Lonely at the Track!

[yachtcomputing]

Miss you guys!

I have been the lone Mini in a Sea of Porsches and Bmw's

Will be at HMS this weekend with PBOC. Instructors group now. So I can take passengers.

Come on by, say Hi and I'll be happy to take you for hot laps!

[LgEnf]

trust me, we miss it too - finances just do not permit the extra luxury in the hobby category right now

[yachtcomputing]

To Be honest, if it wasn't for be making it to instructor I'd be driving far less as well!

If any of the gang are near the track when I am there hop in for a ride or just steal a water/(beer after 5pm) You are always welcome!

Comraderie is always first on my list. If I can chase your bumper too that's just Icing.....

[Blainestang]

Yeah, I wish I could get out to the track more often, too, but like you guys said... it's not cheap.

I'd definitely take you up on your ride-along offer next time you're at Sebring, though!

[yachtcomputing]

I'll post when I am heading there next. The Passenger door is open!
I am down to a new personal best there @ 2:37 {Squeeked out between 3 2:38's in a row} (of course that is still about a day later than Ian )

A good way to keep track of trackdays for all the clubs is http://www.trackweekend.com it's free. It is also easy to see who's going where.

[mct]

Instructor? WOW! Cool. Congrats on that accomplishment! You could probably wipe the track with our MINIs now ;).

Sadly, it would probably cost me $1000 min just to get back on the track in tires, pads and fluids. Can't justify it right now, but sure do miss it!

Will have to come check you out one of these weekends!

One of these days we should have a track reunion and all plan on 1 weekend to go out. Even if I have to run my street tires and just not push it as hard, might still be fun for old times sake .

[Blainestang]

I'll post when I am heading there next. The Passenger door is open!
I am down to a new personal best there @ 2:37 {Squeeked out between 3 2:38's in a row} (of course that is still about a day later than Ian )

A good way to keep track of trackdays for all the clubs is http://www.trackweekend.com it's free. It is also easy to see who's going where.

Thanks, and yeah, definitely post when you'll be back at Sebring. It's always nice to see other minis out there on track.

I'll check out that website, too.

[JBKone]

Can't afford racing. Well, I might be able to afford it, but I like to drink good beer and eat out and go to the Dragon and take vacations and .... BUT, I'd probably make the trip to cent/S florida to take some good hot-laps in a MINI! That would be AWESOME!

[yachtcomputing]

Some Fun I've had albeit without you guys....
Homestead excitement with a passenger in the car.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYckepNzTJA

Sebring with PCA in the instructor's group. You will note the expanded passing rules....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hll3p2-bDL4

Hope you enjoy!

[maitland]

I'll post when I am heading there next. The Passenger door is open!
I am down to a new personal best there @ 2:37 {Squeeked out between 3 2:38's in a row} (of course that is still about a day later than Ian )

A good way to keep track of trackdays for all the clubs is http://www.trackweekend.com it's free. It is also easy to see who's going where.

37's aint slow..... Good work. Had a buddy down there with his 06 Dinan Cooper S and he's a darn good driver. He only managed 38's (he had borrowed my brakes, wheels and tires). In his defense vac line was off to the fuel pressure reg. He's darn lucky he didn't loose the motor. His data was showing 128mph down the back straight (not bad for a car with 195whp).
We did eventually get mine down to a 2:27.4.

A customer is building a TTC R56 I'll be running it in TT so I'm really looking forward to what that will do. We ordered the AST's last week for his car. I did a 39 last summer in slightly damp with him in the passanger seat so I'm hoping this sucker will crack a high 20.

[yachtcomputing]

I had a chance to ride around with Chris Hall in my car but that was the last session of the last day. He helped me a lot in 1, 5 and 7 but I didn't get a chance to try it alone. I also am only running Nitto's so there is a limit to my grip.

My biggest problem is getting off the brakes in time for the car to settle and turn in under power rather than turning in trail braking. If I trail brake I understeer and can't get the traction back. If I turn in under power I don't get the understeer. I am just happy to be within 10 seconds of you! Thanks for the complement!

I'm still looking for the coaching ride from you BTW......

[maitland]

What you said is Contrary to Common thought of how a car behaves. When trail braking the point is to leave the weight loaded on the nose to encourage more front end grip and get the vehicle to turn better. Understeer should NOT happen when trail braking unless your brake pressure is to high in which case on a non-abs car you would have lock up, with an ABS car you would activate the abs and that would have the same effect of reduced turning. If you read this past months Issue of Sports Car Randy Pobst gives a great article talking about the patience needed to apply throttle for fast laps. This ties in handily with some of the things I learned at DirtFish rally school. Driving on Dirt the negative effect from not having the weight on the nose is extremely exaggerated. Learning to drag the brake for a long period of time and just be patiently waiting while the vehicle rotated through the corner was one of the harder things for me to pick up.
Below is my video from the Rally School. If you note at the 37 second mark I pick up the throttle mid corner (like I would on pavement). The car immediately picks up a push towards the tree line. I yell at the car "common girl" when in my own ignorance it wasn't the cars fault. It was me unloading the front tires far to soon. Some of the other things we learned was really minimizing distance. If you notice a lot of the lines (some are avoiding puddles and ditches) are attempting to minimize distance used....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbGI-NKIZ7s

[sBox]

Wow. Amazing info, thanks!

My excuse has been that my contract ended after 16 months and I have had to save the bread for the mortgage. I am dying to get back out there. I've had very, very few opportunities to play since I put in the LSD.