Innehållsförteckning för August 2015 från Mini Magazine

To celebrate the heatwave we've enjoyed here in the UK recently, we've certainly turned up the temperature with this month's issue. At least four of our feature cars have broken the 100bhp barrier, and the others are there or thereabouts. What's more, we've covered several different ways of getting there too, with traditional five-port tuning, a seven-port conversion,a hybrid engine swap, and two turbocharged cars to boot! Our cover star this month is the stunning two-litre Vauxhall-powered Mini of Alex Boucher, one of a growing band of Mini enthusiasts lured in by the thrill of the quarter-mile at venues like Santa Pod. We've got a fantastic 130bhp Dutch trackday car too, and, for those who like their Minis a touch more traditional, Mini Sport's brilliant ex-Cyril Bolton rally car from…

• Swiftune has raised around £12,000 for Dementia UK following the giveaway of its unique 1380 Sports Tourer raffle engine at the recent Brands Hatch Mini Festival. The competition was launched as part of the Kent-based firm’s 50th anniversary celebrations, and saw it join forces with the likes of Gosnays Engineering, Mini Spares, The SU Carburettor Company and Omega Pistons to produce a stunning motor with a retail value of £10,000. The final totals were still being counted up as we want to press, but its reckoned that £4000-worth of tickets were sold over the duration of the two-day racing festival, to add to a whopping £6000-worth of online sales. In addition, a special raffle that included donations of tyres, fuel and test days raised over £2000 on the Saturday…

• Mini Spares is to celebrate its 40th anniversary by teaming up with race organisers MSVR and the BRSCC to stage a four- round race series. The first two rounds will take place as part of the Mini Festival at Oulton Park on August 8, with Cadwell Park hosting the final two races on September 19. With four classes covering all types of competition Minis, the series should be an exciting and memorable spectacle. In addition, the BRSCC are gauging interest regarding a four-event, eight-race series for historic Minis in 2016. The initial response has reportedly been very positive, but to assess the feasibility and success of such a championship, more feedback is encouraged. To register your interest and for information on both the historic series and the Mini Spares…

• Sometimes even the best-laid plans don’t work out, as the Kent Region of the Mini Cooper Register found out when it organised its recent trip to Reims. The idea was to take in the old circuit, visit a champagne house, enjoy an overnight stay and follow two Tulips routes to and from the area. However, after a week of industrial action and a phone call to P&O’s group department, sadly the only sensible option was to postpone the event. Not to be beaten completely by a strike and a few thousand lorries, it decided to run an old route from a previous Ham Sandwich Run, knock up some rally plates and call a local landlord to light the barbecue. Broad Oak MINI kindly donated a couple of extra goodies…

Brands Hatch Mini Festival provided the setting as rounds seven and eight of the Dunlop Mini Se7en and Miglia challenges, supported by Mini Spares, took place on June 27-28. With changing conditions to cope with, the races proved to be incident-packed in front of the bumper crowd. In the opening Se7ens race Darren Thomas made a rapid getaway to lead into Paddock Bend ahead of Andrew Deviny, Max Hunter, Paul Spark and Charlie Budd. Deviny ran wide at Druids enabling Hunter and Spark to draw alongside as they raced three-abreast, but the race was red-flagged on the sixth lap after Anthony Towey’s blown engine coated Graham Hill Bend with oil and caused a four-car pile-up. A reduced field of 22 commenced the 10-lap restart, with Thomas still in the lead…

The National Mini Cooper Day at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum always brings about a real buzz of excitement, and this year’s event on June 14 certainly didn’t disappoint. A huge turnout of ex-Works Minis, Coopers, Innocentis, Mokes and just about every other Mini derivative you could ever think of greeted the bumper crowd of over 3000 at the famous New Forest venue, with warm skies and a number of Mini celebrities added for good measure. There was an extra air of celebration at this year’s show, as the Mini Cooper Register commemorated the 25th anniversary of the RSP Mini Cooper. This was the limited edition responsible for the rebirth of the Mini Cooper in 1990, with 24 examples present in the main arena to mark the occasion. Interest in…

