Was listening to the MotoringFile interview with MINI USA’s head Jim McDowell and Marketing leader Tom Salkowski where I heard that MINI will be offering a Performance Driving School using JCW versions later this year. The full details are slated to be released sometime in the second quarter of 2013. Some Highlights: Track - Indianapolis Motor Speedway F1 Track Cars - JCW Variants of MINIs Instuctors - IndyCar Lights drivers You know we here at Motoring Alliance will be following this news and will be posting about it as we learn more.
I'm about ready to pull the trigger for one of these events. The registration page has a field for a Promo Code. Does anyone know how or where to get one of those codes? In case you didn't get the email from MINI about the program, here's a link to the site of the organization that's offering the program: https://www.bemilesahead.net/programs/mini-performance-motoring-school
Yeah and once you register your car you are added to the MINI warranty "BLACKLIST". I am sure if you are tracking your car anything that fails will not be cover because of abuse.
Any MINI costs MINI USA little or nothing, especially when one looks at how many were destroyed during the filming of "The Italian Job". Whatever was lost was regained via the box office receipts. That said, it's still pretty pricey for a one day school even if renting the venue and trashing a few JCWs are taken into consideration [think of how many people want to participate], but I guess the thrill of driving on an F1 track, with a pro beside you and a JCW might be worth it....
Well, the discussion is interesting, and I'll be sure and post my thoughts on the event after I've done it (probably in September), but what I'm really after now is one of those codes. I'm hopeful for a price break, or some SWAG, or some extra laps, or ... Last week, I called my dealer, Motor City MINI here in the Detroit area, but got the usual "let me look into that and get back to you" routine. Not a word since.
This is just a snip of a good article, link to the rest is below. Learning to Drive MINIs the Way John Cooper Intended (Autoguide.com) Full article here.
How does it compare to other professional driving schools? It seems to be around the entry price for Bob Bondurant's offerings. (as an example: Intro to Racing | Bondurant.com) Which is not to say that I disagree. $1,000 for a one-day event is more than I will probably ever be willing to spend, unfortunately.