Just released by Grand Am and subject to change.

This is the schedule on SPEED for the 7 races that will be televised. Please check the listings as the dates approach.

Randy


Daytona (2 hrs.) - Sat 1/31/09, 4:00 PM /ET
New Jersey(2 hrs.) - Sat 5/9/09, 12:00 PM /ET
Laguna Seca (2 hrs.) - Sat 5/23/09, 12:00 PM /ET
Watkins Glen (2 hrs.) - Sun 6/14/09, 3:00 PM /ET
Mid-Ohio (2 hrs.) - Sun 6/28/09, 12:30 PM /ET
Birmingham(2 hrs.) - Sat 7/25/09, 12:00 PM /ET
Salt Lake City(2 hrs.) - Sat 10/3/09, 1:30 PM /ET

 

Thanks for the heads up Randy.

 

All tape-delayed a week ...

... so we get to watch ourselves.

 

http://grand-am.com/koni/

Thats right!

March 14-15, 2009

Grand-Am is trying to promote the Koni Challenge Series by making the second race of the season at Homestead FREE to all spectators.

Here is the website to download your FREE ticket: http://grand-am.com/koni/news/index.cfm?cid=20735
Print as many as you want for friends and family.

Also, infield parking will be available for car club corals. The price for this is FREE! I just need a car count for each group.

SATURDAY is the best day. Although both days are filled with racing.

VENDORS: You can set up a tent and table with parts, a show car or anything else you can imagine. I only need to know the space requirements you will be needing. As further details arise I will pass them on. Oy yea its FREE for you too.

The track will have its concession stands open selling food, drinks and beer. However you can bring your own beer in a soft sided cooler. :beer:

Basically we need you to help spread the word. The more people the better. Homestead-Miami Speedway is looking for 5000 people. Hopefully this will encourage them to do this event next year with greater benefits to you.


Weekend Schedule:
http://grand-am.com/assets/2009HomesteadPrelimSched.pdf

Fan Interaction Activities Schedule
http://www.grand-am.com/assets/HMSFa...on(02011a).pdf

Some of the fan activities:

• Fan access to all garage and paddock areas

• Racing Series tech talks and garage tours

• Racing tire and shock absorber fan talks

• Pit stop demonstrations

• Starting grid fan walk - you can walk out on the track just before the race!

• Car club displays

• Exotic car displays

• Vendor display areas


For this race Koni Challenge will have its 2 classes split and each run their own race. Giving you 2 races to watch instead of 1. ST will race Saturday and GS on Sunday.
The Grand Sport (GS) class features large-displacement 6-cylinder or 8-cylinder rear-wheel drive sports cars.

The Street Tuner (ST) class is for smaller 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder compact sedans, coupes, or convertibles.

GS
e92 BMW M3
e46 BMW M3
Dodge Challenger
Ford Mustang GT
Porsche 997 GT3

ST
Acura TSX
Audi TT
BMW 3 series
BMW Z4
Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Honda Civic Si
Mazda MX-5
Mazda RX-8
Mini Cooper S
Subaru Legacy
Volkswagen GTI


The Mustang Challenge will also be racing at Homestead.


2009 Schedule
January 22-23 — Daytona
March 13-15 — Homestead (split classes)
May 1-2 — New Jersey
May 15-16 — Laguna Seca
May 22-25 — Lime Rock (split classes)
June 4-5 — Watkins Glen
June 19-21 — Mid-Ohio (split classes)
July 17-18 — Barber (split classes)
August 14-16 — Trois-Rivieres (split classes)
September 18-20 — Miller
October 2-4 — Virginia


NA Motoring
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

 

Pics from the 1st race at Daytona.

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/select.as...race&Y=2009&O=0

GS:


ST:
















one of the new e92 M3:

 

A number of owners have asked me if the CUSCO LSD fits in the R56. Well, I now have the answer. . . I just did it. Yes it does, with no modifications or other special work required. The same unit as the R53 is a straight up, bolt in installation.

I have also been asked if the R56 actually needs an LSD . . . the answer is a resounding YES. If your R56 has a 'factory LSD' it is NOT a limited Slip Diff. It is an electronic program housed in the car's computer system that uses the braking system and the ABS controller to actually BRAKE the wheel that loses traction. If you are racing, autocrossing or other spirited driving, braking the drive wheels is no way to go fast.

So . . . if you want to go fast and you want your car to handle properly, the best money you can spend is on an LSD and from my experience, the CUSCO is the best. The high torque numbers of the R56 Turbo make it even more important than the R53.

See the post before this one for the USA distributor the CUSCO unit. They can also direct you to a local dealer.

I know that Jan at Revolution stocks ands sells them. You can try him as well.

Randy

 

Congrats on the sponsorship, that is great news! I am very excited to watch the RSR Motorsports team in action during the 2009 season and beyond!

