All posts by MMCadmin

Media Mentions

MMC featured in Robb Report Guide to Private Track Clubs

Courtesy of Robb Report: “It’s my happy place,” a private club member says. “I forget about work for a few hours and hang out with my best friends.” The private facility is in New York’s Catskills, with acres of lush grass and forested hills. High topiary walls hide it from public view. “It’s gorgeous, right?” the member adds.

Then he jams on a full-face helmet and jumps into an orange Porsche GT3 RS sports car. “Oh yeah,” he shouts. “And I get to go really, really fast.”

When you overhear friends talking about the healthy competition at their private club, the hazards on the course’s back half, or the $100,000 initiation fee, you can no longer simply assume they’re talking about golf.

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Media Mentions, Onsite Events

Inside Ferrari’s Corsa Pilota driving school

Courtesy of Pulse:  Monticello Motor Club’s race track is 4.1-miles of unadulterated fun. Fast and swooping in the likes of a Mazda Miata, it becomes otherworldly in a Ferrari 488 GTB and a Ferrari 812 Superfast.

But before you uncork 600-plus horsepower supercars on a silky ribbon of asphalt, you need to know what hell you’re doing.

Enter Ferrari’s Corsa Pilota.

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Media Mentions

The case for attending a high-performance driving school

Courtesy of AutoWeek: Everyone should attend a high-performance driving school, or at least a defensive driving course. When I started in this industry a bit more than a decade ago, I thought I was a pretty good driver. I drove a manual, autocrossed, worked on my own vehicles and understood the dynamics of driving a rear-wheel-drive car through Michigan winters. But my first driving school experience, at Monticello Motor Club in New York, opened my eyes to a new world of friction circles, weight balance, string theory and driving lines.

With the news of Bob Bondurant’s legendary driving school filing for bankruptcy, we figured no better time — actually, a better time would have been six months ago, but … — to talk about the importance of additional driver’s training.

Let’s start with the current state of affairs. In Michigan, a driver must take two segments of training. Segment 1 includes 24 hours of classroom instruction, basically six days, six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and four hours in a training vehicle. Segment 2 requires three months and 30 hours of driving after completing segment 1, and six more hours of classroom instruction.

When I got my license 20(-ish) years ago, it was even easier. Very easy in fact. We did no winter driving –- training was in the mornings after freshman year of high school –- and no night driving either, which is now a requirement.

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Media Mentions

REGER WINS MX-5 CUP CHAMPIONSHIP AT MMC

Courtesy of AutoWeek: Nikko Reger won the opening Battery Tender Global MX-5 Cup race of the day and then backed that victory up with a run to fourth place at Monticello Motor Club to seal the 2018 championship and the $200,000 in racing support from Mazda that comes with it.

The double race-day championship showdown Saturday marked the debut of the series at the natural terrain New York circuit, and it featured two highly competitive events. After the dust settled and the checkered flag on the season flew, some 2,467 passes for position had been made in Global Mazda MX-5 Cup competition this season.
Bryan Ortiz won the second race of the day to move himself to second in the overall championship results after Selin Rollan saw his push for the title compromised on the first lap of the second race when he was caught up in an incident.

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Media Mentions

Reger clinches Mazda MX-5 championship at MMC

Courtesy of Racer.com: Nikko Reger won the opening Battery Tender Global MX-5 Cup race of the day and then backed that victory up with a run to fourth place at Monticello Motor Club to seal the 2018 championship and the $200,000 in racing support from Mazda that comes with it.

The double race-day championship showdown Saturday marked the debut of the series at the natural terrain New York circuit, and featured two highly competitive events.

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Media Mentions

MX FAST FIVE: MMC WITH 2017 MX-5 CHAMP GALLAGHER

Courtesy of MazdaMotorsport: 2017 Battery Tender Global MX-5 Cup Champion Patrick Gallagher has had a busy 2018 season, putting his $200,000 in Mazda support towards competing in the IMSA SportsCar Challenge top GS class.

