[LePew]

I've decided to try One Lap of America this year with my Cooper S. Eight days, seven race tracks and 3900 miles of transit driving in between. The biggest obstacle I have at the moment is finding a suitable co-driver. Are any of you interested?

At a minimum, you must be willing to:
(1) keep Thursday, May 4 to Sunday May 14, 2006 free from work, family and other committments.
(2) actually enjoy driving a MINI at speed and over long distances
(3) co-drive nightly time trial / transit legs between tracks
(4) participate in at least some of the drag racing or skid pad competitions
(5) pay your share for lodging and food

Not required but helpful:
(1) high performance driving school experience (at least two BMWCCA-like HPDE events are required before you can drive on the track, but track-driving experience is not a requirement for co-drivers)
(2) entrance fee share (if you want to drive one or more of the on-track events, I'll expect you to help cover some of the entry fee, but if you're just helping with the transit stages and drag races, etc. no entry fees are needed from you)
(3) money for tires, wheels, parts, fuel, other consumables (I'll probably cover most if not all of that, especially if you're not driving on the track).

More information on the schedule and format of the competition is here:
http://www.onelapofamerica.com/histo...e.shtml?y=2006

I'd much prefer a co-driver that is a fellow MINI enthusiast. If you're interested, please send me a PM with your qualifications or any questions.

Thanks,
David

[LePew]

P.S. I also should have mentioned that the One Lap run would be structured as a benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

[GBMINI]

Wow David - that sounds amazing!
My very best wishes to you on this endeavour. I'd love to drive around USA one day, but not that frantically, and definitely can't do it this year ...

[NHRef]

Go for it, Dave!

The map's not working at the Tire Rack site but I still recognized a couple of the venues . . . You'll do anything to go back to VIR!

Maybe we can get together with the Blues Brothers, put on the sunglasses and see you compete at Autobahn in Joliet!

[chs4]

That sounds like a great time!

I'm glad to see that once again this year the One Lap folks are helping out JDRF. My son (8yrs. old) was diagnosed with diabetes two years ago, and was recently asked to become a Youth Ambassador for the New England Chapter/Bay State Branch of JDRF.

Unfortunately I can't help out with the driving but I'd be happy to assist in any pre-race considerations. (awareness, fundraising, etc.)

[ice]

I have a little experience with both long transits and racing in a MINI Cooper S. Are you allergic to cats?

[LePew]

Any cat out there, as long as they have a few days on-track HPDE experience, would probably be a better co-drver than any human who have responded so far.

According to the official rules, such a cat would have to have a Snell SA2000 or newer helmet and a single-layer or better fire-proof driver’s suit. But good news for Mr. Toes, I can't find any requirement that the co-driver actually be a homo sapiens.

[justbob]

Let me know the date and time. I'm near Baltimore, MD.

I can meet you, drive a stage, and do some laps. I can throw some bucks in for the trip, but I can't do the entire race--only one to two days.

Let me know.

just Bob

[justbob]

BTW--MCS driver, I've got two MINIs. Personal bests: 302 miles in 3:32, 948 miles in 13:10, I cut clean lines, and May sounds fine. No driver schools, except DoD escape and evasion. I'm starting an SCCA career this Spring.

Seriously, let's talk. What tires are you running?

[LePew]

Bob, the rules permit a driver to drop out after the start but a new driver cannot be added. So we'd have to start with at least three to accomodate you and that probably not going to work. The second must be available all 8 days.

Thanks for your interest, and good luck with the SCCA.

Oh and I hope you weren't going that fast on public highways in the US!

[LePew]

Thanks, everyone for your interest! I have found a possible co-driver who is local to me in New England. That will help greatly with preparations.

The next hurdle for us both will be passing the physical and get our membership to the SVRA squared away. Will keep you posted on our progress.

[justbob]

Quote: Originally Posted by LePew

Oh and I hope you weren't going that fast on public highways in the US!

Hey! You know speedometers are +/- five percent! If you check out the average speed it comes out to be 71 and a bit MPH, and the limit was 70....!

Glad you found a co-driver who is nearby. This sounds like a real hoot! You should do a journal, some videotape, photos and a write up--I know everyone at mini2 (and probably car enthusiasts in general) will be very interested in your adventures.

Keep us up to date!

(p.s.--don't forget to pack some extra window washing fluid!)

[chs4]

Quote:

You should do a journal, some videotape, photos and a write up--I know everyone at mini2 (and probably car enthusiasts in general) will be very interested in your adventures.

That's a great idea. May want to contact Gary Anderson at MC2 as well...I know they are looking for interesting stories for the magazine. Not sure how many MINIs compete in this event, but I imagine you're in a very unique position and a story about the trip would make excellent reading.

[Daaoak]

Quote: Originally Posted by LePew

Will keep you posted on our progress.

Please do, I have always been interested in that event....

[LePew]

Its been quite a while since I last posted here. Sort of lost track of this thread... Anyway, my co-driver (JR9907) and I leave for One Lap starting tomorrow. You can learn more about our progress at www.sooper.us I'll try to keep that updated from the road as the event progresses over the next 9 days and 5000 miles.

Motor On!

[dukesantos]

Good luck, have fun.

[yellowmininy]

And they're off! Just seen heading west on 90. Cheers!

[robbo mcs]

Hi,

Good luck guys

Look after yourselves and the car, and above all enjoy yourselves and kick ****

Cheers

Robbo

[s_and_m]

I hope you guys have a blast - be sure to keep a detailed diary and take loads of snaps to share when you get back - or even better blog from the road!

I'd love to replicate this great event in Europe (Croft, Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Spa, Zolder, Magny-Cours, Hockenheim, Nurburgring, Imola and Monza so am very interested to hear your thoughts on the US trip.

Above all, good luck!

S

[yellowmininy]

Here's the blog address:
www.sooper.us