Another GRMer takes on OLOA (no Mclaren content)

After many years of watching, wishing and wanting.... I did it. I've officially entered the 2022 OLOA. Technically, I'm on the waiting list. But I talked with Brock the other day and he seemed pretty certain that we would get in the event. As a quick aside, he's a Mini guy. Had an '05S that he loved until a truck pulled out in front of him and totaled it. I think he is excited to have another Mini join the competition. 

This is the car that we will be competing in: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/2003-mini-cooper-s-r53-street-touring-prepared-build/145066/page1/

As with most enthusiasts, this is a bucket list item for me. As a kid growing up watching Cannonball Run, I’ve wanted to participate since I learned of its existence. It’s always been a “when I can get to it” thing. I don’t have massive amounts of disposable income, I have kids, justifying the expense of a One Lap run is a hard thing to do. When I looked at this route, there was something different. Right there, May 3rd.

The race comes home for me. A chance to sleep in my bed, see the family (even if it’s only a few minutes), resupply, plus it is my home track. Right in the middle of the event. That’s got to be a huge advantage.

The first goal is obviously finishing.  That said, I'm competitive and this isn't Parade Lap of America.  I want to do as well as we can.  Doing well means having a plan and preparing.  I'm documenting my way through the prep, the event, and the aftermath on my blog:  http://www.alsoranracing.com/2021/11/10/so-whats-the-plan/

I know, it's a bit gross plugging your stuff, but I'm not selling anything.  It's really just a centralized place for me to dump my thoughts and information.  I'm really wanting to engage with the GRM and Mini communities to help through the event.

Being my first event, I don't know what I don't know.  Any general advice to start?

Thanks,
Brad

Some previous chatter about OLOA 2022 and transit distances.

Myself, 2018 as part of a 3 man team.  The one thing I learned and didn't expect too be as much is this really becomes a week of "operational efficiency."  Accept the idea that as a mid-pack car, you are not going to get as much sleep as you would like.  If you want 15 minutes more sleep then you need to learn where to save 15 minutes of time while you are awake.  We did not achieve this through blatant speeding on the road.  Personally, I set the cruise at 76 in a 70.  Getting there is efficient.  Beating hard on the long road transit could cause greater demise.  

Typical daily schedule.  You want to be at the track at 7am.  This allows you one hour to walk the track (or bike ride, or scooter ride) before the track goes live.
At 8:00 the track will go live and no more track preview for the day.  The fastest cars will go off first.  Being mid-pack, this will leave you some time to sort your car.  Remember, your car is packed to the gills and EVERYTHING has to come out before you enter the track.  There will typically be a morning session, finishing about 11:00 and then an afternoon session starting about 12:00.  By 12:30-ish, the fastest cars are done at that track and are free to advance to the next town or start their 6-10 hour drive.  You, however, might not be done until 3:00 or 4:00 at the same track.  If starting at 4:00 a 6 hr drive means rolling in at 10pm but a 10 hr drive means rolling in at 2am.  The fastest cars who ran first and left 3 hours before you got to the same hotel at a reasonable time.  Those teams tell stories of sit down dinners with real silverware.  

As for efficiency, Bob, Tim and I had it down to 6 minutes.  The driver could pull off the track with a "hot car" and we could have the entire car packed and be rolling down the freeway in just 6 minutes.  This was one way to find that 15 minutes of more sleep.   We were in an Acura TL so also rear-ish mid-pack.

I'd give some further thought to sleeping at home.  How is your home?  Are there kids who need to be satisfied?  Can you rolling in at 11pm, go straight to bed and roll out at 6am w/o delay?  
EDIT: I suppose its possible that you don't need a track walk at your home track.  This could mean you can arrive to the track as late as 9am and still be present for your morning session.  

It will be convenient to resupply or pick up something needed.  But, if family will be coming to see you at the track, they could bring those items to you also.  

I don't have the answer, I did not drive that portion, but find a way to practice the skid pad.  It seems to be a part that trips up many people.  Its not easy to formally prepare for.  Attending another track day or autox will not make you better here.  

