This week I was invited to the Bay Area PCA's first Time Trials at Thunderhill, but it's the same weekend that I'm scheduled for instructor training at Infineon, September 22-23. So many track days . . . so little time.

Some of you should have received the invite as well since it was sent to all GGC BMWCCA driving school participants. Anyone going?

 

Check out the track day coming up at Infineon Sep 21 HERE.

Come join me for some fun if you can take a Friday off!

 

Pg. 70 Issue 10 MC2.

 

Haven't got my issue yet.
Is that the photo of Scott with you instructing?
Jim

 

Stephan. But yep. You're in there too!

 

D'OH!! I was THINKING Stephan but typed Scott! (it's been a loooong day!)
So they did use the photo I sent. Cool!

Jim

 

Jerry it's time to stick your head in a refrigerator before it swells and the hat wont fit. Nice article keep up the good work. Congrads.

 

Gawd, Checkers, you're right! If I wasn't so useful to my students, I'd think about just going and soaking my head to keep the swelling down!

 

*sigh*

I just can't get no respect!!


The photo of me and Stephan going over the line in the garage at Infineon




And as interpreted by my "fans"







And again

 

I will go Infineon this Sat, see you guys there...

 

I'll be at Infineon on Friday for the TrackMasters event and then will be taking the NASA instructors course Saturday & Sunday. See you there.

 

This weekend was great. We had two fine days sandwiched around a rainy day. We now have 3 Mini drivers who are instructors for NASA: me, kmickey and stuttgart1. So if anyone would like to try a NorCal NASA High Performance Driving Event, be sure to request one of us and we'll go do the Mini thang.

Colin brought the car he and his dad are racing in the Carrera Panamerica next month, but the submarine strap on his Recaro was installed incorrectly so it failed tech and he wasn't allowed on the track. Bummer.

Friday I got to ride around with Gary Anderson from MC2 and push him a little. One of the things instructors do is push their students a little beyond what they think their limits are. It's a matter of the driver trusting that this experienced guy in the right seat is not going to put you and your shiny new car in the weeds. By this time I am well acquainted with the limits of this car and he was nowhere near them. When he had taken some deep breaths and calmed down afterward, he was very happy to discover that he is now 5 seconds faster around Sears Point than he's ever been before. See? It works.

A Barry Bostwick lookalike named Alan was there with his JCW on Sunday. We went for a ride and it was a repeat of Friday's ride with Gary. Part of the HPDE experience is learning the capabilities of the Mini and the scope of your own abilities. Alan, too, felt a little out of his comfort zone, but after I had showed him some places where he could go faster, he went out on his own and did it. He then took the trouble to come find me and thank me for the guidance. That's nice.

By the last Group 4 session on Sunday the track was just about perfect. I lined up behind the white Miata that is challenging me for the lead in TTD, a GT3 Porsche and a Caterham Super 7. I passed all those guys and was finally overtaken by a Viper and a Panoz. The rest of the field never saw my rear bumper except when I passed them. The most fun duel was with an Acura NSX whom I had to run down in traffic, then outbrake and pass inside on the entrance to the Caroussel. He wasn't having any of it, never lifted or gave me any quarter, but I got him anyway. So much fun!

 

Whose stuttgart1? I've never met him...sounds like NASA's getting a fair amount of coopers out...that pretty cool...I've heard of this Panamerica car, started as an SCCA car right?

 

Stuttgart 1 is Daniel. Black MCS with orange Kosei wheels (!)

Yah, the CP car was an SCCA car (you should see the front shock towers), but SCCA took a big dump on Minis this year. Since Pete Taylor was cleaning everyone's clock in G Production, they moved the Minis to SSB where they are not competitive. Have we heard a peep from MINI USA? I think not. Everyone is bailing from racing Minis. Nuzzo is gone, I see where Bones is selling his whole race rig, truck, trailer and 2 Minis. Randy Webb has gone back to flying for United, etc. The only hope we have is

FOR MINIUSA TO BRING THE NEW CHALLENGE CAR STATESIDE AND SPONSOR A SERIES FOR IT. LIKE NZ, AUS, UK AND GER. HELLO!

I'll buy one. And race it against all of you hotshoes. I ain't skeered.

BTW: here's a pic of my new rig at Sears Point this weekend.

 

Actually, Randy is taking his R56 to Topeka for the Solo II Nationals this week.
Car looks great, Jerry!

Jim

 

Any of you fast bay area guys/gals using a 15x8 wheel with 225/45/15 tires? I've gone beyond what my street tires were ever designed for and need to upgrade to R compound tires. I've found a wheel by 949racing that lookms like a good prospect. I comes in 15x8 with 36 offset priced at 149 each. anyone currently using these or something similar. I have stock suspension but plan to also upgrade the camber plates. For tires I am looking at the RA1 or Nitto NT-01. this should give a light wheel/tire combo with good traction.

 

You wanna buy one of my sets of 17X7 Kosei wheels, Vince? Orange or silver, your choice. They'll bolt right on and will take up to a 215/45/17 R compound Yoko tire without modifying the wheel wells.

Why do you like the 15s again? Are you autocrossing, or do you just have karts on the brain??

 

Thanks, Jim.

Randy may be at the Nats, but he is also back on the line. You know I have nothing against autocross - I did it for years in parking lots from Florida to California. But it ain't track racin'.

 

Jerry,
From what I understand a 15 will be
1) lighter 12.8lbs for the 15x8
2) give shorter gear ratio for better accelleration
3) tires are much cheaper
4) allows for wider widths with less fitment problems
splain it to me why bigger is better?

 

What, bigger ain't better?? Wotthehell! Sounds Unamurrican!

I don't see a problem here. You like yours, I like mine. No problem. :D

 

Jerry yours are diffently bigger. What I was loking for was a little more theory. Given the same setup except wheel size what would the difference be on the track?

 

Theory, shmeory. All youse intellectials is the same. Jus' bring it to the track and take home the hat!

 

So no one else with an opinion? Or at least a somewhat humerous response?

 

Im not sure about the subtle differences, I would say that in most cases, for most drivers, they are not going to be able to make the difference show on a lap timer..Yes, their may be slight benefits in weight, but the SSR's are probably as light, but good luck mashing over the top of 5 at TH with those, you may bend them...it seems like cost is a major variable in your equation, so I would go with whatever you feel fits your style and pocket...the smaller tires are definetly cheaper, but depending on how many events you do a year, it may not matter. Im still on my RA1's from last Dec...

I dont think MINI has the guts to bring the series...and Im sure BMW is offing any real sporting efforts from the brand. With the new 135i coming, the resurection of the 2002 is on its way. I expect to see BMW hit motorsports again in the states with factory backing of the new M3 and club racer backing on the 135i...expect MINI to allign with the new Microcar climate, a la SMART and all the micro crap coming from Japan...Im probably a year or two from moving away from MINI, but I dont see much long term viability...Mazda's got it right man, they support the 80% of racers who cant afford $100K racercar and stand by them every step of the way...too bad the MX5 is such a barbie doll....a barbie doll whose quick and fun to drive, but a barbie nonetheless....