When I think of all the tracks in Europe that have been there so many years but in California we have lost so many tracks…OCIR, Riverside, Ascot, Gilmore Field D track, the old Irwindale Drag Strip, Ontario International and others it makes me feel sad. Too many people here.

I’ll second that! One my first memories of watching autoracing on TV was seeing NASCAR at Riverside in the early 80′s.

Thanks for the explanation.

Please Note that this was in no way a knock against anyone in NZ. Wether it was a MINIUSA thing or whatever it’s gets old seeing, for whatever reason, the USA not being represented in F1, WRC or having our USA companies and or teams not supporting American drivers, no knock against any foreign drivers either as it’s not there fault the way things are going.

When I think of all the tracks in Europe that have been there so many years but in California we have lost so many tracks…OCIR, Riverside, Ascot, Gilmore Field D track, the old Irwindale Drag Strip, Ontario International and others it makes me feel sad. Too many people here.

last night at 0230 am the Russian Crew came back home. There is a small mistake in the press release, more than one person drove down to Italy from Moscow, Russia. Actually it was 5 people in 3 cars. The total journey added up to 6500 km and lasted 12 days including the event.

I can tell you one thing – MiniUnited 2005 was FANTASTIC. Not sure why more people from the states didn’t come, but there was a couple from Washington DC leaving in our hotel (James and Marina), they were great fun.

I had a camcorder with me during the whole event and have the races filmed. The feeling on the spectators stand near the start line before the green light came on was incompareable to anything ever!!!! It was the best!

We traveled back with one of chief guys from Mini, Germany and he said that there were over 6000 mini fans there and nearly 4000 cars. MINI never expected to have so many people at the event.

At the Mini Challenge final there was a guy from the states Brad Davis, so I presume you have the series over the Atlantic.

I think that the reason for the first MU to take place in europe is that it would ensure a more international crowd. If the next event will be held in North America, it would attract mainly US and Canadian owners, as it is far too far away. Unfortunately the distance do mater, so I think they will have to hold 2 sepparate events for 2 markets.

MINI officials are going to gather all the feedback and adjust the strategy accordingly. At the moment there are talks of holding the next event in 2 to 5 years. There is no way the event can become anual, I don’t even think it can be held every 2 years. In order to maintain the attractiveness, they should embrace the olympic strategy and the next one should be MU 2009 somewhere in Germany or UK.

It would be great to see all the countries in the America’s like Canada, Mexico, Virginia, Carolina, California, Arkansas, Alabama, etceteras, competing against each other! Columbia, they could have a Pepper White car. The USA companies that sponsored teams could go to Brazil and get some fine drivers for the USA MINI team or just leave it to Penske……….oops……….NAW….that would never happen!

Oh yeah instead of road course events at Watkins Glen or any of our fine road courses we could just go around Talladega a million times and see who lasts.

Then there’s the food.

It would be fun though.

Just havin’ sum fun, Sorry if it offended anyone.