Mini News Most liked posts in thread: MINI USA Partners with Miles Ahead for MINI Performance Motoring School

Yesterday I did the Miles Ahead driving school. It was a fantastic experience. The instructors are all professional drivers, and they're also communicative, helpful, and courteous. Having been doing HPDE's and open track days for over a decade now, it can be extremely variable in terms of organization and staff, however this school was top shelf and well worth the price.

Everything the staff did was well paced and well organised. It's clear they've done it before, yet the interaction was personable and felt custom. As you're assigned your car number, they allude that each car number is important, but leave it dangling that they'll explain it later [and they did]. Your assigned car has your name on the roof above the drivers door, which is a great touch. At the end of the day there's a swag bag with some very cool stuff in it, including a trophy helmet with your name on it, certificate of completion with all 4 instructors autographs, and t-shirt in your size.

The cars are very cool; the brand new F56 MINI JCW hardtop. Yes they're in the paddle-shift automatic, but even being a die-hard 3-pedal driver, this auto is actually really good. It also fits the focus of the school; learning posture, focus, and driving lines. The JCW handles very well, brakes great, the power is excellent, and the exhaust note is lovely and engaging and visceral without being over-the-top. It's fantastic.

Miles Ahead driving school at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by Ryephile, on Flickr

Miles Ahead driving school at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by Ryephile, on Flickr

Miles Ahead driving school at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by Ryephile, on Flickr


Between training sessions, swapping instructors.

Miles Ahead driving school at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by Ryephile, on Flickr


Back in the paddock during a break:

Miles Ahead driving school at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by Ryephile, on Flickr

Miles Ahead driving school at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by Ryephile, on Flickr


...and in the pit lane, stopping right on the remaining yard of bricks at the start/finish line.

Miles Ahead driving school at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by Ryephile, on Flickr

Miles Ahead driving school at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by Ryephile, on Flickr

So, if you have the means, I definitely recommend signing up!

 

AHH - two different kind of driving. Rear wheel drive vs. Front wheel drive. I want to learn how to handle my Mini the way it should be driven.

 

This is pretty awesome! Oh how I'd love to have an extra $1245 to go and do this. It's only three hours from me. Maybe my dream will come true one day.:frown5:

 

Can we set up an MA event meet up!

 

I would love to do this or the BMW performance driving course in SC some day. Regular driving instruction to get your drivers license teaches you how to drive, but not how to control your vehicle. It's great they are offering this.

BMWs two day course is actually around the price of MINIs one day course. As much as I love MINI, I would chose to drive a M car over a JCW ;-)

 

Very true, I meant if I were going to go somewhere. Actually Englishtown by us does driving schools in your own car.

 

Really! I need to check it out... any info would be great and do you want to come along?

 

I was thinking of setting up a MINI event and getting several cars together.

The Road Course at New Jersey motorsport park Raceway Park offers something for everyone

I just emailed the coordinator to ask a few questions.

I'll keep you posted.

 

http://www.etownraceway.com/mydocuments/roadcourseregistrationform.pdf

 

Great write up! Thank you for the inside info.

 

I think they should teach you in an enthuiest drivers car first. You know one without all the nannies.

 

In the fall of 2013 I attended this event and experienced the same professionalism and course content described here by Ryephile. The road course was partially under construction at the time, but the day was filled with serious road work and speed in the R56 JCW's with (what looks to be) the same set of instructors. I also had the #77 car, but never did hear the significance of that number. I want to do it again but I think there are few, if any, seats available this year, so I think it will have to be next summer.

 

Dave.0 just took the last spot.

 

Dave.0: More knowledgeable about Driving Schools than the vast professional racing experience of the entire Instructor Staff. :arf:




Do you want a real answer to your comment, or are you just attempting to make a poke at the F56?

 

Really? I am saying the F56 is but ugly junk. I said nothing about the staff.

 

Let's read your quote again.

They = the staff. As such, your comment undermines them. You also misspelled "enthusiast".

You also didn't explicitly mention the F56 initially, but knowing how hard you troll it, it was a safe assumption.


So, do you have an actual intelligent comment about the school, or would you prefer to piss and moan about the car some more?

 

My money's on more pissing and moaning. [emoji14]