by Jerry (Siddhartha) Bradbury


Canyon Motorsports and Tuslo Motorsports (not cool enough for a website yet) will again field their racing Minis in a US Touring Car Championship event, this time at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma California.

It looks like Bob has overcome the gremlins that plagued his effort last season and has come out this year sparkling and faster than ever. He barely missed a podium finish last race and should be up there in the champagne shower this time around.

Jerry will be racing under a provisional license for the next seven events, which requires that he be involved in NO incidents, including off track excursions. Those of you who know his driving style will appreciate how difficult this will be for him. Consequently his strategy will be to lurk at the back of the pack and observe. Unless, of course, an opportunity presents itself.

With TWO Mini owner/drivers racing in a professional series, it would be great to see some of our Mini forum peeps in the paddock. We always have time to visit and chat as long as folks remember that prepping the car comes first. NASA throws a free barbeque for everyone on Saturday evening which is a great opportunity for socializing.

So come on down and root for your homeboys, grab some meat or a big juicy carrot off the grill and a cold beer and hang out. We'd love to see you!

 

As usual, the car is in pieces and will be wrenched on until race day and probably after that too. There always seems to be more to do to get it raceworthy. This will be my first run on the spec tire this season made by Nitto, which is a subsidiary of Toyo. Word has it that they have similar characteristics to the Toyo RA-1s that I ran last season although the width is less: 225 vs. the 235 Toyos. I expect them to be squirmy and slow since we are not allowed to shave them, but if everyone is on the same tires, that should not be a factor.

 

I think you will find them to be faster then shaved RA1s. They have almost the same compound, but more like the new R888. They have a stiffer side wall also. I think you will like them. Also very good in the rain. Better then the R888s.

By the way, I though this was a Hancook sponsored series?

 

Hankook was the sponsor last year. This year it's Nitto. They are a little slow getting the sticker packages out to us and the websites changed, but it's in the works.

Rain performance doesn't mean a lot out here in Cali in the dry season, I just hope they have a smooth breakaway. Time will tell.

 

i hear ya on the smooth breakaway. which hankooks did you run last year? the 212/now 214 DOT tire? i ordered a set of F200's to compare w/ the Hoosier R6. any input?

good luck this weekend. i'll be anxiously awaiting results.

greg

 

Then take that wiper and motor off. It's dead weight. A bottle of Rain X in the parts bin should do.....

Best of luck to all the MINI drivers in USTCC!

Alain L

 

Thanks for that, bean. No input, sorry. I was running NASA TT last year on Toyo RA1s which just got stickier as the tread wore down. No experience with Hankooks.

As long as these Nittos will let me take turn one at Sears without lifting, I'll be a happy man.

 

Thanks, J!

Wiper motor long gone. And my hood weighs like 2 pounds now.

 

Race Report - 2nd Round USTCC at Infineon Raceway


by Jerry (Siddhartha) Bradbury

Infineon Raceway, April 11, 2008

One of the best things about a NASA event is that there is something for everyone. You can bring your daily driver and run a High Performance Driving Event. Anything will do as long as it’s roadworthy and safe. Looking out my door once, I saw a Ford GT40, a GMC pickup, a Toyota Camry, a Porsche GT3 and a Mini Cooper S, all lined up to go out in HPDE 1. As your experience and driving skills improve you can bring your modded up street machine, change to race wheels and tires and run with the faster HPDE groups, 2, 3 and 4. Some folks have been happily doing this for years. Since these are non-competitive instructional driving events with instructors on board, your insurance should cover any mishaps (NOTE: check with your own provider to be sure). In addition, there are many classes of racing to watch featuring exciting door-to-door competition. Add to that a free barbeque Saturday night and you’ve got a really fine weekend at the track.

Canyon Bob and I are here for the second round of the US Touring Car Championship series. Bob is way faster than me but because he's not used to the track, we qualify close and we're side by side on the grid for the race. Finally in the late afternoon our turn to race arrives. The flag drops and off they go while I try manfully to find second gear. Again. Same mistake as in the NAMCC race. Rookie mistake. all the USTCC racers disappear over the hill and I am left at the mercy of the Honda Challenge cars. The Civic in front of me is just a little slower than me and is braking just a little sooner. I pull up next to him several times but I’m running with the pirates now. They show no mercy and give no quarter and I just don’t have the skills yet to shoulder my way by and get away.


