Innehållsförteckning för February 2017 från Mini Magazine

A very Happy New Year to you! I hope you've enjoyed a great festive period and are ready to go for a Mini-centric 2017. The end of 2016 brings down the curtain on our 20th anniversary year, and though it’s certainly been a particularly ‘interesting’ year in the wider world, we’ve had a ball. Many thanks to all our readers and fans for their brilliant support. To get 2017 off to a flying start, there’s a bit of a super car theme to this issue. While that might seem a little at odds with the humble Mini, a petrol head is a petrol head whatever their background, and even hypercar builders can love their Minis. For evidence, look no further than our exclusive interview with Horacio Pagani and his son…

Some 41 years after it went missing, the Mini Marcos that participated in the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hour race has been found by Jeroen Booij, author of the Maximum Mini series of books about Mini-based cars. The diminutive 1289cc Cooper S-powered GT came 15th overall at the legendary French endurance race, behind an array of Ford GT40s, Porsche 906s and Ferrari 275GTBs. It was the only British car to finish that year and no doubt the crowd favourite, nicknamed ‘La Puce Bleue’ (The Blue Flee). It is sometimes regarded as Le Mans’ most heroic entry. Due to its disappearance in 1975, the car has been cloaked in mystery, with several people searching for it ever since. Booij received a tip-off from Portugal earlier this year and decided to investigate…

• Paddy Hopkirk’s iconic 1990 Pirelli Classic Marathon-winning Mini, 6 EMO, now has another honour to its name, courtesy of Mini Sport-backed driver Steve Entwistle. Competing on the 2016 Rally of the Tests, Steve and co-driver Henry Carr won their class by an impressive 1 minute and 35-second margin. The gruelling four-day event took crews on a 700-mile route from Bournemouth to Chester, and saw 2015 HRCR Clubmans champion Steve hit sensational form on the special tests, finishing second only to a two-litre BDG-engined Ford Escort. Steve and Henry also posted three outright fastest times, and were in the top ten on 75 per cent of the tests. “We set out with the aim of winning our class, and we were delighted to achieve that after a very, very tough…

When we think of Welsh sporting heroes we immediately picture burly Rugby Union lads, Premier League footballers and maybe a rally driver or two. The country isn’t well known for producing champion racing drivers, but that’s certainly not the case in Mini Se7en racing. For the Mini 7 Racing Club’s 50th anniversary season, team SMG from Gwent took two of the top honours, while Owens Fabrication from Carmarthenshire supported Josh Collins to a maiden S-Class title. Clearly they’re doing something very right in Wales, so we popped over the border for a chat with recently-crowned Se7en Champion Ashley Davies and his team mate Leon Oli Window, 2016 Novice Champion. Both cars are prepared by Nigel Davies and former Mini Miglia racer Wayne Grayer at the family-run Skirrid Mountain Garage in…

January 8 Wirral to Llandudno Run Popular annual run from Bromborough on the Wirral to Llandudno in North Wales, including the climb up the Great Orme. Over 150 cars usually take part. The run is free but the purchase of run plaques is encouraged. www.wirralminis.com January 12-15 Autosport International Huge annual motorsport-themed show taking place at Birmingham’s NEC. Expect some Mini content, plus traders, numerous displays, live action, top personalities and more. www.autosportinternational.com January 29 British Mini Fair The largest indoor Mini event in the UK, organised by British Mini Club. Expect traders and autojumble, Pride of Ownership display, club stands and the chance to win a Mini! This is a great event for buying parts to finish off those winter projects! www.britishminiclub.co.uk February 24-26 Race Retro Historic motorsport-themed show…

Name: Norman and Jesse Nelson Car: 1961 Austin Mini Countryman Location: California • Our collection of Minis keeps growing here in Shasta, California. Here’s our Austin estate woody wagon, an early car with the internal fuel tank. The original 850 engine has been upgraded to a 1275cc and we’ve gone for custom vinyl graphics in a Hawaiian theme. Up top there's a Regal roof rack and surf board, with a Tiki bar in the back and a high-end sound system installed. The Mini’s even appeared on stage with the Beach Boys and has won many major car show awards, including Kool April Nites in Redding, CA. Thanks to Franks Upholstery for the custom interior and Sign A Rama for the graphics.…

