Last week we reported on MINI USA’s MotorTober events planned throughout the nation at MINI dealers. This week I’m happy to announce my own participation in one of the premier events on the east coast hosted by Westchester MINI on October 21st in Rye NY. There will be a number of different track events with actual instructors from the Skip Barber racing school. Along with that you’ll also get a chance to ride with a professional driver to see the true limits of the MINI on the track. Westchester County Police will also be on hand to provide a safe driving day including instructions on putting car seats in properly, perhaps a child identification program and if all goes well, their driving simulators.
Away from the track MINI USA’s Accessory Development Manager Thomas Kurtz will be available from 10am to 12am to answer questions and show off his fully JCW equipped 2007 MINI. If you look closely you may be able to spot some unreleased or unannounced accessories hidden on his car.
And finally, yours truly will be on hand to answer questions about the MINI and maybe even spill some of that super secret insider information I’ve promised to keep off MotoringFile over the years. In between I hope to participate in all of the events myself as well as meet as many of you as possible.
So if you’re in the area, plan on stopping by Sunday October 21st!
If you want to continue the track-related MotorTober theme the following weekend, on Oct. 27, the PittStop MINI Club and MINI of Pittsburgh will be hosting Gyminikhana! at BeaveRun (Western PA). This will encompass a wide range of track driving (and in-car driver instruction) as well as novice motoring games, non-driving activities, dinner, and live entertainment. More details are available at <a href="http://www.pittstopmini.org/2007Events/Gyminikhana.htm" rel="nofollow">PittStopMINI.org</a>. (I know it’s shameless to take advantage of Gabe’s promotional spot for my own plug – but they don’t conflict. My apologies anyhow.)
No worries – plug away 🙂
see you there gabe ; )
Sounds like a great event, too bad though its about as far away as possible from my current location. Would love to have gotten a little of that insider info from you Gabe, and would love to see Thomas Kurtz’s car to see if I could find the new items.
oh well, hope that everybody in the vicinity gets a chance to stop by and enjoy this event, sounds like a blast.
Good to see you in my neck of the woods Gabe. Im about fifteen minutes from Westchester MINI and used to work there.
Gabe,
Little off topic but do you know if the JCW aero kit for the R56 lowers the CD? or if since you have it can you tell a significant difference in the handling at highspeeds or in turns from more downforce?
>Little off topic but do you know if the JCW aero kit for the R56 lowers the CD?
The JCW aero kit was designed in conjunction with the GP kit and does (according to MINI) create down-force as compared with the standard kit.
> or if since you have it can you tell a significant difference in the handling at highspeeds or in turns from more down-force?
I haven’t driven my car (or another with the JCW aero-kit) enough at high-speeds back to back with the stock car. Granted the stock kit at autobahn speeds (144 mph according to the speedo and yes, on the autobahn) is a little twitchy. However I imagine the GP’s wing is what the JCW aero-kit really needs. While the new JCW wing does create down-force, it’s surely not as helpful as the GP’s.
Well, by the looks of your first article, gabe, it seemed to be a multi-dealership event. I feel blessed that Steve has pulled you into his event and now I’m thinking I’ll be skipping a well advertised local foliage run to take part in Mr. Stein’s neighborhood. Maybe we can rerout the run. Hmmm.
It’ll be a pleasure to meet you.
If you stop by Metro NYC, be sure to say hello to us all at MINI of Manhattan!
(Beer is on us).
🙂
Great time of year for a GTT…..
See you there, Gabe! I’ll be a fanboy; will you sign my MOTOR-TOBER Sticker?
I was there and it was fun. Maybe a bit too much waiting and not enough driving, but I can’t complain as it was free and the weather was great.
However, I was expecting a little more camaraderie — some kind of party atmosphere — with giveaways, a DJ, and Gabe giving away trade secrets. Aside from sign-in, there was no interaction with Westchester MINI.