You wouldn't know if the Cusco fits in a 2009 JCW by chance would you? I searched for months and made calls all over the world trying to figure out if a 2009 JCW could take an R53 LSD such as the Cusco. I ended up abandoning the JCW SCCA Solo/Prosolo project for the 2009 season, but, would consider going back in the coming years if the JCW had a real LSD such as the Cusco that would fit an R56 JCW.

Anyway, good luck with the coming season!

 

Yes, the Cusco fits the JCW R56. It's the same unit as the R53.

Good Luck
Randy

 

To downlaod your free tickets: http://www.grand-am.com/konitickets/

SATURDAY
Be there by 9am if your late you will have to wait to be sent in.

for those who have never driven inside the speedway here is a simple map of how to get there and where the car corals will be.

- Take Turnpike South
- Get off on Exit 6 - Speedway Blvd. (SW 137th Ave.)
- Make a left at the light and go all the way down.
- Pass in front of the speedway, and make a left at the stop sign (Palm Dr. - SW 334th St.)
- Make a left towards the building behind the speedway.
- PARK on the grass in front of the credentials office. I will be there handing out the parking passes and organizing your entrance as a group into the paddock.





RED circle is the Credentials office. You will park on the grass across from thIS building to receive your parking pass.

BLUE circle is the security gate, if your late and try to get in without a parking pass, they will stop you.

YELLOW circle is where the car corals will be.


SUNDAY if you are not there by 9am, you will not be able to park your car inside. There will not be any leeway like Saturday.

 

How often do these need to be serviced (if at all)?

 

So far, no service has been needed. That being said, it is a plated diff and at some point the plates wil need to be replaced. However, even in a full race car with hundreds of hours are hard use, the wear has been negligible.

Randy

 

It's Tuesday afternoon and the Transporter is in Jacksonville. It will be at the track tomorrow.

I hope you have made plans to attend! Grand Am is really putting on a show for their fan appreciation event.

Get your free tickets at . . . http://www.grand-am.com/koni/

Randy

 

http://www.grand-am.com/koni/news/index.cfm?cid=21057

 

Are you allowed in car cameras, would be nice to see some inside footage of the cars.

 

Yes we have in car cameras. I'll get some posted.

------------

The transporter arrived safe and sound. We go on track on Thursday for practice at 1:00. Two of three cars have fresh engines that will need to be broken in. We expect to get them up to speed on Friday.

Randy

 

Good luck !

Hope to see you guys at Laguna Seca in May if your gonna' be there.

 

Have fun and best of luck! - back on the podium!

 

Jan just called from the race one of the cars moved up to #5.
Keep going guys.

 

Congrats to RSR on their 7, 12 and 13th place finish. A huge improvement over last years 3 dnf's. Great job Randy, drivers and crew. I think better things are on the way at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Great job guys.

 

Good solid run guy's, congrats!!

 

Great job RSR on bringing all cars home safely and quickly.

Best part for me was when Owen got in and started reeling off low 1:34s. At that time he was one of the fastest 2 or 3 cars on the track.

 

That's some fabulous results! - Congratulations to all in Team RSR!

 

7th #198 Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood
12Th #197 Randy Smalley and Owen Trinkler
17th #196 Jade Buford and Sara Cattaneo

All in all, a good result for the team. Once again, the Mini's boxy aerodynamics played a role in the results. Miami is a smaller version of Daytona where top speed on the long banking and straights are critical to success. In spite of this handicap, we were able to lap within a second of the leaders.

At different points, all the cars were running in the top ten and as high as #4. After all the driver changes were done the 198 was running 5th and the 197 was running 9th. Unfortunately, both cars did not have enough fuel to complete the race without a quick 'splash'. We were hoping for a lengthly caution which never came. They both came to the pit for a few gallons near the end resulting in the finish shown above. The 196 was on a different pit cycle that called for an earlier stop. In all three cases the cars needed to stop twice for fuel.

The 'boosted' cars (turbo or supercharged) have a big disadvantage with fuel economy. The Subaru's and the RX8's were both given an extra gallon and after Daytona (18.5 max). We have petitioned Grand Am for the same, (currently 17 max). This would have made a difference.

Anyway, we are happy. All the cars ran great. All the driver's drove great stints and no damage. All the cars were 'in the money'.

Thanks to all the Mini owners who came. We had a large and loyal following in the stands. We appreciate it.

New Jersey is next . . .

Randy

 

Congrats RSR. you put on a great show with all three cars being competitive and finishing well. it was a great race to watch with good battles throughout the field and close, but clean racing. running 3/4 of the oval is not something that a MINI will ever do well, but you ran well. i'm sure that a podium finish isn't far off. continued good wishes to the entire team.

greg

 

Greg . . . nice to see you again !