I am pleased to announce that a new sponsor has signed on with RSR motorports.

CUSCO LSD's (limited slip differential). Cuscos are distributed by Nukabe Automotive USA.

www.napsusa.com / 888-591-6277 Brad

Contact your local Mini Performance parts supplier and ask for Cusco by name. If they don't carry them tell them to contact Brad at the number above to sign on as a dealer. If all else fails, contact Brad direct and he will give you assistance.

Cusco makes a plated differential that is ideal for road racing and for Autocross / Solo I or II. The Cusco can be set up for your particular needs with various locks ups. Our experience has shown that you will drive out of the corners harder, quicker and with more control than you ever thought possible.

You will think you have an open diff . . . that is how well your Mini will turn!!

If you have any questions . . . Randy@rsrmotorsports.com . . . I will be happy to assist and answer any questions you have. Of all the things I have done to my race cars, the Cusco diff is the single best bang for the buck improvement we have done.

The CUSCO Diff is the unfair advantage. Your friends will think you spent last weekend at a performance driving school.

Lastly . . . we just opened up the transmission of the #196 Mini after six 2.5 hour endurance races with the Cusco and there was NO VISIBLE wear. That's 15 hours of racing and a similar amount of testing. The #196 RSR Mini holds 3 lap records (Lime Rock, Mosport, Mid Ohio).

I recommend this product BECAUSE it works. No BS, no Hype . . . I value my reputation more than money and would not endorse a product that did not work.

Randy

 

Randy -

This is fantastic news! I can only support what Randy says since I took his advice and put this differential in my MINI Cooper S race car and it has made a world of difference.

The MINI used to have problems with wheel spin out of tight corners or carousels. I didn't have a LSD to begin with since I have a 2003 MINI Cooper S, but I did put in another company's LSD and still had some issues. Randy recommended the CUSCO product which we promptly purchased and installed and what a difference it made. I have easily gained 1 second per lap on 1.5 mile road course due to this change alone. It allows you to apply the throttle early and drive the MINI off the corners. Trust me, the Porsches were not amused!!

This is a fantastic product that is proven. I have about 8 hours on mine, including a 2 hour Enduro and have not had any issues. It truly is a fantastic product and I am personally reaping the benefits on Randy's time and effort in R&D for performance improvements for the MINI.

Thanks and glad to see them has a sponsor for the team!

Ricky Johnson

 

This past weekend we raced at Virginia International Raceway for the 6 hour Koni Challenge, Bosch endurance race.

VIR is a VERY slippery track. This was the 1st time we have been to VIR with the Cusco Differential. It was an amazing improvement.

VIR is a fast track with sweeping, accelerating turns where the Cusco really shines. Power on understeer is virtually eliminated. We improved our lap times by plus 5 seconds year over year.

If you are serious about how your car handles and accelerates out of the corners . . . There is no other choice than the Cusco LSD.

Drop me a message on this thread or send a PM if you have questions or if I can help in any way.

Thanks
Randy

 

RMW is now carrying this product.

Did you use the Minspeed tensioner stop at VIR?

 

No we didn't. We fitted it up and liked what we saw but were concerned that it might not work on the racer as well as a street car. We are working on a design that eliminates the spring altogether.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

 

Trevor and Adam will be driving the #198 Cruise America / Fischer Ski Supercharged Mini Cooper S.

Owen Trinkler returns in the #196. His co-driver will be announced soon. Owen scored two pole positions in 2008 at Mid Ohio and Miller Motorsports Park. He consistently ran at the front of the field all season long leading over 75 laps in various events.

The 196 and 198 will make a powerful 1-2 punch in 2009.

The familiar red Mini's of RSR begin testing at Daytona on January 3rd. The 1st race will be the 'Fresh from Florida' event held in conjunction with the 24 hours of Daytona weekend. The race will be televised on Speed at a later date.

Randy


http://www.grand-am.com/koni/news/index.cfm?cid=20055

INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 25, 2008) - Adam Burrows of Canton, Conn. and Trevor Hopwood of Durham, N.H., the 2007 Grand-Am KONI Challenge Champions, have been signed to drive a Mini Cooper S for RSR Motorsports for the 2009 KONI Challenge season, which will open with the KONI Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Jan. 23.

Based in Mesa, Arizona, RSR Motorsports campaigns three Mini Cooper S entries in the ST Class of KONI competition.

