12/23/2004 - Sahar Hassani has already taken us on a Behind the Scenes trip with the likes of Michael Galati, Bill Auberlen, Randy Pobst, and more. In this installment, Sahar takes a look at Dr. Osborn.
Behind the Scenes with Dr. Osborn Picture Album
Winner of the 2003 Speed World Challenge Jim Cook award, Dr. Jim Osborn is committed to both winning and serving the medical needs of the underserved. Owner of the Chili Pepper Racing Team, Jim Osborn is a regular in the Speed World Challenge Touring Car series in his No. 24 Remote Area Medical/Light House Family Retreat/T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital/BMW 325Ci. This season, Chili Pepper Racing will be campaigning the second Autosport Development/Pontiac GTO in the Speed World Challenge GT series. Jim first began road racing automobiles in 1996 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the BMWCCA Club Racing Program. His racing career has included dirt track and asphalt Karting, Solo II, and amateur club racing with NASA, POC, and BMWCCA. In 2002, Osborn joined forces with Jeff McMillin in the Speed World Challenge Touring Series, which marked his entry into professional racing. As Dr. Osborn prepares for the 2005 racing season, I had the opportunity to meet with the young doctor.
Dr. Osborn is not your typical orthopaedic spine surgeon, his long hours in the operating room do not stop him from racing cars or riding motorcycles. In fact, the good-natured doctor always has a smile on his face and a funny story to share with his patients, friends and family. His small home overlooks the Tennessee River, where he frequently takes boat rides during non-race weekends. His first home project was to enlarge his garage to fit his collection of cars (2005 Dually Chevy Pickup, 2001 BMW Z8, 2001 BMW E46 325i World Challenge Touring Car, 1999 BMW M coupe, 1989 BMW E30 325 race car), motorcycles (2005 Yamaha WR 250 F, 2004 BMW K1200 RS, 2001 Aprilla Mila RSV-R) and boat (2001 25 foot Cobalt speedboat). "I came from a GM background," reported Osborn. "My grandparents owned Chevrolet, Pontiac and Cadillacs dealership in Tennessee and we always had a hot new car every few months. For me, switching from BMW to Pontiac is like coming home," he explained. "When I was a kid, my parents would go 130-140 miles/hour on the interstate in our new car. We had a great time." His love of cars and going fast continued throughout his life, sometimes landing him into trouble. "Three days after receiving my driver's license, I received a speeding ticket which landed me in jail for a few hours. My father had to bail me out," grinned Osborn. At the age of 18, Osborn started Carolina Floor Coverings' to help pay for his college and his car, a classic Porsche 912. While in school, he competed in autocross and driver's schools in his 1974 BMW 2002. Racing soon followed "My brother, John, helped me put in the suspension and racing motor. " Medical school did not deter his passion for cars or racing. While completing his Orthopedic Surgery Residency Jim served as the Medical Director for the So Cal SCCA. With sponsorship from BMW of Riverside, the local dealership near his Medical school Jim began racing under the banner of Chili Pepper Racing (www.chilipepperracing.org).
Once Jim began racing in the Pro ranks Chili Pepper Racing became an official entity. "My brother John has always been part of my car craziness. I am never too sure whether he is challenging me to do better or just seeing how far he can push me" joked Jim. "When we were growing up he always helped maintain our motorcycles and helped me work on what ever car I had and there were several. He seems to enjoy working on the cars as much as I do driving them." As the crew chief for Chili Pepper Racing, John continues to look out for his little brother. "John is a bright, hard working, exceptionally great guy. I know that the car will be the best. He takes great care of the car because he knows my life is on the line and we are both very excited about racing the Pontiac GTO," stated Jim. As the 2005 racing season approaches, Osborn looks forward to working with David Moxlow, President of Trenton Forging/Autosport Development, and Stu Hayner. "David Moxlow is committed to building great race cars and I'm excited to become Stu Hayner's teammate. It's going to be an incredible racing season, where we have a great chance of winning the championship," reported Osborn. Jim is up for the challenge in competing in the GT series. "The difference between the Touring BMW and the GT Pontiac GTO is unbelievable. The touring car is a more production-based car, where the GT car is more advanced, more technology driven. Although there is not much difference in cornering speed, there is a huge difference in the straight-away speeds. The feeling of acceleration is unbelievable," he explained.
Chili Pepper Racing continues to focus on the medical needs of the underserved by joining forces with three charities: Remote Area Medical (RAM) (www.ramusa.org), Light House Family Retreat (www.lighthousefamilyretreat.org) and T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital (www.erlanger.org). In 2004, Chili Pepper Racing helped raise approximately $16,000 for the Lighthouse Family Retreat by hosting fundraisers and a celebrity motorcycle ride at Road Atlanta. "CPR couldn't do this without the help of SCCA, the track, and the track managers," smiled Osborn. "We are very lucky to be working with so many caring and giving people." In 2005, Chili Pepper Racing is working with RAM to organize a free medical clinic at the Sebring International Racetrack on the weekend prior to the 12 Hours of Sebring event. "Sebring is an underserved area that recently went through three hurricanes. It was natural to bring RAM to Sebring," smiled Osborn. "Sebring is a very special place with great people and we feel very fortunate to be a part of it."
