[robbo mcs]

Hi,

I just returned from another amazing track day in the mini! This car never ceases to amaze me in its performance and capabilities.

Today I went to Eastern Creek for a track day. The event was a "Burrows Drive Day" organised by "Events O'Neill" (www.eventsoneill.com).

These track days are incredible. They are well organised with a great mix of cars. You can go on the track (with no pressure) with professional instructors to help you find your way around the track in a safe environment. Also, you have the option of going on the amazing eastern creek skid pan for driver training or fun. The skid pan is permanently wet and slippery which makes for a lot of fun, and low stress on the car. The skid pan is very educational. Also you get to mix with great people and enthusiasts, and perve at awesome cars. If you have a mini you also have the opportunity to spank the same supercars on the track!

Today I was happy to see another beautiful electric blue cooper S at the track. After further investigation I discovered it was driven by Marnie, who was having her first day on the track. By the end of the day she was circulating pretty quickly, and obviously enjoying herself. Hope to see you again Marnie.

The other cars today included many exotics. One particular highlight for fans of the "Italian Job" was an Aston Martin Vanquish (one of only 2 in Australia).

However, the undoubted zenith was the presence of 2 Lamborghini Gallardos. This is a new model "mid-sized" lambo which is just being launched. Lamborghini Australia provided 2 of these cars, with 2 race drivers to demo the car. We all got to drive one of these cars round the track. It is not everyday you get to fang a $400k+ supercar on the track. In fact, when I look back on my life, today will probably be the only day, so life is downhill from now! It was fun, but kind of intimidating as well,as the car was left hand drive, with a right hand gear shift. Also, rear vision is limited, and you are allways aware that you are driving someone elses car the $ size of a reasonable house! Boo, if you read this post, it was great. Wish you were here, then we could have chased each other around the track in the 2 lambos!

The mini held its own on the track, scaring many ferrari and lambos! It is amazing how well the car performs compared to the exotics.

Luke who runs the day is a serious mini fan, and loves the car. Today he was saying how great it would be to organise a drive day for minis only. I am sure that if we got enough people together it could be done for a reasonable price. It would be great to get people on the track with their minis. A day could be organised to cater for everyones taste, with instructors, and groups to go at any pace from slow to wickedly fast! I know the word "track" scares some people. However, you dont have to push your car to the limits. It can be an opportunity just to extend your car that little bit further in a safe environment, without the worry of speed cameras. If anyone is interested we should try an organise a day.

By the way here are a few pictures. Notice the Aston Martin Vanquish, the lovely yellow Lambo Gallardo, and a nice line up of cars being led out by Marnies Electric Blue mini.

Robbo

[IML337]

You drove the Lambo? AMAZING! Absolutely amazing...

[jaydub]

if i knew about the chance to drive the lambo...i'd be there in a second! what do you reckon the chances are of something similar next time?

i think i saw that vanquish the other day (i think licence plate OHH-888)...i'd just like to say it looks even better in real life than in photos!

[Mini2v]

Robbo

I recently organised a mini gymkhana at the Eastern Creek Raceway for a dealership, It was an awesome event with various timed trials both wet and dry on the skid pan, we had 18 minis trying very hard. The cost to hire the skid pan was very reasonable, this came with access to a suite for speeches, lunch etc. Catering was around $20 per head, we had to use eastern creek caterers, but the food was good. I feel there would be quite a bit of inetrest in an organised track day from various mini sources if there are not the numbers in Mini2. I have made inquries from TrackTime on professional training and track work, still waiting for his quote. So if you have any idea of what Eventsoneill would charge for such a day, lets see who else is interested.

Vic
Mini2v EB MCS

[warped]

You lucky Ba$tard !!! The new Gallardo is awesome, would be by next purchase if I won Lotto tomorrow

I simply cannot believe that they let you each drive them

On another note ... if you need numbers for a MINI only track day count me in Never done a track day but keen to start

[gazah]

brilliant... i emailed luke after the last EventsOneill drive-day, but was tied up with work for this one! i'm keen to get into the next one, & would be similiarly interested in a mini-only affair!

robbo, are they 5-spoke 16" wheels on your car? just interested 'cause i've got stock 16" rims [with run-flats] & have wondered how they go on the track!

