I'll have to get the megaphone so you can hear me!

Hope you have a great weekend at Lime Rock!

And thanks much for keeping the MINI spirit alive in top level sports car racing.

 

This picture was downloaded from the Iowa web site . . .

 

We will be at Mosport with one car. The second car will debut at Mid-Ohio.

I am pleased to announce that I will have a Canadian as my co-driver at Mosport . . . Alain Lauziere . . .
aka "J Propane".

Alain is a well known racer on this board and his experience at Mosport will be invaluable. In fact, Alain is at Mosport this weekend for the 1st round of the Canadian championship series.

I'm looking forward to having him show me the fast way around the track.

Spread the word among the Canadian Mini owners. We would like a big turnout and large cheering section.

Also, Cruise Canada, the sister company of Cruise America will be the primary sponsor for Mosport.

Rent a motorhome for the event and stay at the track!

Randy

 

Congrats to both of you! I know that Alain will prove to be one of the better drivers to take your car around a track.

Good stuff Randy and Alain.

 

We are really excited about this opportunity to drive in Koni and hopefully can bring a bit of local knowledge to the team.

It should be an exciting week-end. Randy may disagree but I hope it rains.

Alain L.

 

This looks like a great pairing!

Here's to a trouble free, fast weekend.

 

Yikes! the four letter word rain !

Alain, it doesn't rain in Arizona . . very little rain experience in my log book. If it rains, you may have to drive for 2 hours and 20 minutes!!

Just kidding, of course, but none the less, I'm not a fan of racing in the rain. But, we will take it however it comes.

Randy

 

Randy,

There's another four letter word that could be more fun (snow), but I guess you don't see too much of that either in Arizona....

Mosport in the rain is very different. You just need to know where to go....

I watched the World Challenge race last year (where the Volvo lapped the field) and was amazed by how few drivers drove the proper line for such a professional series. They weren't even looking for grip.

 

Snow = cold rain . . . I don't think I like that either!

We will need 'Professor' Propane to hold some rain driving classes ! !
. . . while you're doing that, I'll be in the transporter do a 'drought dance'.

Randy

 

Randy - see you at Lime Rock Friday morning!
Dinner on me if you come down to Norwalk Friday evening!

 

Thanks for the offer Peter . . . can't make it.
I have to take care of the team members on Friday. . . . I appreciate the offer. Will we see you on Friday at the track?

Randy

 

I'll see you at the RSR rig hopefully before 9 am.

 

Randy don't forget .......

Tradition dictates that I will take care of the crew dinner !!

 

Good luck this week-end guys

Haven't been able to follow too much lately,for some reason my home computer won't leave me access to NAM anymore....

 

Sorry for no updates . . . there is no computer access at the track . . . no wireless and my broadband card is not working either.

Practice went well. The car is doing well. Our times on the GA site do not reflect reality. Mark and I are being very conservative . . . learning the track and trying to stay out of 'harms way'.

In spite of that, Mark was knocked off track in the 1st session . . . damage to the right side was substantial. We've fixed it and we made the afternoon session. Mark drove the entire 45 minutes last session. I will drive Sat morning.

Will check in tomorrow night after the race.

Randy

 

The update is encouraging Randy, thanks!

Sorry to hear that other drivers were over aggressive in the early practices.

I look forward to seeing you guys further up the charts tomorrow.

 

Randy, thanks for making the time to update us...

Best to you guys qualifying tomorrow!

 

Qualifying for ST has just started.

Go RSR!!!!!!

 

Looks like 26th... A 1:03.68 best lap (8). 86.5mph was the top speed, compared to about 90.5 for the leader...

 

This was weird, a 17 minute Q session for 28 cars? Sounds chaotic to me.

According to Grand-Am Live TIming, #197 completed 8 laps with a best of 1:03:680 for 26th position. That time was slightly slower than their (so far) beat of 1:03.630 at session P3.

Hope you guys have a fast, clean race.

 

So I'm only 10 seconds off the pace in my Cooper. :D

 

18th and on the lead lap (54).

1:20:00 to go

 

Lap 70ish, something happened (pitstop gone awry?) and they lost a bunch of laps.

Now in 23rd, 6 laps down. Still running though.

 

Audio
http://www.grand-am.com/CONTENT/Audio/English.asx

 

Thanks Greg! Drat, heading to the airport though... I'll check-in later. Best of luck guys!