Draggin' in the MINIs

Hello all,

Once or twice a year we take the MINIs out to the drag strip and we run some races! If we get a large enough turn out we run a MINI only "bracket race". If not we join the track's "bracket races". Ok, I know what you are thinking . . . “I don’t have any MODs.” Or “I don’t want to kill my car”.

Well here’s what “Bracket Races area all about . . . You are never in a wheel to wheel race with the car next to you. Here’s why. In the early part of the day you make a few runs down the track. Then you take a look at your “ET” slips and decide on a time that you accurately reproduce. Then you make a few more runs and try to hit that same time, each time down the track. Using this information you “Dial-In” your time. This “Dial-In” time is your target to hit during the races.

So you pull up next to that brand new Corvette V8 monster . . . Now what? Well the Corvette also has a “Dial-In” time that he is trying to match as well. When the Tree lights fall you will get a green first and you go. Remember you are trying to match your “Dial-In” as close as you can. That Corvette is going to be faster so his lights don’t fall until the difference between your “Dial-In” and his passes. Then he goes. If you both hit your “Dial-In” times you should finish dead even. Remember you are trying to match your time! You are not trying to beat the other car!

So, “Bracket Racing” is more about accuracy than raw speed. Whoever gets closer to their “Dial-In” time, without going faster, wins. So a bone stock MINI can beat a Corvette in a “Bracket Race” if the MINI driver matches their “Dial-In” time better than the Corvette.
When you set your “Dial-In” time you don’t need to redline your car! Set a Speed/time you can easily replicate. Accuracy wins this race!

I was talking to the track manager at www.abqdragway.com/

Looks like we have a couple choices to make. . . . Normal "test and tune" days are Saturdays. Those would be the days we can run in our own races and join the track "bracket races". I had a few people say Saturdays are out so I asked for an alternative. We also have the option to run on a Friday night as well. If we pick Friday night we can’t go until mid-late May.

Saturdays are 11am-4pm

Fridays are 6pm-11pm

Either day we will get the first two or three pit lanes for MINIs only!

Please post if you have a preference as to which day works best for you and we will go with the majority.

If you don’t want to race you can still come out, park in the Pit lanes with us, and watch from the bleachers.

-max-

Is there really no interest in a trip to the dragstrip?

I am interested (of course) but my golf league is going to interfer with Saturday outtings from April - July. :-(

So you would rather it be a Friday night??

That's really all I'm looking for at this point. What night or day is best for most of the people.