Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2019 i Mini Magazine

It certainly feels like the classic car world has come alive this month, and we‘ve been covering some miles. You’ll find reports from Brooklands Mini Day, the NEC Resto Show, the 77th Members Meeting at Goodwood, the AGBO Stages and we even got along to Bromyard Speed Festival to enjoy their recreation of the heist from the Italian Job which was wonderfully surreal and great fun. And of course, as the show season starts, we get to see the great projects that people have been working on over the winter. One newly finished Mini that you won’t have failed to notice (as it’s adorning the cover of this very mag…) is Stew Dixon’s incredible Minivan. This has been a very long term project, and it shows in the level of…

• Taking place on the 21-22 September 2019. This exciting tour kicks off in Gent, East Flanders on the Saturday. Taking a touristic route through stunning landscapes, before driving to ‘Les Pays des Collines’ and the Flemish Ardennes. The Saturday concludes with a celebratory dinner. On the Sunday morning the group will take their Minis to the ‘Golden Classic Festival’ in Lauwe for classic cars, live music and entertainment. This brilliant event also marks the end of the weekend. The cost for the weekend is 200 Euros (for one Mini and 2 people). This includes breakfast, a sandwich and dinner on the Saturday, hotel with closed parking, breakfast at the hotel and show entrance for the Sunday, as well as a run plate, goodie bag and souvenir before you leave…

Round 1 of the 2019 HRCR Mini Sport Cup, Jasper’s Bakeries AGBO Historic Stages run by Owen Motor Club got off to an electric start, with 22 minis starting making up half of the 44 starters, including four fathers competing against their sons, and six crews new to the championship, making this one of the most anticipated rallies for years! Ages ranged from 16 years old to well past 70 years young, proving again the appeal of the iconic classic Mini. The open class was completely and utterly dominated by father and son team John and Martin Cressey. Leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else, John and Martin finished the rally an entire minute ahead of the next crew – that just so happened to be Clive King and Anton…

What could be better than three halls of the NEC filled with gleaming classics? In our eyes, three halls of resto projects, barn finds, and live demos, all topped off with a smattering of gleaming classics. This year’s Classic Car & Restoration Show attracted 1300 display vehicles, 174 clubs, and 29,000 attendees. There was plenty to see for Mini enthusiasts. Clubs in attendance included the British Mini Club (with a part completed Mini Pick-up on display), Birmingham Mini Owners Club who were working on the paint of a saloon shell, and Minikits, who’s stand featured the Cars & Car Conversions Cox GTM and a Stimson Safari Six. On the Carole Nash Barn Find display, it was Steve Cato’s 1973 BMW E9 CSL that was crowned Barn Find of the Show,…

If you rush things they don’t come out right. I had to get every last detail perfect, so it couldn’t be a rush job. Slow and steady wins the race.” Stew Dixon tells me as he hurls his squealing bike-engined van down a series of country lanes at impressive speed. We’re just a stone’s throw from the location of this year’s IMM and the driving roads are ideal. Stew got hold of this 1980 W-reg Minivan at the turn of the millennium, but it went into storage until 3 years ago when he finally had the funds to restore it properly. When you see the flawless finish and attention to detail you can understand why Stew took his time. He discovered the van when he was working on a farm.…

Early in 1966 a remarkable Mini-powered car made its debut at the Racing Car Show in London. This was the Unipower GT - a low slung and mid-engined marvel that was soon dubbed ‘Mini Miura’ after the Lamborghini that had debuted only months earlier in Italy. The story of the Unipower is full of misfortune and what could have been. But it spawned at least one noteworthy sideline: the ESAP Minimach GT. ESAP stood for Equipaggiamenti Sportivi Auto Preparazione, which was an Italian accessory and tuning company based on the Via della Vittoria in Mirano not far from Venice. The shop was run by Gianfranco Padoan who was a keen amateur racer who’d been competing in an Austin Mini Cooper S since 1964. When Padoan read about the Unipower GT…

GOOD STEER Q I am the very proud owner of a 1992 1275cc SPI Cooper. After owning it for 18 years, I think its time for a suspension upgrade - Santa brought me a Mini Spares kit with adjustable tie bars and lower arms, and offset bottom arm bushes. Other modifications include Adjusta Rides, aluminium donuts, 5x12 wheels with 30mm offset and 165 Yokohamas. The car is purely used for recreation around the wonderful Eifel mountain roads around Nurburgring. It’s Mini heaven! I don’t tend to use it in town or on the autobahn, but this summer, I have a trip booked to the Alps via Stelvio Pass and Grossglockner. I am wondering what camber, caster and tracking settings I should use for some spirited driving on good to average…

