photo by minispeedrcr



The Minis of Canyon Motorsports with Bob Scheer driving and Tuslo Motorsports with Jerry Bradbury up will be participating in the next round of the US Touring Car Championship series at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, California, on the weekend of 3-4 May 2008.

Hopefully they will be joined on the grid by Rich Peterson and his USTCC racing MCS. Rich Has been wrenching furiously on his car after a bad shunt and should be ready by race day. If so, there will be more Minis on the grid than any other marque. Is this a portent of things to come? Will more racing Minis join USTCC and actually place well in this pro series? Only time will tell.

Thunderhill Raceway, like Buttonwillow, was designed to be run in both directions. Most of the time though, it is run counter-clockwise. The next NASA event will be run clockwise (Llihrednuht=Thunderhill backwards), which makes for some exciting racing since most of the drivers have very little experience going in that direction. Bob has never run it backwards but is a quick study and has mad driving skillz. Jerry has run it five times backwards with track day clubs, but never raced it. If he can get his car sorted, and figure out where second gear is, his experience could make for a good finishing position.

We who are about to race appreciate the attention and support the Mini community has given us and encourage anyone who can make it to come on out on race day and cheer us on. As Bob's podium finish last season showed, the Mini can be competitive in this series, unlike some others, and may be the foot in the door we have all been hoping for. MINI USA supports podium finishes in USTCC with contingency money, so we have the attention of the big guys (albeit no technical support) and it's up to us to race hard and prove that the Mini is a worthy and capable opponent.

The schedule for the NASA weekend is here. We hope to see you there!

Mini Mania supports me with speed parts and cash. You can help me and Mini racing in general by clicking on my sponsor's LINK. There's no better place to get your aftermarket mods than there.

 

This will sure to be yet another great effort for the MINI! 2nd round results with more pictures, etc. can be found here: http://newmini.wordpress.com/

 

Here we go again! We found the missing horsepower hiding behind a blown 15 amp fuse.

The car's getting some meatier shock tower plates from Mini Mania and a set of polyurethane engine mounts to keep the engine from thrashing around and grounding the O2 sensor against the exhaust shielding, resulting in limp mode at THE most inappropriate time.

USTCC requires working headlights, but maybe we can find a way to use the cool CF covers during the race after we pass tech.

 

The Race Report is up!




My office


5/2 - 5/4/2008
Willows, CA

I arrived at Thunderhill early on Friday to instruct for Trackmasters and to get in a few practice laps because we are running Thunderhill backwards this time. It was to be a weekend of attrition. First to fall was Canyon Bob Scheer whom I discovered sitting disconsolately on the cinder block wall running a torn supercharger belt through his fingers. His team just could not keep the race car from throwing belts, so he decided to fold his tent and pack it in for this race. Next, Rich Peterson failed to show, still working on his car, I presume. That left only me to carry the Mini flag to battle.

It was a a perfect day and with a smaller crowd than last time at Infineon. I think going backwards had something to do with it. Saturday I finished another race without a scratch and have now qualified for my national racing license.

Sunday was another glorious day. Jacques Andres and the Bay Bridge Motors team Had found some of my missing horsepower, but the top end isn't there yet. Still, I qualified 5th. I made the one-two shift this time but was skunked at the start by the other cars. I passed one but although I could keep them in sight, I could not close with the leaders. After 2 wrecks and a DQ among them however, I finished 3rd on the podium.

No matter how you get there, a podium finish is a podium finish. You get your name called on the PA to take your place amid applause and hoots from the crowd, you get the big trophy and the kiss, you get the magnum of champagne with which to try to drown your fellow combatants, and you get the wide non-stop grin. Champagne stings when you get it in your eyes! And it makes your racing suit and hat smell winey. But I have to say, a fella could get used to it.



Read the full report on my sponsor Mini Mania' blog HERE.

More pix to follow.