Mini Magazine December 2020

As I write this, the clocks are about to change and we're about to slip into the winter. Short days and plummeting temperatures might not sound so good, but the plus side, it gives us all a great excuse to disappear into our sheds and garages, tackle those jobs both big and small that we've been putting off, and know that our cars will be all the better for it when the brighter weather, and the show season, return in Spring. To bring you little inspiration, you need look no further than the feature cars in this month's magazine - from Mike Ockwell's gorgeous race-inspired MkI to the wonderfully thought through and executed Clubman of Will Harris - which you may remember as the subject of an 'On The Job'…

It’s all too easy to forget just how much the Mini has changed over the years. True, from its 1959 inception to its swansong in 2000, the fundamental and defining characteristics remained unchanged. Characteristics such as the brilliant use of interior space, class-leading handling, peppy performance and sheer ‘joie de vivre’. Yet, due to the ever-changing dictates of fashion, corporate changes/ amalgamations, refinements and improvements and a proliferation of different variants, it became ever-more distanced from its roots. Back in the Mini’s infancy, during those formative first years, things were, quite literally, much simpler. SIMPLER TIMES In the very early days, if you wanted your Mini saloon-shaped (the Minivan arrived in June 1960, with the Countryman and Traveller following three months later), you could only choose from the Austin Seven…

BODY 1961 Austin Seven Deluxe. Group 2 arches. Tartan Red. ENGINE Spamspeed 1310cc, fully-balanced and lightened, Stage 3 unleaded head, 10.5:1 compression ratio, Kent Megadyne MD266 camshaft, HIF44 SU carburettor, K&N filter, lightweight flywheel, centre main bearing strap, sports coil, uprated plugs. Uprated radiator.Power: 90bhp(est.) SUSPENSION Rubber cone. Gas dampers, Hi-Los. TRANSMISSION Standard four speed manual. BRAKES AP Racing 7.5 inch discs, Minifins, Goodridge braided hoses. WHEELS & TYRES Dunlop 4.5x10 inch reverse rims with 165/70/10 Yokohama A008 tyres. INTERIOR Speedwell bucket seats, original rear seats, Newton Commercial trim. Securon harnesses, John Aley rear cage, Motolita steering wheel, rev counter, combined oil/ water gauge, BMC Jet Fire Extinguisher.…

Can you see yourself behind the wheel of a beautiful new build classic Mini? If you’ve got the money to invest in a show stopper, but lack the time or experience then you might want to talk to a man with 25 years experience of racing and building classic Minis. Yorkshire based Acespeed Historic Motorsport have launched their own new builds modern classics for the road, under the name Acespeed R. Each car is built to the client’s individual specifications whether they opt for classic road, race or rally style their car will be defined by their choice of body style, interior trim, lighting, engine tune and paintwork. Andy Harrison, the man behind the company, says “New build Minis have become viable for anyone looking for a great town car…

If you’re interested in Works Minis then you’ll love ‘Works Minis In Detail’ the upcoming hardback book by Robert Young. Available from early November and featuring 840 photos – many of them never seen before. This book is essential reading for any Mini enthusiast, featuring build details of each car and drawn from factory build sheets and information on when cars were reshelled and identities were swapped. After analysing hundreds of contemporary race and rally reports, lifelong Mini enthusiast Young was able to include the details of the events entered and the drivers for each car. The result of years of meticulous research, this is the most in-depth study ever published. As the Mini Cooper Register’s ex-works registrar, club chairman and for many years archivist, Young is well placed to…

Upcoming shows for you and your car • After an almost event free 2020, the Covid-19 crisis is still restricting what we can manage as a community, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel… organisers are drawing up plans for the safe return of events next year. MINI FAIR AT BINGLEY HALL Plans are well under way to ensure that everyone’s favourite season opener can go ahead. The BMC are keeping a close eye on developments but are optimistic that they’ll be able to carry off the usual great event. www.britishminiclub.co.uk WIRRAL TO LLANDUDNO RUN Wirral Mini Club hope to stage their annual season opener, the Wirral to Llandudno Run, on Sunday the 10th of January 2021. The run will only go ahead if Covid-19 rules allow. Special…