Post by Formidable on Oct 13, 2019 2:21:31 GMT -5
Raiden Motorsports
Monterey, California, United States of America
Tripwire: @team_raiden
Tripwire: @team_raiden
About
Raiden Takatsuki’s love for cars was an unbounded passion as a young boy. Growing up in Suzuka, Japan, his passion was built from his own father, who worked at the Honda Suzuka factory just a few miles away from their home. Just south of the factory, of course, is the renowned Suzuka Circuit, where both father and son spectated the many wonderful racing events hosted there for years on end. Raiden became immensely inspired from these races, and was itching to have a go at motorsports himself. His family didn’t have the large sums of money to bin, but Takatsuki-san was willing to work as hard as he possibly could to make his dreams come to fruition.
Raiden followed his father’s footsteps into working in the Honda factory. From there he would gain the motivation to ignite his own motorsports effort starting with the 1979 Honda Civic. Gathering friends, co-workers, and family, he formed what would be the beginning of Raiden Motorsports. Originally named “Takatsuki Racing Project”, the team went head-first into club racing competition in 1980 with Kumo Hisakawa and Suzuki Nanako piloting the modified Civic. The car seemed to have a slew of disadvantages compared to its competitors, but the luck of finding talented drivers would grace the group with dominant results, and help them expand beyond beating the locals around Suzuka.
From club racing to legitimate official championship racing, The Takatsuki Racing Project would enter national touring car competition in 1985 with the Civic Si as their weapon of choice. Suzuki Nanako had left the team since the team’s exit from club racing, and Haisei Tegatchi would fill in his seat from then onward. Being thrown into the series competition years from when it started proved to be a difficult challenge against the better experienced teams; however, the team would prove to be an unstoppable force by the late 80s, winning 3 championships up to 1992.
In 1991, Takatsuki Racing Project went into talks with Honda about the possibility of a motorsports effort outside of Japan with the upcoming Honda NSX. Though Honda initially opted out of involving the NSX in racing competition, the idea was eventually put forth into motion by 1993. While the team didn’t take full control of the NSX GT2 effort, many of its team members were borrowed for Le Mans, including the drivers and Raiden Takatsuki himself as the race engineer. In addition to Haisei Tegatchi and Kumo Hisakawa, Cody Miller would be the 3rd driver in the line-up. Originally hailing from IMAS GTO sportscar racing in the United States, Cody Miller proved to be a solid competitor on pace in the new NSX. Over the course of the 4 year program, Honda would eventually secure a Le Mans class win in 1996 before shutting down shortly after.
A few years after the end of the Le Mans GT2 program, Raiden Takatsuki’s father would pass away, leaving only his son up to continuing his motorsports contributions. After 2 years of complete silence, Takatsuki-san would return to the Japanese motor racing scene under the newly formed “Raiden Motorsports" banner. Kumo Hisakawa would part ways into open-wheel racing, while Cody Miller and Haisei Tegatchi remained as the two star drivers of the team. Using the Honda NSX once again in the GT500 class, the team would go on to score 2nd and 3rd in championships in 2002 and 2003.
The team shuttered their PRO program in 2005 after Raiden and Honda decided to end the partnership, but Raiden’s next collaboration would soon be up and running the next season with the Mooncraft Shiden RT-16 in AM. The car lead the team to two championship wins in 2009 and 2010, but would also quickly lead to the programme's end due to changes in the AM regulations. A new entry was planned for the next season, but a sudden exit of sponsorship would cause the Takatsuki-lead team to enter a hiatus from 2011 to 2016.
In December of 2015, Raiden Takatsuki and Cody Miller jointly announced the team’s comeback with the Acura NSX GTC in North American racing. With the headquarters moved to Monterey in California, the now American-based team was still within the ownership of Raiden Takatsuki, but now with Cody Miller as the new team manager. The initial new drivers announced for their NSX were Ryan Snetterton, Hannah Taylor, Nathaniel Blythe and Amy Radcliffe, all hailing from different continents. Blythe later exited just before the team's PRO announcement to focus on rallying, and Lukas Pulkrabek from the recently decommissioned BMW PRO team Krieger WRT was announced to take his place. The team’s comeback has been a healthy one, with a few wins and a championship podium to back their growing reputation. Their future beyond their AM program successes is unknown, but Takatsuki-san’s passion for motorsport that he’s had since he was a kid is keeping him and Mr. Miller hopeful for the future of the team.
