When Kyle Wins Kids Win - Happy Birthday Kyle Busch

Today the 2nd of May is a very important day for one 13 year old NASCAR fan Lexie from Huntley, IL. Lexie is a Kyle Busch fan and she along with many others will be celebrating Kyles Birthday today !



As we shall find out Lexie takes Kyle Busch fandom way beyond going to the races with her Mom & Dad or vegging out in front of the television with a couple of lemonades and a family pack of M&M's on Friday, Saturday and or Sunday whenever Kyle races in the Camping World Truck, Nationwide and or Sprint Cup series. Remarkably for someone so young Lexie understands how with a little effort she can make a difference to those less fortunate than herself.



Recently Lexie kindly finished her homework early so that she could answer some questions about her interest in NASCAR, Kyle Busch and her work for the Kyle Busch Foundation for 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' and here is what she had to say about how her interest in Kyle Busch got started and progressed.

"I started watching NASCAR in 2007, and chose to root for the M&Ms car, so when Kyle started driving the M&Ms car in 2008 I became a Kyle Busch fan.



I met Kyle at Slinger Superspeedway, WI, at an autograph session. He was really nice and answered a lot of fans questions, and even took the time to pose for a picture with me right before he got in the car for the race.



That’s when I started liking him as much for the person he is and not just because he has a really cool sponsor. It also didn’t hurt that he is awesome to watch driving on the track and always does his best to win every single race.



[The best thing about being a Kyle Busch fan is] anticipating the performance of the Kyle Busch Show before every race. It doesn’t matter what track he is at, I know he has good chance for a great finish. The best single moment was THE BRISTOL SWEEP! [ Kyle won all three series races over one weekend at Bristol last August, becoming the first person to accomplish the feat].



I first got involved [with the Kyle Busch Foundation] in 2009. The Kyle Busch Foundation supports children’s group homes across the United States. These children have been removed from their home situations for various reasons, and often arrive at their group homes with literally nothing but the clothes they are wearing. The [group] homes supported by the KBF provide a safe, stable environment for these children.

One of the items on their wish list was books, and since I love to read I thought that would be a great way for me to help. Through 3 book drives over the past two years I donated over 10,000 books to be distributed to children who need them.

[Lexies first drive raised 270 books, her second 2177 books enough to fill the family Mini Van and her third over 8000 books requiring a truck to deliver them from Huntley IL to Mooresville NC !]



I have had my efforts written about in the local papers as well as on the Kyle Busch website. Everyone at the Kyle Busch Foundation has been very appreciative and they are really great to work with. After one of my book deliveries, Kyle gave me an engraved Tiffany bracelet. For me the recognition isn’t so important as knowing that I am doing something to help kids that are just like me that have had some hard times.



[Lexies modesty overlooks a couple of television appearances, a medal awarded by the Daughters of the American Revolution in recognition of her achievements earlier this year, and that she has sat atop Kyles pit box next to Kyles wife Samantha during the odd Nationwide event ! ]



After last year[s book drive], I found out that one of the things on the homes’ wish list was gift cards to stores like Dollar General, Target, and Wal-Mart, so that they can directly buy the things that their kids need. [So for 2011] I decided to donate a $5 gift card for each win that Kyle gets in each of the three NASCAR series [during the season]. My parents said they would match whatever I donated.



I am saving all the cards and sending them in to the Foundation at the end of the season, just in time for the holidays. I know how loyal Kyle’s fans are, so I thought it would be fun to challenge them all to donate any amount they choose, even if it is just $1, for every win, and send it directly to the Foundation, at the end of the season.

With as much as Kyle Busch wins that should mean a lot of gift cards for the kids at the homes he supports! If anyone wants to get involved, they can find out the details at my website www.lexiesdrive.org or at the foundation website: www.kylebuschfoundation.org. There is also a tab for Lexie’s Challenge on the Kyle Busch Foundation Facebook page. If anyone would just like to make a donation to the Kyle Busch Foundation, the address is: 351 Mezeppa Road, Mooresville, NC, 28115"



Lexies birthday message to Kyle reads "Happy birthday Kyle! Looking forward to seeing you celebrate in victory lane! I am always proud to be a Kyle Busch fan!!!!!!"

I can't help but admire Lexies attitude and grit, so far this season Kyle has won 7 races in all NASCAR series that's $35 that Lexie has pledged to the KBF !

I hope you'll join me in supporting Lexie and finding away to participate, however great or small, in Lexies 'When Kyle Wins Kids Win' Challenge and in wishing Kyle Busch a Happy 26th Birthday.

