October 24th - Heartland Park Touring Club - anyone?

Minidave · Post by **Minidave** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 8:34 am

ylwjkt wrote:I'm trying to get someone to work for me that day....
Are "others" welcome?

Absolutely, bring the Misfire, I mean Crossfire with you!

MiniGeoff · Post by **MiniGeoff** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:55 pm

With the confidence of having done it some, and not feeling sick and jumpy because of lots of medicine, I think it'd be a lot more fun.

I have to check the schedule, however, to make sure I can make it.

Geoff

Post by **Laurie** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:41 pm

Yeah, I got my registration paid and my helmet was delivered today!! I am ready, let's go!

If you are interested, I found my helmet online for only $72.90 delivered, and it is Snell M2005 rated! I Ordered it Sunday and it was delivered today via UPS from Indiana.

www.motodirect.com

Minidave · Post by **Minidave** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:23 am

Cool, must be one of these?

or did you get the one with the flames on it?

I know, you got one to match your car.........

Post by **Laurie** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:20 am

Minidave wrote:

I would have loved that one to match the MINI, if it wasn't a scooter helmet!

I actually got this one

and it is quite nice for the price. I wanted to make sure it was M2005 rated so it would be good for several years. Plus, when will I ever use it again, so why pay lots of $$.

Minidave · Post by **Minidave** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:58 am

Good deal!

Nice helmet.....what brand is it?

Edit: I found it..........

MADE BY EXL SPORTS. EXL IS AN AMERICAN COMPANY THAT SPECIALIZES IN MOTORSPORTS HELMETS AND ACCESSORIES

I'm surprised you didn't get one of these tho.......

Or this pink one.............

That's a good link, I'll have to save it for future reference.......Cheap Helmets

petek · Post by **petek** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:55 am

dimini wrote:Paid my fees today. count me in for intermediate class.

Hey Petek, please get your planets and ducks in a row so you can make it! Bring the big boy, doesn't have to be a MINI.

The logistics of bringing the other car may keep it at home, but we'll see.

I'm off next week to Run & Gun in St. Louis. Three days of track time with cars much, much faster than I am in mine!

Post by **Laurie** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 2:27 pm

Minidave wrote:

Actually after trying the helmet on and wearing it for awhile, I wish I would have gotten that one instead.

I feel my vision is extremely impaired in the full face helmet. I guess it will just take some getting used to. Right?

Hey I know, maybe I can have Todd install some pink flames on my helmet so you know I'm a girl.

Minidave · Post by **Minidave** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 3:50 pm

Most of the people who drive in closed cars like the MINI prefer an open faced helmet, but mine is very similar to yours and I don't find it to be a problem. PeteK also wears one and he takes his face shield completely off, I'll do the same next time. It either unclips or unscrews at the corners, so it's easy to do.

I think Pink flames would be fun, and cool!

hctiev · Post by **hctiev** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:00 pm

Laurie - I like your helmet. You did a good job. Don't let MiniDave fool you, his is just like the pink one with a spike on time - AKA Hogen's Heroes syle.

PeteK - You can bring the mini, but you are still going to have the same exhaust note on the video when you pass me whether you're in the Mini or the cobra.

I'm just excited to it again. I think HPT has the right idea with this. Great track, good instructors, nice price = lot's of fun!

hctiev · Post by **hctiev** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:01 pm

Hey Dave, you might want to re-post the link to the pre-high performance driving manual. It was you who posted that, wasn't it?

petek · Post by **petek** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:37 pm

Laurie wrote: Actually after trying the helmet on and wearing it for awhile, I wish I would have gotten that one instead. I feel my vision is extremely impaired in the full face helmet. I guess it will just take some getting used to. Right?

Hey I know, maybe I can have Todd install some pink flames on my helmet so you know I'm a girl.

Laurie,

The first time I drove with my full-face helmet I felt the same thing... my vision seemed to be limited. After 5 minutes or so I completely changed my mind and have no problem with the helmet.

I think what is going on is the helmet, while not restricting the vision, places something "new" in the field of vision. Since we're not used to seeing the "new" stuff in our field of vision we tend to fixate on it. With a little bit of time we forget the "new" stuff and simply get back to seeing what we need to see.

For example, my entire life I never had to wear glasses. A few years ago my eyes aged enough that I now have to wear reading glasses. When I first started to wear reading glasses the frames of the glasses really distracted me. Now I don't even notice them.

For me, the added safety of a full-face helmet is attractive. If all I ever ran on the track was an enclosed car I might consider a non-full face helmet because an open-face helmet would be cooler. (This is why I remove the visor... to bring air into the full-face when I'm in the MINI.)

Just my two cents, your mileage may vary, contents may settle during shipment.

