Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2016 i Mini Magazine

Season's greetings! Here at Mini Magazine we wish all of our readers a very merry Christmas and a Mini-centric New Year. The magazine celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2016, and to get you in the mood this issue covers the entire Mini spectrum, from mild to wild! In fact, the diversity of the Mini scene is encapsulated by our cover feature alone. There may be about 30 years and more than 150bhp between Paul Marsh's 1964 MkI and his awesome Hayabusa hybrid, but both are equally as prized. To add to the mix we've also got a lovely modified MkI complete with 1071 Cooper S power, a trio of Mini estates and a saloon undergoing a Clubmanfronted makeover. But that's not all. We were lucky enough to catch up with…

One of our favourite car museums has taken on a new identity as the Heritage Motor Centre becomes the British Motor Museum. The rebranding is the culmination of a period of big change at the Gaydon venue, as it undertakes a major refurbishment of its museum as well as unveiling a £4 million Collections Centre. An investment of £1.1 million by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust will transform the museum, which closed to the public from November 30 to allow the work to take place. The changes will result in a much more visually exciting and interactive experience, with a new visitor entrance and distinctive new themed zones. For the real car geek, it’s the oddball prototypes and projects that are the real draw, and the new Collections Centre…

History was made at Brands Hatch in 1966, with Bob Fox winning the first ever Mini 7 Racing Club race. In 2016, the club will mark the 50th anniversary of that fabulous occasion with its most exciting calendar ever. Not only will the Mini Spares-supported Mini Se7en and Miglia Challenges visit iconic circuits in the UK, there will also be a very special end-of-year celebration at Zandvoort in Holland. Kicking off the first two rounds of the 16-round championship is the ever popular Castle Combe Easter Bank Holiday Monday meeting, this year on Monday March 28. The championship battle is picked up again with rounds three and four at Brands Hatch, where the club joins the British GT and Formula 4 runners for its first race on the iconic Grand…

Name: Dennis Santarinala Car: 1963 Austin Cooper 997 Location: California • My car has been in California since the early ‘60s, which explains the red tail lights. It’s been rebuilt to retain ‘60s aesthetics with locally-available parts; I’m not a purist but it's still beautiful in my eyes. Right now the car is being volunteered once a month to Greg Quirin at Clairemont High School so the kids get to work on it, doing proper alignments and simple maintenance stuff. The wheels are 10-inch Minilites with Yokohama A008 tyres, there’s Lucas and Marchall lights up front and the car still has its original floors. There’s obvious dents on the jacking points, which tells a lot about its old history of non-stop repairs! It did have a big sound system but…

Name: Joe Deacon Model: 1989 Mini City Location: Newcastle • I’ve owned my Mini for 14 years and it’s recently had a full nut-and-bolt restoration. That included having the subframes stripped and powder-coated, plus all new bearings, bushes and suspension components. The floors were also stripped to bare steel and repainted, and the bootlid was swapped for a MkI type along with the grille. I also replaced the previous Ford Ka dash for a carbon-fibre two-clock Mini dash and fitted a full Safety Devices rollcage. Most of the mods, like the de-seaming, were carried out many years ago by my father and I, as he was a panel beater. I’ve now changed my mind on the smooth arches so they’ll be exchanged for Sportpack types. Under the bonnet is a…

Of all the famous people you’d expect to meet at the London to Brighton Mini Run, Carl Cox is surely an unlikely candidate. Carl has performed around the world in a career that’s spanned almost 34 years, specialising in house and techno music, winning an incredible range of DJ awards along the way and hosting his own stage at numerous big-name festivals each season. As his 15th year as a resident DJ at Ibiza’s iconic Space club approaches, his music career and successful record labels show no signs of slowing up. So with an image of Carl driving exotic supercars off into the sunset, we were as surprised as anyone to hear how much he enjoyed doing last year’s L2B with a 998cc Mini City. Level of respect at an…

OVERSILLS Q I’m looking at buying a good Mini for weekend fun and the odd holiday maybe. I want to buy the best condition Mini I can, as I’m not much of a mechanic. One thing that keeps coming up again and again is oversills, as they are said to be the kiss of death. How would I spot if a Mini has oversills fitted, and can it be sorted if the car is cheap enough? Ryan Murphy A I am not entirely sure that ‘oversill’ is technically a correct description of the panel. There are narrow sills and wide sills. There are also repair sills. I think it is the latter that have been renamed as oversills by those that have abused them when fitting them, and caused much…

We keep a watchful eye on the rising values of Minis, but ask Dean Williams about his beautiful MkI restoration and the level of inflation seems absurd. “When I originally found the car on eBay in late 2007 I won it for £360, but I’ve just been advised to insure it for £15,000!” he says. “It sounds mad but people have also told me the 1071 Cooper S engine under the bonnet could be worth up to £10,000 alone. I’m not sure how true that is – either way I’d never sell it now.” Obviously it’s easy to get carried away with such stories down the pub, but there’s clearly more to it than first meets the eye. Dean’s initial buy, although well priced, was a far cry from the…