I'd like to thank Lexie for finding the time to tell us about her interest in NASCAR, Kyle Busch and her work with the Kyle Busch Foundation and her Mom Tracey (aka CheckerdFlagStilettos) for the fabulous photographs.

Hope you have enjoyed todays Kyle Busch Birthday edition of 'Gettin' a lil psycho on tyres' and that you will join me again tomorrow ! Don't forget to come back now !

STOP PRESS !



I was up at 4 am this morning watching Kyle pull his second Birthday Weekend Cup Victory at Richmond, kudos to Kyle, his fans and another great victory for the kids !

Heavyweight - Jaguar E- Type 3.8 Coupe

Call me a hopeless romantic but there is something I find irresistible about the notion of walking into a showroom purchasing the fastest vehicle they have in stock, adding a couple towing eyes, a fire extinguisher roll cage and 5 point harness and ignition cut out switch and heading down to the nearest race track.



This kind of racing used to be called stock car racing in the US and Production racing in the UK.



Today's stunning 1961 E-type 3.8 litre Coupe has been kept in more or less original trim since new.



It still has an all steel shell and opening panels.



Until recently the current owner; ex power boat racer, Michael O'Shea has been racing a 1958 XK150S, he has a decades experience racing Jaguars and a couple of years racing a Cooper - Maserati.



Michael first started racing karts at 12 but did not start racing cars for another 34 years.



Racing has been in Michael's blood all his life his Dad was the mastermind behind the O'Shea Racing Organisation which ran a car for a then unknown, future world champion, Jack Brabham.



Michael will be racing his car in the new HSCC Jaguar E-Type Challenge a series created to cater just for E-types on their 50th Anniversary.

My thanks to Jaguar World and Classic & Performance Car for additional information.

Hope you enjoyed todays Heavyweight edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' and that you will join me again tomorrow for Ferrari Friday. Don't forget to come back now !

Top Class Mini Racer - MINI Cooper S R56

When I first started spectating at motor races Mini's were a feature at many meetings including the very first meeting I went to where my Mum's boss George Barkhuizen won the days feature handicap race in a beige Mini with a white roof and a fuel barrel hanging out of the boot thanks to a recalcitrant boot lock out in Zambia. Mini's were also raced in Britain in spec championships including the 850's seen here at Silverstone usually producing tight racing and close finishes.



1977 World Grand Prix Drivers Champion James Hunt prepared and raced his own Mini when he first got the bug using extreme weight saving measures such as not fitting windscreen wipers. Today spec racing Mini's like David Kirkpatrick's seen at a track day here are very much alive and kicking despite having been out of production since 2000 as indeed are many non spec Mini's with all sort of non standard Mini power units.



On Sunday at the PistonHeads meeting in Cowley I had the opportunity to familiarise myself with the latest in retro MINI spec racing with this MINI Cooper S R56 prepared by OX4 Racing for Chris Oakham who races in the top tier JCW Class of the MINI Challenge.



This spec racer is of course light years ahead of an original spec racing Mini, the JCW division calls for turbocharged 215 hp motors up from the standard R56 192 hp thanks to upgraded induction, exhaust, Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and race spec intercooler.



To help keep the wheels on the road and all that power in check these vehicles are fitted with KW suspension, limited slip differential and 6 (six) piston front brake callipers.



17" control racing tyres, slicks or wets, are mounted on Dynamic rims.



Too make sure every one plays fair the Mini Challenge has dedicated championship scales, enforced 'parc ferme' rules control fuel, limits on the number of tyres used and to keep the driving standards up each vehicle has an on board camera allowing officials to a valuable source of evidence should things appear to get out of hand !



To complete the purpose bred racer look the JCW Class vehicles have an aero package to play around with too !



On the Lo 'E' Nuf Vee Dub Club site Chris Oakham the driver of the #51 Mini Cooper S R56 is known for lashing up Mini's and ripping up cats' eyes with his Passat in between his racing activities. Chris took the #51 to victory lane at Snetterton and finished 6th in the JCW Class rankings last year, it is still unclear what his plans are for this year but I'm sure you will all join me in wishing him every success.



Any one wishing to join in the fun here is a link to the Mini Challenge prospectus. There was a MINI Challenge try out day at Brands Hatch on Saturday 29th January which included trials for novices, those keen to continue could gain medical certification and attend Approved Racing Drivers School courses the same day in order to qualify for racing licences.

If you missed the boat and are interested in taking part you could try sending an e-mail to the address on the Mini Challenge home page, they seem particularly encouraging to fresh recruits. Wishing all competitors a fun and safe championship.

Hope you have enjoyed today's recruiting office edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' and that you will all join me again tomorrow for a look at one of my favourite BMW's. Don't forget to come back now !