Definate for the Boggie but I am hesitant to do WGI that monday and tuesday before then. But then it is early yet and plans can change. Want to book a B&B now for the Boggie? Places book up fast.

 

Need a few weeks before I can fully commit to bogie. I still do not have my new track suspension yet. It has been delayed numerous times and would like to fix that along with my CVs before committing to track days.

 

I am going to see about hitting the Glen for opening weekend. I got to see a NASCAR race there a long time ago(Kyle Petty was still in the Mello Yello Car lol) and have always dreamed of driving around it! For 25 bucks(going to charity) how can you go wrong?

 

"How can you go wrong"

Anyone who has driven on a track (Track day) want to answer that one for murdoc?

Has no one told you that is how the addiction starts? Just one lap What harm can that do? Then one more and one more. Before you know it you are buy a new set of wheels and track tires....and brake pads. And you start search NAM for track day postings. You stay up late looking for what mods and suspension changes to make. It becomes a never ending cycle of finding a track days, modding the car and looking for the cash to fund the addiction all fueled by a need for speed, that feeling of your cheeks being pulled away from your teeth as you go around corner faster than you ever thought possible and that face-plastered-againts-the-windshield braking that the car can do. Can you say "ADRENALINE"?

For $25, I say go for it and you will really find out why you bought a Mini and love driving I know they won't let you drive really fast...but it all started for me with a parade lap around Lime Rock Park

 

It was a rhetorical question haha. However, thanks for the blow by blow. I was pretty sure how it went, but you re-confirmed it. The same thing happened when I was into the Jeep thing. What harm could come from that first trail ride, 6" of lift and 33" tires later lol.
Plus on top of the adrenaline, the money goes to a great cause. On top of that I could get a chance to interact with some fellow MINI owners/drivers.

 

Murdoc,

After opening day at wgi, you should come join us for some "slightly" faster speed fun at wgi. We are typically on the thread SCDA HPDE schedule discussing our next adventure.

 

Let us know how the lap goes

and then look us up:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3221945

 

The Glen is a fantastic track for the MINI. The best thing that I would recommend is purchasing this video/DVD http://www.kollins.com/speedsecrets/ "Speed Secrets at the Glen" It will be the best $35 you will spend in preparation to going there.

This is a fantastic educational video. It breaks down the track turn by turn and gives great insight as to how to handle each corner and than how to tie them all together. You will get multiple different views of each corner, in car, right side, left side, from behind, from a helicopter.

Then they have a section where they run the track at speed viewed from both an in car cam, drivers eye view and also from a chase car. When they run it at speed it is a great way to learn the rhythm of the track.

+1 @ Rich.Wolfson ..... listen to your instructor

If it your first track outing the only changes I would recommend would be to have a brake fluid flush with high temp brake fluid and add 5 psi to your tires. You definitely do NOT want to buy R-compound tires as a novice. In fact most organizations like Trackmasters, NASA, or SCDA do not allow novices to run R-compound tires. Just stick with regular street tires, you will be fine. Tires worn to about half or one quarter of tread left are even better.

If you can, do an auto-x day before you go to the Glen. That will give you an idea about where the limits of the car and tires, and you, are before you get there. The major difference between an auto-x and the track is that on the track everything should be smooth. Braking and steering input should all be very smooth on the track.

Most importantly, Have Fun!

 

Bilbo,

Good and wise advise. I just have a small point that I differ on.

Raising the cold tire pessures +5 psi from stock recommended (which is 38 psi on the r56 17" rims) is mostly an AutoX thing because you do not have time to warm up the tires.

I would be careful doing it on the track. I would pay more attention to the hot psi and keep it around 40-42 psi hot as a start. See how the car feels and adjust accordingly.

 

Thank you very much for all of the input. I had the opportunity this past weekend to spend some time at BeaveRun here in PA and even though it was supposed to be a winter driving refresher course, the weather was too warm and the north track there cleared up. So I got the chance to run a couple of pretty fast (for me) laps there. After lap 2 I had to park the car, I was shaking from the adrenaline! I hopped out and about a half a dozen people got to hear me yell "I love this car!" I tried the Autocross and didn't really like it all that much, it could be because they were timing people and I didn't get a chance to see where the heck to go, but I was much happier on the racetrack. I had pushed myself to my limits on the North Track and the car still had more to give, so I feel very confident in the abilities of Das Stinktier, and because of this past weekend, I am really looking to get involved in some HPDEs. So Eddie and Slinger, I will most likely be looking up when you will have your event at wgi and making sure I can make it. I think I need a helmet now lol. Obviously I will be a novice, but I gotta start somewhere.