.g

[eltel]

robbo, great write up and fabulous photos. Thanks for sharing the day with us. Lucky guys, getting to rumble a Lambo around the track.

Funny how yellow cars looks more sporty than others.

Hopefully see you at Phillip Island.

[robbo mcs]

Quote: Originally Posted by eltel

robbo, great write up and fabulous photos. Thanks for sharing the day with us. Lucky guys, getting to rumble a Lambo around the track.

Funny how yellow cars looks more sporty than others.

Hopefully see you at Phillip Island.

Hi,

I've sent off my form for phillip island, so I hopefully will see you there.

Robbo

[Boo]

Robbo, you know i am only teetering on the edge of Mini and Track withdrawal!!!! Yet you tease me so

Hooning around the track with you in those Lambos would have been awesome... Sounds like the car is going well and i am looking forward to your write up with before and after times of the different tracks.

Wish i was there for Phillip Island too !!!! Oh well, did i mention Venice is awesome and i am heading off to Nurburgring tomorrow for a hoon around the track there in my Ugly Bob Car

Should be fun, might even spring for a Ring Taxi if one is available, Melody will love it...

ElTel, are you going to Phillip Island ???

[eltel]

Quote: Originally Posted by Boo

ElTel, are you going to Phillip Island ???

Yeh, Boo, I've applied to run at Philip Island, and I'm looking forward to catching up with robbo. Would have been nice if you were there too, but there'll be time for that when you get back.

I'll run stock (except for some very good tyres) against robbo so that you can see the difference that his mods have made. (Hope I don't beat him.)

Venice - have you seen the Italian Job yet? A fair bit of the action takes place there. I can just see you in a speedboat hurtling down the streets of Venice.

Nurburgring in a Renault sounds like a wasted opportunity. Can't you hire a beemer or a Porsche for the day? Hope Melody enjoys the ride around the track.

Great to hear that you're still missing the MINI. It's going to get a right royal thrashing on the day that you get back.

See you both later,
Regards, ElTel

[robbo mcs]

Boo,

Apparrently one of the ring "taxis" is a BMW M5 driven by German racedrive Sabine Schmidt. I've heard it is well worth it! By the way, Sabine drove a mini in the 24hour race there.

Robbo

[swamos]

Quote: Originally Posted by robbo mcs

Boo,

Apparrently one of the ring "taxis" is a BMW M5 driven by German racedrive Sabine Schmidt. I've heard it is well worth it! By the way, Sabine drove a mini in the 24hour race there.

Robbo

There is a video of that available in a thread titled "ring in spring" or something like that

[IML337]

Yes - the ring taxi's are modified M5's

Unfortunately the 'ring taxi is booked out until May next year. I rang a few months back asking to book in October and the girl thought I was joking!

I've hooked up a few laps in a Golf with one of the guys on the ringers list, so it should be good!

Boo just find an older looking bloke in the carpark with an expensive car and ask him for a ride - it's the done thing

[gazah]

tim, have you thought about the big mini run of the ring on october 25th...

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...threadid=34697

.g

[IML337]

I am only in Germany from Oct 1 to Oct 23

and now I want to cry because I'M MISSING THAT EVENT!

ah well - next time
by the way gazah, I saw you northbound on windsor rd on friday afternoon! I was in "BMW4" (320i sedan loan car) heading down to Classic to pick up my S, so I didn't bother waving or anything because you would have looked at me strangely, no doubt

[gazah]

must've been coming home form work tim... probably wasn't paying much attention anyway! i do usually keep an eye out for minis around the hills, but they're few & far between i must say!

i don't see your name on the list for the sept run... are you planning on getting on the ned of the list? it'd be nice to actually meet 'the mini locals' even if it's only for those brief windsor rd glimpses!

.g

[IML337]

my name would have been at the top of the list, but I'm flying to London on Sept 18 and back in Sydney late October, so I can't make it.

I'm booked on a MINI factory tour on Sept 23 though

[gazah]

as they'd say... "woo woo"!

can't say there'd be anyone that'd turn down a european adventure for a mini-run... although it seems boo would consider flying back early for phillip island with the works!

& i see you're down for the tassie tour, so at worst case scenario we'll meet mid '04!

[robbo mcs]

Hi Gazah,

I'm from the Hills, so I'll keep a lookout for you.

Robbo

[gazah]

where abouts... i'm in baulko with tim!