When he’s not racing, he’s teaching others how to do so, usually at Monticello Motor Club. Gallagher spends so much time up at MMC, he has some quick suggestions on what the drivers and teams should keep an eye out for as the series prepares to stage a double-race Saturday for the championship-deciding season finale.

Patrick Gallagher Fast Five: Monticello Motor Club

What is this track like?

1. Monticello Motor Club offers a little bit of everything as it was designed to be a track where drivers can learn and progress whether it be their first day on track or the 10th season of driving. I have been a Pro Instructor here for 5 seasons now and love the track and the facility. The south half of the track features a more technical  driving style as there are slower corners that take a bit of patience where the north half of the racetrack features some faster corners that take commitment. On top of being technical and also needing to be committed there are three long straightaways that should be perfect for the Global MX5 Cup car to catch a draft.

Whats the fast way around MMC?

2. I suggest trying to do a track walk as there are some key little details about the track that are not exactly easy to see when you’re driving but would help explain some of the techniques that are needed to be fast around MMC.

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Corporate Partners, Media Mentions, Onsite Events

Video: Onboard Patrick Long’s Record Lap At MMC

Courtesy of Turnology: Smooth but assertive, technically masterful, patient, and bold; Patrick Long is one of today’s best sports car racers. Watching him at work is something to behold, as his car control is second-to-none. The way he methodically coaxes speed out of the car and the tires is something any aspiring driver can appreciate and learn from.

He’s quite handy in Porsche 911s — as the only American factory driver for the marque, he has to be — as he shows in this series of hot laps how to get the most out of a 997 Cup Car. Note how he saws at the wheel during the outlap to scrub the front tires and get them up to temperature. At 0:37, he even cranks the wheel well past where it needs to be and induces a bit of understeer…

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Corporate Partners, Media Mentions

TEST DRIVE: BMW M5 AT MMC

Courtesy of Sportscar365: The BMW M5 was a revelation when it was first introduced in the late 1980s, combining a smooth and powerful inline-six engine and sports car performance with four doors and a usable back seat.

BMW print ads at the time invited prospective buyers to “Be One of The 1,200 Fastest Families in America” and the M5 was the first car that truly blurred the lines between family sedan and sports car.

That concept has been behind the creation of every M5 since the first one through its successive generations, and the newest is one of the best ever.

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Media Mentions, Onsite Events

The World’s Wealthiest At MMC This Fall

Courtesy of Luxury Travel Magazine: This season, the world’s wealthiest can be found socializing at events across the globe – from the French Riviera to Lexington, Kentucky. Looking to rub shoulders with the international elite? Here’s what to do and where to stay this fall:

September

Monaco Yacht Show: The Monaco Yacht Show  (September 26-29) features 126 exceptional yachts (worth an estimated $4 billion) on display for superyacht owners and prospective buyers. With more than 150 events taking place during yacht weekend (from cocktail parties on board the yachts to intimate private affairs for the elite), affluent guests staying in one of Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo’s Signature Suites receive a special Suite Ambassador. These on-call luxury concierges welcome guests with carefully selected amenities (rare wines, special champagnes, etc.) and curate one-of-a-kind guest experiences (including in-room stylists so guests can look their yacht show best).

Expert Travel Intel (Sept.): James Henderson, president of commercial operations at XOJET, the North American leader in on-demand private aviation, highlights these two events where the world’s wealthiest will be this fall: Later this month (Sept 28-29) Monticello Motor Club, just 90 minutes from Manhattan, is hosting Art in Motion Fall Festival, a cars-and-coffee-style iteration of the world-class driving facility’s annual Art in Motion Concours D’Elegance.  MMC members will be heading to Monticello to experience two-days of supercars and vintage race cars in honor of the season finale of the Global MX-5 Cup.”

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Media Mentions

Rollan hangs on for Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup win in Portland

Courtesy of Sports Car Illustrated: Rollan’s path to victory began with an incredible start that saw his No.87 Sick Sideways Mazda go from seventh to second on the first lap. He settled in behind teammate Sparks (No.8 Sick Sideways) and the pair tried their best to pull away from the field, but Saturday’s race winner Luke Oxner (No.77 White Racing) and Reger (No.01 Slipstream Performance) were on the attack.

