Post #1 – Cars, cars, cars

Here we are, well into March already and only six months to race time. A lot of preliminary planning has been completed already and we have chosen this year’s race and service crews. And yes, three cars are racing again. Returning as our service crew thankfully is Michael Engel and Calvin Williams. These two very talented guys shot some spectacular footage last year. So we will have lots of great video of the 2012 race to share come September race week.

We have one new member on the race crew this year. Briar de Lange. She is a new comer to rally racing, so has to complete the rally race course this summer to earn her rally license. She will share driving and co-piloting duties with Jon Riddell in the MINI Countryman. We have on order from MINI Canada a 2012 MINI Countryman JCW (John Cooper Works). We are told by MINI Canada it should arrive mid to late August. We are hopeful (fingers crossed) to have it in time for the race. The new JCW has about 220 HP, bigger brakes and a modified and lowered sport suspension. Worth noting a MINI Countryman recently won the two week Jakarta race though South America, beating out about 100 other cars for the title. So these cars, with their all-wheel drive, are made to rally and do it very well. However, if the new JCW Countryman does not arrive in time, we will race the 2011 Countryman, with upgrades made to the exhaust and air intake to up its potential substantially.

Of course one of our main goals in participating in this race is to raise funds for MS research. Over the past three years we have raised just over $70,000, this year we are hoping to reach to over $100,000 collected. Feel free to donate to our cause online or phone in 416 921 7204 x 223.

All for now, many thanks.

John Hume