• After many rumours, official government blog Inside DVLA has confirmed that, since April 2015, vehicles manufactured before January 1 1975 have been legally able to display the older-style black and silver numberplates. Previously, the DVLA has always stated that yellow/white reflective plates must be fitted to cars registered after January 1 1973, but earlier this year the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBVHC) revealed that the DVLA had linked the end date for black plates to the historic vehicle tax class date. However, this wasn’t confirmed by the government until its blog update was released on November 17. To qualify, your pre-1975 vehicle must be registered within the ‘historic vehicles’ tax class. This isn’t done automatically though, so if your car is not already in the historic class…

• The date for Mini in the Park 2016 has been announced. The popular event will return to Santa Pod Raceway on August 14, and will feature a great combination of live action and static attractions. A brand new Mini in the Park website has just been launched, which can be found at www.minishow.co.uk and includes all the details about what’s going on, plus the chance to save money by buying entry tickets in advance. Expect all the usual attractions, including Run What Ya Brung sessions on the legendary Santa Pod quarter mile, Jet Minis, clubs displays, a bustling retail village and the pre-show party, with more activities yet to be added. Meanwhile, the 2016 date has also been confirmed for MITP’s sister show, Mini World Live. It will take…

• Mini Fun Club Belgium has released more details about the forthcoming International Mini Meeting, which will take place near Lommel in the north east of Belgium from May 12-16. You’ll need to get in quick if you want to pay 67 Euros for a weekend ticket, as the price will rise to 77 Euros from December 15. The club is encouraging those who plan to travel by ferry to book a crossing as soon as possible, with connections from Hull to Zeebrugge already very busy. The club has also reiterated that dogs are welcome, toilet and shower facilities will be plentiful and children under 16 will be admitted for free (no goodie bag or T-shirt supplied). Currently 1700 people have registered to attend! More information about the event programme…

As the classic car scene continues to prosper, so does the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show. This year’s blockbusting event saw a record 68,790 visitors make their way to Birmingham’s NEC for the UK’s biggest indoor classic car event, nearly 4000 more than last year. There was more exhibition space then ever before too, thanks to a new layout held in the NEC’s five biggest halls. More than 1800 cars from over 230 vehicle clubs went on display over the three days, as well as host of trade stands and other activities. The new Pride of Ownership competition proved to be a popular attraction, and there was also the chance to see Edd China and Mike Brewer of Wheeler Dealers fame live on stage. As ever, Minis played a major…

January 10 2016 Wirral to Llandudno Run Wirral Mini’s popular annual run from Bromborough on the Wirral to Llandudno, via the picturesque Great Orme. It’s free to enter, but the club encourages the purchase of run plaques as this has allowed it to donate thousands to its chosen charities. 150 cars are expected. www.wirralminis.com January 14-16 2016 Autosport International Huge annual motorsport-themed show taking place at Birmingham’s NEC. Expect some Mini content, plus traders, numerous displays, live action, top personalities and more. www.autosportinternational.com January 22-24 2016 Mini Winter Rally Fancy an adventure amongst the snowy Swiss Alps? Mini Club Romand’s long-running annual event sees Mini crews from all over Europe take part in a relaxed competitive rally. mini-winter-rally.blogspot.co.uk January 31 2016 British Mini Fair The largest indoor Mini event in…

PROJECT PROFILE THE OWNER NAME: Ed King AGE: 46 OCCUPATION: Plumber LOCATION: Worthing THE CAR: CAR: Modified sal oon START CONDITION: A running car in need of body repairs CONDITION NO W: Rolling shell TIME TAKEN SO FAR: 12 months ESTIMATED TIME OF COMPLETION: ASAP Are you a fan of the Ford-inspired Clubman front? We know Mini enthusiasts who wouldn’t have their cars any other way, with some fortunate enough to have two or three Clubmans, estates or 1275 GTs in their collection. Ed King from West Sussex admits that although his car currently sports a more traditional round nose, it’s a Clubman that he’s always wanted. He’s in luck, you might say, as the recent strip down has revealed dubious front-end panel fitment and wheel arches trimmed like a…

The impact that the Austin Seven Countryman and Morris Mini Traveller made on British motorists back in 1960 is often forgotten. At that time many of its UK-built rivals clearly dated from the previous decade: the Austin A35 Countryman still retained trafficators, and the Ford 100E Escort was actually fitted with vacuum-powered wipers. But the impact of these new roomier Minis went beyond looking more contemporary than the likes of the Standard 10 Companion or the Hillman Husky – they were front-wheel-drive, well priced and, above all, far roomier than their external dimensions indicated. And so, in celebration we have gathered three generations of the country’s finest small estate car. TALK OF THE COUNTRY The oldest member of our trio is Richard Mortlock’s restored January 1961 Austin Seven Countryman, fitted…