Also making big moves forward was Ortiz (No.4 Copeland Motorsports) after starting from 22nd on the grid. Within 10 minutes of the green flag, he’d broken into the top 10 and then methodically clawed his way to fourth with 15 minutes to go. Ahead of him, Rollan and Sparks were trading the lead while also holding off moves from Oxner. Watching this battle ahead, Ortiz saw an opportunity and took it, passing Oxner in Turn One.

On the white flag lap, Rollan and Sparks made contact in the final turn, with both drivers demonstrating excellent car control to stay on track and out in front. The close-quarters action nearly enabled Ortiz to pick up another spot, but at the finish line it was Rollan with the win followed by Sparks and Ortiz.

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Media Mentions

2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt Review: McQueen Fan or Not, This ‘Stang Is Worth the Upcharge

Courtesy of The Drive:  As the Matchbox toys of the automotive world, American muscle cars are ripe for experimentation—or exploitation—in the form of special editions. Get it right, and you end up with a Plymouth Superbird, a future collectible and classic. Get it wrong, and you end up with a 1998 Corvette Indy Pace Car, a purple-and-yellow poseur with as much class as a Franklin Mint collector plate.

The 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt is no Superbird in terms of investment potential; not least because Ford will build many more over a two-year run than the mere 135 Hemi Superbirds produced in 1970. But kudos to Ford for offering the Bullitt exclusively as a fastback coupe (no convertible) with a six-speed manual transmission, a vote for authenticity over incremental sales.

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Media Mentions

Rollan wins Global MX-5 Cup Race 2 at PIR

Courtesy of Racer: Mazda Road to 24 Scholarship winner Selin Rollan earned his second Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich victory at Portland International Raceway on Sunday. It was a hard-fought win over his Sick Sideways teammate Nathanial Sparks, with Bryan Ortiz rounding out the podium. Championship point leader Nikko Reger finished fourth, less than one second behind the winner following 45 minutes of all-green flag racing.

Rollan’s path to victory began with an incredible start that saw his No. 87 Sick Sideways Mazda go from seventh to second on the first lap. He settled in behind teammate Sparks (No. 8 Sick Sideways) and the pair tried their best to pull away from the field, but Saturday’s race winner Luke Oxner (No. 77 White Racing) and Reger (No. 01 Slipstream Performance) were on the attack.

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Media Mentions

Portland debut for Mazda MX-5 Cup

Courtesy of Sports Car Illustrated: There are four races left in the 2018 Global Mazda MX-5 Cup season, which will see the drivers in the ultra-competitive field doing battle for a total of $290,000 in support from Mazda. The overall champion will receive a hefty $200,000 prize from Mazda to put towards the next level of their Mazda Road to 24 career, while the top Rookie will earn themselves a $75,000 check. A third category to watch for in 2018 is the Challenger Class presented by Monticello Motor Club, which will award the winner with a Mazda Experience worth $15,000.

Currently topping the leaderboard with 157 points is Nikko Reger (No.01 Slipstream Performance), who stormed to the top of the charts with a strong start to the season after sweeping the Barber race weekend. But after a disappointing Mid-Ohio outing that saw his points advantage trimmed, he’s hoping to rebound at Portland.

“Mid-Ohio was a rough weekend, but we are focusing on what went right,” said Reger. “A lot has gone into Slipstream Performance in getting this far in the championship, and I am grateful to run for as long as we have and to have done so well. Mid-Ohio was a hiccup in our successes, but we will continue to work on the car and myself to keep our momentum going.”

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Media Mentions

Oxner wins Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Race 1 in Portland

Courtesy of Mazda Motorsports: Survival was the name of the game for Round Nine of the Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich at Portland International Raceway on Saturday. Luke Oxner (No. 77 White Racing), driving for the two-car White Racing team, wisely navigated through two incidents in Turn One to take his first Mazda MX-5 Cup win ahead of leading rookie racer Selin Rollan, who finished second as Robert Stout crossed the finish line in third.

