Innehållsförteckning för June 2016 från Mini Magazine

Good things come to those who wait, and after finding out about Martin Cull's twin-cam MkII project a few years back, we've all been ultra keen to see it completed. Thankfully Martin burned the midnight oil to get it done in time for this month's cover shoot, and with its incredible 165bhp motor and cool retro styling, I'm sure you'll agree that it's more than worthy. But Martin's MkII isn't the only big-power Mini we've got for you this month. John Robichaud's incredible Z Car is not only notable for its K20 VTEC engine capable of 200bhp, but for its flawless deseamed bodywork and paint. Both of these projects took longer to complete than anticipated, but the results have been well worth it. Flipping the coin slightly, Steve Forrest's bold…

• Mark Wynn Smith’s former Meguiar’s showcase Mini 40 flew the flag for Minis at the recent Club Expo event held at the British Motor Museum on March 19. The idea behind the day was to allow for club representatives to come to the museum and attend talks, workshops and seminars to learn more about how to successfully run a club. One of the seminars on the day was presented by serial concours winner and judge Tracey Lippett, which encouraged people to share ideas and questions regarding concours. She also took the opportunity to promote the idea of clubs sharing information via a new group on Facebook – search for ‘Car Show and Concours Infoshare’. It is hoped that club organisers will use the group for sharing documents and ideas,…

• Eight Minis and 17 hardy folk braved the weather for Scottishmini’s year-opening run around central Scotland on Sunday April 3. Meeting up at Dobbies Garden Centre in Stirling, in typical April rain, they set off on a fun route around the Trossachs, via Callander, the Duke’s Pass, Aberfoyle, Kinlochard and on to a breakfast stop at Stronalacher Pier at the west-end of Loch Katrine. Descending en-mass on the small tea-room at the head of the pier caused an unexpected rush of orders, but excellent bacon and egg rolls and cakes as well as hot drinks were greatly appreciated by the colder members of the group. After a blether (Scottish for a “chat”), and with the weather improving, everyone set off homeward again, although some took a longer route home…

After the lively downpours of previous weeks, the heavens must have been smiling on the 2016 Brooklands Mini Day. We’ve had rain and even snow in previous years, but at this year’s occasion on April 3 you barely needed a pullover. Show-goers really responded too, with 4500 Mini and MINI fans visiting the popular Surrey venue. Set in the grounds of the world’s first purpose-built motor circuit, Brooklands is an ideal place for a Mini event. The 964 cars in attendance almost overwhelmed the museum’s section of the iconic banked circuit as they lined up two and three deep, and even more were parked alongside its historic sheds, lock-ups, aviation hangers and classic aircraft. All these extra attractions were included in the entry price, and there was also a new…

Unlike the world-renowned Festival of Speed in June and the retro-themed Revival in September, the Goodwood Members’ Meeting is a bare-bones affair with less of the corporate sponsorship, hospitality and general hoopla that the other events feature. Ostensibly for the members of the Goodwood Road and Racing Club and their guests, tickets are made available for the general public and they are snapped up with gusto. This year’s event on March 19-20 was a sell-out. The weather wasn’t warm and the wind was bitter, but the quality of the racing in front of a backdrop of half a million daffodils more than made up for it. Minis featured in two races; the Gerry Marshall Trophy and the Whitmore Cup. After two years of stealing the show in the Gerry Marshall…

Name: Tim Preece Model: 1998 Mini Cooper Location: South Wales • This is my 1998 Cooper Sportpack that’s recently had a five-year restoration. I replaced the front end, inner and outer sills, driver’s side floor, boot floor, rear inner arches and rear valance among other little welding jobs. It took time because all the work was done by myself at home. The engine is a 1275cc MPi but bored out to 1293cc with a Mini Sport fast road cam and big-valve head. It’s sat on Hi-Los and has Spax adjustable dampers, 1.5-degree negative camber all around and 7x13-inch Superlight wheels. I bought it originally from Rover, who used it as a demonstrator in Longbridge, so it’s got some interesting history too.…

PROJECT PROFILE THE OWNER NAME: Christopher Hewitt / Darren Goring AGE: 34 / 43 OCCUPATION: Chartered accountant / College teacher LOCATION: Stockton-on-Tees THE CAR: CAR: 1964 MkII Wolseley Hornet START CONDITION: Running car needing TLC CONDITION NOW: Rolling, undergoing repairs and engine swap TIME TAKEN SO FAR: A few years, on and off ESTIMATED TIME OF COMPLETION: Late 2016 Our hobby means different things to different people, so we get to meet a truly eclectic (and sometimes eccentric!) bunch, from DIY heroes to classic collectors. Travel up to north east of England and you may bump into Darren Goring and Christopher Hewitt of Durham Mini Club, brothers-in-law who share an enviable selection of classics and Minis. To keep the family fleet on the road without breaking the bank, they aim…

