Indholdsfortegnelse for August 2021 i Mini Magazine

It felt like it was never going to happen. It seems strange that as Mini owners, one of the most important things we doesn't involve not driving or working on our cars, but parking them up. Although admittedly, parking them up at a venue with hundreds of other like minded souls... So his month, it felt like the scene began to breathe and live again, and despite the fact that we're still living under some restrictions, car enthusiasts of every persuasion have started to gather once again. In the issue, we have reports from the Mini Cooper Register's National Day at Beaulieu, and the first Mini Festival at Prescott Hillclimb. Plus more from other events that our regular contributors managed to get along to. It's just fabulous to see people…

• A brand-new discovery+ Original follows Richard Hammond through the highs and lows of starting an all new classic car restoration business. The workshop is being built, the experts have been hired - now it’s up to Richard to bring in the work. This six episode original docuseries will follow Richard Hammond as he attempts to start a classic car restoration and repair business near his home in Herefordshire. It will feature local characters and Richard’s family as he ropes them in to support him, striving to learn the business from the ground up while putting his money and reputation on the line. Coming to discovery+ later this year, Richard’s new business hopes to wheel in an exciting range of classic cars to restore to glory. The series is not…

Due to the uncertainty surrounding Covid, please be aware that events are subject to change. Keep an eye on the organisers’ websites to stay up to date with any developments. July 11th BMC & Leyland Show Popular event at British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire. Displays, club stands, traders and free museum entry with your ticket. www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk July 17-18th Coventry Italian Job Re-enactment of the infamous Italian Job sewer scene. Participating Minis must be pre-registered. www.coventryitalianjob.com July 17-18th Classic Nostalgia at Shelsley Walsh This year marks the 10th anniversary of the popular annual event, which features a spectacular blend of competitive action on the famous hill climb, historic-car demonstrations, classic-car displays, trade stands and plenty of vintage-themed entertainment. July 17-19th Mini Moke Club International A whole weekend devoted to the Moke,…

Name: Mick Smith Car: 1962 Morris Minivan From: Warminster Mick and his wife, Maggie, are no strangers to the National Day at Beaulieu, having attended the first Mini Cooper Register Day some 40 years ago and every one since. So missing out in 2020 was a blow and meant they made sure of attending this year. Mick was a truck mechanic, before retiring aged 60, but he’s been owning and restoring Minis for himself and others for all his working life. “I’ve had Pick-ups, Travellers, Coopers and S’s,” he says, “everything apart from a Moke, but I did own an Ant once! I still carried on with Minis during a six-year work placement in Australia,” he adds. His current, and only Mini, is this perfect one-previous-owner 1962 van, bought and…

Having owned six, Mike Gower is well-versed in all things classic Mini and like many such enthusiasts, his first car was also a Mini. “It was a red 1987 Mayfair,” he recalls smiling. “I bought it when I was just fifteen and spent the time leading up to my driving test, rebuilding it. I had a huge amount of help from Hunters Garage, and Mini 7 racer Max Hunter. Max went to the same school as me. Funnily enough, later on, I bought a tuned Mini from Dave Banwell, another Mini 7 racer.” Each of Mike’s Minis proved to be fun to own and fun to drive. Yet, for quite some time, since he started grasstracking in fact, Mike had been harbouring a desire to own a more extreme version.…

B-G RACING FOLDING MOBILE WORK STAND £239.99 The B-G Folding Mobile Work Stand is the perfect convenient workmate to have around the garage. It’s divided working surface helps keep tools and parts organised. It also provides an ideal work surface to keep tools within easy reach. It folds down for easy storage. The high-grade mild steel construction and clever folding design gives it a working capacity of 30 kgsThe durable silver-grey powder coated finish makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. • 01268 764411 • www.b-gdirect.com MINI SPARES GENUINE MkIII MINI DOOR ASSEMBLIES £250.74 per side Mini Spares is now producing door frames with inner skins for classic Mini MkIII models onwards. The frames are supplied without outer skins giving the customer the option of fitting an original…

When I awakened my faithful blue Mini Sprite from a two-year slumber to take part in the E-Type Club’s Ultimate Italian Job Tour in 2019, I confidently asserted that I wouldn’t leave it sitting idle for an extended period again. But then a certain pandemic occurred, so when the car was required to reprise its role as the blue Mini from the film for the club’s E-Type 60 bash at Shelsley Walsh, I once again had to rescue it from an extended stay in the garage. “I didn’t think the car would be needed in its Italian Job guise again” Why was a Mini invited to another E-Type event in any case, you may ask? Well, in addition to the links with original 1969 film in which the Mini starred…

Having been around them since a very young age, Mat Jones has long-coveted a classic Mini. “My dad had a Mini when I was very young,” recalls Mat fondly. “He used to keep it in my nan’s garage. I remember sitting in, trying all of the controls, turning the wheel, making engine noises, pretending to drive. My enthusiasm for Minis never waned. In fact, as I got older, the desire to own one grew stronger.” That desire culminated in the purchase of the Mini you see pictured here. It was quite a find and has been turned into quite a car. Mind you, its purchase involved some sacrifices. “I was rallying a Nissan Micra at the time, in Formula 1000,” explains Mat. “However, I found myself becoming increasingly drawn to…

• This new exhibition from the British Motor Museum 'Factor Us In' will open on 22 July and is the culmination of a two year project to uncover the fascinating stories behind the motor industry and of the people who worked and lived around it. In a year where the sense of community is more important than ever, the Museum wants to encourage local people to engage with the history on their doorstep, of an industry that has dominated the region for more than a century. ‘Factor Us In’ puts the spotlight firmly on how the motor industry in the West Midlands affected people, the local landscape and surrounding businesses. The exhibition will look at the societal impact of the factories, the highs and lows of their production, as well…