PROJECT PROFILE THE OWNER NAME: Cyril Rothkrantz AGE: 36 OCCUPATION: Teacher LOCATION: Holland THE CAR: CAR: 1977 Mini IMA MkII START CONDITION: Bought with front end damage CONDITION NOW: Fully repaired and resprayed TIME TAKEN SO FAR: Five years ESTIMATED TIME OF COMPLETION: Spring/Summer 2017 Cyril’s project catches the eye with its pristine bodywork and twin-carb 998, but look a little deeper and this is clearly no ordinary Minivan. Strictly it’s not a Minivan at all – it’s a Portuguese-built Mini IMA MkII, a crafty mid-‘70s ‘hybrid’ model sold by British Leyland Portugal under a cheaper commercial vehicle classification. Like many of its export market cousins, these Portuguese Minis mixed a high proportion of locally-produced components with added creature comforts and a British-built bodyshell. If you can find one today,…

Rallying had been a surprising success story for BMC’s baby family saloon in the ‘60s, but the competition was bound to catch up sooner or later. After all, the Mini was never designed with high performance in mind, and as the Alpine-Renaults, Porsche 911s and Ford Escort Twin Cams came onto the scene, its days looked numbered. The release of the MkII Cooper S in late 1967 was more a facelift than an upgrade, although the Works Mini drivers still gave it their all at Monte Carlo the following January. In less-than-ideal conditions, Rauno Aaltonen, Tony Fall and Paddy Hopkirk managed a credible third, fourth and fifth overall in MkII Cooper Ss. Five decades on, the Works cars continue to inspire Mini fans with rally mods of their own, be…

DOWN ON POWER Q I have a 1977 Mini Clubman 1098 Estate, still fitted with its original engine and gearbox. Both appear to be in good condition, with the engine using no oil. However, at anything over 60mph it seems to be working extremely hard. I’ve set the timing as per the workshop manual, and I think the fuelling is right too. However, it’s just gutless. I know it’s not a Lotus, but I don’t remember other Minis being this wheezy. Would some tuning parts help? What else would you recommend? A friend suggested it’s down to valve seat recession, but surely it would smoke if so? Steve A Before fitting any form of tuning upgrades, you need to make sure what you have is fit and healthy. To do…

For the past 12 years, Dave Pearson’s project Minis have been a permanent fixture in the Scottish Mini scene. His first – a modified City E – has been dazzling and pulling in the crowds for years. Swooping up trophy after trophy in show ‘n’ shine competitions, his American hot rod-themed styling and attention to detail is always a firm favourite with the crowds. Having enjoyed such success with the City, Dave spent several years in the market for another project on which to perform his magic. But this time it had to be something other than a Mini saloon, and his desire to be different saw him consider just about everything, from Pick-ups and Mokes right through to upmarket Riley Elfs and even a fibreglass Minus! Of course, location…

• Mini in the Park is set to be extra special this year, as 2017 marks the 20th birthday of this popular event, and the 10th anniversary of the move to its current Santa Pod venue. Taking place on August 13, MITP will feature a host of attractions, including Run What Ya Brung (RWYB) sessions on the quarter-mile, the Win-A-Mini competition, a trade village, Saturday night entertainment, camping and much more. A new feature for 2017 will be a Pride of Ownership display, a more laid-back affair than show ‘n’ shine and concours competitions. 40 cars will be chosen and invited to join a display in the special Pride of Ownership display area. The top 20 specially-selected Minis will then be invited to take part in the Pride of Ownership…

• Following the Mini Cooper Register’s Minis to Monte event in October 2016, preparations are well underway for its next ‘Minis To’ touring assembly – Minis to Ireland 2017. The tour will take place from September 21-18, and will give participants a chance to experience around 200 miles of fantastic scenery on each day. The MCR touring assembly previously visited Ireland in 2013 and 2015, and its popularity means the 40 places are likely to be filled quickly. However, the possibility of cancellations means it’s well worth contacting the MCR to enquire about availability. Contact membership@minicooper.org for further details.…

