As seen as the Phil Wicks event at Spring Mountain . . . Car turned a 1.52 . . . 9 seconds faster than the next best car. Gotta love those air jacks!

 

AWESOME!!!

 

The Factory Mini Challenge Race car will be racing at the NASA event at Firebird (main track) this Saturday.

The race is a one day event with both a day and night race.

If you are in Arizona, stop by for a look

 

Def. wish i could swing by.

 

Looks like there will be a lot going on out at Firebird, Saturday. May have to show up since it's been awhile...

 

St John's Grand Prix a few years ago. This car is now the #198

 

Thanks Randall, that one was shot at Firebird Feb. 2006. The race where Mark had his big one.

 

You are right! I was fooled by the window banner!

Great shot of that infamous accident. Thanks for posting it. It doesn't show in the picture but the tire smoke was so thick, I couldn't see Mark at this point, I was heading to the right and at the last second swerved hard left and barely avoided a bundle of tires. I had this whole incident filmed on my in car cam. . . scary !

Randy

 

Any West Coast dates scheduled?

 

Randy -

Great race last night! You can tell that the MINI Challenge car is a fantastic platform for racing a MINI, and with your dedication and experience - it will be a great race car!

I look forward to racing with you and against you again - it was great fun going nose to tail with you and beating up on the Porsches and BMWs!! LOL!

Once you got around me, I couldn't find a way around - and I certainly wasn't going to force the issue with such a gorgeous car! I am sure we gave the fans a great show!

See ya at the next race!

Happy Easter!

Ricky "Boo-Boo" Johnson

 

That was great fun . . . except for not being able to see a thing after the midway point !! I need to find an anti fogging setup for my glasses that actually works. I wish I had my Stand helmet. When you attach the vent hose . . . NO fogging.

Also, I need to send Dave a gift for brake checking you at the tower turn. I'm not sure I would have ever passed you otherwise. For those who were not there . . . Dave was driving a race prepped 997 . . . we spanked him!

Anyway, I was very impressed with the Challenge car. It is a great platform and will be even more formidable with additional 'tweaking'.

'till next time.

Randy

(Background: The race was a NASA event that included both a day and night race. The day race was rained out as the sky opened up as soon as the green flag dropped. No one had rain tires so there were cars off track everywhere. They red flagged the race at 3 laps for safety. The second race was run at 10:30pm. The air was cool with high humidity so everyone was having problems with windshields, glasses, face shields, etc. Add in a moonless night, very bad track lighting and high speed . . . need I say more?))

 

Ah, but it was great fun! LOL - nothing like racing at high speeds with one hand on the wheel and one hand on the inside of your visor trying to wipe the fog away just inches from other cars - coupled with not enough lighting so you can't see you braking and turn in points until ...well....>>>>THERE THEY GO>>>>>> as you go right by them and realize you went a lot deeper into the corner! LOL!

Great fun though and always a pleasure racing with you!

Ricky

 

One last comment . . .

This race was particularly fun because it pitted two RSR team drivers against each other in a 'no holds barred, ultimate fighting, cage match' . . .

Many will remember that Rick (Scorpio) Johnson is a familiar face behind the wheel of a RSR Grand Am Mini Cooper. Rick is currently racing his own Mini in the AZ NASA Series with his sights set on the NASA Class Championship at Miller next October.

We are cheering Rick on to put that Class Championship in the Mini Cooper Throphy Case.

Rick's Podium last night qualified him for the October race.

Randy

 

So Randy ... did you beat Rick????

 

Yes . . . but he made me earn it.

 

Here is the video of this accident from Youtube . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F-p2p4YuoY

 

This is a short Video of the start of the Night race at Firebird.

The machine shut off for some inexplicable reason. The camera is new and has a 'G-force' sensor to trip the recording. I guess I don't have the settings correct.

The Mini Cooper just in front is Rick 'Scorpio' Johnson. We both pass the blue BMW and the white 997 Porsche. Eventually, I also get around Rick and we finish . . .

Randy 1st
Rick 2nd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtmpT4QtRiA

(Sorry, for the long parade lap segment but at least you get to see the track . . . Also, the G-meter is set up incorrectly . . . the left side is the lateral G forces and the top is accelerate and decelerate. Time to read the directions.)

 

nice vids, randy. the crash video gives some insight into how fast things happen on the track. left/right? oh, sh*t! loved the g-meter on the firebird vid. who cares if it wasn't hooked up correctly? no self-respecting male would ever read the instructions w/out trying to figure it out first. i still have a camera that i don't know how to operate.
greg

 

Great video Randy! Kewl perspective at night, adds a bit of the old "entertainment bling factor". PM sent.

 

It never seems to amaze me how solid the MINI is. The Orange car looks like in a much worse shape than the MINI ....

 

The Orange car was a 5.0L Mustang. It was hit in the front door post. I think it ended up being totaled.

The Mini lived to race another day.

Randy

 

Here is another Video from an earlier practice session. I'm experimenting with the camera and the software.

There are some interesting segments with a 'Radical', an out of control BMW and a Corvette all showing speed vs handling. . . enjoy !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JFwPLJhzd0

Randy

 

Here is a night shot of the recent NASA event.