BMWCCA High Perf Driving School - 8/23

[Theo]

Quote: Originally Posted by LePew (original)

The MINI is all packed and wearing her track shoes. See you at registration at the main gate about 6:45 am. Us early birds usually gets the nicest garage space...

David --

I'll be there about then if not a wee bit earlier. Leaving my house at 3:45 am for the 2.5 hour jaunt. Perhaps we can save spaces for the 5 other folks? Is that an additional 2.5 garage spots?

Off to bed...

Theo

[Jester's mom]

I want pics!!!! I really wanted to go to this event but life just gets in the way!

[snid]

Pete (Mr Chex) took pics. I brought my camera then didn't take a single picture. Preliminary review of my video tape shows that I somehow missed recording the last session and that I was not that much faster than my previous best - maybe 1 second faster, but I think I had a bunch of laps that were that fast. So, I guess I'll consider that a good showing from the new tires. I'll know more later on when I get the video I do have into the computer.

It sounded like everyone had a good time. And we had a lot of MINIs out there today.

[snek]

I brought my camera, didn't take a single picture AND I almost left it there... Thanks Jason for saving it

Now as Theo would say, off to bed ..

[Theo]

WOW!

What a day!

First...thanks to the WMC of the BMWCCA for organizing and running this event. There are a lot of details to be taken care of running an event at a track and Bruce Smith and Crew did an excellent job in making the day efficient and enjoyable! Many thanks, all! An a great big "Thank You" to my Instructor, Sean McDermott!

This was my first high performance track event. I have some years of Autox under my belt from the late 80's and early 90's, but this was really something! As Audra Eames commented, autocrossing and track racing are two different forms of racing. There to enjoy the event were 8 to 10 MINIs along with many BMWs, a Jaguar D-type (), and a Chrysler 300!

For those who haven't considered going to an event like this, I strongly recommend that you give it a try. The way the event is organized makes it easy for a newbie (like me!) to feel comfortable and well-cared for. Of course, I also had the benefit of information and reassurance from our dear track-experienced MINI folks (Pete B., Jason R., Dave T., thanks!).

The day started with Registration at 7:00 am. Some of us got to NHIS early enough to wait an hour before Registration opened (see Photos 1 & 2...queue chirping cricket sounds). Once you are registered and have signed all the waivers, you proceed to the track's infield and the garages. Dave T. was one of the first MINIs to the garages, and saved us a block of stalls for our MINI gang (see Photo 3).

Once in the garage, everything that can get removed from your car IS removed. This prevents stuff from coming loose while you are on the track and, potentially, interfering with your concentration as you are traveling down the front straight at 110 mph toward Turn 1. Then you go over your car to make sure the trip up to NHIS didn't produce any unexpected surprises. Fluids are checked, leaks are looked for, lug bolts are torqued, tires are inflated to above normal pressures, and, finally, your driver/car numbers are put in the back windows. You are now ready to go to the pit straight and Tech Inspection. Oops! Wait a minute...I forgot my helmet. Turn around, go back to the garage, get the helmet...NOW you are ready for Tech Inspection!

Waiting in line for Tech Inspection takes a little bit of time, but the Inspection process, while thorough, takes surprisingly little time. Oh yeah, remember to bring your driver's license with you to Tech Inspection. After Tech Inspection, you head back to the garage to wait for the 8:30 Driver's Meeting. It was during this time that my Instructor, Sean McDermott, introduced himself to me and helped me figure out the schedule for the rest of the day. He pointed out to which Run Group I was assigned.

Attendees are separated into five "Run Groups":

Group 0 = Instructors
Group 1 = Very Experienced NHIS Track Drivers (and fire-breathing Porsches)
Group 2 = Experienced NHIS Track Drivers
Group 3 = Experienced Drivers (though not necessarily track or NHIS track experience)
Group 4 = Drivers with Some Experience (though not track or NHIS track experience)

It seems as though for this event, Groups 3 and 4 were made up of drivers with basically similar experience. I should also add that another dimension considered in the grouping equation is the capability of the car...though this was not strictly a predictor of Group. Hence, MINI MCSs and the Chrysler 300 found themselves in the same Group.

Running in a Group means that you are on the track with drivers of similar experience and in cars that may be somewhat similar in performance...except the Subie WRX STi. I could count on them passing me in the straight every time I went out! That not withstanding, the Group concept went a long way in making this newbie feel a little less self-conscious on the track.