Following several months of anticipation, the inaugural Mini World Live event took place at Rockingham Motor Speedway on July 4-5. Supported by the three Mini titles produced under the Kelsey Media banner, Mini Magazine, MiniWorld and Modern MINI, the event brought together a fantastic range of Minis combined with plenty of activity both on and off the track. Those who decided to make a weekend of it and camp were rewarded with fine weather on the Saturday evening. There was a bar open until late, and the stunning red skies provided the perfect backdrop as a DJ entertained on the village green. Meanwhile, the traders were busy setting up what would prove to be a busy retail area, with a mixture of parts specialists, autojumblers, detailing firms and many more…

Arriving in style Here are some pictures of Scott Turner’s niece Elsie Turner and her boyfriend George on their way to the school prom at King Edmund School in Rochford in Scott’s Fiesta Yellow Cooper S. Anyone can hire a Lambo... Sarah Connell Thanks for the pics. Much cooler than a Lambo too... More Metros please... In the July issue I was interested to read the letter from Graham Richards and your request for feedback. Whilst I’m a fan of the Mini, I’m also the proud owner of a 1990 A-Series Metro Advantage which has been in my possession since it was a mere six months old! When the car got into a bit of a sorry state after many miles along with some competition use, I reached the point…

Sat atop Pendle Hill in Lancashire, it’s just like we’ve been teleported back to 1976. OK, the photography equipment we’re using is rather more advanced and the occasional passing car is more likely to be a Hyundai or a Corsa rather than a MkI Escort or Hillman Avenger, but our centrepiece is just the same. All eyes are on Mini Sport’s ex-Cyril Bolton rally car, NCK 453P, resplendent in all its period glory. Described as “The Ultimate Road Rally Mini” by the legendary Cars and Car Conversions magazine, it really is a remarkable survival story. Aside from a bit of paint, some replacement wheels and some damage repair, the car has remained unchanged for the best part of 40 years, and it’s nearly three decades since any major work was…

The idea of owning a car solely for fun was an alien concept when the Mini was first launched, particularly if your name happened to be Alec Issigonis. But even though it came about by accident, the root of the Mini’s success owes as much gratitude to its unique driving experience as it does to genius packaging. Over the past 56 years that’s been exploited in every conceivable way, whether it’s on the rally stage, on track or just blowing out the cobwebs on a country road. These days however, there’s a whole lot more competition when it comes to buying a car as a fun toy. The industry for dedicated track cars and stripped-out weekend warriors is bigger than ever, so can the humble Mini still play its part…

• A reincarnated version of the incredible Cummins Mini wowed crowds during the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed event at the end of June. Last seen in 2010 at Goodwood, it was previously fitted with the QSK78 3500hp engine, but now has a new 95-litre V16 QSK95 engine producing a massive 4400hp! The engine is usually intended to power locomotives, mine trucks, power generation units and marine vessels, providing the torque of 16 delivery trucks, city buses or excavators. Each of the 16 cylinders has a cubic capacity of 5.9 litres – the same as the original Cummins B-Series engine, and the equivalent of six of the original Mini one-litre engines. Of course, it doesn’t actually run, as it has no transmission, fuel tank, cooling system, or exhaust system. It’s…

• A new club has been formed to cater for enthusiasts in the South East London and Kent areas. It’s called SELKent Mini Club – a name it admits is inspired by the local bus company! Open to Mini and MINI fans, the club holds regular monthly meets every second Thursday at the White Cross Inn on North Cray Road in Sidcup, Kent. Already very active, the club enjoyed an impressive turnout at the recent Brands Hatch Mini Festival, and plans to attend a host of future events including the Mini Action Day at Castle Combe in September. Email info@selkentminiclub.co.uk for further information, or visit the website, which is still under development, at www.selkentminiclub.co.uk…

