The first Ultimate Mini Driving Academy event to be scheduled is slated for April 24 and 25 at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina. Sponsored by Rick Hendricks MINI, the two sessions can be taken separately or together; Saturday’s performance workshop is $75, Sunday’s on-track experience will be $125, or sign up for both for $150.

More info:

http://new.minimania.com/nmm/Phil_Wicks_Ultimate_Mini_Driving_Academy.htm

This, unfortunately for me, is the weekend before the Dragon gathering. As much as I'd like to go, I can't do both. :(

So... has anyone signed up for this driving school???

I have and I'm trying to see how many more MINI owners are planning to attend.

It ought to be a great warm-up for the Tail of the Dragon the next week-end. :D

If you are going, have you check with your insurance comapny to see if you are covered on the track? My Allstate agent was reluctant to say I am covered. I may need to speak to claims department.

Wish I could do it but I'm already committed to the Dragon and can't afford both back to back. :(

As for your insurance, be sure that they understand that this is a drivers safety school and not any form of competition. That might help swing the ball in your direction. :)

Please Note... the $150 is for people who purchased their MINI from Rick Hendricks MINI. All other other MINI club members pay $175 for the two days. This is per Phil Wicks himself. The $175 is already deeply discountly from usual rates.

Please Note... the $150 is for people who purchased their MINI from Rick Hendricks MINI. All other other MINI club members pay $175 for the two days. This is per Phil Wicks himself. The $175 is already deeply discountly from usual rates.

Yeah, I signed up for it the other day. $175 seems reasonable for a 2 day school. I can't wait to get on the track and see what it/I can do.
I've never had anything like it before and want someone to teach me so that I don't get myself into trouble.

Glad to see some other Triangle area driver's coming along. If you make it to Apex on Saturday we can discuss that week-end also.

Going back to school.

I sent my registration in on Monday for the Phil Wicks School. Sounds fun.

I have spoken to several other MINI owners that are going. Maybe we could do dinner on Saturday Night? Where are most people spending Saturday night? I think since I live in Charlotte I will drive back to Charlotte after dinner on Saturday and return Sunday.

mininc
Glad to see that you will be there.
I am looking forward to going "back to school" as well.
Dinner Saturday sounds good, I'm staying in Lancaster that night.
Need to see if I can borrow a helmet. What are others doing for headgear?

audioman

I have 2 spare full-face helmets both are size 8, I have a big head. I promised 1 to Chris, mini3tiger84. I would be glad to let you use the other one if it fits. Here is a link to Simpson Race products. Simpson (http://www.teamsimpson.com/catalog/helmets/voyager_limited.asp)

They have a full-face helmet with shield for $299. If you get the bug to start autocrossing you will need one.

Lancaster may be the best place for dinner; I will check it out. Hope to see you at flow.

Thanks mininc,
I took a measurement and think I wear a 7 3/8 to 7 1/2.
Do you think the 8 will be way too big?
Never worn a Helmet before so I'm not too sure about the sizing accuracy.
That Simpson looks like a good deal, and there is $50 off special, but again with the sizing.
I'll see you at Flow next weekend.

Audioman

I will bring the helmet with me to the Flow Rally so that you can try it on. I will also bring a head sock to wear under the helmet, which takes up a small amount of room.

I am getting new tires put on this week. I am getting non runflat Dunlop 205 45 17s from the Tire Rack. I am having them shipped to Century MINI to have them mounted.

See ya Sunday.

Thanks mininc,
I took a measurement and think I wear a 7 3/8 to 7 1/2.
Do you think the 8 will be way too big?
Never worn a Helmet before so I'm not too sure about the sizing accuracy.
That Simpson looks like a good deal, and there is $50 off special, but again with the sizing.
I'll see you at Flow next weekend.

Yes and 8 would be uncomfortably large.. It'll flop around quite a bit.
I measure out to 23 1/2 and use a Large or 7 1/2. I bought a Bell sized Large. Since my measurement was at the top of the range I thought it might be too tight but it worked out very well.
The Simpsons are nice since you can get them in actual sizes. I tried a Simpson 7 1/2 and it felt good but it cost more than the Bell.
Make sure you verify the rating as well. Does it have to be an SA or can you use an M rated helmet. Makes a BIG difference in price.

Here's where i got mine SoloRacer (http://www.soloracer.com/helmetsizing.html). Good info even if you don't buy there.
$50 off on that Simpson sounds like a good deal.

I picked up a full face helmet from a bike shop made by a company called Cyber. It ran about $120 and is Snell M2000/DOT, ECE 22/ 05.BSI and AS approved. This should be good enough for just about anything you'll get involved in.

audioman

I have 2 spare full-face helmets both are size 8, I have a big head. I promised 1 to Chris, mini3tiger84. I would be glad to let you use the other one if it fits. Here is a link to Simpson Race products. Simpson (http://www.teamsimpson.com/catalog/helmets/voyager_limited.asp)

They have a full-face helmet with shield for $299. If you get the bug to start autocrossing you will need one.

Lancaster may be the best place for dinner; I will check it out. Hope to see you at flow.

Hi George, I won my bid for a helmet on eBay I expect it this week. Hopefully it fits right and you can offer the helmet to someone else. See you Sunday...

So... has anyone signed up for this driving school???

I have and I'm trying to see how many more MINI owners are planning to attend.

It ought to be a great warm-up for the Tail of the Dragon the next week-end. :D

If you are going, have you check with your insurance comapny to see if you are covered on the track? My Allstate agent was reluctant to say I am covered. I may need to speak to claims department.


Just purchase the aftermarket parts coverage like i did from AllState, and they'll pretty much cover you no matter what.... i got a letter from the head of the claims department sent to me saying that they would cover any aftermarket parts destroyed, damaged, or stolen from my car, at whatever the cost would be, provided from my extensive list of receipts....

