Sorry if the pics are slow to load.
Yesterday, I had an opportunity to participate in some driver training at Mallala.
Sage Racing put on a day for special kids from the Variety Club where each of the kids got a hot lap in one of the Sage V8 Brutes.
Sage Racing Utes
Trackskill were also there to provide driver training with all proceeds going to the Variety Club. The Porsche and Ferrari Clubs of SA were supposed to be doing the driver training, but at the last minute they pulled out. As a result, I was able to take my mini out for a bit of driver training around the Mallala circuit.
Variety Club Kids and the Utes
Due to the very late notice, it was only me, and a Group 3 SS Commodore doing the driver training.
My Mini at Turn 1, Commodore in background
The first thing we did was follow the ute around the racing line with cones marked out for the turn in, apex and exit points for each of the corners. Speed was limited to 80 km/h, which didn't really bother me much as I was driving a stock 998
.
This was fairly boring as I'd been out a Mallala before in my 300zx, and there wasn't too much difference in the line to take.
The next session turned out to be a bit of a surprise as the instructor said to just head out there and do whatever I want! So off I went, 75 mph top speed down the straight and around the hair pin at the end in 3rd gear. I had a blast, the mini was rock solid, understeering when I came in too hot, with tyres squeaking over the ripple strips on the exit from the S's.
Comparing it to my last trip around Mallala in the 300ZX, the mini was heaps more fun. I was flat stick through most of the turns, and it was a lot easier to set the car up for the corners.
The drum brakes actually did a pretty good job at pulling me up, which was nice. The instructors had put out witches hats to mark the braking points, and I could pretty much ignore them and start braking about half way in between the breaking point and the turn in point.
I came in when my temperature guage started to rise a bit higher than I wanted and let the old girl cool off for a while. I reckon my best lap would have been around 1:55. When I was there in my Z I was doing around the 1:30 mark, but most of that is due to being able to do 160 km/h down the straight instead of 120! Through turn 2, a long sweeping right hander, I was gaining quite significantly on the V8 commodore, but as soon as he straightened up, he was gone.
Before the start of the third session, it started raining. I thought bugger it and went out anyway. The mini sure does understeer in the wet! I also manage to lock it up at one point, which was interesting. I never came off the track though, so that was nice. Unfortunately, I did take out a cone, but no damage to the mini. One of the utes had an off and put some dirt on the track, and by some freak of physics, I manage to get the tail out on the mini in the hairpin. I did had the full opposite lock going and managed to keep it on the track before coming to a halt, engine still running and drove off with a grin.
Wave to the Camera!
The fourth session the track was starting to dry out, and the instructor came for a ride with me. He loved it, and the mini was a lot more stable through the corners with the extra weight in the passenger seat. We came in to let the drums cool down as they were starting to shudder and the pedal had a lot of movement in it, and I suggested that the instructor take the wheel and I'll watch him for a couple of laps.
He went off his tree. He had more fun driving the mini than most cars he's driven. He offered to buy it off me right then and there, and this is a completely stock '68 Mini Deluxe. He gave me his card and told me to give him a call if I'm ever selling.
Me in the Passenger Seat, Instructor Sam Driving
In the end, it was a top day out, but now I have a wish list. First up is 12x6 rims so I can fit some discs under them, then I'll go for some power upgrades.
How cool are minis?
