BIR September 5th.....
 

I am going with James (slowbubblecar) and maybe some friends but I think they are all broke. They are having the driving school on Sept 4-6 (fri through sun). It is the perfect chance for those interested in road racing to give it a shot with the help of experienced instructors. We have only gone once and had a blast!

James setup a facebook link for anyone interested:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?ei...3830987&ref=mf

I know a lot of people are interested in doing this and thought I would share. There was an EVO MR last time and SHE was having a blast. I am guessing they will be there again. If you cannot make saturday, we may also be going on friday or sunday. It is that much fun.

Making a run down the drag strip is fun but I want to keep going when I hit the end of the track! It is nice to go as fast as you want and keep going. Didn't care about road racing until we tried it. If you can come you will love it.

-John

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

Man, I need borrow an Evo.

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

Do you know how much the school costs? Isn't it like $300 dollars or something?

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

It is $265 per day if you bring your own car but if we get 5 people, the cost will be $238.xx and 10 people would be $225.xx. If two people want to share the same car, it is only $100 more for the second person to drive also. We might go 2 days (Sat-Sun) but are planning on going to at least 1. I am guessing 1 day would be enough for most if anyone is interested.

They do have spec racers people can drive but the price is much higher ($295 for a 25 minute session).

The price isn't that bad if you consider what you get. The morning starts with a quick tour of the course and about 1hr of time learning about safety and driving. After that, you get assigned an instructor and he rides with you for a little while showing you the correct way to take turns. After he rides with you for a little bit, you are on your own. Friends are allowed to ride along which can be fun/scary depending on who is driving and the instructors are available to ride along all day if wanted. When we went, actual track time was roughty 10:30am-5:30pm with a break for lunch (also included in the price).

BTW, it wasn't stated above, but this event is on the short course (2.5 mile). Still plenty of room to take the 1st turn around 120mph though.

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

IF I have any money by then, I'm in.

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Cool. If you can go you won't regret it. I suppose if people just want to go for a ride around the course they could probably come later in the day... They have to approve a passenger for a beginnger driver. It was about half way through the day for us but combined we spun off the course 3 times :)

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Knowing people there makes me more interested than just going on my own. Unfortunately I will be racing expensive toy cars that weekend at the Isanti County Fair, getting my ass kicked by factory sponsored drivers.

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

I thought the Isanti county fair was a few weeks ago. You talking about Nitro RC cars?

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Sorry, confused it with the race I'll be at next weekend in Duluth which is during their fair. I will be racing a 1/8 nitro buggy and a 1/10 electric truck. This race is at the Isanti Fair Grounds in Cambridge, the RC X Fest (formerly known as the RC X Games until ESPN threatened legal action last year). From Friday until Monday (Labor Day). http://www.fhfracing.com/X-Fest%20Sign%20Up.htm

/hijack

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

I dont know how I forgot about this one, but I have my friends wedding in Marshall that weekend. I still plan on making my way up there for the road course sometime this summer. A good friend of mine has a free pass to go whenever he wants maybe he can hook me up for a discount sometime.

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I wasn't able to make it to the fair this year :( I wish I had the time to get my Nitro car going. Have to remember how to operate the bastard.

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I'm already booked for the 5th--first thing I did after buying the Evo. Bought myself the package with 2 Spec sessions and bought my brother 4.

I'll be the red Evo driving slower than your grandmother. I know that I don't know how to drive, which is why I'm going. I'm hoping the instructors can get me started with some basic skills to practice.

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

So you are going on the 5th? You are going to be going in a spec car vs your own? Deffinitly run the evo, don't mess with the spec car. The spec cars will handle quite a bit different. I didn't drive one but was told it was like a go cart. The evo would be cheaper, a better learning experience, and more fun.

We have only gone once and are no where near good. I slid off the track twice, James did once. We were trying to drive the car beyond our means.

You will definitly get several good pointers, there will be people there all day to help you. We will be in either 1 or 2 vipers, I can take you for a ride but get in at your own risk ;)

I will probably be going slower just trying to keep on the track. Don't worry about going slow, there are designated passing areas so you don't have to worry about someone trying to pass or being in the way.

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

Well, it's only cheaper if you don't break your car. ;) No car insurance out on the track so driving the Spec car probably isn't a bad idea for the average Joe.

I paid for both my car and 2 spec sessions -- I think it was an $800 package deal. I decided I didn't want my brother driving my car, so I paid for Spec sessions for him to have some fun.

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

I am looking into track insurance. It used to be covered but isn't now (atleast by State Farm). Gary at BIR gave me the contact of a guy and I emailed him friday.

I am not and you shouldn't be worried about breaking the car. I am just worried about wrecking :)

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If I can't drive it home then it's broke. :flamethrower:

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Man i will be home that weekend, I want to get into this def. want to see how the cars are setup.

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I found a company who does insure these events. I will have to post the link tomorrow. An instant quote was $183 for a car worth $28,000. I am probably going to get it this time.

Your car will have no problem making it home. It was meant to corner and brake hard. I typically go easy on the brakes though. I will coast a bit into a turn so I don't have to give the breaks hell. It has happened where people will boil their fluid (PS and brake) so I would give the brake and steering system a once over if you are unsure. I wouldn't worry in an EVO. Only issue we had was the PS cap coming off. They have tech people to help in case issues arrive.