The day was divided into time segments. The WMC BMWCCA created a nice schedule of assignments that fit in the credentials holder of your lanyard.



You can see the time segments on the left. To the right (at the top) are the three locations where Groups spent their day: driving on the track ("Driving Group"), working the corners as flaggers ("Flagging Group"), and being class room students of driving theory, and of the "correct" lines to be taken around the track ("Class Room Group").

This schedule hanging around your neck made it easy to figure out what where you needed to go and what you were supposed to be doing at any point in the day. So, at 9:20, Group 4 was driving on the track, while Group 2 were performing the flagging duties, and Group 3 was attending a class room session. Group 1 had "downtime" during that period, and Group 0 (the Instructors, were in the cars with the Group 4 students.

For the Group 3 and 4 students, Instructors were mandatory in the right seat. Group 1 and some Group 2 students were allowed to drive without Instructors. I cannot overestimate the value of having and Instructor with you at all times.

My instructor, Sean McDermott, helped me get through the basics in such a well thought-out, polite and considered manner. This was no small feat, considering my lack of talent! Throughout all four sessions on the track, we built up my abilities (such as they are) from foundational elements (the line, turn-in points, apexii (?), track-out points, braking points, gear changes) to the integration and refinement of all elements into the mythical smooth lap. In the end, I noticed a BIG difference in feel and speed between my first session and my last session. I still need to be smoother on the throttle at the track-out points, and I need to improve my braking levels at specific turns...but that is something that I can work on during subsequent events.

As an epilogue (a Quinn Martin Production) to this experience, I noticed during the 2.5 hour drive home that I was vaguely "more comfortable" on the journey. On Route 9 near Stoddard, NH (Town Motto: "John, who?"), I realized that I was driving the curving road with my eyes looking much farther down the road than I usually do. This was a direct result of the day's mantra "the eyes tell the hands what to do" bestowed upon us by Maharishi Bruce Smith in the class room sessions. It is so true, by looking out way past where I usually look while driving, I better anticipated what steering/brake/throttle adjustments were needed and, thus, had more time to "tell" my hands/feet what to expect! I know what you're thinking...Theo, I am a good driver and ALWAYS look ahead while driving. Well, I though so too, but now go out and drive looking even farther out that you usually do. You'll notice a difference.

For those thinking of attending the MoP event on September 21 or the three-day WMC BMWCCA event on October 26/27/28, and are a little unsure of what to expect...don't worry! You will love the driving events and will have a bunch of fun no matter what your skill level.

So, sorry to be so wordy about my experience, but as my dear MINIs friends could easily tell, I was really pumped by this whole day. Either that or the IV caffeine drip I had in the morning went bad.

Theo

[snid]

Great write up, Theo! And you definitely get the "biggest grin" award for yesterday.

I should have time to edit my video this weekend. Of course, I haven't unloaded the car yet...

[snid]

I just finished unloading the car and washing off the track wheels. Which reminds me...

If you haven't cleaned your wheels yet from the track, do it soon. There will be lots of brake dust on them, and that stuff is really nasty for the wheels. Especially if it gets wet. So, clean off those wheels ASAP. Unless you've already given up on keeping the wheels looking decent.

[scho06]

Theo's title sums it up, what an awesome, awesome experience. It was really neat to be able to have most of the Mini's all in the same area of the garage so we could share track stories.
My instructor took me out in his tricked out VW Passat Wagon (yes wagon) and man could he drive that thing. That was so helpful to see what lines he used and see his different techniques. Even with the 4 point harness he had in the passat, I still felt I was getting tossed around. Actually got pretty car sick with all the extreme stopping, accelerating and serious g forces around the coreners.
"Point-bys" are used to initiate a pass. Passes are only allowed at front and back straight aways, and up the hill past corner 5. To pass someone, it has to be intiated by the car that is being passed. A Point-by, is when the driver of the slower car notices faster traffic behind them and points out the window to the right or left (depending on which side they want to be passed on). I know that this was a school, and it wasn't a race, and was more about learning the dynamics of driving the car, but it was a BIG thrill for me to be passing the two Porches in our group consistantly in each run. It just shows how nimble the MINI is around the track!! With each run, a could feel that I was carrying more speed in the corners and my top speed at the straight was going up as well. I learned so much, and have definately caught the bug.
Unfortunately, I didn't take any pics either. Nancy already had dibs on the camera for her company outing at the Manchester Fisher Cats...which I did attend after playing 7 holes of golf (only missed two holes, got there just before 6). I was absolutely exhausted when i got home at 11.
Thanx to the White Mountain Chapter for putting this together, and it was great seeing all the fellow MINI owners!!

scho

[Theo]

Thanks for the additional info on passing, scho! That is important information that I should have communicated in my post.