And so I finish last. In spite of the embarrassing start it was far from a wasted effort. I have completed two more events as a provisional rookie racer without incident or going off track. One more and I can apply for my NASA National racing license and the gloves can come off. Before that happens, though, I have homework to do. I have to find more horsepower for the car and I have to practice standing starts until that 1-2 shift is automatic. Next time will be different.


It was great to have some of you Mini owners at the track cheering us on. Next time at Thunderhill on May 3-4, Bob and I should be joined on the grid by Rich Peterson in his USTCC MCS. Hopefully as more Minis join the racing we will see more of you out there, too!

Pix here.

Expanded version here.

 

I raced on non-shaved Nittos this past weekend for the Charity Challenge ("Unlocking Austism") at NPR. Funny thing that happened was that I turned my fastest lap ever there, a 1:22:00 on the 1.8 mile track.
Also started last in a field of 24 cars, worked my way through traffic and caught the leading 911 which I passed to take the win.
I would have to say I think they are better than the R-6's.
Regards,
Steve

 

Nice run Steve !!! I will be at NPR with the 1Lap of America on May 6, 2008 Tuesday

8 am ... In a Mustang GT. Stop by if you like, it was nice to see you there last time

Phil

http://onelapofamerica.com/history/s...e.shtml?y=2008

 

My racing sponsorship depends on website hits, so if you would please hit the blog site you will be doing me a favor and also supporting Mini racing! Come on out and watch if you can. It's only going to get better.

Cheers,
Sid

 

as an avid HPDE'er, i appreciate the significant efforts of those who take their MINI's to the track in anger (W2W). thanks for the updates. i'll hit the blog daily. good luck.

 

Hey Onasled, check your PMs. I had a question for you. Thanks.

 

Steve, what series is this?
Why are you on DOTs and not slicks? Series rules?
Great job. After finally getting my car on the track I can now really see the potential of it getting to podium. Can't wait till we are on the track together.

 

Yep, ... been getting them. Ring is here on my desk. Will go out today as I finally have some time to do so. Sorry.

 

It really is not a series but an annual event that keeps getting bigger each year. There were 65 entries this year between Formala-class cars, GTO, Super Production & Touring. It is a fund raiser for "Autism".
Big party & BBQ afterwards but still fun racing.
Nitto had asked me to test the NT-01's which I did for the first time last weekend. Usually use Hoosier R-6's. The tires had very good grip had held up great for the (2) 20 min. sprints.
I have been searching for the ideal size in 15" slicks which will require new wider wheels and body work.
That project is soon to get started.
Yes, anxious to meet you at the track soon.
There are several FAAST racing schools that provide SCCA and NASA licensing. There is even one scheduled for May 5th at NPR.
Check out the schedules nationwide, I think you can enroll in a school sooner than you think.
Regards,
Steve

 

Please excuse me for pointing this out, gentlemen, but this thread is about the US Touring Car Championship series which is a pro series. Here is the USTCC schedule for 2008. As you can see, there are races on both coasts, so this is not just a west coast series. I would encourage you to check it out at a track near you.

Your comments about this series are welcomed, but off topic discussions and reminders to check PMs are probably better conducted here.

Thank you.

Jerry Bradbury
JCW MCS
USTCC #37



photo by jimZ68

 

Web site hits come from us, believe me, we support you. Bigger threads get more eyes too

Sometimes OT ideas come up and well we spit em out ... Sorry for that

Great Job driving !!!

Good Luck and I wish your team the best. Go MINI

I llive near Putnam Park, Indy and have driven it many times, short track, fun, 1 tricky 90 degree right turn. Mini shines there with a LSD

 

Dear Jerry,
Wishing the best of luck in the series. Wish I were participating in your series also. My Mini is beyond return to qualify for USTCC. I would have to add 400 lbs. of ballast.
Did not mean to get off topic, just was adding my opinion about the Nitto tires which I just had the opportunity to try out for the first time.
Feel free to contact me if you would like any help setting up your car.
Regards,
Steve [

 

Thanks for the kind words, guys! July is hiatus for USTCC so I'm heading to Maine with my RV then. It would be fun to camp in Mini nuts' dooryards on the way. Let me know if you're close to I-80 and have a spot for a 30 foot Airstream.

Cheers,
Jerry