OTC Team Profile - Car #888

Mello was in the top five last year until the motor blew up

The Drivers

Wayne Mello Huntington Beach, CA	Ric White Ventura, CA	Erik Messley Huntington Beach, CA

Tell us about your car, where it came from, how much you paid for it, and any Cheating Bastard tactics that you are planning to do to make it faster for the OTC?

Okay...this is my second 944 turbo...my first one started out stock and I did everything to it you can imagine...until they gave me a adjustable in-car boost control...babang!!!!...the car was on fire and spun out going 130mph on Turn 8 at Willow Springs.....pucker factor of 10!!!!...everyone on the sidelines thought I jumped out of the burning car as it was still moving.....I'm just quick when my ass is on fire.....so much for that car....I had my eye on this car the Rick White had built.....full fiberglass, full welded in roll cage...well built race car setup...the guys from the Touring Car Club had bought it off him but never drove it much...they wanted $19K for it....so I sold my original race car for $10K on Ebay and and grinded them down to $17K....I blew up the motor already and had a motor built by Vision Motorsports......I'm in the process of acquiring a adjustable suspension....but other than that..it is the same car as last year..just going to make it more reliable...well make it last 7 days anyways.

Built by Rick White.  Motor by Vision.  Driving by Mello.

Is it true what Hayashi says about beating you with his NSX and crushing you with his go kart?  Or is Pulp Racing really "Pulp Fiction"?

Well for the amount of cash Hayashi has in his car he should be racing Formula 1.....but I don't think I can remember the last time he's actually had that car on the track... he was fast about 8 months ago for 1 lap at Fontana....he's kinda the Mike Tyson of racing...but in reverse if ya know what i mean...he's fast for 1 lap or 1 round then he's done.....I hope for his wife's sake its not indicative of his love making.....as for go karting...he's had a little upper hand but not much...usually we just crash into each other and cost ourselves a lot of money.
 

Wayne turned the fastest lap at Willow Springs Big Track at last year's OTC

Some people think that you are the originator of the phrase, "Cheating Bastard".  Is that true?  How did it come about?

Is that true? How did it come about?    Well I don't know about that....Doug's the one who likes to show up at every track 2 days early to practice before everyone else gets there.....and Hayashi is the ultimate Cheating Bastard.......he's like Wyle E. Coyote....strapping a rocket to the back of his car...ie...NOS at the Virginia City Hill Climb a few years ago.......BABOOM!!!!....oh and I was the little bird.

The Pulp Racing Team getting ready to duke it out at Buttonwillow

Last year, you had the fastest lap at Big Willow, and was a contender for overall until you blew up your motor.   This year the competition is tougher overall, but you have a good shot in your class to be the Unlimited Two champ.  What are your chances against the two NSXes and the supercharged S2000 that is in your class?

Well those guys are pretty fast...but my skill will overcome...if my car lasts that it.....get ready cause here I come!!!

Wayne's daily driver.  Turns him into Super Stud

Rumor has it that the warranty on your Ferrari 360 Modena runs out in a few weeks.  Are you going to sell it, or do you have Ferrari Fever and you can't bear to sell it?

Hell no.....I'm screwed...this car makes me a 6 ft tall porn star!

What's with the last minute driver change (April 1st, 2003)?  I thought Hayashi was your third driver? 

Rick White is the guy who originally built my 944 Turbo race car.  He knows everything about the car.  He's my last minute Cheating Bastard tactic.  Hayashi can't fix anything, especially stuff on cars.  Rick can fix anything on the 944 Turbo.  We don't plan on breaking this year, and if we do break, we are fixing it before the next run group.  So be ready for an ass whupping!  Rick also was the Chief Driving Instructor for the Porsche Owner's Club for many years.