Rounds five and six of the Mighty and Super Mighty Mini championships took place as part of the Mini Racing Festival at Brands Hatch on June 27-28. It proved to be an unexpectedly hot weekend at the Kent circuit following the drab weather at meetings so far this season. The Mightys were out first, with Peter Bonas taking pole from Stuart Coombs. Meanwhile, Jamie White just edged ahead of title rival Scott Kendall to head the grid in the Supers. Pole man Bonas took the initial lead in the opening Mightys encounter, before being demoted by Coombs as a five-way battle for the lead developed. However, the field was bunched back up by the emergence of the safety car following an incident at Paddock. Michael Grover lost control and was…

With its mix of adrenaline-packed track action, club stands, show cars, traders and a lot more besides, it’s no surprise that the Brands Hatch Mini Festival on June 27-28 attracted a healthy crowd. With 19 separate races of incident-filled Mini/MINI action and brilliant weather on the Saturday in particular, this event really lived up to its ‘festival’ billing at the popular Kent circuit. Several of the regular Mini championships held doubleheaders over the weekend, with the Mighty and Super Mighty Minis joining the Mini Se7ens, Miglias and Power Maxed MINI Challenge. For pre-‘66 Minis there were also two SU Carburettors Mini Euro Challenge races, and the 40-minute Sanwa Trophy Mini Endurance battle. The historic cars all looked too good to race, but race they did, with Ian Curley picking up…

RETRO REBEL Name: Dan Maskell Car: 1988 Mini Advantage Location: Essex • Here’s my Austin Mini Advantage project that I’ve owned for 18 months now and modified quite a bit from standard. So now there’s 7.5-inch discs up front, 6x10-inch GB alloys and Group 2 arches, with MkII rear lights and a MkI front grille. Inside there’s Cobra classic buckets and a centre speedo. It’s still a 998 under the bonnet, but I’m going to build up a Stage 3 1275 engine soon. I'll also swap the rear lights to a MkI style with some conversion panels, before giving the whole car a fresh repaint. BELGIAN BEAUTY Name: Tim De Schepper Model: 1999 Mini 40 Location: Haaltert, Belgium • I noticed that you shared a picture of my Mini 40…

Steve Wood is a friendly, instantly likeable kind of chap. A keen enthusiast along with his two sons, Dan and Adam, he’s been involved with Minis for over 20 years and is a regular at shows. Yet on September 1 2014, he wasn’t the most popular of people. Nothing personal you understand; it’s just that Steve’s name appeared on the winning ticket for Mini Spares’ ‘better than new’ raffle Mini. Elation for Steve of course, but a case of green-eyed monster for the rest of us. Now that our disappointment has finally subsided a bit, we caught up with Steve and the Mini Spares team to discover the full-story behind this remarkable build. Conceived as the ultimate way to commemorate the Mini’s 55th anniversary and raise funds for children’s charity…

TIME Half a day COST Front hub kit - £473.06 Rear hub kit - £167.72 Wheel bearings £13.36-£49.97 each CONTACT Mini Sport www.minisport.com DIFFICULTY For those in search of extra performance, reducing weight is surely the most logical path when modifying a Mini for road or competition. Tuning-up the engine will be cost effective to a point, but push the A-Series too far and things become very expensive very quickly. If you can safely remove weight from the car, it’ll often prove more affordable in the long run. Reducing unsprung weight in particular, so that’s anything not supported by the suspension such as the brakes, wheels and tyres, will not only benefit 0-60 times and fuel economy, but handling too. Reduced unsprung weight allows the wheels/tyres to track undulations in…

TWIN TANKS Q I’ve got a 1979 Mini 850 that I’ve fitted with a 1275cc engine and discs brakes. It’s also had a custom retrim to make it comfortable for long journeys. I find the lack of fuel range really annoying when travelling, so I managed to find a second-hand right-hand fuel tank on eBay. Can you tell me if there’s a fitting kit available for it? And how do I go about making the whole in the body for the filler neck? Does anyone supply a pattern to work to? Dan Gospel A The likes of Mini Spares Centre sell a fitting kit for right hand tanks, providing it is either an original, or faithful copy. If it is some aftermarket job, then without seeing it first hand I…