There’s a common theme going on when it comes to the story of Paul Marshall and his outstanding Mini. Paul is originally from New Zealand, known as the ‘land of the long white cloud’, and now lives in Kilrea in Northern Ireland, which by strange coincidence translates from old Irish as ‘the town of the long white carriage’. So it’s fitting his Mini should be a white one of the longer variety, specifically all 11 foot and two inches of this stunning Old English White Clubman Estate. As he grew up in New Zealand, Paul was involved in the joys of tinkering with cars from an early age, before going on to be a mechanic in the NZ Touring Car series. And let’s not forget it was Paul’s home nation…

This is probably one of those jobs you’ve been putting off for ages. The wind-up windows on a 1969-on Mini are notorious for becoming very stiff in operation, requiring a lot more effort than they once did. That might not seem like a big deal, but the snag is that they can only get worse. In some cases you’re left with a window that won’t open, or even one that’s dropped into the door and can’t be closed! The main culprits for failure are the two metal channels that attach to the bottom of the door glass. These are very prone to rusting out, meaning the door regulator mechanism can no longer engage properly, or the channels are no longer holding the glass in place correctly. It’s not uncommon for…

“Mostly though, the running-in process is done by the enthusiast, many of whom have no experience of such a task...” Ask 200 different folks about the right way to run in an engine and you’ll probably get 100 different answers. It’s a topic that ultimately does not have a precise and simple answer because of a number of variables, such as engine build quality, fluids used in the build and running-in procedure, initial fuelling and ignition settings, climate, geographical location and so on. And there is another crucial but very variable factor – the person doing the running in. When an engine is being run in on an engine dyno, typically it’s being done by an experienced pair of hands and is in a completely controlled environment. The consequence of…

“I thought the price was a bit steep, but try and find a cheap one now...” Call it sentimental mush, but we all know Minis have their own personality – it’s why so many have a name. The happy ones are there, smiling away on a sunny Sunday drive and treating you well, while that cheery front end is a mere cover act for the sadistic ones; those Minis who’ll happily drain your bank account, pop head gaskets in the pouring rain and graze your knuckles for fun. Before Steve’s girlfriend Claire had even laid eyes upon her next Mini, it had already been named Matilda – a young girl with special powers and neglectful parents if you’re familiar with Roald Dahl. And so that set the scene to find…

• Despite the looming threat of bad weather, a huge total of 165 Minis and MINIs lit up the picturesque roads of Suffolk for the latest East Coast Mini Club Charity Run. Starting at Ram Meadow Car Park in Bury St Edmunds, the cars passed through the historic villages of Lavenham and Kersey before enjoying a short stop for refreshments at Stonham Barns near Stowmarket. From here the cars continued to head east before parking up opposite the Red Lion pub on Southwold’s South Green. Amongst the cars on display was the Help for Heroes classic Mini, and trophies were awarded to the best Mini and MINI. The event received plentiful support and sponsorship from various local business, as well as many members and non-members. When combined with funds collected…

The opening round of the HRCR Mini Sport Challenge took place at the Weston Park Estate, Stafford, on March 20 as part of the Paint Worx ABGO Stages Rally. A whopping 19 Minis passed scrutineering to start the event, with 15 complying with the MSA Historic regs and four in the newly-launched Open Class. An overcast start gave way to sunshine, but the first stage was not kind to Shane Gamble and Bob Ward in their Morris Cooper S when the engine cried enough and stopped. The Austin Mini of reigning champion Andrew O Hanlon and Ryan Taylor also suffered on stage three as their rotor arm broke and left them stranded. Clive King was in his Mini Sport-backed car, but was unwell beforehand and not on top form. However,…

To call the UK’s weather ‘unsettled’ over the Easter weekend would be an understatement of epic proportions. With Storm Katie bringing strong winds and heavy rain, we feared the worst for Surrey Hills Mini Group’s popular Easter Monday Run on March 28. Fortunately it still went ahead, and an impressive turnout of 45 cars - 24 of them new participants - were basked in sunshine as they gathered at Royal Oak in Pirbright for the start of the club’s 11th consecutive annual run. The organisers had plotted a mazy 60-mile route through the picturesque local area, with narrow tree-lined lanes aplenty. However, that would prove to be a double-edged sword, as the strong winds before the event meant the Minis would soon encounter a fallen tree on the road. Participants…

