Watkins Glen International Opening Day 4/16/11 (4/17/11?)

yellowmininy · Obsessed (Taking the long-cut)

Watkins Glen International Opening Day 4/16/11 (4/17/11?)

RllyDrvrIX · Motorist

I'm in!

jrbond007 · Motorer

UPDATED 4/11

We've had Minis helping to celebrate Opening Day at Watkins Glen since 2003. WGI starts out their season by allowing drivers to do paced laps on the track (WGI rules are 55 mph top speed).

This year they are offering the same deal as last year. A set of 3 laps for $25, and if you buy a second set of 3 laps, ($50), they will throw in a 3rd round for free.

I've reserved Saturday 4/16 @ 10:30am for us.

This is the very first run of the day, so we should start on time.

They are queueing the clubs up in the garage area this year.

Members of the WNY & SOMC clubs will meet at the Canandaigua Wegmans parking lot between 7:30-8:00 AM, yawn

and then we'll take the scenic route to Watkins Glen.

Our group will meet up with TierMini & anyone else that might be coming from a different direction at the Watkins Glen race track ticket office around 9:30 AM. This is not the main gate, but the 3rd left on County Road 16 (first one is the main entrance)

There will be concessions set up. The Wegmans stop would also be handy for picking up snacks. We usually go to the Crooked Rooster restaurant on Franklin St in Watkins Glen afterwards. Like last year, our group will thin out, after the first run, as not everyone is going to do multiple runs.

When you post that you a coming, can you please indicate # of runs ( 1 or multi ) & # of people & if you are doing the Rooster. (mind out of the gutter kids) biggrin

This way I can call ahead to the Crooked Rooster estimated head count.

FRS radios, channel 7-21 as usual.

Rob

P.S.

For those who purchase multiple runs, your first run is scheduled at the reservation time with the entire club after that, the club comes off track and back into the paddock. Depending on the # of cars, current reservations and the general public demand, we blend your club on track for additional laps when time permits ( within reason ). On average after your initial reservation most club members that stay for 2-3 sessions are finished within 90 minutes of their reservation however the morning is pretty busy so please keep that in mind.

4/11 - SEE PAGE 3 FOR MORE UPDATES & MAPS

-- Edited by jrbond007 on Monday 11th of April 2011 10:00:36 PM

RllyDrvrIX · Motorist

Saturday at anytime works for me. Earlier the better please, I'd like at least 2 runs.

PepperMINI · Motorer

Sunday is better for me, but I might be able to pull off Saturday if I can find someone to fill in for me doing barn chores. I wasn't able to attend last year, but was at the two previous years', so I'm not sure how different it was than what I am accustomed to. I think that it's a couple of weeks earlier than last year, which may be a problem for my work, but I'll have to figure that all out.

jrbond007 · Motorer

Here are some addresses for GPS's & map searches.

Wegmans 345 Eastern Blvd Canandaigua, NY 14424

WGI 2790 County Route 16 Watkins Glen, NY 14891

www.theglen.com Park maps can be downloaded from here.

Crooked Rooster 223 - 301 North Franklin Street Watkins Glen, NY 14891

www.roosterfishbrewing.com

I will update this post with who is coming.

Yes Runs Rooster Lancaster

jrbond007 WNY 1 2 *

RllyDrvrIX WNY 3 no *

36Rodder WNY

CharlieCroker09 WNY 1 2

PepperMINI WNY 1 2

csnfoto WNY 1 2?

Joe A WNY 1 3

motoron7423 WNY 3 *

Bumble WNY 1

mmora818 WNY 3 3

yettanother48 WNY 1 2

J Marcy (bmw) WNY 1 2

J Marcy (Mini) WNY 1 1

redbaron WNY 3

Organic Ithaca WNY 1

RoostersCoop WNY 1

Wilma   TierMini 1 3
nadelewitz     TierMini
Bclark1959      TierMini

Maybe

TrixieinNY WNY 1 2

Gregor123 WNY 1

-- Edited by jrbond007 on Saturday 16th of April 2011 04:23:23 AM

yellowmininy · Obsessed (Taking the long-cut)

I think we had 20-25 cars last year.

RllyDrvrIX · Motorist

Saturday please, wife and I in our 2010 MCSa

Jack07734 · Motorer

Rob,

There are some SOMC folks that want to join in on this. Would you also post to that site and add the date to the calendar.

Thanks,
Jack

jrbond007 · Motorer

Ok Jack. I'll get that started now.