If you remember from my last update a couple of issues ago most of the flatting and polishing of the new paintwork has been completed, but best of all, Neggy is now back at my house. We still need to repaint the doors and bonnet as when we flatted back with the wet and dry sandpaper, we went through to the printer in some places. We used all the Flame Red that we had, so tried to make it go too far. As a result, those parts will need to be repainted. Work will commence on this very soon. Whilst Neggy has been back in my own garage, it’s been a lot easier to find the time to crack on with the rebuild. Even just spending 30 minutes to an…

With the body shell now fully prepared, in its primer and back home, the main thing to do now is simply wait. I’ve been advised to allow the primer to harden out for at least five to six months, so that’s what I’m doing at the moment. In the meantime I’ve worked on some details such as the filler neck, which continues to prove a real strain but I hope to sort that soon. It’s also time to trial fit some of my earlier finds and purchases, but I will tell you more about that soon. As I wrote last time, I finally managed to track down one of the original crew members who raced the car at Le Mans back in 1966. There were still a few people involved…

Gary Carr, who’s a long-time member of the Kendal Mini Club, has an association with Minis that goes back decades. To when he was a very young child in fact - a time when he used to spend many an hour playing in his grandfather’s Minis. “My grandad and I were very close,” explains Gary. “He had lots of Minis over the years, and I spent hours in them, imagining I was driving, hence my interest. In fact he gifted me his Clubman Estate on my 17th birthday to learn to drive in. I’d loved to have been able to keep this car but I’d only just started an apprenticeship and simply didn’t have enough money to insure it and keep it on the road. Sadly, I had to sell…

With the streets closed off and the pavements lined with car enthusiasts, spirits were high on Sunday 7 April. Bromyard Speed Festival offers a rare chance to get close to an impressive array of cars and bikes as they hurtle through the narrow, winding streets. This year included a special treat for Mini fans with an homage to the Italian Job featuring a prison release with the Pakistani ambassador’s car and a bevvy of excitable ‘dolly birds’ kitted out in 60’s garb, as well as a re-enactment of the iconic car chase scene complete with stolen gold (lifted from the former Midlands bank at the corner of the High Street where the action took place), the legendary bus and of course, Coopers in red, white and blue. The Minis had…

Nick Swift claimed a dramatic last corner win in the Betty Richmond Trophy final for Mini saloons and variants. The accomplished Mini ace got too much wheelspin at the start, with pole man Ian Curley eking out a slender lead on the opening lap. Man on the move, however, was Nick Padmore with Swift dragging himself back into contention by the time they arrived at the chicane for the second time. Curley was bundled down the order as Swift led from Padmore with former Mini7 champion and self-confessed ‘oldest and fattest man in the race’ Jonathan Lewis assuming third place. Swift and Padmore swapped places repeatedly, lap after lap, as Lewis and Curley continually squabbled behind them. There was all to play for on the final lap, with Padmore barely…

It was only when a good friend of Mat’s asked him to help out with the Italian Job rally that he realised how much he loved working on Minis. In fact, he admits he still has a soft spot for the Clubman that he was spannering on in the rally and often thinks he would love to get his hands on it and get it working again. Not that he has time for that at the moment! For now, he is working on his own project - a Wolseley Hornet that he is in no rush to finish. Something tells us that no matter how much he gets done on this project, he’ll always find something else to do. This laidback attitude of Mat’s also extends to his chosen aesthetic,…

There have been countless engine conversions in the classic Mini over the years, some of them almost beyond the realms of possibility until you see the proof in the metal. Other than the well known full-on bike-engined conversions, almost always an engine with larger displacement seems to tick all the boxes. After all they're usually easier to source, cheaper to buy and come with ample horsepower as standard, Honda's VTEC engines being quite typical of this. Yet, the classic sporty Minis are well known for being rapid for their time and for using a small displacement engine to achieve this. In recent years, manufacturers have begun to revert to this clever theory but back in the 80's Daihatsu were one step ahead, when they launched their 1-litre turbo Daihatsu charade…

MOSS CLASSIC TRACKER AND IMMOBILISER £299 This hidden self-install tracker uses GPS & GSM to keep your classic safe. In the event of any unauthorised movement or tampering, you’ll receive SMS and email alerts, allowing you to track your vehicles movements. A remote relay enables you to easily immobilise your car by shutting down either your vehicles’ ignition or electric fuel pump. • 020 8867 2000 • www.moss-europe.co.uk MIROXOL METAL POLISH £8.50 If you’re looking for brilliant and lasting shine on your brightwork, this easy to use polish preserves and protects while offering outstanding lustre. Suitable for use on chrome, aluminium, stainless steel, nickel and more. It also resists rust, tarnishing and other effects of weathering. • 07920 483 461 • www.miroxol.co.uk MINI SPORT MINI COOPER LAUREL KEYRING £16.07 Part…