Name: Pongsornchai Smitasiri Model: 1995 Mini Mayfair Location: Thailand • The first time I saw a Mini was when I was 13, when my dad took me to the Rover showroom in Bangkok and bought a 1993 Mini Cooper. After three years he had to sell the car, but 10 years later I managed to get another Mini for myself, this time a Mini Mayfair automatic with a Sportpack kit. It was the only one I could find at the time and had many problems, including an overheated engine, an oil leak, rust and dodgy gearbox. I decided to spruce it up with a Japanese-market Cooper RSP engine and manual gearbox. Then I read a lot of magazines from the UK and Japan and decided on this cool new style…

Name: Simon Guenigault Car: Mini City E Location: Suffolk • I bought this Mini as my first car back in 2005, a standard 998cc City E that was perfect for a 17-year-old to insure! After replacing the rear valance and sills I did the usual things to it; added some Ultralite wheels, put some spot lights on and fitted a Stage 1 kit. In 2007 I fitted a 1275 and went to the Nürburgring with the Silver-Ring Rally, but on my return the engine let go in spectacular style destroying the block in the process. There was only one thing to do – build something quicker! It now has a 1293cc Metro Turbo lump running 10psi of boost, straight-cut drop gears, Mini Sport four-pots and a fibreglass front end. It's…

“It was advertised for sale as an unfinished project, and was half way to becoming a Z Car...” Music critics call it the difficult second album, but for Martin Cull, this was the automotive equivalent. His previous creation was a flip-painted, Zeemax-kitted Yamaha R1-powered Cabriolet complete with lashings of walnut and leather Recaros, a Mini Magazine cover star back in 2009. Having set the bar unfeasibly high with his 160bhp ground-breaker, where on earth did he go next? If anyone had the credentials to raise their head above the parapet and build another cracker, it was Martin. He first got involved with Minis in his early teens and has built a couple of Minis for other folk too, but for most he’ll be known as the man behind Sticky Fingers…

Rewind 50 years ago, and there was one television show that a 10-year-old John Parnell never failed to watch. Adam Adamant Lives! was the BBC’s answer to The Avengers and featured the tale of an Edwardian gentleman frozen in ice by his dreaded foe ‘The Face’ in 1902, only to be revived some 44 years later in swinging London. “I did not want to miss a single episode as I always wanted to see the Mini Cooper,” remarks John, referring to the programme that offered a charming lead performance from Gerald Harper as the eponymous hero and Juliet Harmer as his leading lady ‘Georgina’. By the second episode Death Has a Thousand Faces, Adam has acquired his one and only concession to life in 1966 in the form the Radford…

FINAL DRIVE Q Hi Keith, I’ve got a lightly-tuned Mini Clubman 1098, with the rod-change gearbox. I was wondering if there’s a way to fit a 3.1:1 final drive without having to split the engine and ‘box and take everything apart. I’m not so keen on the 3.4:1 ratio as its a bit short for long runs, but I do like the fact that my engine doesn’t leak, so I’m keen to disturb as little as possible. Is there a solution? Max A You are going to have to pull the whole engine and gearbox to execute the final drive change, there’s no way around that. But you can change the crown wheel and pinion without stripping the gearbox off of the engine. I stress at the outset that care…

Two men who stole 13 classic Minis have been jailed for a total of six-and-a-half years following sentencing at Inner London Crown Court on April 11. Stephen Fiddemore of Longfield in Kent pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal motor vehicles and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, while Sam Metten, of Basildon in Essex, was found guilty of conspiracy to steal motor vehicles after a week-long trial and jailed for three years. An investigation into the theft of classic Mini cars across the south east led officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Organised Vehicle Crime Unit (OVCU) to investigate the activities of both men, who ran an eBay business from a lock-up garage in Horton Kirby, Kent. The business is aid to have dealt exclusively in classic Minis parts. On April…

• Minis from all over the West Country took to the roads of Somerset to raise money for The Neuroblastoma Society in memory of Amelia Rose Price, who died aged just four on March 17 2007. The event took place on March 20, and was organised by her grandad, Phil Reeves, and her Auntie, Hannah Reeves, who are both members of the Avon Valley Classic Mini Club. Taking place for the fifth time, this year’s event saw a record 38 Minis gather at the Traveller’s Rest pub in Pensfold for breakfast and the start point of the run. Participants were encouraged to wear pink, Amelia’s favourite colour, and pink ribbons were provided as part of the run packs. Representatives were present from Moles Mini Club, Jurassic Coast Minis and Bristol…