The 22nd New Zealand Mini Nationals took place on October 21-23, hosted by the Otago Mini Owners Club Inc. Activities started on the Friday morning with a pre-Nationals event at the world-renowned Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell, where 29 Minis hit the track for a couple of laps and photos, followed by a visit to the National Motorsport Museum. The afternoon saw 15 Minis travel in convoy to Dunedin via Central Otago. During this trip participants could enjoy a ride on the Tuapeka Punt over the Clutha River, which is the only one of its type anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere. Saturday morning saw 96 Minis entered into the Show and Shine, which was held in Dunedin’s Octagon. A wide range of Minis entered the 11 classes, from standard MkIs,…

Malaysian Minis I was walking around Penang in Malaysia yesterday and found this neat pair... Andrew Symes, via Facebook Good to see Minis in regular use right across the world. Both look very tidy! Mini at work Can you put this in the mag? My 1962 Morris Minivan; I thought I would make some use out of it! Zac Hijazi Yikes! That’s how you do it. Happy birthday, Mini When you clean out a secondhand car you’ve just bought, most people might find a few old coins, or perhaps some cigarette butts. Not me. I recently bought a 1984 metallic green Mini Mayfair as a restoration project, and found a birthday card in it. Not to the owner or another person, but from the owner to their actual car. This…

When we say we’re in Italy’s famous Motor Valley region to speak to Horacio Pagani, the genius behind the legendary Zonda and Huayra hypercars, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’ve got our magazines confused. With their stunning mix of technology, beauty, performance and incredible attention to detail, Pagani’s creations are among the most revered and exclusive in the world. And yet, here we are to talk to him on rather more familiar terms about the latest addition to the Pagani family fleet – a humble Rover Mini Cooper. But before we meet Horacio, we‘re immediately bowled over by Pagani’s awe-inspiring new premises. It’s an incredible facility where the factory floor has been designed to recreate a traditional Italian piazza, and even the sink basins and taps in the toilets are…

“One thing led to another, and I started disassembling the car...” Taking your inspiration from an iconic vehicle and applying it to a less powerful car has long been a recipe for hilarious automotive disasters. Painting a tired MR2 red and adding a bodykit does not make it a Ferrari, just as a load of vinyl graphics doesn’t make an old Vauxhall Vectra a touring car. But the humble Mini has always had an uncanny knack for bending the rules, and with its Porsche GT3 RS-inspired styling, Dave Carter’s modified Mini Cooper attracts attention for all the right reasons. In fact, there’s a lot more to this one than its Stuttgart-influenced paint scheme. Usually Mini builds follow a quite specific pattern with their tried and tested bolt-ons, but Dave has…

It’s testament to the late Alex Moulton that his compact rubber-sprung suspension design for the Mini is still a firm favourite today. Over the years there have been many attempts to improve upon it, including coil-overs, coil spring replacements and Moulton’s Hydrolastic set-up, but rubber springs are still the most popular solution. The system is generally reliable, but the springs – sometime called ‘doughnuts’, or erroneously ‘cones’ – don’t last forever. Over time the rubber deteriorates and the springs can effectively collapse into nothing more than a large bump stop, creating a harsh ride regardless of damper performance. Later cars were fitted with softer rubber springs in an effort to make the car more refined, but the knock-on effect was premature collapse compared to the older types. Replacement is the…

SPORTPACK ARCH STUD £4.19 each Here’s a special stainless steel stud that’s designed to replace any rusted or broken studs in original factory-fitted Rover Sportpack arch extensions. Genuine high quality replacement arches are quite pricey, so it’s well worth looking after your originals if still fitted. Order as part number KLPM4402. 01282 778731 www.minisport.com S WORKS INTAKE £130 £169.99 - with K&N filter The original Cooper S Works tuning kit for MPi Minis was developed some 20 years ago now, so genuine original parts are becoming increasingly rare and expensive. Thankfully MPi owners can once again source the distinctive rectangular S Works intake pipe that clips on to the air filter housing. It can either be supplied separately or with a replacement K&N air filter. It’s ideal for anyone restoring…