 

Oh-Oh, it's started. Another track junkie in the making

Had foot shakes from adrinaline my first day. Made me blip the throttle so bad the instructor thought the car broke. the only way to stop it was to run with the foot to the floor But really, deep breaths help a lot. Remember to breath while driving

Some of us have signed up for WGI with Trackmasters on 4/30 and 5/1. It is a novice day. You can check them out on trackmasters.com. One of the things you need to look at is the checkout sheet they have. It is probably similar to BeaveRun but it is worth checking out as it is a little more stringent than others.

 

Sounds like there will be a decent MINI turnout at WGI for Trackmasters!!

 

Oh yes! I knew this was going to happen as soon as I got to run the first lap earlier in the day without the instructor, I pushed it a bit. Not as much as the last 2 laps, but I felt the rush.
Trackmasters weekend in April (30 - May 1) is the weekend after my birthday. I'm thinking I know what I want for my birthday this year.

 

Birthday

but sign up early (early B-day present) and note that it is a 2 day event that you have to sign up for even if the web page is not really clear about that.

When you do go out on the track, listen to your instructor. I know that it has been said before, but I had a friend who didn't (thought he knew "better") and found out that the tire barriers will do damage ($5k worth) and WGI is an unforgiving track. There is no room to slide off and cruse back on. It is track then barrier...boom. Don't be to much of a speed junkie in your first session. There will be plenty of time for that in your later sessions. If you get a ride in with your instructor (no begging), pay attention to his every move and position on the track. You can learn as much there as you can driving your own car. Watch some in car videos before you go. It will help a lot. Pay attention to how the drivers strart the turn and the other little details like where the flaggers are. See if you can figure out who are the good and not so good drivers.

Most of all...go with the attitude of having fun.

 

My friend, an advanced driver totaled his BMW M5 in the entrance to the boot.

Not my friend, Dom, a lotus driver, spun in front of me in the same corner and came right across the front of my car when he tried to pass a jag there. He and the jag collided and I had to dive down so I was not caught up in the pileup.

Please be careful and drive within your abilities.

 

Oh, trust me, I know better than to push my limits too far. I almost rolled my old Jeep Wrangler by pushing too far. Plus, Das Stinktier is my DD so if I mess her up, I don't get to work. Besides if I mess her up, the wife would probably mess me up.

As I get my MINI on the track from time to time, I will push in baby steps. I'd rather be a little conservative and safe than drive like a bat out of hell and crash. I don't have a problem waving people by that want to pass me.

All of the input is greatly appreciated here. When I got into the Jeep thing years ago, they weren't as nice about dishing out good advice. They had the "figure it out yourself" attitude. I am finding that the MINI community is a lot more welcoming, and that makes me .

 

We hope you are able to join us at TM. We all look forward to meeting you and sharing some track stories, for us would be Lambo Lady etc.

We are a great group of track maniacs which include s-driver, gkp, veggivet, eddie07S, Claymore, Suss and others, some who are not active on NAM as well as those that do not drive Minis such as Porsche Bob.

Please see our ramblings on this thread: SCDA HPDE schedule.

 

Don't forget the Audi R8 guy!!

 

Oh yea, R8 guy

 

None of us will ever be able to forget the R8 guy, unfortunately!

 

What is R8 Guy driving now? Miata?

I heard from Porsche Bob that Lambo Lady is terrorizing the tracks with the Lambo club.

 

Will we get to see either of these 2 at WGI with TM?

 

The thought of these two 'drivers' on the track is enough to scare the bravest of souls. I can just imagine if they're in the same run group

R8 guy was in a beat up Mazda last time I saw him at Lime Rock. It was fun passing him for a change.

 

Could they pass the OT qual? Otherwise it sounds like they wouldn't sign up for a novice day, so I shouldn't worry

 

Nope....