BTW, I just got a clarification from Gordon Geick (WMC BMWCCA DEC Chair) about the three-day event in October. You don't need to commit to all three days; register for one, two or all three! In addition, there will be a BMW Club race that weekend (perhaps during the Group 0 runs?), so we can see how it is REALLY done!

Who's in for at least one day?

Theo

[Jester's mom]

It sounds like you guys had a great day, Looking forward to your video jason when you get it up.

[LePew]

We had to have set some kind of record -- was it nine (9) or ten (10) MINIs at NHIS? The most popular marque/model of the day for sure And for August, we certainly had some unusually kind weather. Cool temperatures and overcast skies made this most enjoyable for both cars and drivers. I set tire pressures in the morning and could leave them there the rest of the day.

It was also quite memorable to experience a bunch of you "newbies" heading for pit lane with a bit of a lump in your throats and some trepidation in your eyes at 9:00 am, but by 11:00, watching you ALL mix it up with, and then pass, the Porsches. Way to go, gang!

Theo, great report. Your ethusiasm is contagious. One thing I should have suggested earlier in the day was the usual gear pattern for a Cooper S at NHIS. From 4th on the front straight, downshift to 3rd before turn 1, then carry that around turn 2, downshifting to 2nd before turn 3. Upshift to 3rd entering the first hill and carry that all the way around the rest of the track, through the "bowl", up the second hill, and then back down to the north chicane and the front straight, where you upshift into 4th (or maybe even 5th if you hit the esses right).

Dave S, I can't believe you pulled off a golf round and then the Fischer Cats after a track day. "Iron Man".

Ivan, can I have partial course credit for helping you remember your stuff? Please, please tell us that driving the MINI was more fun than that Spec Miata. Otherwise I may be tempted to rent one too.

Pete B., it was a kick watching you intimidate and pass that Viper on the front straight. At least until the last run where he finally realized he has about 300 more horsepower than you.

Have to say that was the first time I've ever seen a Panoz in New Hampshire. Did anyone talk to the driver?

More importantly, who was that guy with the 1 month old BRG 2007 Cooper S again? I think they moved him from run group 3 in the morning up to group 1 in the afternoon. Imagine, skipping two grades in one day! He certainly had the right stuff.

As for me, the new and shaved Kuhmo MX tires held up extremely well, much better than a new set of stock tires. Absolutely no edge chunking. I hope they have at least 4 or 5 more days left, which should be the case if I'm smart enough to rotate them.

After working the "pit out" station for a couple hours I'm convinced the "low line" into turn 1 is the best for our cars. I'm got some more work to do to get the car rotating earlier at the entrance to turn 11 (north chicane). Otherwise, I'm finally hitting the heel and toe downshift and throttle blip into turn 3, most of the time, after only about 8 days of trying!

I should have some in-car video clips of Jason, Matt and I mixing it up and then getting passed by the silver "fire breathing" Porsche GT3. OK, and a clip of me having a hard time getting a point by from the Jag .

I'll likely be at the MoP event and at least one day of the October CCA event. Hope to see some more of you again soon.

[snid]

Yay! Video of me!

Like I said, I missed taping the last session. But I have tape from when I went out in group 3, so Theo's in that one. And from the two morning group 1 sessions, so there's some MINIs in there too.

My bit of "can I have a point by soon, please" came from when I ran in group 3. The 4-door Focus with the for sale sign and the "MOVE OVER ->" banner on the windshield held my up for a few laps.

Video is now on the computer, should be edited together by Monday.

I picked up a second for my personal best lap... of course I might have had an even faster lap in the last session, but without the video there's no way of knowing. Of course, my 1:31.5 is still pretty slow in the grand scheme of things.

[snek]

Dave, everybody remembered my stuff, but me

The reason the guy with the 1 month old BRG 2007 Cooper S got moved up was because he's been driving NHIS with SCDA regularly in the previous year, but with a different car. (I think he said it was an Integra...) And there was also another regular, the Rhode Island GP "Puck."