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

Is there more info related to BIR Sept 5, link?

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

just go to birperformance.com

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

Thanks for the info John, I'd be curious about the insurance.

I'm spending half of my "mod fund" on suspension components, so I'm looking forward to many track days next year. I did decide to go with a "street" coilover rather than something more track-oriented but that seemed practical on a daily driver.

If working with the BIRPerformance staff is pleasant then they'll be seeing a lot more of me.

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Well the guy who was with us went off roading 3 times the day we went and wasn't mad/upset with us. He was still willing to help us out later.

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I learned some painful lessons about pushing my limits when I was into motorcycles. I'll just be looking to have fun and stay out of the way.

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Here is the info on track insurance:

http://hpdeinsuranceprogram.com

Gary at BIR gave me this guys info. They are all great guys and share a passion for racing. Look at the credentials of the instructors and you know you are in good hands. They are there to ride with you and give you pointers.

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Looks like it only covers specific events. Rates are the same whether 1 day or 3. I suppose it'd be a good deal if you were going to one of the listed events and it was a whole weekend.

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Yea but you will notice it covers about all non-competitive events including the BIR driving school events.

The is an event at mid america which is $350 to race all weekend. Thinking about going to that aswell.

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

I see it there now but I swear BIR wasn't listed the first time that I visited the web site. I'll skip it this time since I intend to take it easy but next year with some experience, tire & suspension upgrades...going up there for a 2-3 day weekend would make the insurance a no-brainer.

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I will probably also. Will be there with a diff car and hope to take it a bit easier. Please remind me in the middle of the day.

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Wow! Very tempting.

I'd love to just try it out with either of my cars. (08 Mitsu Eclipse GT or the 09 Honda Fit Sport)

4G is auto with sportronic (I know, I wish I got a manual). Fit is manual but it's still in the break-in period (just barely out of 1000miles).

7:30a is early and that means I have to be up there Fri night.

Hmmmm. Do I do it now or wait another time?

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

I might know a few viper guys going and we can get 10% off if we can get 5 people. So far is is John, possibly 2 viper guys and me. You don't need a race car to have fun so either would work. Might be easier in the auto so you don't need to worry about shifting the first time out. Let me know if you would like to do it. It was a blast when we went.

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

My Evo broke 1k miles on the way to the cook out today. What is the recommended break in on that car?

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Break-in period for the Honda Fit from what the dealer and some people have said is around 5000 miles.

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I will try and recruit a couple of friends. One has a Viper and the other has a GTO.

I am interested and just trying to see if I can pull it off. Very good chance I will.

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^^^ Really.... I have a viper and know someone with a GTO. The GTO kid is named Jeff.

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LOL! different names.

So, how do we get the better pricing on this one for this weekend?

I'm still interested.

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

It would probably be best if everyone who is interested send me a pm. If I get enough people to get the discount, I will send program director at BIR an email to see if we can just give him our names or see if we need to prepay.

James

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

Thanks John and James for the heads up on this one.

I had a blast. And of course found out that there is so much for me to learn to drive better. :-) I am hooked.

I finally decided to go on Friday at noon and drove up to Brainerd that night and stayed at a Super8 motel. The drive up was heavy traffic but did take hwy 10 to 371 so I avoided the 94/Rogers slow down. I still hit some slow traffic but it wasn't too bad.

Driving your own car is the way to go unless you really want to drive their spec car. I think driving your own car makes it much more fun and way cheaper.

Funny how the drive home felt slower (expected) and also how I look at the turns with a different view and wanted to take a better line (turn-in/apex) but would require me to use all the lanes. HA HA!

I can't remember my instructors last name... Jim ????? Really good instructor and after 2 track sessions let me go on my own. He also had me take a passenger to help her understand how to take the proper turn-in and apex. Nice to have the cones there to let you know that.

Fun times!

And got to meet mlomker and swifty too.

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Definitly a good time. Wish some of my in-car vids turned out better though. Cant see much of what is infront of you, just trees and walls flying by on the side. Must have had a smudge or something.

Saw swifty and Rau's crew, meet Mlomker, his brother, and white_4gGT there. Couldn't find the MAP guys though.

I was able to go the whole day without a sliding off the track so that was definitly a plus. Late in the day my upper raditor hose seperated though. Only lost 1.5 inches of hose so I cut it straight and put it back on.

Was a supercharged C5 vette there I really wanted to run... Maybe next time. I was able to get around a Porsche GT3 and catch another corvette though.

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

Here's a short video of one of my laps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk0NOFb9UtY

Sped it up so it doesn't get to ho hum.

Set up for the camera was... Samsung L73 (not L71 as the video stated). Light and small, takes very good videos, will use as much free space on the SD card. Also had it set up on a tripod in the back seat with those tie down straps. Had the instructor check it and he approved.

Re: BIR September 5th.....
 

Something that happened while we were there was a video crew for WCCO. Maybe one of us will make it on TV. I guess the show comes on Saturday nights at about 11 - Life to the Max or something like that.

They interviewed some people and the anchor person took a spec car. Would be nice if we see clips of our cars make it on the show.