TOURING TWO
| #156
TOURING TWO |
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| Team Members | |
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| Lou Young (Phoenix, AZ) | Mike "Schumy" Donnelly (Phoenix, Arizona) |
| Driver | Co-Driver |
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About four years ago, Lou Young decided
that in order to have a sports car, he ought to know how to drive
it. He took the advice of other RX-7 drivers on the internet
and slapped on some high performance racing brake pads, but
decided to use regular street tires. The event was a success,
but completely ruined his street tires. Before you know it,
Lou's got extra rims and tires in his garage and another
event sign-up form on his desk. A few events later, Lou is hooked
on open track competition and the car is less and less street-able. Today, you're reading the bio for the winner of the T2 class in the 2002 Open Track Challenge. Notable Events
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Mike Donnelly thinks all this is crazy.
Lou has been trying to get him to put his MKIV Supra or his E46 M3 on
the track for years, but Mike just isn't going for it. But he's got
nothing against traveling on countless road trips with Lou to race
events, including the Open Track Challenge. For this, Lou thinks
that Mike is crazy. Mike has accompanied Lou as co-driver in several events, including the Silver State Classic Challenge and the Virginia City Hillclimb. He has also completed the SCCA's schooling requirements to get his National Stage Rallying license. As any co-driver should be, Mike is rock solid in the passenger seat and nothing Lou does is able to frighten him. For this, Lou thinks that Mike is crazy. This year in the Open Track Challenge, Mike is just hoping to get a couple of laps in behind the wheel of the RX-7. He is going to do his best to support the team in the paddock with car setup and the long transit miles between each event. |
| Car Information | |
| Year/Make/Model | 1994 Mazda RX-7 |
| Engine Displacement: | 1.3 Liter |
| Weight | 2800 lbs |
| Horsepower: | Estimated 340 HP at the wheels |
| Modifications: | Custom Airbox, PFS Medium Intercooler, PFS Purple Computer, AT&R Downpipe, AT&R Midpipe, Racing Beat Dual-Tip Catback, M2 Gab SuperR Coilovers, Hawk Blue Brake Pads, Kirk Rollbar, Willans Safety Harnesses, Walbro Fuel Pump, M2 Rising Rate Fuel Pressure Regulator plus Mystery Mods. |
| Sponsors and Support | |
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| A Sunday Conversation with Lou Young by BP |
| 1. Hey, Lou. How's it
going? Let's start with you telling me why you are doing OTC in '02.
Well, first, it's going okay. One of my knees feels to be only about 80% and the other is running right around 95%, but I'm still walking, so I guess it's going just great. Second, I'm running in the OTC for a couple of reasons: 1) I've always wanted to hit as many tracks as possible and this will pretty much take care of California for me. Well, except for Sears Point, and California Speedway... and LSIR. And B) I love to see my name in lights and while I'm sure you're not going to have a marquee, seeing my name on a trophy, knowing that I'm running against the best that the amatuer ranks have of offer, and beating them, is going to be quite a thrill for me. Plus, you promised to name the trophy after me, and since I'm not planning on having kids, this is going to be my legacy. 2. Do John Aschroft and Tom Ridge scare the crap out of you, too? Oh sure, ask me political questions where my answers are to be posted on an internet website? Are you trying to alienate me? Why don't we start a discussion about religion, too? 3. I see you have Schuey listed as your co-driver. That is very resourceful of you. Am I correct to assume you have the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and the Tooth Fairy following as your support crew? Oh I see, here's the religious debate. You're somehow implying that the mythical creatures of the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and the Tooth Fairy are the same has the living legend of Michael Schumacher? Why don't you ask me if I believe in God? Sheesh, what are you doing to me? At least in Michael Schumacher we have photographic evidence of His greatness. If you're at a Formula 1 Gran Prix you might even get a chance touch Him. As an update, I'm not sure if Mike is going to be able to get away from his current gig for a week to do the OTC, but I've got him penciled-in. 4. Are you finally going to put to bed the "an RX7 won't last" critics? I used to wear a T-Shirt to all events that read, "The Seven Never Dies." Then I had to rebuild the engine because I lost a water jacket while I was turning my fastest lap times ever at PIR. I'm still going to bring that same shirt with me for the OTC, but I'm not going to put it on until I'm walking to the podium to pick up my first place trophy. My car has got to last longer than Hayashi's NSX, right? 5. Level with me. Do you really know how a rotory engine works? If so, can you explain it in 100 words or less? If you don't want to, you can just say there is a hamster in there. All I really know about the rotary is that it's spelled R-O-T-A-R-Y and that there's a hamster in there, but I have to replace him every now and then when he accidentally gets sucked through the exhaust housing of the turbocharger. 6. Mike Hedlund says he is going to win T2 in that Supra. How do you feel about that? How does he expect to win in that boat? There's no drag strips on the OTC schedule is there? I just hope he doesn't cry when the SupDawg lets him down. 7. What's the deal with NASCAR? Eesh, where do I start? The tattooed and toothless women? The big "Fudd" hats? Billy Bob in his bag-assed truck with his woman sitting in the middle so that he can put his arm around her to keep her hair out of the gunrack? Budweiser? Stock cars that aren't? The fact that there's absolutely no technological advancements coming out of the "development" in those cars? The fact that the rules are written to specifically prevent technological advancement? No right turns? To sum it up, I just want to say that I've never seen Mike Helton and Vince McMahon in the same room at the same time. 9. If you had a show on Speedvision, what would it be called? My show would be called The Supermodel Grand Prix Challenge and would be quite a bit like the Toyota Celebrity Grand Prix. We would run special celebrity type races where they'd have race teams (FHM Girls vs. Stuff Girls vs. Maxim Girls) and they'd all race around the track in convertible cars (AC Cobras, Monster Miatas). And the cars wouldn't be the only thing on the track that's topless... 10. Here's where you show your appreciation for those that help you. I want to say thanks to my father, because he's always there to let me empty his refrigerator while he's fabricating some sort of custom doo-dad at the last minute. I also want to thank my friends who support me, for those who don't, I want to tell them to kiss my ass. Also, for anyone thinking about sponsoring me in any way (discounts, free stuff, plain ol' cash), I want to say that if anything from this interview offended you, that it was just a joke. And lastly, I want to say, "What happened to question number 8?" I retired Question #8 in remembrance of the fine career of one Cal Ripken, Jr. Yah, that's it. Anyways, there will never be another Question #8 and we will always remember the fine example he set in racing, err baseball. It's not like I left out Question #8 or anything. That would be bush.
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