[LePew]

I managed to get to Laguna Seca today while on a business trip out west. What a classy show Phil Wicks puts on! If only I had had a way to pack the MINI in my hand luggage....

With a bit of luck, NinerCat from the Hudson Bay run was there. She was kind enough to let me ride shotgun for a few of the "parade" laps at lunch time.

There were probably 12 or so fully race prepped cars there of about 100 total. Those guys from Arizona are taking their racing very seriously.

Lots more stories to tell and more pictures to follow soon.

[2006McsaSteve]

It was awesome. I probably got to do about 40 laps throughout the day and loved every moment. His next event is in Vegas in March. Minis are considered carry on luggage, so you should go.

[LePew]

Some more details of Phil Wick's Driving Academy this week. The event was structured like a BMWCCA driving school, with a few differences. First -- and best -- 99 of the 100 cars were MINIs! Second, the fastest run group was populated with about a dozen or so very serious looking racers. So there is hope for those of you looking to get more competitive on the track. Maybe someday we'll see that many MINI racers in one place on the East Coast.

There were lots of interesting people and cars. Unfortunately I did not have time to talk to them all, but at least I did have time to snap a few pictures, posted on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lepew/sets/1590799/

The cars and people were mostly from California of course. I did see a Texas MINI and one with a North Carolina plate. Phil's crew had come over from Tennessee. Randy Webb was there from Colorado with two cars. And a group of very serious looking racers were up from Arizona.

I did have a chance to listen to Phil speak for a short while, I think it was to the novice class. Two things that Phil said have stayed with me. First, he mentioned that the school was oversold, and that he did not have enough space to accomodate everyone. Space was being limited by the number of available instructors. (They were sending out about 20-25 cars per run group but could have run more if they had had more instructors). So there may also be afuture place for those of us who have some track experience and want to try some instructor training. I also caught Phil's "80%" rule -- that most of the time on the track you should be pushing yourself and the car at only 80% -- only then will you be as fast as possible, by saving a little for your "edge".

On to the people. Met a younger fellow with a basically stock Cooper S who is planning to try Phil's racing series next year. He is still in the process of prepping the car. Had a four-point Autopower bolt-in roll cage installed, with the rear seat and interior trim removed. The car was still street legal and looked quite presentable. Unfortunately he took off before I could snap some pictures.

Talked a bit with George from MINI Madness. He has the WAIC self-contained intercooler unit installed in the car that fits into the stock intercooler mounting space. The unit has a radiator that is separate from the stock radiator, which he reroutes for use in cooling the engine block.

Saw Randy Webb's chili red car up close for a bit. He has another approach to self-contained intercooler that is smaller than the Madness unit. I was able to get a picture of that one, but did not have time to learn anything more about it.

Chatted for a while with a guy from northern California who has had a 2006 MINI on order since August. He still doesn't have a production number yet! Some things are definitely better back home.

I then met Gary Anderson, the guy who is publishing MC2 Magazine. Primed him for a story on out upcoming Newfoundland run. So we'd better not Baker that now. While talking to Gary I also met a wheelchair bound driver. He has a MINI with an Evil Knievel theme, quite a cool look. He was an absosultely fearless driver, forgot grab his name.

I then ran up the top of the hill and snapped a few pictures of the racers mixing it up in the corkscrew. I have a few video clips of that session that I'll edit and try to post later this weekend.

I then ran into 9erKat, who says hello to all of her friends from the Hudson Bay run. She was kind enough to share a ride on the parade lap at lunchtime. I think we managed about 6 laps in all. She certainly knows her way around Laguna and the correct lines. The track was a bit wider than I expected, a very smooth and fluid circuit. The sight lines are wide open, and it seemed quite easy to read the proper lines. Quite unlike NHIS!!

Wished that a few of the rest of you could have been there too.

[am0eba]

Great pics and write-up, LePew!

I was there too, and had a great time! My wife Judy came along and took lots of pics - she also drove during the lunchtime touring laps while I snapped a few pics from the passenger seat.

Check out our huge slideshows:
http://twistedmotoring.org/MyStuff/W...cks121405.html

I just received my CD from the professional photgrapher that was onsite. 57 images of my car, including some great close-ups. Still glad Judy was there snapping away!

_Dave_

[queen B]

LOL, LePew, I was so happy to look at your pictures. I was starting to doubt that I was there.....that it was all a wonderful dream. I was so busy that I was able to take only one picture of the start of the race. I have been looking at everyone's snap shots for a picture of my car and waiting impatiently on the CD from the track photographer. I wasn't as smart as am0eba and didn't pay the expediting fee.

Everyone at the office was starting to say...."yeah, uh huh, sure you took your car to Laguna Seca" Low and behold.....there is Casper and in the corkscrew no less. Yay!!