DE event in Nashville last weekend, first on-track time eith the 914 Options

[don9146]

BMW is playing on the Mini's history by using Phil Wix (who used to be a factory driver for Mini back in the 1960's and was even the stunt driver in the red Mini in the original The Italian Job) to put on driver's ed events at tracks around the country. He recently moved to Nashville and put on his first school at the Nashville Superspeedway’s combination oval and road course. In addition to several Minis in attendance, the school also had the local Corvette club and the Nashville PCA bring their cars to the track as well. I will try to attach some pictures of my 914 in action over the weekend.

First picture is of the parade laps where students play “follow the leader” to learn the correct line through the corners and guidelines for braking markers.

[don9146]

Nice shots! Where in Nashville is the speedway, is it still near the fairgrounds like it was when I was a kid (I grew up in NashVegas)?

The fairgrounds still has the Nashville Speedway. Therre used to be some of the best short-track racing in the country out there (with Darrel Waltrip and Coo-Coo Martin). This race was held at the Nashville Superspeedway which is on the South-West side of Nashville, near Smyrna (see http://www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com/ ). They put on some non-roundy-round races there through the infield course and even have some motorcycle road racing on occasion. The same Phil Wix that put on the automobile driver's education course will be starting a motorcycle driving school there soon.

And your comment about the Lane Motor Museum is right on, I went there with my brother when I was home for Christmas last year and it is very cool. It's in the old Sunbeam Bread bakery building and there are a wide variety of cool cars there from all over the world and even a few motorcycles.

Chech out http://www.lanemotormuseum.org/default.htm for more info on the museum. Mr. Lane himself will come out to several amature racing events around the city. He is very active with the Tennessee Spokes Sports Car Club (see http://www.tennessee-spokes.org/ for my 3rd link of this ramble...). He will usually tow his race car to the event in an ex-German military truck making him easy to spot! At the last Spokes get-together, he took people out on Percy Preist Lake in his Schwimmenvagon. He would pick you up at the picnic in the car and drive you right out onto the lake. He is a real nice guy and a good driver to boot.

Later,
Don