Bummer, no Phoenix again! I liked like to see you on your home track that you know so well.

 

Looking forward to the Iowa stop. On my birthday at that

 

Bummer, nothing on the west coast.

Oh well, here's a virtual cheer for 08 !

 

Starting a new thread for the "Fresh from Florida" Koni Challenge on January 25th.

http://www.grand-am.com/Events/Event.asp?ID=222

This race will be televised but we don't know when. If you are coming to the race (please do!), we will be in the Blue garages. They are on the western side of the paddock. The paddocks are open to the fans so you can get 'up close and personal'.

Mark Congleton and Rick Johnson will drive the 197.
Randy Smalley and Owen Trinkler will drive the 198.

There are 94 entries so it will be a good show.

Randy

 

Hey Randy, did you happen to see who is listed as the driver of the #59 Mustang

non other they Jack Roush himself!

damn there are a bunch of more cars in this years race

 

Good luck with the race, unfortunately we won't be hitting Daytona until Sunday morning.

...bad planning, I know.

 

It's Jack son . . .at least that is what I've been told.

 

yeah, I figured, but it looked cool on the registration

 

Randy, seriously, it would be great if you got a group picture of all your drivers and crew. It would be real nice to see the real people behind the names.

 

..... also some pictures of the paddock area and your setup. Racing pics are fine, but lets see all the good stuff behind the scene.

 

Consider it done . . . in the meantime there are some behind the scenes shots at this photo site . . .

http://profile.imageshack.us/user/rsstopper

 

This is a picture of the new graphic that will be installed on Cruise America's 2008 C-30 Rental vehicle. With over 4,000 rental vehicles in the Cruise America fleet, expect to see your favorite Mini Cooper race car often . . .

OK, MY favorite Mini Cooper race car, but then, I'm not objective . . . .

1-800-RV4-Rent or www.cruiseamerica.com for reservations.

 

Cools shots, thanks for sharing!

 

Hey Randy, put my car on one and then let me borrow it for the '08 season!
Call it even.

 

Do these things have a hitch?

 

I think this is directed to me???

Yes, they all have trailer hitches w/ universal electrical connectors.

Randy

 

Hey I need to get one of those to stay in at the Koni Challenge at VIR!

 

I guess since it was a joke. Never would have thought they did!

May be we should get serious. What's the towing capacity ?

 

The "piles" are coming together in preparation for next week's trip south to help out @ the track.

[could use a new RSR hat though ]

Will be loading the Cooper on the AutoTrain in Virginia this Saturday. (Visiting the son in Orlando/Winter Park prior to heading over to Daytona on Wed.) Staying around for the 24 Hour and then MINI motoring home on Sunday PM/Monday.

Looking forward to seeing "the crew" again!

 

Will try my best to be there to cheer you guys on! Sure wish I was running instead of spectating lol, but hey - I'll take what I can get!

 

The transporter is loaded and ready to go. Frank departs at 7:00am Monday.

Both cars are 'race ready' having spent the weekend getting their final prep. The 197 has a fresh engine so it will spend it's 1st session logging some break-in miles.

Both cars are setup with the suspension adjustments we worked out at the test days earlier in the month.

Everyone arrives on Wednesday with practice on Thursday.

Here is a little 'tidbit' to whet your appetites for the race. This is an in-car video at the recent Daytona test with Rick behind the wheel of the 197.

This video is from our 'DA-Vid' system which interfaces with the AIM dash data.

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0K8zyt7gFY

(The noise is the the in-car buffeting sound caused by the required open windows. Lower the sound and it will be less annoying!)

 

Thanks for posting this!

I love the in-car setup that you have!

Wish us luck this week and this season!

Ricky

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 21, 2008) – Motorsports fans will be able to see some of the hottest production-based racing on television this season as a total of six events on the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series schedule will be televised on SPEED in 2008.
Beginning with this Friday’s Fresh From Florida 200 at Daytona International Speedway four Grand Sport (GS) and Street Turner (ST) combined races and one feature race for each class will be televised in two-hour episodes within one week of the race date, often during prime time on the motorsports network.

The 2008 season-opener will air Saturday, February 2 at 8 p.m. ET. Other races on the air in 2008 are the Memorial Day contest at Lime Rock Park (airing May 31 at 8 p.m. ET), followed by the ST feature at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (June 28, 1 p.m. ET), the GS feature at Barber Motorsports Park (July 26, 5 p.m. ET), and combined races at New Jersey Motorsports Park (September 7, noon ET) and Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City (September 27, 8 p.m. ET).

The Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series is Grand-Am's showcase for the latest in international and American-made high performance sports cars, coupes and sedans straight from the dealer showroom floor. With major modifications permitted only in the area of safety, the KONI Challenge Series is home to the same cars seen on streets and highways around the world every day. Nearly 100 cars are expected to take the green flag in the Fresh From Florida 200 at Daytona International Speedway.

The Grand American Road Racing Association, which operates and sanctions the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 and the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series, is the premier road racing organization in North America. The 15-race 2008 Rolex Series and the 11-race KONI Challenge Series calendars deliver professional sports car racing to key markets throughout North America in addition to being televised in the United States and Canada on SPEED and distributed globally through ESPN International. Learn more about Grand-Am at www.grand-am.com

 

Sweet video!!!! Hope to see you Friday!

 

I will see you @ the track on Wednesday.

Randy:

Unloading some time after 11 AM??

Steve