This month I fitted a winch to the trailer, and as uneventful as that may seem, it’s made a massive difference. I’m trying to be as self-sufficient as possible, and loading up the Mini had become a major hurdle. It’s a pain when the car’s parked on the trailer and the trailer parked in a small garage, as you’re a bit stuck when it comes to actually getting any work done. Driving the car up onto the deck is easy enough, but because of where the trailer wheels and arches sit, you can’t open the door to get out. Also, my neighbours aren’t overly keen on the noise of a race Mini warming up every weekend. Short of finding new neighbours, a quick call to Woodford Trailers and they supplied…

• This hardback book is a fitting tribute to the car that, as we know, revolutionised automotive design and forged the path for the modern front-wheel drive car. This fascinating read is packed full of information, insight and personality. Illustrated with a wealth of pictures from historic photos to promotional images. It covers the whole history of the Mini, starting with Alec Issigonis’ original concept, right up to today’s models. Written by award-winning writer and automotive expert Giles Chapman, who’s known for editing Classic & Sports Car, writing no less than 50 books and being the founder of The Royal Automobile Club’s Motoring Book of the Year Award. Whether you have expert knowledge or are a newcomer to the world of Minis, this attractive book is sure to teach you…

The 2019 Mini 7 Racing Club season kicked off in style on the Silverstone National circuit on Saturday 30 March, with the MG Car Club hosting two cracking races for the revived Winter Mini Challenge. In the opening thrash just after lunch, a strong entry was led into Copse by the Mini Miglias, and a fabulous four-car battle ensued between Colin Peacock, Kane Astin, Joe Thompson (in his first ever Miglia race) and Mark Sims. When the latter dropped out near the end, and then Astin and Thompson got a little out of shape at Becketts on the last lap, Peacock squeezed through to grab the overall win. In the Mini Se7en category, Andrew Deviny got the drop on his rivals at the start to hold on out in front…

The show that starts the 2019 season didn’t disappoint with the quantity and quality of Minis on show, and the sun even came out! March is an odd month weather-wise, as one day it can be boiling hot, the next wet and cold. So Mini owners - just like the sun - must have been smiling on 24 March at the Brooklands Mini Day, as it was warm and sunny. In fact, I reckon the weather might have encouraged more owners to release their classic Minis from winter slumber, as there was a big queue waiting to get through the entrance - even before the 9.30 am start. As usual, this show didn’t disappoint, with a great selection of Minis on show, stretched around the remains of the historic banked…

5th May 2019 ECMC Spring Charity Mini Run The annual charity run with the East Coast Mini Club heads from Kings Lynn to Stonham Barns, taking you through some of the most beautiful Norfolk and Suffolk countryside. www.eastcoastmini.club 5th & 6th May MK1 Action Day 6 The best “open track” event of the year at Blyton Park. Over 50 fantastic cars on the track each day and countless Minis on display. Including prizes and special guests. Contact: http://mk 1-performance-conversions.co.uk/action-day.htm 3rd-6th May CMC Riviera Run Featuring a drive in movie, rolling road, tuning tent, show and shine, Mini rocker racing and entertainment for the children. There is also the Sound off Loudest Exhaust & Stereo Competitions and prizes for the best fancy dress too. www.cmcrivierarun.co.uk 12th May British Mini Day British…

My first car was actually a Hyundai,” confesses Jason. “But, since I was a young child, it has always been my dream to own a Mini. Fortunately, in recent years, I’ve been lucky to own a few. However, what I really wanted was to create a Mini that would stand out from the rest.” Looking at this Mini, it’s fair to say that Jason has indeed created a one-of-a-kind and it most definitely sets itself apart from the crowd. That said, the plans he originally had in mind for this 1981 Mini, which he bought in April 2018 via Facebook were somewhat different. CHANGE OF PLANS “I planned to use it as a run-around, whilst restoring my 1983 Mini. But, the more I looked at the 1981 Mini, I began…

“Even once you’ve got it functioning again, don’t consider the work to be complete.” Pulling a Mini out of long term storage can be a daunting prospect, especially if you have no idea of its history. But it can also be a fun and rewarding experience - breathing life back into something which everyone else has written off. It can also be done reasonably quickly, as long as the car in question isn’t a total basket case. This is our Riley Elf, bought from our mate Alex, so we’re lucky enough to know its history. He bought the Elf around twelve years ago, enjoyed it very briefly before a major MoT fail, and has since moved it around his storage, trying to find time in between his many other projects…

The hole in the front driver’s side footwell of the Elf had continued to grow as I trimmed away, looking for solid original steel. The replacement panel I’d picked up was still far bigger than I needed, but I wanted to make sure I didn’t make the fatal mistake of trimming the new steel down, only to find more perforated old steel just outside the repair when I set to with the welder and the hammer. The surface of the floor - even the sound areas - is not good. I’m guessing the adhesion of the paint was never great, so it’s been gently corroding since 1969. I prepared the edges of the repair with a soft disc in the angle grinder, back to bright clean metal. And then gave…