that "Jerrys Kids" may not be the right name for our game though.

 

As a sort of aside, I think NASA group 3 is the best training for eventual racing I've seen. They run lead/follow drills, side by side drills and start drills. kmickey knows more about it since he is an alumnus of the program. I ran Group 3 before they started these drills.

Matt, since I am so depressed about losing my FMOD hat, would you wave the flag and see who rallies 'round? We should plan some track days together, but remember, I can't go to HOD, TEAM or Trackmasters any more. Doesn't mean you guys shouldn't; just that I am focussing more on racing this year after doing over 50 trackdays last year.

Sad Arthur and the Knights of the Roundy-round? I dunno. Sounds a little sexist.

Sons and Daughters of Sad Arthur?

 

This sounds like lot's of fun! When is the next event? I'm gonna try to make it

 

I just signed up with NorCal Racing Club for a two day at Thunderhill April 28-29 and a two day at Reno Fernley May12-13.

If you are ready to engage other cars and drivers at speed (no paint swapping, but unlimited passing), there are many cars and drivers that you would have fun with at NCRC. NCRC is not as conservative and beginner oriented as HOD, TEAM or BMWCCA, but they run a good, safe event with no dive bombing or dangerous driving allowed -no racing; there are no trophies to win.

As you progress up the ranks you'll discover that you start seeing the same faces at each event. The advanced drivers are like a family who watches out for each other. We have to be. It's a dangerous sport. No one wants to get hurt or hurt someone else.

In addition, I'm doing the next NASA event at Sears Point on May 5-6. There will be plenty of opportunity to get the MINI Squadron together during those 3 weekends.

 

Ive run with NCRC about 6 times. Dave and his Radical are fun...Ill probably try to get to 4/28-29 then

I want to get to Reno too, we will see.

unfurling the flag as we speak....

 

I might be able to make 4/28 or 4/29! Maybe both...
It sounds like too much funn!!

 

Well git on up this time! Pit with us. We're a team now.



Clive, what up, my man? Can you make it?

 

I was asked how driving the racecar differs from driving the street car.

It was certainly sprung stiffer and the seat was way lower than my car so that altered my view, especially over the Turn 5 bypass. There is no power steering so the input from the wheel was like the feedback from driving an Elise (i.e. I could feel every bump and ripple), except because of the front engine and front drive it was a whole lot harder to turn the wheel and hold it. I need to work out more if I'm going to try to muscle this thing around Thunderhill in 1.5 hour stints for the 25 Hours in December.

But the biggest accomodation was to the brakes. There is no ABS, so if I overbraked, it locked up the wheels, just like a Formula car. That means I couldn't brake as deeply into the corners as I do with my car and that affected my passing. Consequently, I went straight off Turn 10 while trying to go inside a pesky Miata. And then coming down into Turn 2, I just had a complete brain fade and forgot to lift or brake. I remember looking down at my foot on the floor thinking, "This won't do", and then I just went straight off the outside, heading for Chico at around 95 mph. It took a long time to get stopped. No worries, though. T-Hill is great for going off since it's out in the middle of a big cow pasture. I got back on in both cases and continued the march. I wasn't very fast, but I did pass a few guys and it was my first race! Quite a thrill!

Thunderhill aerial photo.

 

very sweet ride

 

Hello, My name is minispeedrcr(vince), and I'm a trackaholic. I have no illusions about recovery. I live for the next fix.

So who was at laguna today? If I can't be there I at least want details.

 

That would be me. The car had a new suspension setup. It felt tighter and somehow lighter as if it was poised on its toes ready to move in any direction. Where before if I wanted the rear to step out I had to lift, now I only have to feather off to achieve the same result without slowing down much. It's very sensitive to lift though, which I discovered in Turn 6 where I was trying to hit the apex without braking. I lifted, but didn't get back on the gas quick enough and lost it. Ooops! All in, a quick trip to the gravel and back on track, no problems (well, unless you count the black flag for 4 off). Then I discovered the wheel wells were cutting my tires so I had to put it on the trailer at noon. That problem should be fixed next time, and it will be my first outing with my new rollcage and seat. I led off our third session in Group 4 and did 4 lonely laps before being overtaken by two Exiges and a Viper. That's it, though, so not bad, over all.

RCR, you have my sympathy. How about some therapy in April? NCRC is holding a two day at Thunderhill April 28-29. See you there?

 

Who else is going to NCRC Thunderhill April 28-29.
Sid - what run group to register in?

If work permits:
Unlimited laps @ Laguna 4/9 advance group
NASA @ Thill 4/14 & 15 group 4
NCRC Thill 4/28 not registered yet.

kmickey

 

Hey Mickey!

If all goes well, I'll be driving the racecar in the NASA 3 hour day/night enduro at Buttonwillow on April 14th, so I won't be able to make Thunderhill.

I did the midweek NASA at Laguna yesterday, so I'm good for that for awhile.

If you want to register for the NCRC event 4/28-29, pick the Open group. Unlimited passing, point-by encouraged.

Hope to see you there . . . even though I am hatless *sob*.

 

Good luck at Buttonwillow.
Enduro Racing is the ultimate contest in racing. A true thinking man's sport and a different world from a 20 minute sprint race.

Look forward to the Thill NCRC event on 4/28-29.

So, what type of cage are you installing; custom, Autopower...?

In regards to your fender/tires rubbing, was it just the plastic fender molding or sheet metal rubbing?

kmickey

 

Just finished reading the NCRC web site. They are kind of pricey compared to NASA. How does the time on track compare to others? They do offer a thirty percent discount for the first time out.. Thats nice. They also offer a referal bonus to any current member for 50 dollars credit. Any one want to be my buddy? Not sure when I Will be able to track with them, 4/28-29 i'll be working. I'm thinking about going to NASA on 5/5-6 at Infineon.

 

Jerry,

signed up NCRC - TH, 4/28-29, OPEN group. See you guys there.

 

NASA offers four 20 minute sessions. NCRC has six. If you wants to play, you gots to pay. It's only money. You can always make more of the stuff. Where else can you find some much bang for the buck?

 

Jerry
Thanks for the info. I did the math. NASA at $279 for 2 days of 4 20 min sessions = $1.75 min. NCRC at $500 for 2 days of 6 20 min sessions = $1.77 min. This doen't include the sweet 33 percent discount for first timers with NCRC!! I'll have to see if I can be sick that weekend.