Not that I want to rub it in at all ... but we won!
Mini victorious in rally on the Rock
Experience pays off for Targa vets
JIM KENZIE
ST. JOHN'S—Unlimited. You don't have to read the rule book for the Targa Newfoundland car rally to understand what that means.
It means, run what you brung. No holds barred.
Bring on your 650 horsepower supercharged Mustang.
Bring on your 450 horsepower Hemi V8 Dodge Charger SRT8.
There are other classes, but Unlimited is the greatest challenge, so we entered our Mini-sponsored 2004 Cooper S with the John Cooper Works Edition package — with its throbbing 208 horsepower — in Unlimited, against all that might.
Hubie Fuh
President
FIREBALL TIM RACING
480 234 7785
racing@fireballtim.com
Andrew Cutler
MINI Communications Manager
MINI USA
201-307-3784
FIREBALL TIM RACING AND MINI USA BUILD WILD DRAG CAR
Lightweight Carbon Fiber-Bodied MINI to be Strip and Show Stopper
September 19, 2005…California based FIREBALL TIM RACING (FTR) has announced a collaboration between the extreme MINI tuner and MINI USA. In the deal, FTR has taken possession of a carbon-fiber bodied, 1700 lb MINI Cooper S from MINI USA with the plan to create a 500hp+ twin-charged drag monster. FTR currently holds the title "World's Fastest Street MINI" with their 2700lb MEGAmini 'Lil Beast. A turbo and supercharged and nitrous rocket pulling 12 second track times.
Fireball Tim teamed up with Tuner Legend Hubie Fuh (“Dr. Fuh” to his friends) who has built extreme 1000hp+ street and race cars that have been featured in all forms of mass media. Hubie is now the official FTR powerplant leader. Also in marketing/sales is Jan Brueggemann, muscle car builder/racer and Brian White, Meguiar's detail expert and builder.
"We are very excited to be the first choice by MINI USA to create a unique one-of-a-kind rocket," says Fireball Tim (CEO). "It's going to be a blast to race, as long as it doesn't launch into the next state. Which, it just might."
"We launched FTR to create unique themed road rockets and MINI performance parts unlike anyone else in the market," said Hubie, (President/FTR) "With Fireball Tim's crazy designs and overt style, “over-the-top” will be an understatement in both power and appearance.” Continued Hubie, “BMW used the latest in race car materials technology to create the carbon-fiber featherweight. It is only fitting that we use this opportunity to unveil our top secret "Twincharged Flux Capacitor" which will power this race car into the history books.”
And unlike any other MINI Tuner, FTR was selected by MINI USA to be the first to create this unique Fireballed Drag Car. FTR has more than 25 sponsors involved in the project, code-named the "M600," (…now known as “FLAMETHROWER’) all helping to create what FTR has coined "VHP."(Visual Horsepower). From Magnaflow to Mini performance distributor Moss Motors and Kumho Tires, who is carving a one-off set of insane custom fireball tires for shows.
MINI USA is excited to collaborate with Fireball Tim Racing to help promote MINI’s prowess in the import drag world,” said Jeff Stracco, MINI Product Manager. “With its compact dimensions and lightweight carbon fiber body, this MINI Cooper project car will be a true David amongst Goliaths on the drag strip.”
The little monster that could premieres at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona in October 8th. The car will also be at Hot Import Nights/Phoenix October 15th and SEMA in November along with several other insane FTR MINI rockets, of course.
Fireball Tim
Fireball Tim is famous for his many maniacal movie car designs from films like SON OF THE MASK, JURASSIC PARK and about 50 others. (www.fireballtim.com) The Fireball Tim brand is rocketing into the marketplace with toys, clothing, a TV Show and candy at an incredible speed. WalMart will be selling Fireball Tim Toys worldwide as of April/May of 2006. And this is just in the past 6 months. So, building a race team was only a matter of time.
MINI in the US
MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC which has been present in the United States since 1975. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the ROLLS-ROYCE brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country.
BMW Group Donates $1 Million to American Red Cross to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - September 7, 2005… The BMW Group has pledged a donation of $1 million to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In addition to that contribution, each of the BMW companies based in the U.S. will match employee contributions. There are more than 7,000 employees based in BMW companies in the U.S.
BMW Financial Services is working with customers individually to develop extended payment plans to its BMW and MINI customers.
BMW of North America also pledged to maintain emergency information services available through BMW Assist to its subscribers in the severely impacted areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. They will continue to be able to access this feature at no additional charge through the end of the year. Subscribers in the affected areas who can not renew their service during this time have it continued until the end of the year at no charge.
Additionally, many other relief efforts are underway, organized by various employees, departments and divisions of BMW in the U.S.
“Our hearts go out to all those who have been adversely affected by this disaster and we want to offer financial assistance, in addition to our thoughts and prayers,” said Tom Purves, chairman and CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp.
BMW AG, with worldwide headquarters in Munich, Germany, has multiple business units in the U.S., including BMW of North America, LLC, Woodcliff Lake, NJ; BMW Manufacturing Co., Spartanburg, SC, BMW Financial Services, Dublin, OH, Woodcliff Lake, NJ and Salt Lake City; DesignworksUSA, Newbury Park, CA and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Ltd. , Woodcliff Lake, NJ. MINI USA, is a division of BMW of North America, LLC and located in Woodcliff Lake, NJ.
BMW Financial Services to Accommodate Hurricane Victims with Flexible Payment Options
Dublin, OH – September 1, 2005… Nearly 5,000 customers of BMW Financial Services in four states hit by Hurricane Katrina should not have to worry about making their car payments on time. In an attempt to alleviate at least a small part of the financial and emotional burden suffered by hurricane victims, BMW FS will work with those customers on flexible payment arrangements.
About 4,800 BMW FS customers in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida are encouraged to contact the customer call center at 800-578-5000 at their convenience to discuss a payment option appropriate to their specific circumstances.
“In light of the tragedy and destruction left in the wake of this natural disaster, we want to be sure that our customers affected by Katrina do not experience any additional anxiety over late or missed car payments,” said Ed Robinson, chief executive officer for the BMW Financial Services, Americas Region. “We will work with each and every one individually – customers with leases and retail contracts alike – to arrive at a suitable arrangement.”
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