Trey from Cat & Dog Racing has informed me of this event, and I am trying to see if i can get down there for both that weekend and the next weekend.... unfortunately, finals at Clemson may not allow me to attend the first weekend, since my finals are all early in the week - but we'll see how it goes!!!

must be nice to be graduated.... :( haha! GO TIGERS!!!

I did it, no turning back, I registered and paid, I'm going to South Carolina this weekend!!

Spoke with Phil Wicks, on Saturday night everyone goes to a local Italian/Greek type place to eat and rehash the days events.

Question: Would anyone like to share a room to reduce their costs? I will arrive Friday night. I am a non-smoking female and would be willing to share with another female or a couple, also non-smoking. I will pay my share in cash. I can provide references from newyorkmini and phillyMINI. :D :p :p :D

Well no auotcross this weekend so I gotta get my driving fix somewhere, oh well, might as well go to CMP for some track time. I spoke with Phil today and he said we should get at least nine twenty minute sessions in on sunday if you registered as intermediate or expert.

I got my room all set up at the Best Western in Lancaster. Anyone else staying there? How long does it take to get to the track from there?

Look forward to meeting some Southeastern MINIManiacs. Anyone have a clue as to how many MINIs/Minis to expect? I was at Lime Rock, CT a couple of weeks ago for a drivers ed, there were close to 20 MINIs! I only knew 6 of them from the boards. Guess not all enthusiasts visit here or the other sites.

Safe travels, all!!

I got my room all set up at the Best Western in Lancaster. Anyone else staying there? How long does it take to get to the track from there?

Look forward to meeting some Southeastern MINIManiacs. Anyone have a clue as to how many MINIs/Minis to expect? I was at Lime Rock, CT a couple of weeks ago for a drivers ed, there were close to 20 MINIs! I only knew 6 of them from the boards. Guess not all enthusiasts visit here or the other sites.

Safe travels, all!!
Hi tontobird,
I'll be staying at the Bestwestern also. I won't get in until 8-9pm Friday evening.

Lancaster is about 17miles from Kershaw. I'd figure on 1/2 hour in the morning to get to the track. I was planning on leaving at 7am or shortly after.

I know of several MINI owners from NC that will be there. I believe it's a pretty full event, all MINI's of course.

See you there...
Chris

I'm also at the BW in Lancaster. I've gotten back early from my business trip, so I will be motoring down to Lancaster sometime this evening.

Cheers,
Keith

It was a pleasure meeting everyone, had a great time!! Those of you who took photos and or movies....will you be posting them here? I'd love to see them, if you don't post them here, would you please provide some links? Thank you so much!! :D :D

Let's hear all about it please.
Was it worth it? How did it compare to on track with the SCDA or BMWCCA?

Let's hear all about it please.
Was it worth it? How did it compare to on track with the SCDA or BMWCCA?

It was a great two days of all out driving around the track without it being considered racing. There was enough competitiveness in us MINI drivers to push each other around.

I have some video located at:
MiniTiger following Grant Hermes (http://www.employees.org/~csuich/MINI/Grant_040424.mpg)

You can find professional still photos at
Adrenaline Sports Photography (http://www.adrenalinesportsphotography.com/wicksweb/wicks.htm)

AAHHhhhh. Very cool video. Helped me relive the whole experience and replay all those lines/approaches/ turns in my mind. THANKS! :D :D

I am so jelaous. Thanks for the video. Very cool!!!! How did the cars hold up under the stress?

Great video of saturdays action, I wish I could of made it for both days, but sundays experience running the full course was quite a thrill. Nothing like time on a racetrack to find the true limits of a MINI.

I am so jelaous. Thanks for the video. Very cool!!!! How did the cars hold up under the stress?

I had quite a bit of shredding on my Dunlop run-flats, more so in front. Others had the same problem. I believe it was more common with the run-flats, particularly the Dunlops. Tire pressures were appropriate. Got the word from a fellow with years of track experience that the tread design that's so good for channeling water in the rain, is especially susceptible to shredding.

By the way, here is my general recap of the weekend:

Phil Wicks is a great guy, they even supplied lunch, snacks and beverages on both days!

His driving school left a bit to be desired. It was a little disorganized, and didn't have a strong or structured curriculum. There were huge inconsistencies in the "instructors". About halfway through the first day, I identified the "good" instructors and stuck with them for the rest of that day and the next day. At that time, my instructor and I decided that I should run with the intermediate group.

The good instructors included (but were not limited to) a group of guys from the local BMWCCA chapter and Brad Davis. Brad is the GM of MINI of Charleston, which is part of the Rick Hendricks group of dealerships. Brad also drives a race MINI in competition. to my knowledge, BMWCCA's in general, have a good reputation for instruction.

Of course, everyone was great and we had a blast. One poor guy put his MINI into the trees. He was in the intermediate level and had done track days before, though I don't think with his MINI. His dad has been involved in HPDE for years, so they knew the risks. He overcorrected after going into a turn way too hot. He did not have an instructor in the car with him, if he had, I don't believe it would have happened. He was not hurt.

The price was great and I got LOTS of track time. Carolina Motorsports Park is a very nice facility. If you're willing to take some responsibility for finding the instructors that can help you grow as a driver, it's worthwhile.

The local BMWCCA chapter is looking to hold an event at CMP. These guys were great! I've started another thread for you to follow and hopefully get more info.

http://mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57848

Hi y'all, hope everything's going well down there in the South-East Region.

A thread was started in of all places, Mid-Atlantic, which includes links to videos and photos from this weekend.

http://mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61995

Enjoy!