We all know about MINI of Peabody and what they can do for you.
At the event, a pretty good plug was made for the BMW Car Club of America.
But, the HMS Motorsport folks didn't do much tooting of their own horn,.. If you get interested in doing more of this stuff and need stuff for your MINI that is autocross / track specific, be sure to check out HMS Motorsport. They're just 30 seconds down the road from where we were on Centennial Drive. They come to almost all the local BMWCCA events with a truckfull of parts and have been known to spin wrenches in the pits to help get people back up and running.
They've got helmets there, which is the next thing you'd need to buy if you want to keep moving forward in the autocross / track world. And plenty of other goodies, too.
It was great to see everyone again and glad this event turned out successful for a second year. I learned firsthand this weekend that a bare stock cooper is still quite capable--After two laps finding my wrong way around the course, and forgetting to look at the time the third lap, I got a 23.043 on my 4th lap..and that was on the 15" continentals as well!
Sam wasn't even familiar yet with stick but braved the intimidation and went through all the excercises. The CCA instructors had great tips each time and she improved leaps and bounds with each try.
This event is great at giving everyone a taste of the fun of autocross--it really is a blast, but unlike track racing (which I'm sure is on a whole other level of fun), completely safe for you and your car and also inexpensive. Several groups do it in the area and all over the country and I encourage anyone to give it a try. I autocrossed all last summer with the BMWCCA (took a break this year for the new house, plan to be back next summer) and they're a great group. Check out my videos here.
Also, the braking and turning excercises along with the "mini" autocross course are abou;two thirds of the Advanced Driving Skills school offered often by the BMWCCA. Highly recommended for EVERYONE, perfect also for those just learning to drive.
I saw an instructor at 20.3, and another at 20.5. The BMW ASP car turned a 20.1 I think, and Steve Hazard's BSP car was also in the low 20s. The first time I have ever seen either of those cars looking large in comparison to the crowd!
I didn't note the time on the GMC truck with the ladders on the back, but that was a smooth 3 point turn he made, so I'd guess a low 30! He was a good driver I think, as he did not tip the truck over, or lose any equipment off the back...
I managed a 20.82, and I saw another customer also in the high 20s, and perhaps there were more. If anyone made it to the 19s I would be quite startled!
Some of those ringers are damned good drivers, and I reckon any of them can whip me in my own car... If I had spent as much on drivers schools as I did on the suspension I'd be faster, but parts are easier to come by than time...
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