The spec Miata vs Cooper S: I Cooper was definitely quicker. If you didn't hit turn 3 just right with the Miata, it simply had no power to pull it up the hill. As my instructor said, "Smoothness with steering, throttle and brake inputs is key in the Spec Miata. .... the car rewards smoothness!." In the MINI, the supercharger covered up my bad driving technique :-)

Also, the Miata's Sparco seat and harness helped me hold the line better than being tossed around in the MINI. And once I got used to the short-throw shifter, I missed less gears in the Miata than with my Whalen.

And I was also worried about the car more when I was driving my own...

So, if the Miata had more ponies, or if my MINI had the Sparco, or I was a better driver, it would've been a different story

[Theo]

Quote: Originally Posted by LePew (original)

{snip}...One thing I should have suggested earlier in the day was the usual gear pattern for a Cooper S at NHIS. From 4th on the front straight, downshift to 3rd before turn 1, then carry that around turn 2, downshifting to 2nd before turn 3. Upshift to 3rd entering the first hill and carry that all the way around the rest of the track, through the "bowl", up the second hill, and then back down to the north chicane and the front straight, where you upshift into 4th (or maybe even 5th if you hit the esses right)...{snip}

Ah Ha! As you probably noticed, I went from 4th (5th if I nailed 11/12) down to 2nd as the car got on the line (sometimes) in Turn 1, then upshifted to third after track-out at Turn 2. I then downshifted to 2nd before Turn 3 and I also carried 2nd gear up the hill toward Turn 5, and upshifted to 3rd before the bowl. I stayed in 3rd until the front straight.

The problems I noticed with this pattern were: (1) I had a hard time being smooth on the throttle coming out of Turn 2, and (2) the tires wouldn't hook-up as a put on the throttle going up the hill to Turn 5.

So, I think you just helped me a great deal with your suggestions, Dave. Staying in 3rd through Turn 1 and 2 will probably help smooth-out the Turn 2 track-out, and upshifting to 3rd earlier after Turn 3 should reduce a bit of torque to the wheels and help the tire hook-up on the way to Turn 5.

Also, I noticed that my bit of plumbing creativity (the VGS mod) to the supercharger bypass valve, while pleasing on the street, sucks on the track. Its net effect is to make the bypass valve shut faster when you go on-throttle giving (almost) instantaneous boost when the throttle it tipped. However, for the track, this mod makes it difficult to maintain neutral throttle and the (unpredictable) moment the boost comes on, it upsets the car. I will be returning the SC BPV plumbing back to stock before the next event.

Quote: Originally Posted by LePew (original)

{snip}...After working the "pit out" station for a couple hours I'm convinced the "low line" into turn 1 is the best for our cars...{snip}

When I rode with my instructor in his car (E36 M3), I noticed two major differences in his line: (1) the "low line" into Turn 1, and (2) a later apex in turn 7 and 8 then wider around 9 with a later apex. This later line change seemed to allow him to brake a bit less before 9 and carry more speed through 10 to 11 before the braking zone. He mentioned that I should stick to the more "traditional school line", however.

Quote: Originally Posted by snek (original)

{snip}...Also, the Miata's Sparco seat and harness helped me hold the line better than being tossed around in the MINI...{snip}

Anticipating that this may be a problem due to my...er..."additional contribution to the center of gravity", I purchased a set of CG Locks from Bavarian Autosport; one for the driver and one for the instructor. They cinch you down via the lapbelt to keep your butt from moving laterally on the seat. However, the shoulder belt stays loose.

My butt DID stay planted and, no doubt, helped me to not fight the g-forces below the waist. I could have used a full harness, though. If I find myself a frequent flier on the track, these will be my next major purchase.

Quote: Originally Posted by snid (original)

{snip}...But I have tape from when I went out in group 3, so Theo's in that one...{snip}

Oh Boy! Now everyone will see how bad I suck!

Theo

[scho06]

, I noticed this....I was flagging on turn 7 for that session. I noticed you had gone around about 3 times before you got by him......looked like he was really slowing you down......the red 911 did the same thing to me the first two sessions in group 4..........




My bit of "can I have a point by soon, please" came from when I ran in group 3. The 4-door Focus with the for sale sign and the "MOVE OVER ->" banner on the windshield held my up for a few laps.