SOMC & TierMini have been updated

-- Edited by jrbond007 on Tuesday 15th of March 2011 09:49:11 PM

36Rodder · Member

I'm planning on coming again this year. Either Saturday or Sunday works for me.

yellowmininy · Obsessed (Taking the long-cut)

The TierMINI Opening Day thread is here:
http://tiermini.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=159

I posted a link there to this thread, so hopefully the southern & the northern groups can meet up. :)

Brewmeister · Member

Thanks Kathy! Currently I think our group will follow WNY'S lead, we have a couple of newer members that are really interested... not sure on the rest. We'll just need to know the track time so we can meet up at the tickect office as in previous years.

jrbond007 · Motorer

Updated post. See 3rd & 6th posts above.

RllyDrvrIX · Motorist

Rob, we'll be doing the buy 2 runs get the 3rd free option. No Rooster for us.

TrixieinNY · Motorer

Put me on this list as a maybe for 1 run at the track and lunch too. I will most likely have a co-pilot along with.

RllyDrvrIX · Motorist

Oh, we like to eat so breakfast please....

Edit: no breakfast needed.....

-- Edited by RllyDrvrIX on Saturday 26th of March 2011 10:13:40 PM

csnfoto · Member

Hello all, my name is Craig and I will be a Mini owner on Friday, March 25.

I am buying a 2011 Mini Cooper S, from Towne Mini. I have wanted this mini since it came to the USA in 2002 and finally my dream is coming true.

I would love to be a part of the run at WGI, can you please explain to me how it takes place, do we all go out as a group or one at a time. I have to work at 2pm both days though would love to be a part of your group.

jrbond007 · Motorer

Welcome to the club Craig, & congrats on the new Mini.

We go out as a group @ 10:30. I see you are from the Finger lakes area, so the early start should give you enough time to get back for work.

If you read my first post ( #3), I explain a lot of the details there. If you live close to Canandaigua, meet us at Weggy's. If you are closer to the Glen, meet us @ the ticket office.

There is a complimentary breakfast, which would require a timing change.

Mike at WGI wants a head count for breakfast by April 1st, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in breakfast.

Dumpnrun · Motorer

Hi ya all
You may put us down for 1 run and 2 for Rooster. until then seeya CJ

wienerdog · Member

3 runs for us this year Deb gets to do Two runs and I get one... cry

Gregor123 · Member

I'm very interested in going, it would be a great birthday gift to myself! I have a few questions though. First, anyone coming from the niagara falls area? Also, how long does this usually last? I have a feeling if I go Ill have to do my laps then fly.

RllyDrvrIX · Motorist

Gregor, we're in Lancaster... If you'd like you can caravan to the meet-up with us.

Gregor123 · Member

That would be great, that's what I was looking for.

csnfoto · Member

Hello, I would like to do 1 lap and put me down for a maybe at the rooster in Watkins Glen, if I can get out of work my Grandmother and I will join you all for lunch. We will try to meet you at Wegmans in Canandaigua at 7:30am, though we are from Dundee which is 20 minutes from the track.

Thanks, should be great fun!

Just a note: I photograph the WGI races for the Observer and Watkins Review paper. It will be great to see the whole track from the racers point of view, not the photographers.

jrbond007 · Motorer

Craig, we will be coming across 364 to 14A, & will be going right thru Dundee. You could come up to the Wegmans meet, or just wait for us on the main drag in Dundee.

Gregor123, the first run is @ 10:30. We will be doing the long course 3.37 miles. Each run is 3 laps. Thats 10 miles of driving on the track. Those just doing 1 run should be off the track by 10:45 or so, if we start on time. You could head home after that if you had to.
If you are doing 3 runs, WGI says you should have all 3 runs done within 90 min's of the first run, but I would be more conservative & go with 2 hr's.
If you want to do lunch @ the Crooked Rooster, plan on 1 hr to 1.5 hr's depending in how many will be doing lunch.
Either way, you would be on the road back home by 12:30 - 1:00 at the latest if you wanted stay & do more laps or do lunch.

jrbond007 · Motorer

Dale, I was going to ask if you wanted to motor across together to Canandaigua anyways.
So lets set up a meeting spot for the Buffalo area folks. Route 20 is a simple straight across route.
With Gregoor, that is 3 of us so far

RllyDrvrIX · Motorist

Lancaster Golf & Country Club parking lot...

Very large, very easy to find and right on 20....

Set the time.

jrbond007 · Motorer

Google maps says 1hr 26min across to Wegmans. Plan to meet @ 6:00 am & leave the parking lot @ 6:15. Shouldn't be a lot of traffic that early.

Gregor123 · Member

Okay, so the three of us are meeting at Lancaster Golf and then meeting everyone at Wegmans and then, all driving to WGI, Got it. One more thing, I know its a top speed of 55 at the track, but are we required to wear helmets? This is my first time so be gentle. Looking forward to this, it should be alot of fun!