All you MINI racer out there and future Racers as well. I've been talking the the USTCC race director about running a MINI class within the USTCC series.

If we can get enough MINI's running in USTCC not only will there be a overall winner but a MINI winner as well.

MINI USA for the past several seasons has been a contingency sponsor for USTCC. Paying $2000 for 1st place through 5th place of $250. They also have been paying a finishing bonus of $500. Now if this doesn't get your interest. These payments have been for overall finishing. If we can get 10 MINI's in a race it would be possible for our own class.

USTCC racing is a step up from club racing as some of the venues are very high profile. Not quite like Grand Am. But we have supported CHAMP Cars at San Jose and Portland, as well as ALMS.

There is an East Coast and West Coast series. The tentative schedule was posted today.

2007 Hankook USTCC Schedule:*

March 10-11, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA

March 30-April 1, Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA

April 28-29, Miller Motorsports Park, Salt Lake City, UT (with GT Live)
East West Shootout 2 races of 100 points each

June 2-3, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA (60 minute race)

June 9-10, Grattan Raceway Park, Belding, MI

July 14-15, Mid Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH

July 14-15, California Speedway, Fontana, CA

August 4, Altamont Speedway, Livermore, CA (with NASCAR on oval)

August 4-5, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI (big spectator weekend)

August 25-26, Summit Point, Summit Point, WV (HyperFest)

October 13-14, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV

October 20-21, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

Nov 10-11, Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA (2 hour race)

If you interested please contact me a rpterson@gte.net The USTCC is a lot of fun because you are also competing against some very top teams with great cars.

 

Sounds exciting. I live in San Jose, Ca. and would love to attend to one of these races. I would be a beginner racer of course since I have never raced before.

However, would like to know what would be the recommended mods that you would need to be at least somewhat competative in these types of races?

currently I am in process of doing additional upgrades to my already modded car (mods listed in my sig) with a stage 2 head and larger cam, Nology ignition wires, M7 type intercooler (this particular IC is made in England and is said to add 15 bhp), NGK spark plugs/wires along with a M7 oil CC.

I have not upgraded any handeling parts and will most likely do so in the next few months.

 

As far as I know(have not checked the 07 rules yet) a head/cam and larger intercooler is out of the question. However, there were talks between the director, Rich P., and Vesko(another MINI) about the power difference seen during the races. The MINI does lag behind on the straights with the 06 rules. Hopefully they will allow some sort of power adjustment this season.

Rich, any word?

And you know I am in later this year!

-Brian

 

I'll have to check out the rules and see. What are the entry fees?

 

Entry Fees have been $750 - $1000.00 each event. But with Mini paying a finish bonus of $500 and the series apx $300, you'll be ahead on the entry fee's. Now you only have the small expenses, like tires, fuel, travel, lodging, repairs............ the list goes on.

 

I would be interested if Mini's had their own class. It would be nice to have a series like this where it was 100% Mini's and it came down to car setup/driver with a limited number of mods rather being out-gunned by certain cars on given tracks. So, what would the basic modification allowances be if the class was created for Mini's?

Craig Wilcox

 

Hey Miniguru, We met at CMP this summer… How is the Mini Challenge going? Is there good support for 07?

DJD

 

Looks like this is a NASA EVENT, at Mid-Ohio on July 14-15:

2007 NASA Track Day Schedule for OH/ INDY
Here it is ...Plan ahead .... See you at the track ...

 

The specs and rules for a basically spec MINI-only class or series were made up for both NASA and BMW Club Racing about 2 yrs ago. Unfortunately, they have quietly faded away due to lack of interest / no participation. The thinking is that the used MINIs and the parts are still just too expensive for a bunch of folks to convert to dedicated racers. I have an MCS that I'd love to race -- but there's no where to go that it would be competitive.

 

What do you mean not competative? I can think of several off hand that are doing well in non MINI series. Rich P. pulled out 5th overall in USTCC this past season, Steve D. has been doing VERY well in BMWCCA D-mod class down south, Pete T. won the SCCA runoffs this year, and now we have Randy and the Cruise America team attacking Grand-Am. I would say it is a very competative car, its just as you mentioned, a lot of people don't want to turn a new car into a racer.

You can always join us in NAMCC or USTCC. If you want some more info feel free to PM me.

-Brian

 

Things are coming together just trying to get ready for Vegas. Still looking for sponsers if anyone knows somebody.