The ride with RSR Motorsports marks another new opportunity for Burrows and Hopwood, who have impressed since moving into the KONI Challenge ranks. Despite their rookie status in 2007, Burrows and Hopwood took a record number of podium finishes racing a BMW 330i on the way to a remarkable Championship.

The duo's stock rose further during the 2008 KONI Challenge season as their quick adaptation to front wheel drive machinery saw Burrows and Hopwood score two wins while generating a points total good for second in the drivers championship. The move to the Mini represents a new challenge for the two, who first forged their fast friendship in the Spec Racer ranks.

"We've been keeping an eye on Trevor and Adam for the past few years, and we're really excited to be bringing them into this program," said RSR Motorsports Team Owner Randy Smalley. "This is our third season in KONI Challenge and our team keeps getting better and better, so we feel like having two experienced champions like Trevor and Adam involved is only going to help as we keep raising the bar with this Mini."

The move to RSR Motorsports marks a new change of scenery for Burrows and Hopwood, who have been co-drivers since moving into KONI Challenge full time in 2007 with Turner Motorsports before being signed by Compass 360Racing for their multiple-race winning 2008 season.

"I can't thank Randy Smalley enough for creating this opportunity," said Burrows, who qualified on the front row at Mid-Ohio to start alongside an RSR Motorsports Mini. "I'm glad to be able to race with Trevor again as well as getting the chance to learn the ins and outs of a new team. It's also cool to be racing back in the BMW family of brands, and we are certainly hoping to bring Mini some new successes."

"I've known Randy (Smalley) ever since I made my first KONI Challenge start in a Mini at Lime Rock Park and I am really excited about the opportunity that RSR Motorsports has created for Adam and I," said Hopwood. "The Mini is a blast to drive, and there is a lot of potential for this program, so hopefully we can deliver the first KONI Challenge win for a Mini this year."

Fischer Skis was an integral element of the sponsorship program for Burrows and Hopwood in 2008, and the "Best Alpine Ski Brand" will continue to be involved in 2009, with an announcement of the full sponsorship program expected in the coming weeks.

PR inquiries about Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood should be directed to Matt Cleary at Sunday Group Management; 317.908.2975 (mobile) or media@sundaymanagement.com.

For additional information:
Randy@rsrmotorsports.com
www.trevorhopwood.com
www.sundaymanagement.com

 

Congrats Randy!!!!!

Looks like the team is on its way!

 

YIKES!!!

 

Great news and congrats!

 

 

Congrats! ...but sadly, I don't see the Iowa Speedway on the 2009 Grand Am Koni Challenge schedule. Looks like we'll miss you again.

 

congrats on the new drivers and new sponsorship. i hope to see you at daytona.

 

Congrats! We can't wait to see all of you again at Mid-Ohio

 

Iowa was removed from the 2009 schedule . . . too bad. I really liked Iowa, the people, the hospitality, etc. But, I wasn't too fond of the track.

There were quite a few teams who boycotted Iowa this past year because they ran a combined race (GS and ST together) on the 1.1 mile infield track. The promoter limited the field to 50 cars, so half the teams decided not to go. The end result was only 40 cars showed up. In the end, no one was happy!

I think this is why the Iowa race was dropped.

Maybe next year...
Randy

 

Did I read that right, there was supposed to be 50 cars racing on a 1.1 mile track?

 

Yes . . . That's why many of the teams did not go. AND it was a combined GS - ST race

 

Ridiculous... Might as well go wreck your stuff before you even take it...

 

Nice to see the RSR team making improvements!

 

RSR is in Daytona for the annual test. We have the 196 and the 198 in the garage ready for tech and the 1st track session tomorrow morning.

Owen trinkler
Jade Buford
Trevor Hopwood
Adam Burrows
Joe Toussaint
Randy Smalley

This is the driver lineup. We are trying out a few new setups. I will report in later.

Happy New Year !

Randy

 

Nice Randy, thanks for keeping us updated. Good luck and enjoy tomorrow.

ps... send some sunshine up to Vermont.

 

hey randy: hope testing goes well for you. i had hoped to make it up there but couldn't. see you there in a couple of weeks.

 

Good luck guys!

See you on the 21st!

Steve D.

 

The test went very well. We reduced our best Daytona lap times by over a second. (2:13). As always, the aero of the Mini is a negative at Daytona, but overall, we were very pleased.

We came with a long list of things to check, test and develop. We accomplished them all. The new drivers all settled in, learned the cars and everyone was up to speed.

The cars are heading back to the shop to get ready. The race is January 23.

Randy

 

Great to hear you found a second. Good luck with the race!!