Our Drivers
Ryan Snetterton
Tripwire: @not_the_racetrack
Gender: Male (he/him)
Age: 24
Birthdate: February 26th
Height: 5’ ft 8” in (173 cm)
Birthplace: Thetford, United Kingdom
Interests: Historic Racing, Cooking, Travel, Politics
It was a calm and cool April afternoon when four-year-old Ryan Snetterton had just moved into his uncle’s farmland near Loughborough, England. Up to this point, he had never witnessed the loud roar of a racing exhaust or the break-neck speeds of cornering a high-downforce monster with race tires. That was until one fateful day his uncle offered to take him to the famous Donington Park circuit just minutes away, where a sports car event was happening just that day. As soon as Ryan’s eyes were locked on the bright colors of red, yellow, green, and a rainbow of other colors flying by faster than his brain could comprehend, his fascination was immediately and forever set on the racing scene.
There was just one small problem, however. Ryan was born into very unfortunate familial circumstances right from the start. All of his family barely had any money to provide for themselves, and a ticket to Donington was a once-in-a-while expenditure for his uncle. That didn’t stop Ryan from trying to absorb his head with as much information as possible about everything racing, and was determined to start driving something with four wheels and an engine even if he had to put it together from scrap… which is precisely what happened.
This wasn’t without help from his uncle of course, who still had a fair amount of engineering knowledge from his early life. Together, they slapped together a trusty little go kart, and used a part of the farm property to race it around. From then on, Ryan’s obsession became even greater, and he would continue to perfect whatever skills he could with what little was around. How, led to great sacrifices and consequences for the last family he was close to, and Ryan would have to take the racing world head on by himself from then on.
Over time, from the kart events that Ryan tried to attend as frequently as possible, he proved to be no ordinary race driver. Eyes from karting teams were starting to fall upon Ryan, and eventually he would land a seat with the professionals. On his way up, he’d dabble in lower open-wheel formula racing before landing a spot on a GT4 team and beginning his long continuous journey in sportscar racing. His outstanding qualifying pace and race stamina began to be admired by both teams and fans alike, and it wouldn’t be long before his debut in top level sportscar racing was upon him.
There was just one small problem, however. Ryan was born into very unfortunate familial circumstances right from the start. All of his family barely had any money to provide for themselves, and a ticket to Donington was a once-in-a-while expenditure for his uncle. That didn’t stop Ryan from trying to absorb his head with as much information as possible about everything racing, and was determined to start driving something with four wheels and an engine even if he had to put it together from scrap… which is precisely what happened.
This wasn’t without help from his uncle of course, who still had a fair amount of engineering knowledge from his early life. Together, they slapped together a trusty little go kart, and used a part of the farm property to race it around. From then on, Ryan’s obsession became even greater, and he would continue to perfect whatever skills he could with what little was around. How, led to great sacrifices and consequences for the last family he was close to, and Ryan would have to take the racing world head on by himself from then on.
Over time, from the kart events that Ryan tried to attend as frequently as possible, he proved to be no ordinary race driver. Eyes from karting teams were starting to fall upon Ryan, and eventually he would land a seat with the professionals. On his way up, he’d dabble in lower open-wheel formula racing before landing a spot on a GT4 team and beginning his long continuous journey in sportscar racing. His outstanding qualifying pace and race stamina began to be admired by both teams and fans alike, and it wouldn’t be long before his debut in top level sportscar racing was upon him.
Hannah Taylor
Tripwire: @htaylor11
Gender: Female (she/her)
Age: 22
Birthdate: November 7th
Height: 5’ ft 10” in (179 cm)
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Interests: Animals, Travel, Fashion, Modelling, Photography
Hannah Haywood Taylor is one of three daughters born in Australia under Almighty SuperTourers legend Norman Taylor and his now ex-wife. Though Norman had plans to retire in the near future at the time of their birth, he often blamed the three girls for cutting his career shorter than he desired it to be, and thus vowed ‘make up for it’ by training them from a young age to shape them into prestigious racing drivers. His wife was extremely hesitant to the idea, worrying that the sisters might be put under too much stress at such an early time in their lives, but decided to see it out since Norman was also known for his great coaching. However, it wouldn't be long before the couple would be split after discovering the abusive relationship between him and his daughters.
Even with the dramatic divorce, it didn't stop Hannah from taking on a racing career by herself. However, that was easier said than done. Hannah’s driving skills starting off, to put it bluntly, were downright horrible. Sluggish pace and lack of on-track awareness already garnered a negative reputation from other drivers on the grid, and it seemed like her career was over before it even started. However, after nagging her mother to receive driving coaching, something finally clicked and Hannah was setting both relatively fast and unbelievably consistent lap times. It was from this point forward that her career would turn around immediately for the better.