If you really want to be competitive you need to go and do multiple track days at all the tracks on the schedule.  If you don't, you simply won't be competitive.  At that point, just go for the experience and have fun.

the good news is... you'll be in the "Retro class", which will probably be a class of 4 with you there.

the bad news is... you'll be up against the "Dubler Crew" in a set of 3 similarly prepped HHR SS's, and they've done OneLap at least 10 times... with those HHR SS's, among a smattering of other chevys/cadi's over time.  They're experienced, and they're fast (usually)

The other good news is.... The Dubler Crew are some of the best ambassadors of/for/to OneLap.  If you don't show up trying to show them up, and instead focus on having a ball with them... and seeing who came out the best, then you'd go a long way to having a very enjoyable OneLap experience.

I'll start reading over your R53 thread, and then I'll come back and see if I have any other advice.

Welcome! I'll be there repping the Sundae Cup crew with the Rio. I got lucky that we have Putnam last on the schedule, the only track I've got a significant amount of time at. I'll be 40 minutes from home, but unless Seth suggests otherwise I cannot see staying there. That leg is going to be 8 hours already, following the drags. That's 60 more minutes of sleep by staying at the hotel in Cloverdale (saving 30 minutes each way).

Unless youre Tom O you're not going to win your first time around. Use this year to enjoy. You'll be a little overwhelmed and intimidated but it's a welcoming group, almost family-like. We all recognize this is less a race against your fellow competitors than it is against the event itself. 

so, in page 4 of your thread, there's this photo:

I highly suggest that you chuck those EBC's in particular, and any EBC pad in general, in the bin ASAP.  Mazdeuce had trouble with EBC Blues (multiple sets) in 2017, there was a Pontiac G8 that roasted a set of EBC's on the first day at Nelson Ledges in 2019.  My observation over the last 5 years is that EBC's aren't up to the task.

I actually registered for the Economy class.  That puts us up against the Kia, a Mazda2 and a Fit.  Which feels like a fair fight.

The EBC pads are going away.  Likely being replaced by G-Loc 6 or 8s.

We're coming to compete, but I'm planning on enjoying the experience. Our first goal is finishing, anything else is a bonus.

If you go with G-Loc's, I'd probably suggest R10's front and R8's rear, and still look at adding some cooling to the front end.  There are a lot of compounding elements that will mean you'll use your brakes harder at OneLap then you will most other places.

edit:
Also, I'd suggest you have a full set of back-up pads and rotors in your spares.  Go ahead and protect them from the elements by wrapping them in a fresh pair of underwear.

re: Retro vs. Econo
to site the "rules"...

I ran an R56 in 2016, and got classed in Retro; just as every other MINI I've seen over the last decade(?).  Around about a week before the event, Brock/Solomon/Missy will go through the supplied paperwork and will 1) Cede all the cars based on "Brocks Rough Guess of How Fast They Are"... and/or his rare sense of humor.  They'll re-class any entry "as they see fit" (i.e. the blue highlight above)... so a GTI entered in Econo will get pushed to SGT-2 SB; a MINI in Econo will get put in Retro, an E46 M3 entered in SGT2-SB will get pushed to Mid-Priced Sedan, etc.

I don't think you'll be particularly outclassed by the HHR's.  They're (afaik/r) stock power, and are full interiors.... thus ~12.5lb/bhp.  If your intake/exhaust/pulleys are getting you to ~190bhp, then you're right on the window of 13.5lb/hp; plus you're lower and should be able to 'handle better', and this year looks to be particularly well suited to 'handling cars'.  Then again, the Dubler Crew is known for taking 'handling' into their own hands...

but, who knows, maybe I'm wrong.

You're at least, a bit ahead of me, already owning your car and having had it on track.  I'm still a bit behind on my prep... don't even have a co-driver yet.

I'm not too concerned if we get reclassed. It'll be fun regardless. That's a pretty epic picture.

Planning on taking spare pads, wasn't planning on rotors, but there is still debate on it.  Have thought about Wildwood 11.75s, but that would mean different wheels... it all adds up to money.  OLOA is pretty expensive, even still you can spend as much as you want.

I think the biggest hurdle is making the car durable and reliable. The last thing you want is to be stuck on the side of the road in BFE Oklahoma with some one off part broken and no way to get a spare. Youve had the car for what, 3 years so durable should be clear.

Yea, agree completely. I've been talking with Way (of Way Motor Works), and we've gone through the plan. Reliability literally is going to cost me money. Buying better parts costs more than less reliable ones... who could have figured that. 

Basically the plan is to redo the suspension, remove the lightweight pulley, replace the clutch and flywheel, add a LSD, upgrade sway bars and replace bushings.

Reliability and durability have been my entire focus this year. Next time I'm not buying a car that sat this long.