Just got pointed to this thread. Good luck guys! The car looks great. I've lived here near Daytona since 1963 and have never attended a race but I;ll be with the Sunshine MINIs at this one. I don't suppose a Cooper would be competitive
Ben

 

I repeat myself just in case viewing of you previous thread is abandoned.. Good luck RSR See you in the pits Friday.

 

We are here . . . garage #2 in the western garage area . . . I think it would be considered the 'Busch Garages' We are right next to the Hoosier Tire shop and the Sunoco pumps.

Very hectic today. We got in around 2:00 and they allowed us to unload at 3:00. We setup the garage and started final prep on the car. We have an appointment at 10:00am tomorrow for tech inspection. This will be the 1st look at the car by Grand Am so . . .

The car looks great. We have had lots of compliments on both the graphics and the 'build'.

1st Practice at around 11. I'll post some pics tomorrow when I get the time.

We have lots of stuff to do . . . a list of 40+ things to do before practice.

Blood pressure rising !

Until tomorrow. Randy

 

Randy & Mark,
I can't wait to see the times on Thursday. No pressure mind you.........
Make sure it is nice and tested before I drive it at Homestead.

Good luck
Ali

 

Randy, thanks for the update. I love that you are including us to the degree that you are. Keep it up, so long as it's feasible for ya...

Have a great time, and remember the video!

 

wishing you all the best this season! hope i can see the live action!

be well.

 

Woke up to pouring rain . . . supposed to pass by 10:00am. It's also COLD . . .

Must be the Rolex weekend . . .always seem to be the coldest weekend of the year.

Later......................

 

Good luck guys! Very exciting stuff for sure!!!

 

I didn't see times for you guys in P1 - hope you get on track for P2 this afternoon - I will be watching the live timing and cheering you on!

For others to watch : http://www.grand-am.com/Events/Event.asp?ID=191

Go there and click on Live Timing and Scoring. Sit back and Enjoy. Make race car motoring sounds if it turns you on.

 

Actually, I think they are listed, take another peak on line #77. :-)

 

Good Luck again guys. Hope all goes well when you sort out the car. Remember to get Your stuff done, ralax and if you have time update us.

Keep all 4 down.

GP0088

 

Best of luck guys!!!

 

I just left the track on my lunch break (it's good to work a mile away! )... I parked just as I saw the Mini scooting off the road couse back towards NASCAR turn 1. I positioned myself to get some pictures to post here... BUT... it turned out to be the last lap before they took a lunch break! I snapped a couple test shots waiting for the Mini to come around, but you didn't come here to see those... I'll have pics tomorrow night.

 

I can actually hear the cars in my office! It's a straight shot of about 1 mile to hit the tunnel entrance from here... it's kills me to hear the cars all the time! But today I got my tickets!

 

They are there.
77 197 ST Mark Congleton RSR Motorsports Mini Cooper S 2:26.933 87.223

I'll be watching the rest of the way. Good luck & happy hunting.

 

Good Luck!!!!! Will you guys be at VIR in October?

 

It's 2:30 . . . heading out for a dry practice. Car is working well. We cut a tire in the 1st session . . . $225 in the garbage . . . oh well.

Still sorting the car but it is better tahn we expected at this time. Track is VERY crowded . . .

Later

 

Awesome to see someone keep MINIs on the track! Hope to see you at Mid-Ohio.

 

P-2 was dry. 1st chance to actually push the car.

2:20 was best time and off the pace. We are as fast as anyone in the infield but are getting our A** handed to us on the banks. We are doing +130 mph and being passed at will by other ST drivers. I'm afraid the aerodynamics of 'the flying brick' are killing us.

NO ONE is disappointed . . . the car is running great . . . handling is good and getting better. The Aero situation is hurting us and there is not much we can do about it .

Back to work . . . Qualifying at 5:00

Randy

 

is this when the GP's smooth underbody and other aero trickery start to help?

 

We dropped two seconds during Q. Starting to figure out the track. Plus there were no GS cars for Q. A 2:18 puts us 35th on the grid. We are obviously disappointed in the times. We are NOT disappointed in the car. A Mini has such a disadvantage on this track it's almost unfair. The track is a power and aerodynamics track . . . neither of which are Mini's strong points.

We can turn inside every car on the track but the infield is a small part of this facility.

We also lost power on the last lap of Q. I thought we pitched a Supercharger belt. Not so . . . there seems to be an issue with #4. The tip of the plug came off. We hope it is simple . . . we have a spare motor if it is serious. We are investigating now.

Ain't racing a *****!

Randy

 

#197 in the Paddock . . . on the way to the grid.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...3&d=1169769760

 

Congrats on your first day. Hope everything with the motor works out. Thanks for the great updates. Good luck tomorrow.

 

Hang in there, I can’t speak for everyone but a lot of folks are rooting for you guys. Good luck and godspeed !

Cheers!

 

Good luck today guys! Hopefully we'll see some good footage when speed eventually airs it!!!