I once did 32 point bys (I counted in the video) in a 25 minute session. It wasn't even an issue. When you are in a slow car there is plenty of mental energy left over.
The intermediate group only allows passing on the straights so there isn't a lot to manage.
At SCCA time trials the Adv/inter group has open passing and I got passed by 22 cars. Again it is not an issue.
Even in a novice group it isn't an issue because most groups only allow passing on the straights.
johndej said:If you're in West Virginia, take it to summit point to run on Shenandoah circuit. Should be perfect technical track without the long straights to get blown up on.
That's definitely going to be part of the shakedown routine, given how close I am to Summit Point.
A few years ago at Heartland Park I overheard a cornerworker's radio "Did I just see a Mini pass a 911 down the straight?"
It was my buddies Honda D series Vtec powered Mini Pup (135hp at the flywheel), but yes he did!
Also, today at Hallett.......
the 881 car turned a 1:28 something
Depends on how crazy you want to get but A series Minis can be made to go scary fast with a judicious application of money and talent.
In reply to MiniDave :
I can see talent being an issue 
.
Well, consider this - I ran a 1999 Saturn coupe (SC1, not even a 2) on 4 of the hardest Craigslist tires I've ever seen at Watkins Glen at a NASA HPDE, and I was NOT the slowest car or driver out there......I don't know how many pointbys I did but it did seem like I spent more time looking in the mirrors and frantically waving my arm out the window than steering.....but I still had a ball! And I don't think anyone was seriously inconvenienced by my driving. My instructor seemed to think I was doing just fine.....
To give folks an idea of how slow my Datsun is; on Buttonwillow track layout 25CCW I am 19 seconds a lap slower than the Spec Miata lap record. At Spring Mtn I am 10 seconds slower.
The big thing I find with passing in groups that only allow straightaways why are you looking in to mirrors unless your approaching a passing zone? You only need to check your mirrors and you get to the passing zone.
For open passing you don't need to look in the mirror you only need to "notice" there is an object behind you.
Tom1200 said:The big thing I find with passing in groups that only allow straightaways why are you looking in to mirrors unless your approaching a passing zone? You only need to check your mirrors and you get to the passing zone.
Exactly that. Also, you paid for a track day just like everyone else.
I don't think slow matters as long as the car is cool, and Minis are cool. The staff at COTA must be very jaded seeing Ferraris and Porsches all day because my RX-7 was getting thumbs up all through pit lane.
In reply to j_tso :
People love seeing the Datsun. Because I run on bias ply Hoosiers it moves around slot on the tires and people who have never driven an old car are just blown away by that.
Thanks for the encouragement.
That said, has anybody encountered issues with organizers not being happy with RHD cars? I seem to vaguely recall hat some organizations - maybe one of the national four letter ones - either had issues with for Auto-X or even HPDE. Then again, my memory isn't what it never was...
In reply to BoxheadTim :
Just ran with SCCA TNiA, and there was a RHD miata there. Took me a minute to realize where the hand signals were coming from, but once that was cleared up in my brain it was a non issue.
BoxheadTim said:Thanks for the encouragement.
That said, has anybody encountered issues with organizers not being happy with RHD cars? I seem to vaguely recall hat some organizations - maybe one of the national four letter ones - either had issues with for Auto-X or even HPDE. Then again, my memory isn't what it never was...
Never had a problem with any organizations I instruct with. Let them know at registration time so whomever is giving the driver's meeting can call attention to it.
It's easier than when we have to do the same thing if there's a closed cockpit (no windows for a point by) or open cockpit car (arm restraints).
No excuse not to get to summit
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/lapping-sessions-starting-at/274035/page1/
In reply to johndej :
I have plenty of excuses, at least for this month 😁, mainly that I'm traveling a lot for work again.
stukndapast said:A friend who is an instructor with several of the SE track day organizations often tracks his smart car.
Lol, are you talking about Randy? I crashed at road Atlanta with him in my car.
No you won't have a problem with a slow car.
Yes you'll need to be more aware than everyone else.
Yes you will have a fantastic time.
Slow cars aren't the problem. Unpredictable behaviour is the problem.
I shared the track once with a Citroen 2CV, while driving my M2. Even driving at 7/10ths, on a 5+ km track, I lapped him many, many times. It was never an issue though. The driver was predictable and it wasn't difficult to take a point by when you have 10x the power, and perhaps 10x the grip.
I'm currently keeping an eye out of suitable cars. Ended up being first loser on this one. Not trying to second guess myself how much more it would've taken to outbid the other guy who really wanted it.
Edit: Now with Hot Link:
I remember long ago being in my AE92 caught behind two 600cc Swifts locked in a fierce battle on track, that was pretty annoying 
Mind you the track days were pretty disorganized back then and that kind of racing wouldn't be allowed these days.
At our track day last month someone brought a Suzuki Cappuccino.
They are 1500lbs with 64hp. They guy wasn't the slowest car on track. He drove the wheels off the thing.
One of the trackdays I did at Hallett in my 1.6 Miata, I was getting many point-bys by cars with 2-4x the HP, because the 4-5-6 and 7-8-9 are fairly tight.
One time we were running clockwise, which is backwards from normal, I kept reeling in a Viper on the brakes in tight 3-2 setup. But once we were back on the straight heading up to 1, it was amazing how quickly he would pull away.
If you go out west with a Mini and need anything - contact Don Racine (former owner of Mini Mania) he runs a fleet of Mini race cars....in fact a phone call to him might be a good idea for a number of reasons - what brake pads, tire pressure recommendations, alignment set up and so on just to get you into the swing of things.
Remember, Minis are the ultimate momentum race cars, you never let up - ever.
Do it! The drive up the hill to the cork screw will be the definition of anticipation!
The left to drive down that turn will make a memory.
To answer the question definitively, I set up a sim session in Assetto Corsa driving a factory Mini Cooper S on vintage-spec tires against some of the cars you'd probably see at an average Laguna Seca track day 
I took the Guac to TTN this year and finished 171st of 200 drivers. It was a SLOW ride around the track but fun in its own way. The motor might not be entirely healthy and we actually had too much aero in it and were 5 seconds a lap slower than a sunday cup mini of the same vintage.
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