Starting from second, Oxner was initially concerned that he had a poor start that would rob him of his shot at a podium finish. As it turns out, it may have put him in exactly the right spot to avoid a multi-car collision in Turn One.

“Well right off the green flag, it was just so frustrating because I lost four spots right at the start,” Oxner said. “Then there was just some kind of chaos going on, people getting antsy and I managed to dodge them all.”

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Media Mentions

Portland debut for Mazda MX-5 Cup

Courtesy of Sports Car Illustrated: The Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich championship will make its first-ever appearance at Portland International Raceway this weekend as part of the Verizon IndyCar Series event weekend.

There are four races left in the 2018 Global Mazda MX-5 Cup season, which will see the drivers in the ultra-competitive field doing battle for a total of $290,000 in support from Mazda. The overall champion will receive a hefty $200,000 prize from Mazda to put towards the next level of their Mazda Road to 24 career, while the top Rookie will earn themselves a $75,000 check. A third category to watch for in 2018 is the Challenger Class presented by Monticello Motor Club, which will award the winner with a Mazda Experience worth $15,000.

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Media Mentions

BMW M Track Days: Laying Down Rubber at Monticello Motor Club

Courtesy of The Drive: Since 2016, BMW has given general car enthusiasts and even more BMW M aficionados the chance to get behind the wheel of the newest BMW M vehicles at a track-day experience called BMW M Track Days. The high-performance event visits top-notch racing circuits around the country ranging from the FIA-approved Circuit of the Americas in Texas to the swanky Thermal Club in California.

As the owner of a BMW E92 M3 and all-around car enthusiast, I didn’t waste any time when I found out that BMW M Track Days was coming to the Monticello Motorclub. After reading the details of both eight- and four-hour programs, I registered for the $250 four-hour gig (eight-hour is $750) and prepared to have a heck of a time.

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Media Mentions

Ortiz wins Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Sunday on last-lap pass

Courtesy of Racer: Bryan Ortiz didn’t let an early exit in Saturday’s Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich race get him down, instead he made it his mission to get the win on Sunday, which he did with a last-lap pass. For the second time in as many races, the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup race came down to a last lap pass for victory, with polesitter Nathanial Sparks finishing second and Joey Bickers completing the podium in third.

Ortiz, in the No. 4 Copeland Motorsports entry, said he had the ‘yo no me quito’ spirit of Puerto Rico, which means ‘I don’t give up.’ Indeed, he never wavered in the 45-minute race with zero full-course cautions. Though he and Sparks attempted to work together to pull away from the rest of the field, the top 15 cars stayed glued together for the first 30 minutes of the race.

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Media Mentions

Glickenhaus’s 003S Is an Absurd Road-Legal Racecar

Courtesy of Road and Track: Glickenhaus might not roll off the tongue like Pagani. It might not sound as exotic as Koenigsegg. But Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, or SCG for short, Jim Glickenhaus’s plucky, New York-based race team and supercar company, is easily in the same league as these boutique hypercar makers.

“You go to Koenigsegg for wild engineering, Pagani for works of art,” Glickenhaus tells me. “You come to us for race cars you can drive on the road.”

SCG has been running its 003 race car at the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring since 2015. Last year, we rode in the 003CS—for “Competizione Stradale”—Glickenhaus’s first road-legal car. Glickenhaus designed it to be a car that you could drive to the track, swap in a homologated race engine, race it, swap back, and drive home. It’s more of a race car you can drive on the road, not a road car you can drive on the track.

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Media Mentions

Championship battle rages as MX-5 Cup heads to Mid-Ohio

Courtesy of Racer: With three race weekends down and three to go, it’s getting down to the wire as the Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires championship battles heat up all across the field.

With three different titles on the line and a grand total of $290,000 in support up for grabs, the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup has plenty of racing left before the champions emerge at the end of the season. The overall champion will receive a hefty $200,000 prize from Mazda to put towards the next level of their Mazda Road to 24 career, while the top placing Rookie will earn themselves a $75,000 check, up from last year’s $50,000 earning. Finally, the new-to-2018 Challenger Class presented by Monticello Motor Club will also award the winner with a Mazda Experience worth $15,000.

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