• Wattisham Mini Club continued its excellent charity work by hosting a new event at Blackthorpe Barn near Bury St Edmunds on April 9. The event was held in aid of East Anglia Children’s Hospice (EACH), a cause close to the club’s heart as one of its very active members, Robin Middleton, has a young son named Charlie who relies heavily on the charity. Charlie’s Mini Adventure was the culmination of six month’s hard work, attracting great support from local businesses and fellow Mini clubs, with the venue kindly hosting the event at no cost. Despite heavy rain over 30 Minis and Steve Cooper’s Dodge Charger were present at the Stowmarket meeting point, with hot food, a raffle and several other stalls helping to raise plentiful smiles at Blackthrope. Despite…

The opening round of the new Mighty and Super Mighty Mini season took place as part of the Truck Festival at Brands Hatch on March 26-28. Stuart Combes put his car on pole for the first Mightys race, sharing the front row with Paul Inch. Reigning Novice Champion Josh Young started third, with fellow Herefordshire man Greg Jenkins alongside in fourth. Jenkins had a storming start and was soon breaking away at the front, but before long the front three were swapping paces lap-by-lap. Jenkins made a final push on the penultimate lap, but a missed gear change thwarted his effort. Paul Inch won by a very slender margin from Combes, with Jenkins taking the last step on the podium. Craig Pendlebury led the opening lap of race two, but…

April 30-May 1 Downton Classic Car Show Commemorating 40 years since the closure of Downton Engineering at the Brian Whitehead Sports Ground, Downton, Wiltshire. Includes car displays, club stands, craft stalls and raffle. The DEWS classic car run follows on the Sunday. www.dewsc.org.uk April 30 - May 1 MkI Performance Action Day 3 Superb classic Mini action weekender taking place at the Blyton Park Motorsport Centre, Lincolnshire. Includes two track layouts for each day, famous Mini personalities, special displays and more. Proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK. mk1-performance-conversions.co.uk May 2 East Midlands Mini and VW Show Part of the multi-marque Notts Classic Event, taking place at Thoresby Park, Ollerton, Notts. www.classicshows.org May 8 British Mini Day British Mini Club’s first outdoor event of the season, set in the outstanding…

Name: Maxime Laurent Car: 1983 Mini Sprite Location: Cherbourg, France • I am 25 years old and fell into Minis five years ago now. When I bought my Mini it was yellow and grey, but in 2013 I decided to have it completely restored with a classic Castrol oil theme. With the agreement of Castrol France, the Mini was restored by my friend Jean-Pierre Roudaut, who’s a genius! The graphics were then made by my brother Julien Leplumey, as he’s a graphic designer. It took 10 months in total, and the car now has a Stage 1 Metro 1275cc engine, Cooper S disc brakes, an Innocenti dash and a complete new paint job. The body was in quite bad shape and needed two new doors, floors both sides, front and…

Name: Sara Cooper Model: 1981 Austin Mini Location: Cheshire • Jaffa is a 1981 Mini 1000 that I’ve owned for just over nine years now. Over the past few years she has undergone a restoration to get her back on the road and to be able to start hitting the UK race circuits for track days! During the restoration she was repainted white from the original orange, hence the name, but ‘Jaffa’ had to stay. She was kitted-out with a full rollcage, carbon-fibre parcel shelf and boot floor and a removable fibreglass front end amongst various other modifications. Engine wise, she is currently running a 998cc motor with a twin three-inch bore exhaust. Jaffa certainly doesn't like to blend in with the other Minis!…

Rear-wheel-drive Z Cars-style conversions aren’t for the faint of heart, but they remain incredibly appealing for those in search of Mini looks and monster performance. Countless kit car fans have been tempted back to Mini ownership by the lure of big power and a straightforward DIY build, not to mention a proper roof and windscreen. But these extreme front-to-back Minis have not only brought in a new tide of interest from the kit car crowd, they’ve also helped to retain Mini fans who may otherwise have buzzed off in search of new thrills. John Robichaud, a boat builder from Bournemouth, is one such chap. “I had a Mk3 Mini with a 1275 Allegro engine when I was 18 or 19 and kept it for eight or nine years,” he says.…