You’d think we’d have learnt our lesson. The last Mini we arranged to buy from overseas nearly killed us and needed a full mechanical overhaul when it finally reached England. But on the plus side, it was an Italian-made Innocenti, and as such, was well worth the heartache. Back then we bought a Mini from abroad simply because we wanted one, but things were a little different this time. Our task was to find a raffle car to be given away at the 2016 Mini in the Park event. Of course, the simple way would’ve been to find one in the UK, tidy it up and have done with it – much like we did with the black Cooper last year. But pickings were fairly slim within our budget this…

• Lancaster Insurance, the headline sponsor of the recent Classic Motor Show, is to restore a classic MkII Morris Mini in a bid to generate funds for a major cancer charity. The one family-owned 1969 Super DeLuxe was sourced through the new Classic Mini Finder site (www.classicminifinder.co.uk), before being unveiled at the NEC. The car has covered a mere 33,000 miles from new, and remains completely original. It will undergo a bare-metal but sympathetic restoration, with the intention of retaining as many of the factory features as possible. All the work required to bring the car back to its former glory will be carried out by a team of technicians at the MG Owners’ Club, led by workshop manager Ian Wallman. Once completed, the Mini will be offered for sale…

• Following two successful years since it was revived after almost five decades, details for the forthcoming 74th Goodwood Members’ Meeting have been announced. Taking place on March 19-20, the event will feature a host of racing and demonstrations, with everything from pre-war cars to Group C Le Mans prototypes. Harking back to the 1970 and ‘80s, the Gerry Marshall Trophy caters for Group 1 touring cars that raced up to 1982, and will see the Swiftune 1275 GTs battle against Ford Capris and Chevrolet Camaros. And if that isn’t enough, there’s the Whitmore Cup, which caters for saloon cars raced from 1960-1966. Nick Swift will be looking to repeat his outright win from the 72nd Members Meeting in 2014 with the Swiftune works car. For more information and ticket…

The November Sun Run is a fundraising classic car touring assembly held in celebration of historic rallying. Nearly 70 vehicles took part in this year’s four-day event on November 3-6, which was open to all cars built before 1984. The event is organised by members of Auto Club Eclance, a classic car club situated in the Aube Department of the Champagne-Ardennes region in north-eastern France. The entry list included Minis, Lotus Cortinas, Morgans, Triumphs, MGBs, Porsches, a Volvo Amazon and the oldest car of all – a 1928 Model A! The varied route covered everything from climbing the cols of the Vosges, Jura and Alpine mountains to the winding roads of the sleepy villages underneath. While not a competitive event in the form of timed sections, regularities or speed tests,…

Japanese Minis. I really enjoyed the feature on Turtle Trading’s red racing Mini in the December issue. As a huge fan of the Japanese Mini scene, I’d really like to see more feature cars from Japan – the detail is incredible, and they just seem to have an almost effortless knack of making them look amazing. I know there are a few groups on Facebook dedicated to Minis in Japan, but you can’t always get a decent insight that way. So, can we have more articles on Japan please? I’m hoping to go myself in the New Year. Marc Bates We love the Japanese Mini scene too, and are very keen for another visit. In the meantime we hope to have more Japanese Minis for you very soon. That’s education…

For something based on a car just 10-feet long, it’s incredible how diverse the Mini scene really is. At one end you’ve got those who prefer their Minis beautifully preserved as original, and at the other all hell breaks loose with some truly awe-inspiring performance creations. Broadly speaking, Mini fans will lean one way or the other, but Paul Marsh is able to cover both ends of the spectrum with just two cars – one still almost exactly as the factory intended, and one that’s all-out bonkers. Chalk and cheese, as he describes them. But that’s not the only break from the norm. Common wisdom would have it that, if you’re going to build an immaculate Mini with just under 200bhp of mid-mounted Suzuki Hayabusa power going to the rear…

TIME One day COST Complete interiors (front seats, rear covers, doorcards and subframes) from £468, carpets from £35, mats: £31.67, second-hand parts: prices vary. CONTACT Huddersfield Spares www.minispares-online.co.uk DIFFICULTY Given that the most fun part of Mini ownership is driving, and the last time we checked the driver sat inside the car, it’s perhaps surprising how many people neglect their interior. In some cases the standard seats are very good, and we’re all for originality if you’ve got a rare example you want to preserve. On the other hand though, the majority of Minis offer plenty of scope for improvement. Changing the interior is a great way to personalise your Mini, and add some extra comfort and support into the bargain. Not only that, but you can achieve a big…

A crucial part of how the idler gear operates and maintains reliability in service is down to tolerances and running clearances. This is something Rover turned a blind eye on from around 1992. This was because it was running down parts stocks for the Mini, so many cars, especially those from 1996 onwards, ended up fitted with what was left rather than what was necessary. The consequence was excessive end float, culminating in trashed idler gears and damage to the transfer gear and gearbox casings, not to mention the expensive repair bills. As testament to that, every post injection-era engine I’ve ever stripped has had just such a problem – excessive clearance. Too tight a clearance means the idler gear will either seize solid when it gets hot, or destroy…