The last event for the Phil Wicks Driving Academy for this year will be held on Saturday, November 15, at Gateway International Raceway. SPACE IS LIMITED so SIGN UP EARLY!

The Young Drivers Program (Novice Group) will be held in the South VIP Parking Lot (next to the drag strip) and will include driving disciplines and autocross. The special rate for Mini club members is $225.

On-track driving will be available all day for Intermediate and Expert (licensed racers or track prepared cars). The special on-track rate for Mini club members is $140.

A 5 lap lunch session will be avilable to the public. It is a lead-follow around the track at highway speeds and costs $10. This session will begin around 11:30-Noon, so get to the track before 11:30am.

Here is a Track Map- Track Map

Visit the website -- www.midwestdriver.com -- for registration forms and mail your check ASAP.

Phil can be reached at racerwicks@aol.com.

Motor On!

Aaron

_________________
--MCS (named "Flash&quot, St. Louis, MO
Co-founder-St. Louis Mini Club STLMINI.COM<p>
<img src=http://www.aarongeiger.com/mcosig.jpg>

 

Wow, Aaron! Only $140? I'm in!

Just to confirm for the Chicago crew who didn't make it out last time: ALL levels of MINIs (including Novice) will be at the $140 rate?

 

I just made a correction to the e-mail. The novice class is $225 and the other groups are $140. Sorry for the confusion. Still an awesome rate!

 

Gary is planning on attending. I guess I'll let him drive Louie I've noticed Louie is faster since I put his new bonnet stripes on so they both should be ready to go on Nov 15.

Lois

 

>>Gary is planning on attending. I guess I'll let him drive Louie I've noticed Louie is faster since I put his new bonnet stripes on so they both should be ready to go on Nov 15.
>>
>>Lois

I like the new stripes. Red with black looks very good. My next MINI will be DS with checkerboard stripes and top.

Tell Gary to register soon to make sure he has a spot! I will be there as a novice instructor for the day.

 

The check is in the mail,Aaron. He sent it in on Monday! I'll be there as a spectator, since we have only one MINI

Lois

 

>>I just made a correction to the e-mail. The novice class is $225 and the other groups are $140. Sorry for the confusion. Still an awesome rate!

Couple questions guys:

1. How does Wicks qualify novice from other classes? I have experience at Gateway in my Porsche and would easily qualify me an Intermediate level. But haven't taken a Mini on the track.

2. I will take possession of my Mini S on the first week or two of October and likely will not have many miles on it by November. What kind of break-in period is required before I should take it on the track. Perhaps this is too soon.

Thanks

Brad

 

>>>>I just made a correction to the e-mail. The novice class is $225 and the other groups are $140. Sorry for the confusion. Still an awesome rate!
>>
>>Couple questions guys:
>>
>>1. How does Wicks qualify novice from other classes? I have experience at Gateway in my Porsche and would easily qualify me an Intermediate level. But haven't taken a Mini on the track.

If you have driven on a track before in your Porsche, you would be in the Intermediate class, which is a whole day of track driving.

>>
>>2. I will take possession of my Mini S on the first week or two of October and likely will not have many miles on it by November. What kind of break-in period is required before I should take it on the track. Perhaps this is too soon.

The standard break-in period is 1200 miles below 4500 RPM. If you don't rack up that many miles before November, I would suggest waiting until Spring, since the motor really needs that much time to get loose.

>>
>>Thanks
>>
>>Brad
>>

You will really enjoy driving the MINI at the track. It's a track lover!

Aaron

 

I'm looking for a little feedback from anyone who has attended this class as a "Novice"

1.) How much class time is included?
2.) How much track time is included?
3.) Was it worth it?

Thank you very much for your feedback!

 

>>I'm looking for a little feedback from anyone who has attended this class as a "Novice"
>>
>>1.) How much class time is included?
>>2.) How much track time is included?
>>3.) Was it worth it?
>>
>>Thank you very much for your feedback!

The novice class works like this:
The morning is a mix of two things. First, you have classtime about vehicle dynamics, driving techniques, and each manuever. Second, you go to the parking lot cone course with an instructor and push the MINI to the limit with straight-line braking, corner braking, skidpad, emergency lane change, and simulated slids on wet pavement.

The afternoon starts with classroom on the basics of track driving and the racing line. You then go out with an instructor and do a lead-follow session. Then back into the classroom and then back on the track again.

The class runs for 8am-5pm. You usually get 3-4 track sessions and lots of wheel time on the cone course.

The novice class reallt "transformed" me into a much more confident and safe driver. It also gave me the fundementals to go back and do the Intermediate course twice. I am anxiously awaiting Nov and next season! There's nothing better than cornering hard and then hitting 120mph on the straight at Gateway!

Any more questions, shoot them our way...Aaron

 

Wow, Aaron! You're hitting 120? I still need some work!

