Signed up for a BMW CCA driving school at the Glen in July. This will be my first time at the Glen. Will do homework by looking at the track map and watching some in car video. Any one else driven the Glen? Any tips for MINIs?

Thanks!

 

I used to do a lot of drag racing but never drove a road course until I went to Watkins Glen last May. It was just an open track day and I went with the MINI Club Western New York. Wasn't serious racing (no passing allowed) but was still a blast. The course is challenging with a lot of turns and elevation changes so there is a lot of shifting required to navigate the course quickly. As I said this was my first time out on a road course and I only had my MINI about 2 months so I had a steep learning curve. Even so, I was able to navigate the course quicker with each lap set I ran throughout the day. I am planning on going again this spring. Good Luck.

 

My brother teaches in the Buckeye Ohio driving schools at Mid Ohio
track they have each year. Mid-Ohio is similar to the Glen with lot's of elevations=eye tricks and hairpin turns in the woods.
I put a link at the bottom to check it out and they usually cost less than the Glen Courses.
He drives a super charged MC 2002 and the Porsches & Vett's leave him alone as they know he's gonna eat em up in the twisties...
Mid Ohio also has a school using hopped up Honda CRX & Acura, & other
schools. It's just south of Mansfield W of I71 at Steam Corners OH.
Check out and ask for Big O for your instructor at the BMW school..

http://www.midohio.com/School/Courses/Racing-Programs


http://www.buckeyebmwcca.org/buckeye...26_Racing.html

 

Opening day has really cheap track time. It's paced but you can a least get on the track.

I'll be there... Wanna connect?

 

Got to drive around the old course in 71.
What a blast.
Still the best site for an F1 race in the US.

 

I have run with the Buckeye Chapter at Mid-Ohio. All very nice people and an amazing track. I went during the last school of the year in 2009 and it rained on Saturday and was so cold on Sunday. But the rain made it a level playing field for me.

I already signed up for the school in July and I don't have any more vacation time to go again. Maybe I will see some more MINIs there.

Any one have any challenges with the chassis there? I upgraded the brakes and I run a semi aggressive track pad, so I shouldn't have issues there. I ran the same set up at Road America with no problems.

 

The Glen is a fantastic track, especially for a MINI. I did a NASA HPDE there last October and it was amazingly fun!

My favorite parts are the climb up the SS's leading onto the back straight, and going down the valley and around the toe of the boot. The toughest turn for me to learn was the left leading onto the NASCAR straight 3 turns before the main straight - it's almost a double apex - I had a hard time with it, but it was still fun...

You'll love it!

Spend some time learning the track well before you try to go too fast, you'll enjoy it more.

I was flat out from turn one exit all the way to the bus stop!

 

Who's going to opening day (besides me)?

 

The long course in 2005 with PDA.

Make sure you have fresh pads and new brake fluid. And a spare set of front pads if it is a two day event.

 

I went to opening day last year with the MINI Club of WNY. A bunch of us met in Canandaiqua, cruised the back roads to the Glen and then hit the track together. I had so much fun, I'm planning on doing it again this year. Already have it on my calender.

 

I have driven the Glen many times in the last 25 years. Spend some time walking the track if you can before you go out. Make sure your car is well prepped with new brake fluid, decent tires and good brakes all around.

Be sure to listen to your instructor. Stay away from anything blue, and don't go faster or deeper than feels really comfortable unless you have a trailer for the ride home.

And above all have a blast. It's fast and there are long safe stretches. You'll love it there.

///Rich

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79VqwfXVaMA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXnkfurMwbw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N0UCnhvtnQ

Unless your on R-comps, don't expect to go this fast... Make sure your fluid is up to the task and don't settle for crappy "uprated" track day pads. Bring a dedicated set for the track (fronts only) if your gunna drive hard..

 

Thank you all so much for the great advice! I appreciate it! I will try and post my video from my Hero Motorsports camera.

 

On a 850 Norton in a rain storm

 

Opening day at Watkins Glen is a blast. My club from Central New York met with the Western New York Club and we had 32 Mini's there. We met at the west gate first for a meet and greet. Upon entering the track area they put us in a special area for clubs. We were in the pit area with the Mustang Club, Corvette Club, and Porsche Club. Then they allowed us to go out on the track as the combined club. Again 32 Mini's all at once. What a blast. We were able to do 85 mph on the straight with pace car and the corners were great if you set yourself up by lagging behind a bit. Great for Mini's being that its a road course. The money ($25.00 for three laps) goes to charity too. Afterwards we meet in downtown Watkins Glen for lunch. Kick seeing all the Mini's parked on the main street. Fun beyond belief....

 

Any one in the BMW CCA or know someone who is in the chapter that does the driving schools at Watkins Glen? Just nice to know someone before you go.

 

+1

 

I totally agree with listening to the instructor. I have always found that they tailor to the instruction to the particular student for that day/weekend. Luckily, I had to change instructors only once but that was because he didn't show up for my session. Generally, the instructors are down to earth really cool people. I am glad that they come to the track to instruct!

 

Not going to the BMWCCA track day but if you were going to the SCDA track day in july, there should be a number of us there.

 

FWIW - BMWCCA Patroons will be up at Calabogie near Ottawa on July 15-17th and the Glenn with SCDA is July 11 and 12. That may be a little tight for me.

As for impressions of WGI from a first time driver - it is all uphill . In a Mini you are almost always fighting to accelerate going up hill and a lot of the braking is going downhill.

As for listening to the instructor - yes, definately - except for the Toe...there, a lot of the instructor's experience is with rearwheel drive cars and they will have you drive the inside line. I talked my instructor (who was otherwise fantastic) into letting me take the outside line and what a difference in a mini . It takes a bit of courage to do this as you brake straight on track-leftside, pop over the concrete and stay to the outside of the curve, totally on the asphalt, and accelerate as soon as you start into the curve. You need to be sure of your braking as you don't have much margin for error to the edge of the track. My instructor said he tried this in his M3 and almost spun the car. But he was likewise impressed as to how well the Mini took it.

 

Eddie, if BMWCCA is running 20 min session x 4, there is no chance I will be there. Just too little track time for the drive.

 

Unless I have reretired. Then it changes things.

 

Re-retire

You doing the Bogie?

 

Looks like bogie should be a go

 

I am thinking of doing WGI July 11-12. Then head up to bogie for friday-Sunday. Hope the car does not protest.

How about your plans for July.