Racing a Mini Cooper S has been a dream for quite some considerable years and keeping up with the latest trend of making a list for things you’ d like to do before you die, racing a Mini has at the top of my list. I’m not that old, but old enough to have been the proud owner of a Mini Cooper for quite some years, the old style that is!
Mini Cooper racing has been around for many years but until relatively recently only for the privilege few that had the money to book some track time. However, that has all changed an a Mini Cooper racing experience is now available for anyone who holds a driving licence, can drive a manual transmission and doesn’t have a hearing problem, the reason you need hearing is that this particular event is given by verbal instruction.
I took my beautifully restored Mini and arrived at the racing circuit just before my allocated time slot, just to have a look around and watch others on the track to steady the nerves. The driving instructor was a friendly guy who took me and some others through a safety briefing, as well as giving us an overview of the session and giving us overalls and a crash helmet.
To begin I had a couple of demonstration laps to help to get a feel and layout of the track in a Subaru WRX. This was pretty scary stuff, the guy hammered the car down the straights and left it right to the last minute before braking hard and taking the bends, he certainly knew all the right moves to get the adrenaline flowing and the heart pounding. I tried hard to look relaxed but just couldn’t help letting out the odd shout now and again, I could see him grinning inside his crash helmet, I’m sure he thought I was a stuffy old man, wait until I get in that Mini I’ll show him a thing or two! He explained throughout what he was doing and why, the best racing lines and how to approach and exit each corner.
Then the real fun began as I climbed into the driving seat of a Mini Cooper S, did all the necessary seat and mirror adjustments, old habits die hard! before pulling off on to the track. It was a good job the guy talked to me and reminded me what to do, the Mini handles beautifully and I was really surprised just how fast it cornered. I must admit it felt a bit strange with the guy sitting next to me but he gave me lots of encouragement to go faster and congratulated continually me on my driving skill, this session was a real ‘feel good’ moment in more ways than one.
The four laps soon sped by and reluctantly I climbed out of the car, I then stood and watched other people race around the track before we all got back together in the briefing room to be offered congratulations and handed our Mini driving certificate.
The whole Mini Cooper racing experience was truly wonderful, an experience I will never forget and the first achievement ticked off my ‘to do’ list.