Following the success of the inaugural Mini World Live event at Rockingham, cool modified classics of all shapes and sizes will gather for an all-new event at the Northamptonshire venue on Sunday August 9. As the name suggests, Retro Cars Live won’t just be another run-of-the-mill static car show, covering everything from drifting on the track to live vehicle restoration. The action will include a Nascar display on the banked circuit and track sessions on the twisty inner circuit, plus live demos and Classic VW Challenge races. There will also be the Retro Drift Challenge for pre-’89 cars, and an autotest set-up in conjunction with Peterborough Motor Club. Away from the track, there’s a whole host of great features. Former Retro Cars feature machinery will be gathered in a dedicated…

• British Mini Club has announced South Lakeland Mini Centre as a new sponsor for its MiniFest event, to be held at Uttoxeter Racecourse, Staffordshire, on September 6. Having started out refurbishing and building Minis 17 years ago, the Cumbria-based firm has been a regular presence at Mini events home and abroad for several years. It’s well-known for its array of genuine parts, with over £5million-worth of MG Rover and Mini spare parts in stock. MiniFest is a gathering of classic Minis and MINIs from all around the UK, showcasing some of the very best examples in its concours and show ‘n’ shine displays. A live arena area is also back by popular demand, with competitions for the loudest exhaust, most powerful sound system, weirdest horn and - new for…

You’ve got to feel a bit of sympathy for Mini fans living in the South West of England. With the vast majority of the established big Mini events taking place in the Midlands or the South East, those living in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall are often left with plenty of miles to cover. Thanks to Westcountry Mini Scene however, there’s a promising new event right on their doorstep. Taking place on June 7, the inaugural Mods ‘n’ Minis Gathering saw Minis and classic scooters join forces for a brilliant day out alongside Teignmouth seafront. An excellent turnout of 90 Minis included a lovely early Austin Seven, a genuine Mk3 Cooper S, Martin Loram’s seven-port Mini Marcos, an awesome Java Green custom Mk4 and many more besides. Car of the day…

PROJECT PROFILE THE OWNER NAME: Ben Gregory AGE: 22 OCCUPATION: Mechanic LOCATION: Surrey THE CAR: CAR: 1988 Mini Mayfair START CONDITION: Rusty with a blown head gasket CONDITION NOW: Dry built and almost ready for paint TIME TAKEN SO FAR: Approaching five years ESTIMATED TIME OF COMPLETION: By the end of the year We like Mini owners who bolt on turbos – it’s character building. Things spin round, fun noises come out, there’s an almighty rush of power and inevitably something expensive will break. Ben Gregory is taking a more sensible route though, by using a known-good 998 engine as a basis for his turbo project, and being far more cautious than many on the final spec. In order to give the performance he’s after, weight saving and handling tweaks…

This mean looking Minivan manages to stand out in a crowded line-up at the Minicentric Kelly household. Paul and his son James have an enviable collection of cherished Minis to choose from – ERA Turbos to 1100 Specials and even a Moke, but it’s the unusual styling and performance mods that raise plenty of questions here. Is it an Innocenti? Where did the front seats come from, and what are those extra cooling vents for? When Paul lifts off the removable bonnet, all becomes clear. Well, sort of… “The van was originally built by an engineer from Lotus in the UK,” says Paul. “It was really well put together, with a custom Saab turbo install and coil-over suspension all round. I had a yellow Minivan years ago and ended up…

KEITH CALVER Keith has been Mini Magazine’s tech expert since we launched in 1996. Keith’s Mini CV speaks for itself: he joined the motorsport scene as a Miglia competitor in 1978, before a five–year stint at the Mini Spares Centre (London) in the early ’80s. Now independent, Keith builds race engines for numerous disciplines. His 1275 GT race car and sharing his vast amount of Mini knowledge are also main focuses. Following discussions at the recent Brands Hatch Mini Festival, and a rash of engine rebuilds that have come through CST workshop doors where the original build was done by somebody other than me, the old chestnut of main cap strength and location has been thrown up. In particular, the centre main cap. The most common, knee-jerk reaction here on…