Going further into her teenage years, all of her hard work finally started paying off when she was finally granted a gig in GT4 sportscar racing in her region. In this series, it would be up until 2016 when Hannah earned several championship podiums and even a championship win to her name. During this time, she quickly gained a large following from fans, being praised by many for her unparalleled beauty, as well as her graceful and empathetic compassion towards her team and fellow opponents. Her social media following is one of the largest on the grid, and her fanbase shows no signs of stopping in growth.
More and more racing fans were beginning to talk about her, even theorizing if she would catch up to her sister Jessica, who was already making massive strides in open-wheel racing. While Hannah is determined to carve her own path in the racing world, she also deep down has an unrelenting desire of exacting revenge on her father by showing that she could be just as good, if not a better driver than her sister. Whether or not she’ll successfully reach that point in time is yet to be seen, but nobody can stop her momentous motivation in trying.
Even with the dramatic divorce, it didn't stop Hannah from taking on a racing career by herself. However, that was easier said than done. Hannah’s driving skills starting off, to put it bluntly, were downright horrible. Sluggish pace and lack of on-track awareness already garnered a negative reputation from other drivers on the grid, and it seemed like her career was over before it even started. However, after nagging her mother to receive driving coaching, something finally clicked and Hannah was setting both relatively fast and unbelievably consistent lap times. It was from this point forward that her career would turn around immediately for the better.
Going further into her teenage years, all of her hard work finally started paying off when she was finally granted a gig in GT4 sportscar racing in her region. In this series, it would be up until 2016 when Hannah earned several championship podiums and even a championship win to her name. During this time, she quickly gained a large following from fans, being praised by many for her unparalleled beauty, as well as her graceful and empathetic compassion towards her team and fellow opponents. Her social media following is one of the largest on the grid, and her fanbase shows no signs of stopping in growth.
More and more racing fans were beginning to talk about her, even theorizing if she would catch up to her sister Jessica, who was already making massive strides in open-wheel racing. While Hannah is determined to carve her own path in the racing world, she also deep down has an unrelenting desire of exacting revenge on her father by showing that she could be just as good, if not a better driver than her sister. Whether or not she’ll successfully reach that point in time is yet to be seen, but nobody can stop her momentous motivation in trying.
Lukas Pulkrabek
Tripwire: @lukas_pulkrabek
Gender: Male (he/him)
Age: 27
Birthdate: June 9th
Height: 5’ ft 4” in (163 cm)
Birthplace: Most, Czech Republic
Interests: Cycling, Hiking, Reading
Amy Radcliffe
Tripwire: @suprameowapowaa
Gender: Female (she/her)
Age: 20
Birthdate: April 2nd
Height: 6’ ft 0” in (186 cm)
Birthplace: Watsonville, California, USA
Interests: Anime, Video Games, Music, Running, Cats
"HOI! Super-Super Lady Amie here to deliver some MEOWA POWAA~!
(...damn, I can't end her summary there? Stupid two-paragraph requirement. -- Ricardo Lionheart)
Amy "Super Amie" Radcliffe is what happens when a very hyperactive girl is allowed to run full-tilt into absolute nonsensical silliness. Her infectious enthusiasm stands out to the point where Amy's presence can be felt even at opposite ends of the Mulsanne Straight. Combine this with a virtually unbreakable commitment to her friends, family, fans, and the teams she races for, and you have a driver whose potential is limited by... well, something definitely much higher than the sky. Unfortunately for her, sheer energy can't win championships on their own.
With Amy's personality quirks, it seemed like she should have been the absolute last person to be involved in a racing career. After all, unlike many drivers as young as she is competing at this level, they had fought through the ranks of karts and Grand Prix racing to get where they are now. Amy, on the other hand, after getting her racing license at 14 was well-backed to buy her way into whatever race seats were available. Touring cars, club-level Lightweights, Spec Roadster, Petit Grand Prix... it didn't matter to her. Sometimes, even on the same day, Amy would be driving in two or even three entirely different disciplines at the same racing weekend meet.
At first, Amy was nothing more than an annoyance for the club regulars. She'd hound the mid-pack for a lap or two, then sharply drop off. But when more and more teams started to notice her pluckiness and enthusiasm for the sport, they started taking Amy as seriously as any other driver. Her teams' commitment to her "never-say-die" attitude would reward them with a damn-near never-ending slew of top five finishes throughout the 2015 season. Despite lacking the raw talent of more "professional" drivers her age, Amy outwitted and outlasted rivals who on paper should always beat her.
