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

jrbond007 · Motorer

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

RllyDrvrIX · Motorist

So looking forward to this....

csnfoto · Member

This will be great fun, seeing the track from the inside not the outside. Do they take fotos of us going around the esses, if so can we purchase them? How much are they?

-- Edited by csnfoto on Monday 11th of April 2011 08:13:53 PM

jrbond007 · Motorer

csnfoto wrote:
This will be great fun, seeing the track from the inside not the outside. Do they take fotos of us going around the esses, if so can we purchase them? How much are they?

-- Edited by csnfoto on Monday 11th of April 2011 08:13:53 PM

Yes. I believe you fill out your email address when paying, & Trackside Photo's will email you with a preview & an option to buy & download it. Can't remember the price, but Trackside Photos has a link on the WGI web site.

My avatar is of us on the track 2 yrs ago.

csnfoto · Member

thank you for the quick reply. can you tell what time everyone is meeting at Wegmans in Canandaigua? I live in Dundee and you come right thru my town on your way to the track though I thought it would be more fun meeting everyone first?

Also, what FRS radios do you all use?

-- Edited by csnfoto on Monday 11th of April 2011 10:43:21 PM

jrbond007 · Motorer

csnfoto wrote:
thank you for the quick reply. can you tell what time everyone is meeting at Wegmans in Canandaigua? I live in Dundee and you come right thru my town on your way to the track though I thought it would be more fun meeting everyone first?

Planning to meet @ Weggie's between 7:30 & 8:00.

I would like to leave Weggie's AT 8:00. Google maps says 1:15 drive time with the route we are going.

That puts us @ the ticket office ( gate 4) @ 9:15ish to meet with the TierMini club.

A little photo op with all the Mini's & then head into the raceway.

There is all different radio's. channel 7 sub channel 21. I myself have a couple old Motorola's TS820 GRS's

-- Edited by jrbond007 on Monday 11th of April 2011 10:35:06 PM

drewstermalloy · Motorer

I'm really tempted to go this weekend, but I have a few questions.. Did/do I have to sign up somewhere? And is there really a 55 mph speed limit on the track....? If yes, can I just go and check out all the cars, or do I have to buy track time?

I've never been to Watkins Glen, and I haven't done a WNY Mini Club event yet, forgive me for the stupid questions, haha.

Dumpnrun · Motorer

Jr Bond 007
I think your the one thats is organizing the Glen meet. I m going to have to cancel this one, Maybe I can get to the next one. Thanks so much for your time and effort . until then seeya CJ

jrbond007 · Motorer

drewstermalloy wrote:
I'm really tempted to go this weekend, but I have a few questions.. Did/do I have to sign up somewhere? And is there really a 55 mph speed limit on the track....? If yes, can I just go and check out all the cars, or do I have to buy track time?

I've never been to Watkins Glen, and I haven't done a WNY Mini Club event yet, forgive me for the stupid questions, haha.

No sign up, just show up. You will have to sign waivers @ the track when you pay.

There are pace vehicles on the track with us. One up front, one at the back & one in the middle if the group is large enough. As mentioned in earlier posts, the pace vehicles tend to go a little faster with clubs. I personally got up to 70 on the straight aways. We Miniacs like the corners, & there is plenty of room to maximize the G's. Also keep in mind that there is no passing ( they are strict on that issue), so you would be @ the mercy of who is in front of you. Luckily we are all enthusiastic drivers. Still, it might be good to put the S's in front.

In the past, you had to pay @ the main gate (#2) to get into the park. This year the clubs are entering @ a different gate (3) & we pay once we get to the paddock area, so you might be able to get in just to watch, but your going to want to get out there.

Also, keep in mind the $25 does go to charity.

-- Edited by jrbond007 on Wednesday 13th of April 2011 07:10:36 PM

redbaron · Member

I'm in for three laps!!! I wasn't there last year but in 2008 & 2009.

I'll be coming up the night before and meet everyone at the meeting area around 10:00- 10:30.

I'm out for the Rooster afterwards.

drewstermalloy · Motorer

jrbond007 wrote:
No sign up, just show up. You will have to sign waivers @ the track when you pay.
There are pace vehicles on the track with us. One up front, one at the back & one in the middle if the group is large enough. As mentioned in earlier posts, the pace vehicles tend to go a little faster with clubs. I personally got up to 70 on the straight aways. We Miniacs like the corners, & there is plenty of room to maximize the G's. Also keep in mind that there is no passing ( they are strict on that issue), so you would be @ the mercy of who is in front of you. Luckily we are all enthusiastic drivers. Still, it might be good to put the S's in front.
In the past, you had to pay @ the main gate (#2) to get into the park. This year the clubs are entering @ a different gate (3) & we pay once we get to the paddock area, so you might be able to get in just to watch, but your going to want to get out there.
Also, keep in mind the $25 does go to charity.

I never realized Watkins Glen was almost 3 hours away from me. I would love to go, but I don't have the time. And even 70 mph on a track (with pace cars & no passing??) is pretty lame in my opinion. I know it's for a good cause (don't mean to sound like a jerk) but if I spend the time to go all the way out there, I want to be able to take full advantage of the track.

