Comments on: MINI Confirms Future of the MINI Challenge

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 05:48:32 +0000

Weak sauce attendance/participation due to a lack of a factory backed spec.

The success of the European series is an ideal model for MINIUSA to pay close attention to.

Phil is doing tremendous work and his efforts are not to be discounted. But the US has no "teams" as in the UK and beyond. Sponsors see the MINI Series there as ideal PR and a fun way to be involved in a heritage sport.

Example: We have NASCAR Even erection assistance medicines jump on that bandwagon.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:37:23 +0000

Yes, that would be ideal. An East Coast and West Coast Series, with final in the middle or something.

You can count me in as a participant if this happens.

By: katmeho

katmeho — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 21:06:56 +0000

I agree, 2 series in the US to keep travel costs down, then a run off for the top teams at a national level.

By: James

James — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 18:08:09 +0000

Gary, you are forgetting the second race of the series held in Sebring. There were only 4 MINIs in that race.

Here's the problem with the US series: MINI USA (or JCW) isn't building pre-specced MINIs to race, it's up to individual companies/owners to build their own cars. Also, The US is so much larger than Germany and the UK, it's going to be too difficult and expensive for many teams to try to make every race of a season. Perhaps there should be a West Coast series and an East Coast series with a final championship somewhere like St. Louis.

By: Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 15:56:02 +0000

With one practice race (at Laguna Seca) and one “real” race at Las Vegas now completed, what does everyone think of the U.S. version of the MINI Challenge that Phil Wicks has started with sponsorship of MINI USA? Does it have the potential to become the success that the English and European Mini Challenges have become? Gary