Despite the continuing (if rapidly loosening) restrictions, Prescott Hillclimb was alive to the sound of tuned A-series and screaming straight cuts on the 22 May. Thanks to the efforts of the team at Prescott, and the inspired thinking and hard work of The Sporting Minis (aka Pete Flanagan), a broad range of Minis of all types took to the historic Gloucestershire track, a fitting tribute to mark the 60th anniversary of the Cooper. Competing in six classes, the drivers were quick to show that it may have been while since they could let fly, but neither they or their Minis had grown rusty. Some highly impressive times were set over the challenging, technical course despite the weather throwing down the gauntlet halfway through the day. A downpour saw drivers quickly…

Send ‘Your Minis’ pictures to minimag.ed@kelsey.co.uk BUMPY RIDE Name: Tony Wood Car: 1997 Sportspack Location: Colchester, Essex • This red ‘97 Sportspack is Tony’s 4th classic. The first two cost him £250 in the ‘90s, then he got his hands on a British Open for a few grand before breaking the bank for Miller in 2020. It went to Japan to be later repatriated in 2008. It then was kept as a show piece in a showroom in Brighton, coming out for the L2B runs and MoTs until Tony bought it. He thinks it’s a joy to drive, but admits that his wife is still getting used to the bouncy ride! They’ve done a few meetings, their favourite was Maldon in Essex, as there was plenty to see and do…

Everyone likes a spotlessly clean car, but not everyone has the skill, patience and products to achieve the kind of show-quality shine we all dream about. So, to give you a hand, we’ve spoken to some of the top detailing experts to compile a list of the must-have products that will be perfect to tackle each of the areas of your Mini, and get them looking at their best. And not only that, but we’ve also strapped them to a water board and interrogated them – using the two bucket method, of course – to reveal their top insider tips to achieving the kind of results usually only reserved for the pros. So, don the marigolds, dig out the wash mitts and prepare to take out your shades, because things…

I got to Prescott for the Mini Festival and got put in with all the exotic stuff due to amalgamation of classes. This being the first event of its kind there, it had a few teething troubles and it meant that the scrutineer was expecting my car to be proper competition spec. So I couldn’t have a competitive run and had to make do with a “fun run” which was fun in that I wasn’t allowed to have my helmet on as it might encourage me to go too fast! However it was a great start to what should be a regular attraction as its one of the few places that’s accessible and spectators can see the cars in action close up. However, my sights were set on Harewood two…

With four classes, the Fastest Mini in the World race has got something for everyone. The classes have been simplified to accomodate any racing derivative of the classic Mini: • Class A - No engine restrictions. Aerodynamic additions permitted. • Class B - any engine <1600cc. Aerodynamic additions permitted. • Class C - A-series engine >1300cc. No aerodynamic additions permitted. • Class D - A-series engine <1300cc. No aerodynamic additions permitted. This mixed grid provides interest from iconic Classic Mini FIA racers and Mini saloon/kit cars with highly powered A-series engines to the adrenalin seekers with the Mini super saloons, maxing out at the top on the outright Mini Spaceframe speed machines. Each of the cars in these classes, in its own right, is a highly developed racer with brilliant…

What a day for the return of some sort of normality for the Mini scene. Thankfully, the Government’s road map out of Coronavirus restrictions led to the lanes of the New Forest on June 13th and the beautiful grounds of Beaulieu Motor Museum. This must have felt like the popping of a multitude of champagne cork for the Mini Cooper Register as it welcomed a sell-out crowd of Mini attendees for an eagerly-awaited celebration of the 60th Birthday of The Mini Cooper. That bubbly (and all other drinks) had to be served ice-cold too, as Summer 2021 made a welcome appearance amongst the Mini legends and motors... it was a scorcher of a day on many levels. These days, of course, the Register’s National Mini Day welcomes Minis of all…

Sometimes, being unable to find suitable storage for a car can mean you end up having to get rid of it. It’s an unfortunate scenario that may be a little too familiar to some, including 29-year-old Rob Whiten. “I’d been keen to buy my own Mini ever since I first drove one,” Rob explains, “so I went out and bought a 1985 998cc Mini as a project.” Originally, Rob just planned to tart up the Mini and drive it on weekends, but once the shell was stripped down, it soon became apparent it needed a full ground up restoration. “I’d never done anything like this before, so it was a steep learning curve,” he tells us. “Really I was going in blind, but I ended up completing the car eventually.”…

While many of us spend hours scouring the classifieds and travelling the whole country for a suitable project, occasionally that perfect car happens to be located right on your doorstep. For 35-year-old Tony Gregory, a succession of lucky coincidences ended up leading him bizarrely to his neighbour’s garage to find this 1989 Mini Mayfair – now lovingly tweaked and restored in stunning Hyper Blue. Tony has been a huge fan of the Mini as long as he can remember, but unusually, there’s no mention of The Italian Job here. “I used to draw pictures of them mainly from the rear,” Tony smiles, “they’d always be lowered with cambered wheels, huge arches and a twin DTM centre exit exhaust.” This image would remain with Tony forever more and he knew for…

LOST INJECTION “There’s no way that a tuned, carburetted engine is going to meet the emissions criteria” Q I own a Rover Cooper with a 1275cc on single point injection. I’d like to convert the engine to run a carburettor. I know that the current exhaust and inlet manifold will be different and will need to be replaced. Apart from removing the injection parts, what else will I need to do to the engine to enable it to run on a carb? Will I need to replace the cylinder head? Will the existing camshaft work? Tommy A You don’t say why you’d like to make the change from injection to carb – are you having running problems, or are you planning to tune the engine in search of more horsepower…