As far as "was the class worth it?" Yes, it's great. It's a good balance of off-track and on-track. The actual "classroom" time is a grand total of *maybe* an hour for the entire day. You're behind the wheel or preparing to get behind the wheel for the vast majority of the day.

Just do it!

 

>>Wow, Aaron! You're hitting 120? I still need some work!
>>
>>As far as "was the class worth it?" Yes, it's great. It's a good balance of off-track and on-track. The actual "classroom" time is a grand total of *maybe* an hour for the entire day. You're behind the wheel or preparing to get behind the wheel for the vast majority of the day.
>>
>>Just do it!
>>
>>

I could only do that at the very end of my second Intermediate session, since I got comfortable with Turn 3-4 of the oval. More than than that, I got more comfortable with trun 1, so I could use more of the straight. It was easier in 3-4 the first time since I had more tread on the tires. The straight is the most boring part of the track, but turn one is the most exciting! After Nov, I will be getting my second set of runflats. In spring, I will get a second set of wheels with track tires, depedning on how much I can save through the winter.

 

Thank you very much for the feedback on the Novice class. What does the next level bring? Sounds like even more track time, any class envolved with it?

 

The Intermediate class is one whole day of track driving. There a 15 minute classroom sessions in between each track session and of course lots of on-track instruction. The first session of the day talks about the basic race line and is followed by a lead-follow session to survey the track and the line. It's a blast!

 

I've sent in my registration along with the check so me and the Bumble will be there for the novice class. I'm looking forward to this!

 

>>I've sent in my registration along with the check so me and the Bumble will be there for the novice class. I'm looking forward to this!

Dan,
We just had our instructors meeting yesterday. It looks like I will be instructing you and Linda Wiedman from the club. Get ready for a day of fun! Do you have a helmet or are you renting one? If you need to buy one, I will send you a website where you can get one for ~$65.

Be sure to air all your tires to 40psi and fill your gas tank with the good stuff (93 octane) before you get to the track.

Aaron

 

>>We just had our instructors meeting yesterday. It looks like I will be instructing you and Linda Wiedman from the club. Get ready for a day of fun! Do you have a helmet or are you renting one? If you need to buy one, I will send you a website where you can get one for ~$65.
>>
>>Be sure to air all your tires to 40psi and fill your gas tank with the good stuff (93 octane) before you get to the track.
>>
>>Aaron
>>

Hey Aaron,

I'm ready! I got the info and rules in the mail yesterday so my anticipation level went up another notch. I purchased a helmet a few weeks ago after getting a recommendation from you, so thanks for your help on that. And thanks for the info on the tire pressure. I'll be sure to check 'em before I leave.

See you next week!

Dan

 

<<sorry to sidetrack>>

You don't think that 40 psi is a little high? Considering that the absolute HOT maximum of most tires is 50 psi, couldn't a hot run on the track push you up into a dangerous pressure zone?

In my day at Gingerman a few weeks back, I had pretty good success running at 35 front and 38 rear. I took the advice on this site from Randy (and others) that increasing rear pressure by 2-3 psi can loosen up the rear a bit to make the car handle better. I found this to be the case that day.

Also: will anyone at the track have pyrometers and/or the skill to help utilize tire chalk so that we can get a real low-down on the best pressures to run?

Also Also: How many MINIs are registered currently? At last glance, it seemed to me like there were a lot of folks from before who wouldn't be making it out!

 

>><<sorry to sidetrack>>
>>
>>You don't think that 40 psi is a little high? Considering that the absolute HOT maximum of most tires is 50 psi, couldn't a hot run on the track push you up into a dangerous pressure zone?
>>
>>In my day at Gingerman a few weeks back, I had pretty good success running at 35 front and 38 rear. I took the advice on this site from Randy (and others) that increasing rear pressure by 2-3 psi can loosen up the rear a bit to make the car handle better. I found this to be the case that day.
>>
>>Also: will anyone at the track have pyrometers and/or the skill to help utilize tire chalk so that we can get a real low-down on the best pressures to run?
>>
>>Also Also: How many MINIs are registered currently? At last glance, it seemed to me like there were a lot of folks from before who wouldn't be making it out!

I ran 38 front, 40 rear last time, and it seemed to improve turn-in greatly from the 36psi I run on the street. I agree that much over 40psi is pushing it. I did try 38,42 and after the tires were hot, the pressures were up to 40,44.

I believe we have 6 in the novice group and 6-8 in the Intermediate group. A November date is harder to fill because it's the end of the season and close to the holidays.

Temps look like the may be in the 50's, so it should be a nice brisk day at the track. I can't wait!

Aaron

 

Am I too late for the party? :smile: :smile:
Thanks!
Dave Nissen
aka MissouriMini
03 MCS DS/W Premuim Pkg/ColdW Pkg, Rally strip/HK/Zenons/Fog

P.S. Be sure to see my new posting re my first MINI club outing with the Dallas, TX club who toured the Ozarks this past weekend.

 

I recommend calling Phil directly!

(314) 330-6449

Hope to see you there!