Mini Magazine February 2019

Happy New Year and welcome to the first issue of Mini Magazine in 2019, a significant year as our favourite car celebrates its 60th birthday. Let’s start our celebrations with an issue that’s full to the brim of special cars. First up is Jake Fell’s ’86 saloon, which despite its perfectly retro Speedwell Blue paintwork, is hiding Vauxhall power under that removable bonnet. More clever, is that with the period engine colours, it’s not easy to see what the fuss is all about. The result is a reliable 100bhp, which with another engine Jake's planning to fit, could jump to 140bhp! Next up is Mark Burnett’s, beautiful Mini-based Ogle SX1000 racer. One of just 69 Ogles built during its all too short manufacture, this build took a lot of work…

I was lucky enough to have my first Classic Mini finished in time to drive it to and from school. I remember even then that my Cooper replica, even with Classic Mini still on sale, still looked small against my mates’ more modern first cars! Still, even with its insurance-friendly 1000cc engine, I impressed them with its sharp handling. Jake Fell, the owner of this retro-looking, Vauxhall-powered saloon was the same: “The first Mini I ever went in belonged to a school friend. I’m 27 now and that was when we were 18. It was a ’93 Sprite and completely standard when he got it, but he did some upgrades over time. The seats he’d put in his car are now actually in this Mini!” The second Mini he went…

BODY Restored 1986 Mini City shell finished in Speedwell Blue (BU1), new front panel, A-panels, bonnet, fully removable front end, new outer sills, door steps and inner wings, repairs to inner sills, boot floor, rear wheel arches and rear quarters, plastic wheel arch holes welded up, MkI grille, single-skin removable MkI bonnet on pins and springs, Austin Cooper bonnet badge, ABS Motorsport fibreglass roof, single-skin MkI fibreglass boot lid, Mini Spares MkI number plate light, JB Fabrication rear fog lamp, single wing mirror, stick on black and white number plates. ENGINE Vauxhall C16SE 1.6 8v engine, cone performance air filter, standard cast manifold, custom stainless steel exhaust, MPi alloy performance radiator in custom bracket, Austin plaque on rocker cover, engine painted in crackle black and BMC green paint, Suzuki swift…

The big difference between Santa Pod and Mini In The Park’s new home at Mallory Park, is the fact that Mallory is a race track and therefore there is the opportunity to get your Mini out for action with some proper track time, whether it’s standard or a highly-modified car. A 15-minute session will cost just £25 and if you get booked in now, the first 100 sessions sold will be at the special early bird price of just £20! No helmet? No problem, as they will be available for hire on the day, plus you can even bring a passenger for just £10. There will be novice sessions for first timers, too. Tickets are now on sale, including day entry and camping. All the details are on the website…

• Christmas might have come and gone for another year, but if you’re still looking for a gift for the little or big Classic Mini fan in your life, how about this Lego Speed Champions rally set? On sale now, Classic Mini fans are going to be all over the Lego model of the 1967 Classic Mini Cooper, but the set also comes bang up-to-date, with a Lego model of the latest MINI John Cooper Works buggy, which is taking part in the Dakar Rally.We will hopefully have a review of this kit in due course. For more info or to buy, get over to https://shop.lego.com.…

• The British Mini Club’s essential winter Mini show is back for its 20th year at Bingley Hall, set within the Staffordshire Country Showground, on 27 January 2019. Sponsored by Footman James Insurance, this is one of the most well established shows on the calendar and has something for all enthusiasts. As well as a wide selection of traders and displays, there will also be the Premier Concours Final, a Minis for sale area, plus a Mini spares area for those rare parts. To book advance tickets, visit: www.britishminiclub.co.uk.Check out our show preview on P72.…