One week before the Koni Challenge race, Miller will host the NASA National Championships. I will be racing my Factory R56 Challenge car. I think this will the first race for a factory Challenge car in the USA.
Three different classes, PTC, USTCC and GTS3.

Pictures disappeared??? See below.

 

Good luck. It will be interesting to see what the 56 can do in action.

 

Good practice for the pro racing.........good luck - get some pics!

 

Which tire are you running Randy?

 

Tires:

PTC and GTS3 = Hoosier R6 - 225/40/ZR17
USTCC = Nitto NT01 - 205/40/ZR17 Nittos are series sponsor

The Hoosiers work really well.
It will remain to be seen about the Nittos . . .they are a little on the small side.

 

They should be Nitto NT01 225/45/17, we all run the same size.
Do you have any used hoosier R6's you want to git rid of?
vince

Vince:

The 225's won't fit without fender modification. The 205's are an approved tire. If I decided to run the series, I would make those mods.

No used R6's at thie time . . . talk to me after the weekend!

Randy

 

This would almost be worth the drive over, any chance you might bring the Challenge MINI up to HPR outside Denver for a Nasa Race?

Just say yes.

Don

 

Good luck!! Sounds like there are going to be some strong Minis showing up for this, be great to see how the Challenge car stacks up!!!

 

 

Owen Trinkler piloted the RSR Motorsports, R56 Mini Challenge racer to a third place finish at the NASA National Championships today in Salt Lake City. Starting from the 3rd position in the US Touring Car Championship finals, Owen held his starting position putting a Mini on the podium for the 1st time this season.

Owen won the Thursday qualifying race and placed 2nd in the Friday event. Owen was able to challenge for the lead early but eventually, was outclassed by two much more powerful cars. Regardless, it was a very successful event with 3 Mini's in the top six. Congrats to Rich Peterson and 'Minispeeder' who raced their R53's in the event also.

The racing continues on Sunday where Randy Smalley will contest the GTS3 class (German Touring Car Series) and PTB class (Performance Touring). Rick Jonson and Sara Cattaneo will contest PTC And Minispeeder will return in GTS3.

We are hoping for more podiums tomorrow.

 

congrats on the podium. it sounds as if all of the MINI's competed well. i will you all well in the remaider of the weekend.

 

Randy Smalley scores 2nd place in National Championship race In Performance Touring B Class (PTB)

Rick Johnson scores 3rd place in Performance Touring C Class (PTC)

More info to follow.....

 

WOOOOT! Congatulations on some fantastic results!!

 

congratulations to all who participated. the time and money required were not insignificant. the MINI marque was well represented, and noticed, i'm sure. well done.

greg

 

Transporter arrives in SLC today...

The race starts at 6:00pm MDT this Friday 9/18.

Half the race will be run in the dark.

The race will be televised on Speed at 1:30 Eastern on Saturday 10/3

Randy

 

Did Frank pack the headlights?

... due to arrive @ 11:50 AM tomorrow ...

 

Rats! The same time that we will be practicing/qualifying at VIR.

Do you have a DVR in the transporter lounge?

 

Head Lights are installed and ready to go . . .

 

Need to get one!!

 

Bet they have it on down at the food place in the paddock, if not just ask!!!


PS: I know, I know the term food was used loosely....

 

Lets Go guys, Bring home a "W"!

 

Amen to that!

 

Looks like a fairly good start to the day, with Randy in P3 after the first practice session, with a time of 3:17.410 in the 197 (guess that seat time helps from last weekend!), then Jade and Owen P12 in the 196 with a time of 3:19.768, and something up with the 198, because Adam and Trevor had a time of only 3:37.118.

GO, GO, GOOOOOOOO ! ! ! >>>>>>>>>>>> Make sure to post those in-car videos of the race on youtube!

 

Practice2 had too much yellow flag time. looks like 197 didn't get out at all. ???? Looks like Jade & Trevor were in the 196 car - P5, and Joe in the 198 - P15 ------ What's going on? GrandAm needs a live video feed. These lap charts on the live timing don't show if a car is out or in the box, or what.
Technology is not ideal.

Good luck in Quali, next!

 

Looks like 2 cars in the race - Jade and Trevor starting in P4, Adam and Owen in P16...? ....car 197 MIA...Another bump and run? make a note - bigger bumpers for VIR... an hour and 15 min before the race start. Time to change brakes.
Good job, Jade!

sheech! I hate not being able to see what's happening!