I hope everyone has a good time!! Maybe I'll see you all at another event this summer biggrin

PepperMINI · Motorer

Drewster,

Clearly, you've never been on the track before. There are hairpin turns that are so tight that it's almost impossible to even go 55 mph on them. On the straightaways, once you get up to speed, you have to slow down again once you hit a turn. It does feel like you're going really fast (plus, us smart ones back way off of the car in front of us, then go through the course as fast as we want), and it's a ton of fun. Passing can be dangerous (two years ago we were almost wiped out when they allowed another car club on the track that decided to take a "short cut" and they almost plowed into us), unless you're a professional driver. If you want to take "full advantage of the track", then you need to have proper restraints in your car, go through a training course, and wear a helmet. We'll definitely be having fun without you!

CharlieCroker09 · Member

Is anyone from the Rochester area meeting up before we go down to Canandaigua?

drewstermalloy · Motorer

Ok.. so that's not exactly what I meant to say, if that's how it came across. Basically I just think it would be more fun if everyone drove at their own pace, be it fast or slow.

jrbond007 · Motorer

Drewster,

It sounds like you would be more interested in lapping. 4 hours or more, no pace cars & passing is allowed on straightaways.
Check out the SOMC lapping post I put up in the non WNY Mini club events section.
Cayuga is maybe an hour from Fort Erie.

Organic Ithaca · Member

Rob,

I am coming from Ithaca/Trumansburg with my 2006 Red MINI with white racing stripes. I would like to do the 1st set of laps and maybe lunch..not sure.

Thank you for organizing this. It's my first time on the track!

redbaron · Member

PepperMINI is right. There are 10 major turns and your hitting the throttle and then braking for a turn before you can think. The fastest recorded lap at WGI is roughly only 130mph around this track. The 55mph max speed is what they say but they are definitely going faster than that. 55mph doesn't seem so fast because on a highway your going straight and on the track your making turns at that speed. Believe me its fun.

jrbond007 · Motorer

redbaron wrote:
I'm in for three laps!!! I wasn't there last year but in 2008 & 2009.
I'll be coming up the night before and meet everyone at the meeting area around 10:00- 10:30.
I'm out for the Rooster afterwards.

Our run is reserved for 10:30. First run of the day, so it should be on time. We will be in the garage area, were the clubs assemble, by 10:00. If you want to meet us outside (ticket office, see map), be there by 9:30. We have 21 Mini's & one BMW (ex-mini owner & long time club member) so far, plus a few maybe's, & possible show ups.

By the way, if there are any Mini owners that are just browsing this site & want to join us for this event, you are more then welcome to. Just show up @ any of the meeting spots by the appointed times, and LETS MOTOR.

Just a reminder. BRING CASH. They won't be able to do credit/debit for the clubs in the paddock area, where we will be paying.

-- Edited by jrbond007 on Friday 15th of April 2011 06:49:14 AM

redbaron · Member

OK I'll be at the ticket office area by 9:30am!

PepperMINI · Motorer

redbaron wrote:
PepperMINI is right. There are 10 major turns and your hitting the throttle and then braking for a turn before you can think. The fastest recorded lap at WGI is roughly only 130mph around this track. The 55mph max speed is what they say but they are definitely going faster than that. 55mph doesn't seem so fast because on a highway your going straight and on the track your making turns at that speed. Believe me its fun.

biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

Thanks for the back-up, red baron!!!!

biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

PepperMINI · Motorer

It looks like the rain is going to hold off until the afternoon, so we're in. We'll do the first set of laps and the Crooked Rooster, but then we'll be off on another adventure!!

See everyone bright and early at Canandaigua Wegperson's!!!!

wienerdog · Member

Have to work on Saturday so unfortunatly we will be missing this year . Have fun!

RoostersCoop · Member

It's last minute, but it looks we're able to make it tomorrow. We'll meet up with everyone in Canandaigua.

yellowmininy · Obsessed (Taking the long-cut)

Have a great time, everybody!

csnfoto · Member

What a totally AWESOME adventure, great meeting you all and having great motoring on the track, and then spending time for lunch.

Craig and Alison (grannie)

jrbond007 · Motorer

I hope a good time was had by all, despite the weather
We had 10 die hard Mini's out on the track today.
Oddly enough, only 2 of us had been on the track before this.
Judging by the reactions, it won't be their last.
I apologize if I didn't get around to talk to all of you. The weather wasn't really Chatting weather.
Check back with the club site for more fun events.
Next big one is the Rally in June.

Rob

RllyDrvrIX · Motorist

csnfoto wrote:
What a totally AWESOME adventure, great meeting you all and having great motoring on the track, and then spending time for lunch.

Craig and Alison (grannie)

Craig,

I saw you also had a GoPro. Do you have video? Mine crapped out almost immediately (operator error, of course).

If so, please post in the photo/video thread I started...

Dale

csnfoto · Member

Yes, I have some footage of our awesome race, does it matter size to upload?

RllyDrvrIX · Motorist

I "think" you can upload ridiculous sized video to YouTube. No idea about the MINI forum.

csnfoto · Member

that program you ran logging your trip with speed on the track is awesome, guess we got some good speeds going our first run, the cars in front of me disappeared and I spent the laps trying to catch them....cool!!!