Despite her non-stop slew of senselessly mangling English and random verbal tics together, it is tough to deny her almost endless stream of energy and determination. She behaves as if the world is rainbows, unicorns, and Koenigseggs belching rainbow unicorn farts from their exhausts, and it shows. Amy's growing racing talent is a unique opportunity for her to bring Meowa Powaa~ to a global stage, and perhaps lift the spirits of her future crew as well.
(...damn, I can't end her summary there? Stupid two-paragraph requirement. -- Ricardo Lionheart)
Amy "Super Amie" Radcliffe is what happens when a very hyperactive girl is allowed to run full-tilt into absolute nonsensical silliness. Her infectious enthusiasm stands out to the point where Amy's presence can be felt even at opposite ends of the Mulsanne Straight. Combine this with a virtually unbreakable commitment to her friends, family, fans, and the teams she races for, and you have a driver whose potential is limited by... well, something definitely much higher than the sky. Unfortunately for her, sheer energy can't win championships on their own.
With Amy's personality quirks, it seemed like she should have been the absolute last person to be involved in a racing career. After all, unlike many drivers as young as she is competing at this level, they had fought through the ranks of karts and Grand Prix racing to get where they are now. Amy, on the other hand, after getting her racing license at 14 was well-backed to buy her way into whatever race seats were available. Touring cars, club-level Lightweights, Spec Roadster, Petit Grand Prix... it didn't matter to her. Sometimes, even on the same day, Amy would be driving in two or even three entirely different disciplines at the same racing weekend meet.
At first, Amy was nothing more than an annoyance for the club regulars. She'd hound the mid-pack for a lap or two, then sharply drop off. But when more and more teams started to notice her pluckiness and enthusiasm for the sport, they started taking Amy as seriously as any other driver. Her teams' commitment to her "never-say-die" attitude would reward them with a damn-near never-ending slew of top five finishes throughout the 2015 season. Despite lacking the raw talent of more "professional" drivers her age, Amy outwitted and outlasted rivals who on paper should always beat her.
Despite her non-stop slew of senselessly mangling English and random verbal tics together, it is tough to deny her almost endless stream of energy and determination. She behaves as if the world is rainbows, unicorns, and Koenigseggs belching rainbow unicorn farts from their exhausts, and it shows. Amy's growing racing talent is a unique opportunity for her to bring Meowa Powaa~ to a global stage, and perhaps lift the spirits of her future crew as well.
Our Staff
Rei “Raiden” Takatsuki - Team Founder and Owner
Tripwire: @takatsuki_raiden
Gender: Male (he/him)
Age: 65
Birthdate: January 8th
Height: 5’ ft 5” in (165 cm)
Birthplace: Kameyama, Mie, Japan
Cody Miller - Team Manager
Tripwire: @raiden_codymiller
Gender: Male (he/him)
Age: 45
Birthdate: September 2nd
Height: 5’ ft 7” in (170 cm)
Birthplace: San Jose, California, United States of America
Eliana Wetzel - #11 Race Engineer
Tripwire: @mars_to_sirius
Gender: Female (she/her)
Age: 25
Birthdate: June 17th
Height: 5’ ft 6” in (169 cm)
Birthplace: Cologne, Germany
Interests: Cars, Working Out, Gardening, Metal Music
Harrison McCallum - #12 Race Engineer
Tripwire: @hmccallum_
Gender: Male (he/him)
Age: 30
Birthdate: October 15th
Height: 6’ ft 1” in (185 cm)
Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
Interests: Football, Partying
Anastasia Valentini - Engineer
Tripwire: @a_valentini
Gender: Female (she/her)
Age: 32
Birthdate: May 9th
Height: 5’ ft 8” in (172 cm)
Birthplace: Bologna, Italy
Interests: Swimming, Wine, Rom-Coms
Terrance Torrance - Engineer
Tripwire: @terrance_torrance
Gender: Male (he/him)
Age: 37
Birthdate: July 23rd
Height: 5’ ft 2” in (157 cm)
Birthplace: Charlotte, North Carolina, United States of America
Interests: Baseball, Beer, World History
Gottfried Schmitz - Engineer
Tripwire: @schmitz_g
Gender: Male (he/him)
Age: 40
Birthdate: November 12th
Height: 5’ ft 10” in (178 cm)
Birthplace: Stuttgart, Germany
Interests: Technology, reptiles
Julia Goldschmidt - PR/Social Media Manager
Tripwire: @fallen_butterfly
Gender: Female (she/her)
Age: 23
Birthdate: May 28th
Height: 5’ ft 6” in (169 cm)
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Interests: Art, Music, Nature, Festivals
