[GordonD]

I was at the BMW Club - Trillium Capter meeting last night and they have offered to put together a one day driving school at Cayuga with them providing instructors.

They need 45 people for a full field and the cost would be in the $250 range. if there were not enough MINIs it could probably be filled from general membership.

I think this would be a) a great event and beneficial to people new to great handling front wheel drive cars and b) an opportunity to see if we can do a MINI division within the BMW club. They do a lot of track days and are very organized with good instructors.

let me know if you are interested and what Saturday dates between Mid March and June would work for you.

Pass the word around

[aircanuck]

Gordon,

I would love to have the chance to attend. As far as dates go, I am pretty open to options. The sooner the better though

Regards,
Neil

[paulmon]

Gordon you read my mind! In fact I've got a BMWCC Trillium membership form sitting on my desk waiting to be faxed. 45 people with just MINIs will be tough though. May have to fill in the rest with non MINIs.

On a somewhat related note does anyone know where to buy a helmet that doesn't cost a fortune? Considering I plan on doing 3-4 track events this year $500 minimum for a helmet sounds expensive.

Paul

[scollins]

I've bought helmets at CSC Racing (not sure of the town, way up at the north end of the 404). You can get a decent Bell for $300, it just won't be kevlar (min $600). I've used a Bell Sport II for the last 4 years and the weight doesn't bother me.

Edit: http://www.cscracing.com/ ...they're in Newmarket.

Shawn

[tip]

Where and when? Where is cayuga exactly? I can recall the signage along the highway but I can't place it. I maybe interested. Need more info.

Charles

[scollins]

Cayuga is now Toronto Motorsports Park: http://www.torontomotorsportspark.com

[nwoodiwiss]

Shaun...sign me up...P_ROCKET will be there ! Cheers ,Nick

[paulmon]

I've posted this over at www.minicooperonline in the hopes of getting more involved. I doubt we'd get 45 but let's hope we can get significant numbers as to outnumber other cars.

Paul

[GordonD]

Seems like there is not as much interest as I had hoped. certainly nowhere near 45.

I think it makes sense to wait till we have a club meet and talk about it then. In the meantime anyone wanting to do some driver's ed should join the BMW club - only $58

[HarryHBMCC]

Sorry Gordon but I'm doing rallying this year and don't know how many car weekends per month I can get away with before my wife gets upset so I can't promise I'd be there.

My dealer organized a run (at Shannonville) for April with BMWs and MINIs, just from their location. Perhaps it would be good to see if the local dealers might be interested in putting up fliers for some sort of event as it seems like many MINI owners haven't found either mini2 or minicoopersonline.

BTW, does Cayuga need a helmet with a closed roof car? Shannonville does not.

Harry

[GordonD]

Harry

totally understand about the rallying conflict - i'd love to be a rally driver when I grow up.

On the helmet issue it seems to depend on the organizer of the event rather than the track people.

I went to cayuga a couple times and one time they asked for helmets and the other they didn't. "real" schools like BMW, Porsche etc insist on them - rightfully so I think

[paulmon]

Helmets are always a good idea, I just wish they didn't cost so much. I have to pick one up because I want to do the driver training with the BMW Club; however, $400 minumum for a helmet doesn't have the best WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor).

Paul

[HarryHBMCC]

Does the BMW driver training course require one? Or provide one for you perhaps, since they provide the 330cis and M3s? Just wondering.

Harry

[GordonD]

Quote:

Originally posted by HarryIndiBlue
Does the BMW driver training course require one? Or provide one for you perhaps, since they provide the 330cis and M3s? Just wondering.

Harry

when i did the BMW (factory) school at Spartenberg, SC you didn't need a helmet.

the BMW Club schools you do need one

[paulmon]

Ya, I'm talking the Club school. I can get and install and sway bar for $400, sure the helmet keeps me alive but what fun is that?

I was originally looking at doing the BMW training from BMW themselves but the way I look at it, I want to be a better driver in the car I drive every day not a BMW 330. Granted driving an M3 would be nice, especially if it has the SMG tranny.

Paul