• The three millionth MINI to be built in Britain has rolled off the production line. The milestone, reached on December 1 with John Cooper Works Clubman ALL4, caps a remarkable 15 years since the Cowley site was redeveloped in 2001. MINIs have also been built abroad since 2011, first by Magna Steyr in Austria, then the NedCar plant in Holland. Further facilities in India, Malaysia and Thailand add to the three million total amassed by Plant Oxford. The 4500-strong workforce at Oxford make one new MINI almost every minute, backed up by an engine plant at nearby Hams Hall, and MINI Plant Swindon, which stamps out pressings. The figures closely match that of the original Mini, which reached the three million milestone in 13 years, between 1959 and 1972.…

• The Irish Mini Owners Club was out in force in mid-December at Dublin Port for a special photo shoot with ferry operator Stena Line. The club was promoting the cut-price deal Stena is offering for anyone heading to this year’s International Mini Meeting, held in Westport, County Mayo, from May 25-29. For £120, you’ll be able to purchase a return crossing on any of Stena’s three UK-to-Ireland routes, with two passengers included. £160 will get anyone with a small trailer or caravan to Ireland, and as this deal is good for a week either side of the event, there’s plenty of extra scope to spend time in Ireland touring. Further details on this deal and the IMM can be found at www.IMM2017.ie…

Name: Nigel Orton Model: British Open Classic Location: Rotherham • I’ve always got a project Mini or two on the go, and now own five classic Minis and an R53. I paid £800 for this one as an MoT failure. It was very rusty, but came with stacks of history and bills from the previous owners. I started the rebuild in December 2014, and it should of taken me around five months, but I became seriously ill in March 2015. When I started to get better, the Mini was a resprayed bare shell. I like to do everything myself although I was very weak, so my 14-year-old son fitted up the subframes and started reassembling it all. I’ve fitted a centre dash with magnolia clocks, Newton Commercial carpets and Cooper…

Name: Bauke Buscher Car: Mini-based special Location: Holland • I’ve been into auto test competitions and Minis for many years, so I decided to combine those passions and build a special Mini-based competition car for myself. The Mini was gradually becoming less competitive as time passed so I thought this would be a good chance to improve. The car is built around a spaceframe chassis and an aluminium body, with Mini suspension and a front subframe in the rear. I used one of my spare 1275 engines and concentrated on keeping the weight as low as possible. In fact, it weighs less than 400kgs now, so it’s a very nimble machine around the cones and obstacles.…

“I began peeling back the layers. It was like an onion under there...” Often it takes a few project car builds to really get into the swing of things, and besides, tastes usually change over time. Les Leagas’ last Mini rebuild kicked off in 2003 and evolved over the next 12 years into a custom body-kitted show car loaded with hi-fi grade audio. “It ended up costing me far more money than it should have done, as I’d do things then keep changing my mind,” he says. “The engine, for example, went from a 998 to a Metro Turbo, to a 1380 then an ML Motorsport 1275. I’d do things, go to a show, then realise I didn’t really like the updates and start over.” With the fidgety bum learning…

BLING ENGINE BAY • Show-stopping engine bays don’t come any more impressive than that of Dave Pearson’s custom Pick-up. The 1380 motor has been beautifully presented with oodles of stainless and chromed parts, braided pipes and white silicone hoses. And to show it all off even better, Dave has lined the inner wings and bulkhead with shiny stainless panelling. Dave’s is clearly an extreme example, but some stainless parts from Smiffys Bits would be a good start – see www.smiffysbits.co.uk WINDOW LOUVRE • All the rage back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, rear window louvres have a made a real comeback in recent times. Like most things of the period they’re a bit of an acquired taste, but they look great on the right car – such as Les Leagas’…