It all started Friday morning at work..

I was running around fixing a few problems, your usual "I need it yesterday kind of Friday!!!"

Anyway I started chatting with one of my end-users about plans for the week end.

I had nothing, feeling sorry for myself I asked him what he was doing.

He said "I'll be out in the middle of Watkins Glen International raceway cleaning up after wrecks" Way cool I said.

Then he told me that this is the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix and car show weekend. The first ever MINI weekend and MINI is the official pace car for the races.

I called my wife and asked her to take the rest of the day off. Then I called my boss and asked him for the rest of the day off.

We drove 5 and a half hours to Painted Post NY. Got to the room at 10:45.

Spent the day at Watkins Glen watching the Historic Collier cup Race (Post 1940 MG's), a bunch of other races and wandered around the Vintage Car Show.

We left the track at 2:00 to visit the town of Watkins Glen and do some touristy kind of stuff.

Had an early dinner (BBQ, best ribs I've ever eaten)

As every good little boy, I asked if we could please go back to the track to buy a T-shirt.

On our way out. I decided to take one last look at the cars on the track.

I turned onto this road and my wife said stop the road is blocked. An official flagged us down and said would you like to take a few laps on the track?

DUH!!!!!!!!!

3 laps with 25 other MINI’s………

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!



















WOW what a day, what a weekend.........

Oh yea there were 3 Roadsters at the track and I saw my second Roadster on the road on NY RT86 on the way home.

Andy

 

Went to the festival in town and watched the "tribute" race they run around and through the town This year's featured car was the Mini. Below is a pic of the official pacecar.

 

Friday was the day to be in town, the Marque Car Tour group and other tour groups take over the streets for two laps of the original course followed by the actual race cars displaying on the street for 1-1/2 hours before doing their two laps. Thousands of people take part in this event with events scheduled from 7:30 AM until fireworks at 9:00 PM !
It takes place the first Friday of Sept. every year and it is fantastic ! Check out the Watkins Glen Vintage Grand Prix Festival website and sign up for a tour group next year, you won't regret it.

Here is a link to a photo gallery to give you an idea of the Friday activities.

http://observer-review.smugmug.com/N...nd/i-ZQtHMVL/A

 

Great pictures.....

I wish I could have been there. I didn't hear about it untill around 11 on Friday.

Andy

 

Andy,

I'm definitely jealous ... but very glad you had a fantastic time. It must have been a great experience driving the track at Watkins Glen. Good for you, big guy! I hope your wife had an equally good time. Fun is best when shared.

 

Thanks Dave,

I couldn't agree more, It was one of those perfect weekends for the both of us.

Andy

 

Cool weekend!
While looking at the pictures, I see an MG with the plate."MY2NDTD", and I'm thinking ,I just saw that car! I was behind it for about 1 hour in a traffic jam heading back to Long Island NY this past weekend.
They weren't driving it, it was on a trailer!
Beautiful car!

 

What was your highest mph on the track, Andy?

 

The speed limit was 60 mph, no passing, I only looked down once and that was on the front straightaway just before the start finish line I was going 81 and I was speeding up.

I have a picture of the tight left turn going down into the boot and It said 41. You really need to slow down so you don't run yourself off the track.

I've driven the track many times on my iRacing simulator and couldn't believe that it felt just like the real thing, every bump, change in pavement, rumble strip. I went over the rumble strips just to see how it felt and I couldn't believe that my simulator felt exactly the same..

No where near race speeds but it sure was a blast........

Andy

 

That's awesome. It would be a thrill to drive Watkins Glen, but I'm in Virginia and ultimately heading to Florida. Not much chance of that happening.

 

If we do it again we'll make a week out of it.


It was 5 and a half hours from out house to the Hotel.


I'd do it again in a heartbeat, but my wife is still tired and it's Friday..

 

I finished a trial Wednesday and I'm still feeling it. I won, so I can take it.
It's times like this that remind me why I became a lawyer.

Defense: 1 United States Attorney's Office 0

 

Follow up from the MINI Heritage Day at MINI Of Allentown (MOA) Thank you and a very special thank you to Paddy Hopkirk for making the meet and greet so wonderful.

Here is a great photo of Paddy and David at Watkins Glen ..


A couple of great ones here..

Motor On!