Minidave · Post by **Minidave** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:23 am

PeteK posted this link for last month's event, it's a really good guide to performance driving, I recommend everyone read it. I know I've reviewed it each time I go to the track and always find some nugget that helps me..........it's a PDF so make sure you have the latest free version of Adobe on your computer..............

High Performance Driving Manual

sliboa · Post by **sliboa** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:51 am

I'm paid up and confirmed for the 24th. Now I just need to wait and see if I can skip class that day.

MiniGeoff · Post by **MiniGeoff** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:14 pm

Well, no trip in October for me. The boss is out that week, and so it's left up to little old me to take care of the clients and as a result I can't take a half day.

The drawback of being in a small group and being the only real person in the company who can do my job.

Post by **Laurie** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:37 pm

petek wrote: Laurie,

The first time I drove with my full-face helmet I felt the same thing... my vision seemed to be limited. After 5 minutes or so I completely changed my mind and have no problem with the helmet.

I think what is going on is the helmet, while not restricting the vision, places something "new" in the field of vision. Since we're not used to seeing the "new" stuff in our field of vision we tend to fixate on it. With a little bit of time we forget the "new" stuff and simply get back to seeing what we need to see.

I have already removed the plastic face shield, so that may help. Maybe I will just spend the next few weeks wearing it around the house and watching tv. Hey, do think I would get looks if I wore it for my drive to and from work everyday?

LittleRed · Post by **LittleRed** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:01 pm

Laurie wrote: Hey, do think I would get looks if I wore it for my drive to and from work everyday?

Probably not any more than usual.

Post by **Laurie** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:35 pm

Hey Kathy, where is your post saying you are all paid up and ready to go? You better not leave me hangin' here. I don't want to be the only girl. I wouldn't want to show up all these boys by myself!

LittleRed · Post by **LittleRed** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:57 pm

I have a loaner helmet now. However, I'm not sure about getting out of work. A couple of things have to fall into place before I can request the aftrernoon off.

Post by **Laurie** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:02 pm

Huh, I guess you will just have to come down with some 24 hour bug late in the afternoon on the 23rd then.

Minidave · Post by **Minidave** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:35 pm

There you go...............

Post by **ragtopday Johnna** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:05 pm

Laurie wrote:I don't want to be the only girl. I wouldn't want to show up all these boys by myself!

I'd share in the estrogen representation but they are scared of drop-tops at the track. If you want track time with a couple other MiniChix, you'll find us at the Speedway Wednesday, turning left from 12 to 4.

There are still spots available for $275.

Johnna

petek · Post by **petek** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:15 pm

Laurie wrote:
petek wrote: Laurie,

The first time I drove with my full-face helmet I felt the same thing... my vision seemed to be limited. After 5 minutes or so I completely changed my mind and have no problem with the helmet.

I think what is going on is the helmet, while not restricting the vision, places something "new" in the field of vision. Since we're not used to seeing the "new" stuff in our field of vision we tend to fixate on it. With a little bit of time we forget the "new" stuff and simply get back to seeing what we need to see.
I have already removed the plastic face shield, so that may help. Maybe I will just spend the next few weeks wearing it around the house and watching tv. Hey, do think I would get looks if I wore it for my drive to and from work everyday?

If you've never worn a helmet before it would be a great idea to wear it around the house or driving if for no other reason than to get used to the extra weight on your head. There are exercises (shrugs) that you can do to strengthen the neck muscles so that wearing a helmet isn't as tiring. Then again, we're not pulling 2 or 3 g's on the track so you shouldn't suffer from tired neck muscles!

I know a fellow who used to wear his helmet while driving in his roadster between Topeka and KC because the helmet would keep his head warm when the temperature dropped below 40.

hctiev · Post by **hctiev** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:21 pm

I should probably start another post but why when you can use bold, right?

For those of you who have new helmets and would like to try them out, may I suggest a trip to Saddler's in Olathe (Indoor go-cart). This is the best way I know of to get a bit of racing in and to try out the new helmet.

It's just as fun in old helmets.

How about Sunday afternoon - about 1pm?

Minidave · Post by **Minidave** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 8:14 am

Alex, are you gonna have your camera mounted on board at HPT on the 24th?

I can't go to Sadlers, I'm leaving for a 2 week trip on Monday, sorry.....but I think a grassroots gathering of MINIacs at Sadler's would be a hoot! Maybe later in the year then?

Oh, and I saw a guy driving a Cobra west on K-10 the other morning, wearing his open face helmet - which stuck up about 8" higher than the windshield header!

Kansas City MINI Enthusiasts

October 24th - Heartland Park Touring Club - anyone?

I sure want to go

Sigh...