Mohawk Track Experience at Gingerman Raceway Michigan

[Beau_Jester]

Just thought I'd post about the group were we were supposed to share the track with at Gingerman during the NG17.

I drove with the Mohawk Track Experience group in the novice class. I did not sign up for an experienced driver to ride with me to learn the racing lines because there were too many 1st timers who never drove on a track. In the driver's meeting they said all of the turns were late apex and there were five passing zones. Like at the NGs, it was point out the window to signal faster driver to pass you.

I brought my FWD turbo base with 15Gs (I am pretty sure BlackStealth converted them) and the car handled the track well, but I was outclassed by the 450hp and 650hp Mustangs who drove in the novice group with me and all of them switched to sticky track tires while I have street tires.. The track was wet on the first run and a McLaren in the intermediate group spun out. The driver dialed back the aggressive driving the remainder of the day. That was the only incident.

I finally remembered to turn on my GoPro on my second run after lunch break. I didn't realize I was the last car to enter the track and pulled over in the paddock to let faster cars ahead of me. That's when I realized I was late starting. I took it easy at first and started to push the car a little after a lap or two. There were times when I should have pushed the throttle more. I was hitting around 50mph in most turns and 80mph in most straights and 110mph in last long one. You'll see in my youtube post you really can't tell how fast I am going. You can see other drivers by searching Mohawk Track Experience.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pRjrivi0ws

[Alan92RTTT]

All in all how would you rate the experience. Good group ? Did you feel welcomed in your 3K?

Big question, if there is a NG18 would you saw they are a good group to partner with?

[Beau_Jester]

Alan,
Paul Rocha, who is literally a man with a Mohawk, has been running this event for around 10 years. He seems like a very reasonable person and I think pairing an event with him would work. Although, he does consider this his "premiere event" so I don't think you would have much input on how the event is run. I also do not think alternating a 3S group run then a Mohawk run will be an option. He wants to maximize track time for all of the drivers. Everyone in an experience level group would run together: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced. In those classifications, I think they might use SCCA rules for categorizing your driving skill (I am not familiar). An advanced driver from the NG could possibly end up in the Intermediate group and the Intermediate in the novice. It kind of depends on how much track driving you've had and how recent. Otherwise, they follow basically the same track safety rules as the 3SNG.

Like with the NG, the drivers who have done this event several times before usually hang with familiar faces, but are open to making new friends. There were also professional drivers sponsored by Rousch racing taking exhibition laps. Also some tire and Mustang aftermarket vendors showing but not selling. He did arrange for a "free" lunch from a traveling Bar-B-Q lunch wagon that was included with the admission fee. It was pretty good. There is also a convenience store/diner on the facility.

The event itself did seem like a Mustang event, though. Mustangs far exceeded other models. I think there was one Camaro, a few Corvettes and Vipers, a Cadillac CTV, BMWs, Porsches and a few "vintage" 60s/70s cars. No real exotics like Lambos. Since the 3S group could potentially equal the Mustangs in numbers, a little rivalry could develop I imagine. I would say 90% of the cars were NA 400Hp+.

I would definitely like to drive Gingerman again with the NG. There also is a drag strip north of Kalamazoo. I hope there is interest.