One of my co-workers says he was spanked by a Red MINI last week (Tue or Wed) on Bear Creek Road (turning off near the country club). First time in the five years he has lived there that he was ever left behind and he is very impressed with the driving. He could tell this guy has track time as does he. He was telling me this with such passion I was almost in the car with him. Watching the red Mini take the curves and zoom out of sight. Then to slow down for the tease and zoom out of sight once more. I can imagine the smile on his face and the gleam in his eye.

He wants a rematch
(not literally)

 

I own Bear Creek Road from Orinda to the Alhambra Valley Road. Did "the red MINI" have a 37 on the back windows?




Rematches available at Thunderhill April 28-29, Infineon May 5-6, and Reno Fernley May 12-13. Tell him to bring it to the track.

 

I guess there are two good Bear Creek Roads - ours runs from Lexington Reservoir to Boulder Creek. I was wondering where they had put in a country club!

 

Isn't there a golf course just before Boulder Creek?

 

That's my old stomping grounds... I grew up in Saratoga, NorCal. Yes, Bear Creek over and down to Boulder Creek is fuuuuun.


BigBasin is (was?) really fun. Lower section down before Sanborn Park and upper basin - way kewl . Maybe too much traffic nowadays I'd run this flat out in my old 1972 911RS replica. Anyway those were the good 'ol days...

Now I've got frost heaves, ice, rallye size gravel and snow to deal with about 10 months outta the year and a b*tchen 2006 MINI Cooper S to handle it all.

Thompson

ps.:: of course re-matches are ALWAYS out on the track. PCA/GGR time trials at Laguna Seca and or autocross at Golden Gate Fields / Pleasanton would settle the score quickly.

 

There is if you come via 9/Big Basin/236. There's a great section between Hwy 9 and Big Basin, but LOTS of blind corners.

 

If anyone in a red Mini is going to do that much of a spanking on Bear Creek, it's probably Sandbagger. Was it a red and black? If so, you have your answer!

 

Wasn't sure of roof or strip color. Was sure of S and upgraded exhaust.

.

 

SWEET WHEELS

 

hello ...

 

Aha! Another possibility checks in. Have you been spanking people again?

 

I was up there on Tuesday ... the Club is one of my accounts !

I don't recall anyone behind me >>>
I don't get CRAZY on the street.

Thats why they call them "race-tracks"
THAT is were you RACE on a TRACK

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence brian
I'm sure it wasn't me though.

I "usually" keep it at medium sporty on the
road lately. -That way people think I'm slow...
But if they happen to encounter me at the
track or an autoX they learn what
"SandBagger" really means!
-G

 

I am so waiting for that moment! Will it be with NASA at Sears Point May 5-6? With NCRC at Thunderhill April 28-29? Maybe NCRC's Reno-Fernley event May 12-13?



Cheers,
Sid

 

The earliest I can do is T-Hill April 28 & or 29th.
I'm trapped by the work thing....

I did my first autoX of this season last Sunday
in Marina with the LPR Porsche club. - I wooped the
entire field!! I've never been able to do that before
and I gotta say it felt pretty good

 

Well, MINIs did win all the G & H stock, mens and ladies at the SCCA Pro Solo runoffs.

But really, would you prefer to spend, what, 6 minutes in second gear in a parking lot or 2 hours at top speed on a racetrack?

Just askin'. Track days ain't for everyone.

 

Yes track days are an order of magnitude cooler
and more exciting. I consider AutoX training for
the track. - It's also much faster and harder and
more fun than it looks - for those of you who've
never tried it.

1,AutoX is like the classroom, track days are the
practical lab exercise. If you've ever read
"Secrets of Solo Racing" by Henry Watts he
says about the same thing... that you'll do much
better on the track if you master autoX.

2,AutoX is cheap and "easy" on the car and held
in many locations. Track days are expensive,
hard on the car, and more often than not mean an overnight trip.

3, AutoX is danger free. You can hang it out way over
the limit spin the car go off course etc. All that happens
is a little scuff mark from a cone or two get on your car
and they wipe right off. - In fact if you aren't doing the
above you're not trying hard enough. Try that on a track
and you're gonna get black flagged or worse!

4, Every lap is timed to the .001 second so you
know instantly what works and what doesn't. Between
each lap you have time to think about and make
adjustments such as a turn in point on a turn,
a pound or two of tire pressure, seat position, etc.

The list goes on....

I don't go to SCCA autoX events because they only do a small number of runs.
Car club events usually have way more runs and are a better experience.

 

well, whatever. three 2 minute runs in a parking lot versus two hours of track time on a purpose built racetrack.

I have nothing against auto-X, did it for years in my old CRX in FLA. It's a great intro to the real thrills. Is it good training for the track? That's debatable. It's a whole different ballgame at speed. The learning curve is steep. It took me almost a year to get my car up to speed on the track, and I'm a quick study with lots of FWD autocross experience.

I hear your arguement, but it didn't work that way for me. For me the difference was like shakin' booty on the dance floor at the club versus getting deep into ballroom, where the slightest misstep spells doom.

 

They may have met again?
Same road and turned off at the same place.

More on the MINI:
White roof and stripes.
Driving lights.
No front plate.

Last friday and this time you were behind him.

 

Oh. Well then. 'Tweren't me.