Steven and Leon Johnson, the owners of Team MC40, classic Mini Cooper 40 year anniversary special edition, wanted to run the Silver State Classic in their Mini Cooper "S", so they got in touch with Pilo Engineering, who had been producing some head turning Mini's, who in turn got a hold of DPR Racing's owner Dan Paramore,(who helped Dan Pilo build the "MEGA Mini", recently), sporting the title "Highest Horsepower Mini", for a short time. With Pilo handling the chassis work, suspension, wheels, and tires, DPR was left to handle the engine and head work. With custom pistons, and coated bearings in the lower end, and larger valves and a custom Stage IV porting job with special chamber work in the cylinder head, a higher lift cam, increased boost with an overdriven supercharger pulley, with some cold air intake and cat back exhaust work, and support from K & N, we were off to the races, and our little Mini really breathed some FIRE!

For over 25 years, both in the spring and in the fall, the "Silver State Classic Challenge Inc." has been a World renowned event, and is in The Guinness Book of World records for " Public Highway Land Speed Record" and "Fastest Road Course". The Nevada Highway 318 events are identical, differing only in the time of year. They begin just South of Lund, at White Pine County just north of mile marker 9, head South through Nye County , and finish at Lincoln County mile marker 7. The journey traverses 90 miles of two lane highway which has recently been repaved and is in excellent condition, with long straights, twisty sections, and dips, which for the faster participants, may result in an airborne experience. Entrants receive a set of Course Notes and a video tape to help them prepare for the event. The cars are run in classes at five mile per hour increments, from 95 mph to 180 mph, with the class determined by the vehicle's safety equipment, the driver's experience level and the driver/navigator comfort level. There is also an Unlimited Division for very experienced drivers with full race-equipped cars. Vehicles are started at one minute intervals and 30 second intervals, beginning with the 150 mph class and working back to the 95 mph class. Once the last 95 mph class vehicle clears the course, the Unlimited Division and the higher speed brackets over 150 are run as the final group.

The "High Noon Shootout" at the "Classic Corral" is a new and additional event presented by the SSCC. This event is a One-Mile acceleration contest on fenced SR-490, in Ely , NV which took place on the Saturday before the NORC and SSCC events from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm , in November 2006. This event allowed drivers to test their cars at high speeds and perform final tuning and reliability checks before the Sunday event. All participants registered passed final tech inspection prior to 12:00 noon Saturday. Their cars were allowed as many runs as possible within the time allowed by the road closure permit. Detailed information was supplied at registration and results were announced at the Driver's Meeting, afterwards, on Saturday night. Remember, this is one of the "Fastest Races on Regular Roads", and YOU can drive it, in ANY car. Check out their link for dates and times, more information or to register for an event: