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and much more fun!

John Rhodes
Goi ng Dow n Under

INTERVIEW
DIAGNOSTIC
How to find
a fault
DIY TECH
Classic & MINI love:mini 
 about love:mini
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magazine with a fresh take on the Mini scene.
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 about love:mini
Mini run

All free, thanks to you

love:mini is thie first magazine to Everything you see in love:
bring together coverage of classic mini has been contributed free
Minis and MINIs, and through of charge. All contributors have
this we hope to build stronger voluntarily given up their time Poker Day Run

bridges between the two Mini

Celebrating 50 years with
the
Mini Cooper Register Austra

to write, photograph, or send

lia
Words and photos Brett
Nosse.

communities. stuff to us.

DATE
August 30,
2009
Location
Brisbane,
T
he day started as a
beautiful summer day
at North Pine Dam until
the westerly wind came
and
blew a lot of our registration
on a navigation run in
Queensland Hinterland.
to the
The Mini Cooper Register
graciously invited the Mini
Soon everyone started
engines and departed
their
with
their navigation questions
and first poker cards for

We also want to promote the

paperwork into the water. Owners Club of Queensland a
Australia scenic drive to the first
The registration papers and Tony and Kath set about stop at
Website making this a wonderful Woodford, meandering
via the

We may not be able to pay for

had everything to do with
www.mini
this day of days which
cooper.org/ was
australia/ beautifully orchestrated
by Mini Cooper Register
Australia stalwarts, Tony
picturesque
sponsored day to raise Mt. Mee Range
funds with lots of Mini bends,
for research for the Crohns to
and collect their next poker
and Colitis Association
of card from Judy and Ray
Australia.

fun side of Mini-ing - with

and With lots of helpers and Retchless.
Kath Formosa, to undertake Unfortunately, Brian Heys’
a Poker Hand Run Day donations - particularly
which cash little beast had a clutch

your contributions, but we’re

involved the purchasing and beautiful Darling Downs
problem and couldn’t make

Motorsport
of meat from club member
varying numbers of cards
UK MINI CHALLENGE
Bob
to five) at various locations
(up Hooper of - the BBQ breakfast the trip. It was tucked up safe
was finished in record and sound at the Formosa’s
32 love:mini time. Shady Rest Motel and

comprehensive motorsport reports,

Rally:Circu it:Hillclimb:Autograss: was
Sprint Words Peter Scherer
Photos www.minichallenge.co
.uk

all about you - the enthusiasts,

driving articles and challenges. and the cars - and not the
We enjoy spirited driving and shareholders.
discourage reckless driving.
ROUND 1
Champion starts new
There can be some perks campaign in winning form
As an independent publication,
Fresh faces and fresh cars with
fresh liveries rock up at
Rockingham.

- such as free show tickets,

Rockingham

R
eigning Mini Challenge
champion just fell short
of
a hat-trick of wins in the
Knox made it into fourth
through
Turn One for the third five after an almighty
time and

we are not restricted by ridiculous

Richardson followed into scrap with
opening rounds at Rockingham Deene. the determined Allen.
, Mills was next to fall as “Loved it. I
when Chris Panayiotou Knox knew I would pick up
clinched charged by into Deene a few places

or interviewing a Mini legend

his maiden victory in the a lap later. at the start, they had the
final Up at the front though, edge over
race of the weekend. Only Caudle me at the Esses though
0.769s had everything under every time,”
secs covered the top three control and said Allen.
after cruised to a comfortable
qualifying, with Caudle’s victory. “I Chris Smith’s R56 was
new John seventh

company policies, nor do we need

Cooper Works Class car was a bit worried at the and former MG Champion
taking pole start, but I Lee
from ex-Formula Vee and think we all made a few Sullivan secured second
Formula mistakes,” in the
Ford racer, Jason Mills, he said. class leaving Steve Liquorish S

- but the limit is only limited by

with Panayiotou was a comfortable to fend
Panayiotou in third. Lee off Dean Raymond for
Allen just second, but although Knox third in class.
had the edge over Steve retained Kevin O’Connor took the
Liquorish third from lap four, he Club Class
for S Class pole and debutant had spoils by a whisker from
David Richardson on his tail debutant

to be nice about everything just to

Ogden topped the Club at the flag. David Ogden, having led
Class. Mills ended his race in all the
Caudle led the initial charge the gravel way.
through Turn One from at the Esses after an earlier
power

your imagination.
Panayiotou loss gave way to brake
and Mills. But Allen made
sensational start and charged
a had started to lose power
failure. “I Race Two
past from the Knox got the jump on
Mills into the Deene Hairpin. third lap but when the Caudle at the
As brakes failed start of race two, but the
the lead duo began to I managed to angle into Champion

MINI 2011
the gravel.

arse-lick advertisers. We can show

escape Mills But after I got out it caught shot down the inside into
recovered third as Allen alight Deene
had the under the bonnet,” he to take charge again. Panayiotou
JCW’s of Jason Richardson explained.
and Former Sport Maxx Cup grabbed third with Allen
Chris Knox in formation racer fourth
behind. Chris Oakman rounded after another demon start.
off the top

Facelift
Into Tarzan for the second
time
62 love:mini Overhau ling the MINI’s

you the real way enthusiasts work

look and two new models

Time:warp
.

UK
Social life
on their cars, give an honest review Club Profile:
Manchester Minis
1963
and opinion on topics and events,
A social club for Mini enthusi
asts, with weekly
Born not long before the Mini meets and fun for everyon makeover
was launched, Submitted by Marie James e.

The se
Martin Bell recalls his memorie
s of growing up
M
anchester Minis is in
online forum that anyone
in the world alongside the it’s 11th year and still can join
Mini.

and, with an army of enthusiasts

and there are sections
going strong, with new on there for more aggressive stance,

T
mechanical help, as well cond refresh to the MINI’s which to join the foglight
members joining every as all the may be to the liking of on the
he recent snowy weather month. all important upcoming appearance has been most
knitted by their mums to We have over 100 active events, male drivers. lower rear bumper.
members and a general chit chat revealed, along with an
got me thinking back to and would perhaps be sent to and these spread from section. The Clubman has had
keep out the cold, but I also Cornwall to At the Cheshire Line Tavern announcement of two
new
For Cooper S owners -
who its
the really bad winter & our bedroom, where there was Leeds, not just Manchester have been crying out for own tweaks with the rear
remember we still had to wear . where we meet, I often diesel models for 2011. brake light cluster confoming
snow of 1963 which started of course no TV or heating We are more than just
a Mini organise From September 2010, cooling vents - their prayers more
short trousers despite the cold quiz and raffle nights for all

at the end of the mouse, we can do

on Boxing Day 1962 and club that meets once a everyone have been answered negating to other models with a
apart from maybe a hot water month, we (I’m the Events Organiser, MINI saloon, Clubman chrome
weather! are more of a social club, so
and
the need to remove the surround, while the Cooper
lasted until March ‘63 in bottle at bedtime! If it got and we everyone kind of looks Cabrio models will be
subject front S model
meet every week on a to me for to the update, although foglights for a similar effect. has a wide opening
many places... back then we Wednesday things to do, but occasionally we between the two exhaust
FeW luxurIeS really cold then there wasat the Cheshire Line Tavern, we expect newer models to Optional xenon headlights
still had to go to school each an extra paraffin heater Cheadle. Most discussions get some nice fellows who
can be ordered with either pipes which replicates
At home few had central are arrange feature elements of the the
day, staying home and playing not Mini-related, but of their own entertainme new form of an air outlet and
heating, very often there would for the hallway which course nt so I get look. The subtle changes black reflectors or adaptive is
out in the snow would have we do have the usual Mini to just join in and take lighting which turns the bordered by chrome edging.
a step follow on from 2006’s refresh,

almost anything you’d like to see.

be ice on the inside of my ran on esso Blue or Pink chats, back). All the proceeds Inside the central facia
been considered skiving. For but just about anything
Paraffin which were always passes as go to the which again moved the headlights as you turn
the
a bedroom window when you conversation. And we have club funds which buys
things like away from it’s child-like
MINI
steering wheel - essentially has been darkened from
the
youngster, of course, snow is advertised with a catchy quite look
an woke up on a freezing
cold few technically and mechanical a flyers, gazebos, banners,
website to something more serious. enabling you to see round contrasting light grey to
black,
adventure and I can remember tune on TV in the winter ly- renewals etc. We also and a new LED display
morning! There were only two minded people, so that
helps with do autotest Overall, the cars have corners better. sits
walking through the deep snow months. any Mini or non-Mini nights once a year at touched up inside and
been
From the side the indicator within the basic speedo.
The
warm rooms in our house; the related out optional
to school in Wellington boots 1963 is also about when my the and there is also a new repeaters have been visually premium speedo now
kitchen, due to heat from the problems. set comes with a colour screen
and climbing to the top of own early memories of the Mini of colours and a new range enhanced, looking less
cooker and the coal-fired boiler We have plasticky and featuring which can be used to watch
tall snow piles at the sides of begin. At this time the Mini
wheels to tie-in with the a glass videos via an
for heating the water, which an restyling. cover with concentric circles. external device.
the roads and driveways that was just about the only front More chrome has also
had to be lit each morning with S owners are again treated
had been cleared. The school wheel drive car available, so something a little more
to been added to the interior
a dangerous-looking gas poker Starting at the front you flashy. surrounding
playground quickly became even though my dad didn’t can see the most noticeable At the rear all MINI models airvents and
by my mum. One of my pocket like on the steering wheel.
an ice palace with one slide them much, to my delight he change in appearance now feature dynamic LED Trim
money is in the colours have been revamped
stretching almost the length lower bumpers, front and
rear,
rear lights that shine brighter
jobs borrowed one and claim to be made
of the playground. The bigger
boys would run up and launch
was to The Mini had much better from his garage
which have been extended
downwards to conform
to
the harder you brake. Under
particularly hard braking
from
better materials than before.
Optional ambient lighting
fetch the
traction in the snow than and car sales they will even flash to

The lock-up
those new pedestrian safety warn is
themselves on it, hurtling along regs and prevent knee following cars that you now also available, covering
buckets business to get injury are 756 shades of colours,
at high speed and unable to
stop for anyone in the way.
It
of coal
needed
most cars of the time to work in the in the event of a collision.
in turn has given the MINI
This
braking sharply. Additionally
the reversing light has
moved
and the
interior and exterior mirrors
snow a little a Showing us your Mini are available with auto-
would give today’s health & 118 position stuff

Share it
from the light cluster
from the coal bunker out in easier — as love:mini dimming.
safety conscious school staff the Minis, with the engine weight
a back garden. The other warm
heart attack! over the front driven wheels, Bruno Cottanceau
room was the living room where
Today it seems many schools had much better traction in
we mainly watched TV and
stop children going out to play the snow than most of the rear
which had a gas fire. However,
in the snow even if they opened wheel drive cars of the time, Hello love:mini, my name
if any of us left the door to is Bruno Cottanceau. I’m
— much too dangerous…

Are you’re doing something exciting

this room open and let all the
Many boys used to wear dark
expensive heat out into the
woollen SAS-style balaclavas
hallway we were in big trouble
unless a heavy weight was single and I live in France.
54,
placed in the boot and snow
Here is a picture of my
cold chains fitted to their wheels.
MINI Cooper S, which
I have

10 love:mini 24 love:mini
The only 4x4 vehicles then were nicknamed UK GIRL!
She is a 2004 Cooper S
model, and has been treated

that you think others would be

to a few luxuries, such
as
a reprogramed ECU, JCW FEATURE
brakes, new WebSpoke
JCW injectors and airbox,
wheels, My Mini
all
of which has pushed the
bhp

Got an idea?
output up to about 200bhp.
I hope you all like my Sam Renton from its previous owner
in

interested to hear about - then share

beautiful UK Girl as much
as
I do.
Hello love:mini, Im Sam
Renton, 20 and currently
have
my own media production
company based in Stafford.
I resprayed. I replaced the
newark, the front was
the
worst but we were amazed
with the condition of the
doors
and rear. We replaced
the
whole front and had it
fully

Have you thought of a cool

am a very keen photographe rear
r subframe and sprayed

it with the wider community?

and have restored my mini it a
funky green. i have also
with my dad for the past given
2 it a retro mk1 look, to set
years. We bought it completely it
apart from other minis.
standard i hope
to spray the front subframe
and engine in the

idea for a feature you’d like to

near future

We are all about encouraging

as well

people to share their knowledge and read about? If so, others would
get more involved in the scene. probably like to read about it too.
As a digital magazine we can be We have contacts and authority 134 love:mini

very dynamic in size and style, to
accomodate any type of article.
From home-made mods
and stunning photos to club
announcements and heated opinions,
we have room for them all. Just get
in touch.
editor@love-mini.co.uk
all around the Mini industry and
if you have a good idea for an
article, we can try and help make
it happen for you.
Where possible, we would even
set it up for you to write the
article yourself, after benefiting
from any relevant experience that
goes with it.

love:mini 
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With many MINI owners discovering the classic Mini, and @@ @ @ @ @ @@ @@ @@@ @
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many classic owners upgrading to the more comfortable @ @@@ @@@ @@@ @@ @@ @@ @@@ @@What @really gets our goat
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RANT The
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Bitesize chunks

@ @ @ @ @ @ @
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and family-friendly MINI, advertising with us covers the@@ @@ @@ @@Sponsorship

@ @ @ @ @POTHOLes @ @@
THis issue:

@ @ @
@ @ @ @ @@ @@ @@ @ @@ it’s@@ @@ @@
been months since the
crux residential streets, and
HOT
of the harsh winter weather those on the

@ @
@ @ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @ @ @@ @@ @@ @
full spectrum of enthusiasts who are slowly, but surely,
hit the uK, freezing, cracking popular back-routes? These,
and for the 3000 miles and
eroding our roads, but time being, seem to be the love:mini
still, today, subject to
neglect. At this rate, they

@ @@ @@ @@ @@Enquire
driving around town there might just Mini is still going
are be fixed in time for next
countless potholes that

@ @ @ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
i am forced winter. strong.
to keep my eyes peeled it’s easy to point at road
for. And tax (and
these aren’t tiny bumps many other uK taxes) MiNi Countryman
that are and say that

becoming more integrated.

occassional, these the councils and government open day at MiNi

@ @
should

@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
are regular, wheel- be doing more, but OXFOrD gives us a
swallowing canyons could there be more good look.
that can cause to this? Do these
Meeting new
untold damage on people care? There’s

@ @
friends in Australia.

@ @ @ @ @@ @@ @@ @ @@ @@ @@ @
@ @
the Mini, and even

@
no arguing that uK

The more people who read the magazine the more @ chance
the MiNi. what the drivers pay more than weather in the
hell is going on? their fair share in taxes, uK finally hits 25C.

@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@WEBSITE
Doing some one way or another, so

@ @ @ @@ @@ @@ @
errands today i had why don’t these plums Aluminium billet
to visit my local have some foresight alloy cylinder
council offices, and to realise that a bad heads hit the

@
@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @ @@ @@ @@ @@ 11@
market.

you have of finding people who want your products/services

low and behold winter — again where
the worst road i councils were ill- Panic: two days

I @20@
had come across led staright equipped with road salt before L2B and the

@ IN@
to — will lead to more road

@ @ @ @ @ @ @@ @ @@ M
@ @ @ @ @ @Enquire @
the council building. Fortunately, damage and Mini’s damper bolt
someone had obviously hence more repairs and
pulled their resurfacing? snaps off.
thumb out of their ass sure the inconsistent weather
doesn’t

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
as there was

@ ift
Overhau ling the MINI’s
help, but i’ve seen on Tv

- it really is a numbers game.

a massive resurfacing new inconsistent

l
truck and

@ce
about six or seven people machines that can fill weather is playing
. a pothole in

a
look and two new models

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ F
working 20 minutes, a job that
on this one 100m stretch would take a havoc with our
of road. i’m manual worker a lot longer.
sure it would have taken

@
Mini maintenance

@
them at As usual it seems the
least all day to fix this beauracrats plans. Not all of
section, but

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
what about all the odd are willing to take our money and us have heat, light
potholes on offer very little in return.
Thanks! and space in our

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
garages, you know.
YOur views from
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Potholes still not
the digital world filled wrecking out
“We had 40 at the top

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
suspension.
of our road! I had to 40 little speed humps ”
Minty’s exhaust fall off!”

SAVE money
Sonia Bowmar-scothern Queuing for hours

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
drive a mile out of my Rebekah Louise Johnstone
way to get to the Post “Yeah we have a pothole up to leave Crystal
Palace on L2B.

@ @ @ @ @ @ @
Office! They have very at a mini roundabout “I’ve been through
roughly filled them now, about 5-inches deep.” three tyres and one

@ @ @ @ @ @
but they have done it so Marcel Parkinson wheel in two months
badly that it’s now like and last month my
“I think they made
NOT
@ @ @ @ @ @
mate’s car had £2000
makeover

@ @Tim@ @
@ @ e:
@ @ @@wa@rp
@ @ @ @ @ The se
Our lower running costs mean we can afford to offer you
on the
which to join the foglight

@ @ @ @ @
more aggressive stance, lower rear bumper.
most
may be to the liking of
cond refresh to the MINI’s male drivers.
The Clubman has had
its love:mini 133
who own tweaks with the rear
appearance has been For Cooper S owners - more
revealed, along with an brake light cluster confoming chrome
have been crying out for to other models with a
new
announcement of two cooling vents - their prayers

cheaper advertising. So it’s a double-bonus really - a wider

surround, while the Cooper
diesel models for 2011. have been answered negating opening
all front S model has a wide
From September 2010, the need to remove the between the two exhaust

@ @ 1963@
and
MINI saloon, Clubman foglights for a similar effect. pipes which replicates
the
subject
Cabrio models will be Optional xenon headlights is
form of an air outlet and

@ @
we
to the update, although can be ordered with either bordered by chrome edging.
expect newer models to black reflectors or adaptive

reach to advertise to and for a cheaper price.

Inside the central facia

@ @
new
Born not long before the Mini feature elements of the lighting which turns the the
changes turn the has been darkened from
was launched, look. The subtle headlights as you
contrasting light grey to
black,

@
Martin Bell recalls his memorie follow on from 2006’s refresh, steering wheel - essentially new LED display sits
s of growing up which again moved the
MINI
enabling you to see round
and a
The
in the world alongside the within the basic speedo.

@
look
Mini. away from it’s child-like corners better. now

WORKSHOP
optional premium speedo
to something more serious. From the side the indicator

T
been comes with a colour screen
he recent snowy weather Overall, the cars have repeaters have been visually
knitted by their mums to out which can be used to watch
got me thinking back to touched up inside and enhanced, looking less via an external device.
keep out the cold, but I also and new setperhaps be sent to
and there is also a would plasticky and featuring
a glass videos
the really bad winter & range where More chrome has also
remember we still had to wear of colours and our
a new
bedroom, there was cover with concentric circles. to the interior
snow of 1963 which started the to been added
short trousers despite the cold wheels to tie-inofwith
course no TV or heating S owners are again treated airvents and
on Boxing Day 1962 and restyling. apart from maybe it is really
you how something a little done.
more flashy. surrounding Trim

DYNAMIC ways to communicate

weather! Showing a hot water on the steering wheel.
lasted until March ‘63 in bottle at bedtime! If it got At the rear all MINI models colours have been revamped
many places... back then we Starting at the front you now feature dynamic LED from
really cold then there was e and claim to be made
num ber plat
can see the most noticeable rear lights that shine brighter
FeW luxurIeS
still had to go to school each better materials than before.
Replaci ng the
an extrais in the
day, staying home and playing
At home few had central change in appearance paraffin heater the harder you brake. Under Optional ambient lighting
is
front
for and rear, braking
heating, very often there would lower bumpers, the hallway which particularly hard
now also available, covering
out in the snow would have which have beenran extended by Pete Parmiter
they will even flash to
warn
light hou sing
be ice on the inside of my on esso
to Blue or Pink 756 shades of colours, and the
been considered skiving. For are
a bedroom window when you downwards to conform
Paraffin which were always following cars that you interior and exterior mirrors
youngster, of course, snow is those new pedestrian safety braking sharply. Additionally
an woke up on a freezing preventadvertised with job
injury
knee simple to do and onlythe
a catchy requires a light has moved are available with auto-

Being a digital publication we can offer unique ways to

adventure and I can remember cold regs andThis is a very reversing
light dimming.
morning! There were only two event of tune
a on TV
collision. This
in the winter I picked up a silver
from the light cluster
walking through the deep snow in the
screwdrive r. At Castle Combe position one.
warm rooms in our house; the in turn has given the
months. MINI a replace my boring black OBJECTIVE
to school in Wellington boots housing for my silver Equinox to Change the
kitchen, due to heat from the 1963 is also
and climbing to the top of 118 love:mini
Here’s how I fitted about
it. when my
own early memories of the Mini numberplate
cooker and the coal-fired boiler Start by unscrewing
tall snow piles at the sides of
for heating the water, which begin. At this time the Mini
1. housing on a

1
the four screws later Mini.

communicate and interact with potential customers.

the roads and driveways that was just about the only front
had been cleared. The school
had to be lit each morning with holding the lights in place
a dangerous-looking gas poker wheel drive car available, so - two on each light. This TOOLS
playground quickly became even though my dad didn’t
an ice palace with one slide
by my mum. One of my pocket like will make it easier when Phillips screwdriver
money them much, to my delight he removing the housing. Replacement light
stretching almost the length housing
jobs borrowed one
of the playground. The bigger The Mini had much better Move in to the boot
boys would run up and launch
themselves on it, hurtling along
was to
fetch the
traction in the snow than
from his garage
and car sales 2. and unscrew the three
screws holding the housing
TIME
10 minutes
buckets business to get hold
at high speed and unable to in place. Make sure to
stop for anyone in the way.
It
of coal
needed
most cars of the time to work in the
the old housing with your
DIFFICULTY
1/10
snow a little
would give today’s health &
from the coal bunker out in easier — as other hand so it doesn’t
safety conscious school staff
a back garden. The other warm
the Minis, with the engine weight drop off, taking the lights ALTERNATIVE METHOD

editor@love-mini.co.uk
heart attack! over the front driven wheels, with it. N/A
room was the living room where
Today it seems many schools had much better traction in
we mainly watched TV and Pull away the rubber
3.
stop children going out to play COST
which had a gas fire. However, the snow than most of the rear About £10 new
in the snow even if they opened surround and gently
if any of us left the door to wheel drive cars of the time,
— much too dangerous… take the lights out, the
this room open and let all the unless a heavy weight was
Many boys used to wear dark old housing can now
placed in the boot and snow
expensive heat out into the be discarded, the new
4
woollen SAS-style balaclavas cold chains fitted to their wheels.
hallway we were in big trouble housing can now be
The only 4x4 vehicles then were fitted start by re-
10
2
love:mini attaching the lights
then the screws in the
boot.

4. And it
should look

3
something like
this. There we


go, a new light

love:mini
housing fitted
in the space of
5 minuets and
it looks much
better than
the old one.
 love:mini WELCOME
www.love-mini.co.uk

W
elcome to love:mini - your new,
free, digital Mini magazine. It’s
a community magazine made up
from your contributions - so the
more you get involved the better it will be!
The idea came about after speaking to
many Mini people and finding they had
become disillusioned with the scene and
dedicated magazines that limit themselves
in what Minis they feature and through
political red tape. We thought, ‘hey, we
could create a magazine for the whole
ISSUE 1
community covering aspects
that the others magazines don’t’
- and so here we are.
We are a free enterprise and all the Winter
work is done in our spare time, but 2010/11
we think it’s worth it to be able to
offer something fresh to the scene.
So if you like what you see and want
to see more then get in touch and keep
your eyes peeled, ears pinned back and
cameraphone at the ready for anything we
could use.
This is where it all begins - where it
ends is up to you.

Craig McBeth
Enjoy.

Editor
craig.mcbeth@love-mini.co.uk

MI NI
BEACHCOM BER
UN VEILED
P76
YOUR CONTRIBUTORS

THIS ISSUE WAS MADE WITH HELP FROM:

Martin Bell, Holly Brown Horsler, Norman Nelson, Keith Calver, George Edwardes,
Paul Taylor, George Wright, Karen Davey, Dave Hale, Marie James, Anton Gihan,
Brett Nosse, Rob & Jessica Ware, David Young, Mark O’Flanagan, Dave Drew,
Bruno Cottanceau, Sam Renton, Carlos Lopez Michel, Andy Mullen, Callum Sinclair,
Grant Woodhouse, Ben Whitehouse, Adam Nierzad, Andy Simpson, Phil Jones, Pete
Parmiter, Dave Overfield and Mark Gameson.

Copyright blurb
Copyright of all contributions remains with the original owner. love:mini produced content is copyright of love:mini. By submitting words and photos to
love:mini you agree to allow us to use and reproduce this material in any way, shape or form (in a non-offensive manner) for the foreseeable future.
We do not intentionally use copyrighted material without permission, and for the most part we have been given permission to use copyrighted material.
However, if you believe we have used copyrighted material without permission, we will do what we can to make amends. Reasonable attempts have been
made to find and contact any copyright owner whose material may have been used.

love:mini 
dash:board
www.love-mini.co.uk

e r
st
on
LOOKING BACK Time:warp
1963
Born not long before the Mini
was launched,
Martin Bell recalls his memories
of growing up
in the world alongside the
Mini.

T he recent snowy weather

got me thinking back to
knitted by their mums to

8 Timewarp
keep out the cold, but I also and would perhaps be sent to
the really bad winter & our bedroom, where there was
remember we still had to wear
snow of 1963 which started of course no TV or heating

m
short trousers despite the cold
on Boxing Day 1962 and apart from maybe a hot water
weather!
lasted until March ‘63 in bottle at bedtime! If it got
many places... back then we really cold then there was
still had to go to school each FeW luxurIeS
At home few had central an extra paraffin heater
day, staying home and playing for the hallway which
heating, very often there would
out in the snow would have

How things were

be ice on the inside of my ran on esso Blue or Pink
been considered skiving. For Paraffin which were always
a bedroom window when you
youngster, of course, snow is advertised with a catchy
an woke up on a freezing
adventure and I can remember cold
morning! There were only two tune on TV in the winter
walking through the deep snow months.
warm rooms in our house; the
to school in Wellington boots 1963 is also about when my
kitchen, due to heat from the
and climbing to the top of own early memories of the Mini
cooker and the coal-fired boiler

back in 1963.

ga
tall snow piles at the sides of begin. At this time the Mini
for heating the water, which
the roads and driveways that was just about the only front
had to be lit each morning with
had been cleared. The school wheel drive car available, so
a dangerous-looking gas poker
playground quickly became even though my dad didn’t
by my mum. One of my pocket like
an ice palace with one slide them much, to my delight he
money
stretching almost the length
jobs borrowed one
of the playground. The bigger
boys would run up and launch
was to The Mini had much better from his garage
themselves on it, hurtling along
fetch the
buckets
traction in the snow than and car sales
business to get
at high speed and unable to
most cars of the time

16 At Home with...

of coal to work in the
stop for anyone in the way.
It needed snow a little
would give today’s health &
from the coal bunker out in easier — as
safety conscious school staff the Minis, with the engine weight
a back garden. The other warm
heart attack! over the front driven wheels,
room was the living room where
Today it seems many schools had much better traction in
we mainly watched TV and
stop children going out to play the snow than most of the rear
which had a gas fire. However,
in the snow even if they opened wheel drive cars of the time,
if any of us left the door to
— much too dangerous…

John Rhodes, legendary

this room open and let all the unless a heavy weight was
Many boys used to wear dark placed in the boot and snow

in
expensive heat out into the
woollen SAS-style balaclavas cold chains fitted to their wheels.
hallway we were in big trouble
The only 4x4 vehicles then were
10 love:mini

Mini driver.

Mak
22 Memory Lane
Your classic Mini photos

86
pre-2000.

24 Storytime
A handful of your
short stories.

UP TO SPEED

26 Club Profile
Getting a closer look at
Manchester Minis.

30 Event Reports
This issue, some of the
shows we have attended.

48 Motorsport MINI 2011

Facelift
Overhaul ing the MINI’s
look and two new models.

MINI Challenge, Miglias,

Minicross and more...
makeover

@ The se which to join the foglight

on the

@ @@
more aggressive stance, lower rear bumper.
most
may be to the liking of The Clubman has had
its
cond refresh to the MINI’s

68 On the Pulse

male drivers. own tweaks with the rear
who
appearance has been For Cooper S owners - more

@
brake light cluster confoming chrome

@ @ @@
revealed, along with an have been crying out for

KNOWLEDGEBASE
new to other models with a
announcement of two cooling vents - their prayers surround, while the Cooper
diesel models for 2011. have been answered negating model has a wide opening
all front S
From September 2010, the need to remove the

@ @@ @@ @@
and between the two exhaust
MINI saloon, Clubman foglights for a similar effect. pipes which replicates the
subject
Cabrio models will be Optional xenon headlights is
we form of an air outlet and
to the update, although can be ordered with either bordered by chrome edging.

@ @
expect newer models to black reflectors or adaptive

In-depth news on
@ the
@ @ @
new Inside the central facia
feature elements of the lighting which turns the the
the has been darkened from
look. The subtle changes headlights as you turn

@ @ @
black,
contrasting light grey to
follow on from 2006’s refresh, steering wheel - essentially sits
and a new LED display

@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@
MINI
which again moved the enabling you to see round The
look within the basic speedo.
away from it’s child-like corners better. premium speedo now
serious. indicator optional
to something more From the side the
been comes with a colour screen
Overall, the cars have repeaters have been visually

@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@
which can be used to watch

biggest issues.
out
touched up inside and enhanced, looking less external device.
and there is also a new
set a glass videos via an
plasticky and featuring More chrome has also
of colours and a new range circles.
cover with concentric been added to the interior
to
wheels to tie-in with the S owners are again treated

@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
surrounding airvents and
more flashy.
restyling. something a little on the steering wheel.
Trim
At the rear all MINI models

RANT
colours have been revamped
Starting at the front you now feature dynamic LED from
and claim to be made

@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @ What
@
can see the most noticeable rear lights that shine brighter better materials than before.
The
is in the
change in appearance the harder you brake. Under Optional ambient lighting
is

@really gets our goat

rear,
lower bumpers, front and particularly hard braking
warn now also available, covering
which have been extended they will even flash to
Trend
and the

@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @ @@ @@
756 shades of colours,

108 The Business

to are
downwards to conform following cars that you

82 Shout/Rant
interior and exterior mirrors
those new pedestrian safety braking sharply. Additionally
injury are available with auto-
regs and prevent knee
a collision. This
the reversing light has
moved
cluster dimming. Bitesize
chunks
of position from the light

@ @
in the event
from the scene
@ @ @
@ @@
a
in turn has given the MINI

@
THis issue:
@
@ @ @ @ @ @ @@ @ @ OLes POTH 118 love:mini

@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @ @@ it’s@@ @@ @@
HOT
Don’t
@ hold @ back,
@ @ get @ it @ @ Finding out about Bill
been months since the
crux residential streets, and
of the harsh winter weather those on the

@ @ @ @ @ @
hit the uK, freezing, cracking popular back-routes? These,
and for the 3000 miles and
eroding our roads, but time being, seem to be the love:mini
subject to

@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @ @@ @@ @@ @@
still, today, neglect. At this rate, they
driving around town there might just Mini is still going
are be fixed in time for next
countless potholes that winter. strong.
i am forced it’s easy to point at road
to keep my eyes peeled tax (and
for. And

off@ your chest

@ and tell us Richards Racing.
many other uK taxes) MiNi Countryman

@ @ @ @ @ @
these aren’t tiny bumps and say that
that are the councils and government

@
occassional, these open day at MiNi

@ @
should

@ @
OXFOrD gives us a

@ @
are regular, wheel- be doing more, but

@ @ @ @ @@ @@ @@ @ @ @ @@ @@ @
@ swallowing canyons could there be more good look.
that can cause to this? Do these
Meeting new
untold damage on people care? There’s

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
friends in Australia.
the Mini, and even no arguing that uK

@how @ you
@ really
@ @ feel.
the MiNi. what the drivers pay more than

@ @ @ @
weather in the
hell is going on? their fair share in taxes, uK finally hits 25C.

@ @
@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
Doing some one way or another, so
errands today i had why don’t these plums Aluminium billet
to visit my local have some foresight alloy cylinder

110 GEAR
council offices, and to realise that a bad heads hit the

@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
low and behold winter — again where market.
the worst road i councils were ill- Panic: two days
had come across led staright equipped with road salt before L2B and the
to — will lead to more road

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
the council building. Fortunately, damage and Mini’s damper bolt
someone had obviously hence more repairs and
pulled their resurfacing? snaps off.
sure the inconsistent weather

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
thumb out of their ass

84 The lock-up
as there was doesn’t
a massive resurfacing help, but i’ve seen on Tv inconsistent
truck and new

Bits to buy for

machines that can fill

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
about six or seven people a pothole in weather is playing
working 20 minutes, a job that
on this one 100m stretch would take a havoc with our
of road. i’m

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
sure it would have taken manual worker a lot longer. Mini maintenance
them at As usual it seems the
least all day to fix this beauracrats plans. Not all of
section, but

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
what about all the odd are willing to take our us have heat, light
potholes on money and
offer very little in return. and space in our
Thanks!

@ @ @ @ @ @ @@ @
Your@@Minis.
garages, you know.

your Mini.
YOur views from Potholes still not

@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @ @
the digital world filled wrecking out
“We had 40 at the top suspension.
of our road! I had to 40 little speed humps ”
Minty’s exhaust fall off!”
Sonia Bowmar-scothern Queuing for hours

@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
drive a mile out of my Rebekah Louise Johnstone
way to get to the Post “Yeah we have a pothole up to leave Crystal
Palace on L2B.

@ @ @ @ @ @ @
Office! They have very at a mini roundabout “I’ve been through
roughly filled them now, about 5-inches deep.” three tyres and one

@ @ @ @ @ @
but they have done it so Marcel Parkinson wheel in two months
badly that it’s now like and last month my
“I think they made
NOT
@ @ @ @ @ @
mate’s car had £2000


@ @ @ @ @
@ @ @ @ @
love:mini
love:mini 133
@ @ @ @
@ @ @ @
@ @ @
 SOCIAL SCENE
135 Challenge
Just for fun why not see

NB4X
how you do.

138 After Hours

92 When you just want to
chill out.

140 Noticeboard
Announcements, stolen
Minis, crashes and misc.

141 Hottest Mini

FEATURES OwnerS
They put their picture up,
86 MINIWEEN you just have to vote.
One MINI you won’t be
able to miss. 141 Hook-up Zone
Love Minis? Single?
92 Jack’s back Meet others like you.
And threatening to be a
real nightmare. 142 DIGIMINI
Weird and cool Mini stuff
100 DOWN UNDER on the internet.
Driving upside down
in Australia. 144 Changing
Hands
Sell your Mini or Mini
stuff for free.

146 Forthcoming
Events

love:mini Check out the most up-

coming events.

120 DIY TECH III 131 KNOW:MINI

Upgrading MINI door Learn about the MINI
WORKSHOP check straps. ONE MkII
Showing you how it is really done.

Replacing the number plate

by Pete Parmiter
light housing

114 DIY TECH I 122 DIAGNOSTIC 136 Get the look

This is a very simple job to do and only requires a
screwdriver. At Castle Combe I picked up a silver light
housing for my silver Equinox to replace my boring black one.
Here’s how I fitted it. OBJECTIVE
Change the

1.
numberplate

1
Start by unscrewing
the four screws housing on a
later Mini.

Finding a fault and of the MkIII classic

holding the lights in place

Bleeding the brakes

- two on each light. This
TOOLS
will make it easier when Phillips screwdriver
removing the housing. Replacement light
housing

2. Move in to the boot

and unscrew the three TIME

fixing the problem. Mini Cooper S.

screws holding the housing 10 minutes

using an Eezibleed kit.

in place. Make sure to hold
the old housing with your DIFFICULTY
other hand so it doesn’t 1/10
drop off, taking the lights
ALTERNATIVE METHOD
with it.
N/A

3. Pull away the rubber

surround and gently
take the lights out, the
COST
About £10 new

old housing can now

124 Diaries 137 Street spirit

be discarded, the new

118 DIY TECH II

4
housing can now be
fitted start by re-

2 attaching the lights

then the screws in the
boot.

4. And it
should look

3
What people have been You recommendations
something like

Replacing a rear
this. There we
go, a new light
housing fitted
in the space of
5 minuets and
it looks much

number plate housing. up to with their fleets. for best roads to drive.
better than
the old one.

126 love:mini

love:mini 
 Time:warp

 love:mini
Reliving the life of the Mini 1963
L ondon, 1963.
The Morris Mini
Minor Super DeLuxe
(pictured) had not long
been in production,
(from October 1962),
and world peace was on
a knife-edge.
The threat of nuclear
war had just eased with
the Cuban Missile Crisis
in late 1962, and this
was swiftly followed by
a prolonged winter in
the UK which became
known as ‘The Big
Freeze’.
In March of ‘63 the
UK government was
advised to severely
scale back the country’s
railways to reduce
mounting losses as cars
became more affordable
and people moved from
using the railways as
their daily transport.

love:mini 
 Time:warp
1963
Born not long before the Mini was launched,
Martin Bell recalls his memories of growing up
in the world alongside the Mini.
T he recent snowy weather
got me thinking back to
the really bad winter &
snow of 1963 which started
on Boxing Day 1962 and
lasted until March ‘63 in many
places. Back then we still
had to go to school each day,
staying home and playing out
in the snow would have been
considered skiving.
For a youngster, of course,
snow is an adventure and
I can remember walking
through the deep snow to
school in Wellington boots
and climbing to the top of
tall snow piles at the sides of
the roads and driveways that
had been cleared. The school
playground quickly became
an ice palace with one slide
stretching almost the length
of the playground. The bigger
boys would run up and launch
themselves on it, hurtling along
at high speed and unable to
stop for anyone in the way. It
would give today’s health &
safety conscious school staff a
heart attack!
Today it seems many schools
stop children going out to play
in the snow even if they opened
— much too dangerous…
Many boys used to wear dark
woollen SAS-style balaclavas
10 love:mini
knitted by their mums to would perhaps be sent to our
keep out the cold, but I also bedroom, where there was
remember we still had to wear of course no TV or heating
short trousers despite the cold apart from maybe a hot water
weather! bottle at bedtime! If it got
really cold then there was an
Few luxuries extra paraffin heater for
the hallway which ran on
At home few had central
Esso Blue or Pink Paraffin
heating, very often there would
which were always
be ice on the inside of my
advertised with a catchy
bedroom window when you
tune on TV in the winter
woke up on a freezing cold
months.
morning! There were only two
1963 is also about when
warm rooms in our house; the
my own early memories of the
kitchen, due to heat from the
Mini begin. At this time the
cooker and the coal-fired boiler
Mini was just about the only
for heating the water, which
front wheel drive car available,
had to be lit each morning
so even though my dad didn’t
with a dangerous-looking gas
like them much, to my delight
poker by my
he borrowed
mum. One
of my pocket The Mini had much better one from his
garage and
money jobs
was to fetch
traction in the snow than car sales
the buckets most cars of the time business to
get to work
of coal
in the snow
needed from the coal bunker
a little easier — as Minis,
out in the back garden. The
with the engine weight over
other warm room was the
the front driven wheels, had
living room where we mainly
much better traction in the
watched TV and which had
snow than most of the rear-
a gas fire. However, if any of
wheel-drive cars of the time,
us left the door to this room
unless a heavy weight was
open and let all the expensive
placed in the boot and snow
heat out into the cold hallway
chains fitted to their wheels.
we were in big trouble and
The only 4x4 vehicles then
were Land Rovers and these
were mostly owned by farmers
and people in the country,
so no-one in London or the
suburbs really had them, except
perhaps as a garage breakdown
vehicle or tow truck.
The Mini was becoming
the most common car on
the road then, as UK Mini
sales actually peaked with
134,346 sold in 1963, although
worldwide sales would not
actually peak until nine years
later in 1972. Today, it always
makes me smile when younger
Mini owners think the classic
Mini has always been owned
by dedicated enthusiasts all
waving to each other on the
road, when the reality is, it
was then just as common
as, say, the BMW MINI is
now. Mini drivers only really
started waving or flashing
lights at each other in the late
1980s, when Mini’s started to
rapidly decline in number and
disappear from our roads as
everyday transport and became
almost exclusively owned by
diehard enthusiasts.
SIMPLE FUN
Another motoring memory
from this time was the I-Spy
books for children used to
break the monotony of long car
journeys. Basically, they were
small logbooks where
you tried to collect
and cross off, for
example, car number
plates with the
different area letter
codes. Another book
was for collecting
sightings of different
makes and model of
cars, until you earned 1000
points to send off for a special
I-Spy badge. It sounds a bit
launch.
Rallying
was much
1963
like trainspotting maybe, but more in the mainstream of the
remember some cars, especially sports news then and Rauno
foreign models, were far more collecting the coveted ‘Coupe
unique and unfamiliar sights Des Alpes’ was the talking
on British roads then. With point of the event reported
Minis we would be looking on radio and TV news. The
out for the rarer Mini Coopers Mini was not yet the well-
with their black or white roofs, known giant killer of racing
or a Moke would also be worth and rallying legend it was
more points! soon to become with the later
1963 saw the introduction famous Monte victories. Paddy
of the first Mini Cooper Hopkirk also followed up with
S (1071cc), with Rauno a 4th overall in an S on the
Aaltonen winning the Touring tough 1963 RAC rally here in
car cateqory of the Alpine Great Britain.
Rally only one month after its Around this time an Almond
Martin Bell
I was born a couple of years before some old Mini stuff in my garage
the Mini was launched in 1959, so I recently I found a small green metal
grew up with it always there in the souvenir plaque from the ‘Mini 21st
background. My dad had a garage, Birthday Party at Beaulieu 26th August
car hire, repair and sales business in 1980’. I remember going to this and
South London and so was involved with again entering the concours, as there
cars but he was not keen on Minis... were very few annual Mini events then.
’too complex and cramped under the It seemed like quite a small gathering
bonnet’ and so he mainly owned more after the Official Austin-Rover Mini
conventional Fords and Vauxhalls. 20th Birthday Party celebration held
However I had three brothers who all the previous year at Donnington which
owned modified Minis through the had been the biggest Mini gathering
1960s, ’70s, ’80s and even right up so far. At the time we all expected Mini
to today. We had Minis of all kinds, production would soon come to an end
modified them and from the 1970s due to the impending launch of the
even went racing in Mini Se7en and Austin Metro. I’ve been driving Minis
Special saloons in the days when you and going to Mini events including all
could still ask advice from famous the big birthday party events ever since.
Mini tuning aces in the paddock, like Today, I still have one of my classic
Dave Vizard and Chris Tyrell. Minis, which I have had for about 25
I joined the Mini Cooper Club (later years now, and continue to modify it
the MCR) and also Chris Cheal’s (just about to return it to 10” wheels). I
National Mini Owners’ Club when they even replaced the bodyshell back when
both started in 1979. I went to some no one cared much about originality.
of the first Mini show events, like I have a modified 2002 BMW MINI as
Beaulieu, which only had about 40-50 an everyday driver and recently I have
Minis attend that first year. It was been helping my brother restore a few
also much easier to win the concours Minis (currently a very rusty Minivan).
then, much to my surprise I won the He has recently also got back into early
modified class at the first National classic Minis after having fun driving
MOC Show at Twycross Zoo, and still his 2002 new MINI Cooper S and
have the trophy! Whilst sorting out modding his son’s MINI One!
love:mini 11
Time:warp
Green and white Mini Cooper
appeared on one of our
neighbours’ driveways, but
we still couldn’t convince my
dad to get one and a new blue
Ford Consul Cortina Mk1 soon
became our more spacious and
practical family transport.
In the wider world of events
in 1963 I vaguely remember
US President John F Kennedy
getting assasinated, but this
was of more concern to adults,
although as kids we were
hoping his promise to get a
man on the moon by the end of
the decade would still happen.
I remember being madly
interested about anything to
do with the space race between
the USA and Russia and
was excited at the prospect
of a manned moon landing
happening in the not-too-
distant future.
The Great Train Robbery
12 love:mini
was also a major news story
when on 8 August 1963 a mail
train was held up at Bridego
Railway Bridge, Ledburn
in Buckinghanshire by a
15 strong gang of robbers
from London, including
Ronnie Biggs, and was
soon being re-inacted by
kids like us in the school
playground! The train’s second
carriage behind the engine
was known as the HVP (High
Value Package Coach) where
registered mail was sorted
and this contained valuables
including large quantities of
money, registered parcels and
packages. Usually the value of
these items would have been
in the region of £300,000, but
because there had been a Bank
Holiday weekend in Scotland,
the total on the day of the
robbery was £2.6 million.
(about £40 million today). The
robbers had covered the green
signal light and connected a
six-volt EverReady battery to
power the red signal light.
At the bridge the robbers
removed about 124 sacks
which they transferred
quickly from the HVP
to a truck by forming a
human chain.The bulk of
the stolen money in used £1,
John F. £5 and £10 notes was never
Kennedy recovered. At the time, it was
probably the largest robbery,
by value, in British history.
Holiday in bognor
That summer we went on a
seaside holiday to Bognor
(few families went abroad
then) in yet another of my
dad’s Fords - a two-tone
painted Mk2 Zodiac. Bognor
is only down on the Sussex
coast but it seemed miles from
London to us, but there were
August 1963 A Royal Mail train is robbed of
£2.6m in one of the biggest heists in UK history.
June 1963 Rauno Aaltonen and Tony Ambrose on
their way to 1st place on the Coupe des Alpes.
very few stretches
of dual carriageway
and hardly any
motorways (the
M1 had only opened
in 1959) so most car
journeys involved long
torturious sections of single
carriageway A-roads, often
held up in queues of traffic
trapped behind slow moving
cars and, worst of all, lorries
or coaches belching out clouds
of foul-smelling diesel fumes
slowly trying to climb hills.
Also, you had to pass through
the traffic bottlenecks that
many town centres had become
and had yet to be by-passed. A
big treat on such trips was to
be allowed to sit up
especially,
front in the middle of
of course, seeing Minis up
the front bench seat
against far bigger cars like
(no seat belts) and help
Jaguars and the occasional big
dad change gear with the
V8 American saloon car.
steering column mounted gear
My older teenage brothers
Ford Zodiac lever.
were also starting to buy
Sunday was still a much
Mk2 quieter day then, with nearly
records around this time as my
dad had just bought a brand
all shops shut and no out-
new Phillips Radiogram.
of-town retail parks, DIY
It was like a large wooden
stores or garden centres etc.
cabinet piece of furniture on
to visit like there is today. I
thin legs which contained a
can remember thinking that
radio and, most importantly,
Sunday was a
very boring day
as a kid, except
Sunday was a very
for the occasional
drive out to the
boring day as a kid
country or day out to some
a record player — including
kind of event. A highlight
a slightly unreliable stacking
Bognor were visits to Sunday club
system for playing several
race meetings at Brands
45rpm singles automaticaly
Hatch or Lydden in Kent. The
like a jukebox. The volume
meetings drew big crowds most
was soon being turned up by
weekends because there were
us, and down by dad on the
less places open or things for
first Beatles album, Please
people to do then. The saloon
Please Me, which my brother
car racing was a favourite,
had brought home. I still have
love:mini 13
Time:warp
the well worn and
scratched vinyl LP
in its torn cover.
Little did we realise
music history was in the
making and the Beatles music
would still be played today.
Our TV then was very small,
black and white with only
two channels - BBC and ITV.
It took a few minutes for the
valves inside to warm up when
first switched on. The sound
came on first followed by the
picture a little later. And when
you switched it off a small
dot of light would stay in the
middle of the screen for quite a
while after!
1963 was the debut of Dr.
Who and my favourite enemy
– the Daleks. I remember they
became a bit of a craze and
even my dad’s newspaper
was full of
pictures, stories
and competitions
about them.
For my younger
brother and I our
best Christmas
presents that year
were battery-operated black
plastic Dalek’s with a red
flashing light inside. I recently
saw one the same still in it’s
original box fetch several
hundred pounds on eBay! If
only we still had them tucked
away somewhere...
14 love:mini
ON THE BOX
Other TV highlights
for me in 1963 were
the puppet based
childrens’ science fiction
shows like Gerry Anderson’s
Fireball XL5, Stingray (still
shown on TV today because
it was made in colour for
the US), but my favourite
of them all was Roberta
Leigh’s Space Patrol series,
until recently thought lost, but
now re-discovered stored on
old film reels in an old garage
and re-released on DVD and
YouTube. They may look a bit
primitive now, but we looked
forward to the next episode
every week and if you missed
it - with no way of recording
anything - you had to wait
months for a repeat.
At the cinema the
first James Bond film
with the Mini.
Dr No had recently
been followed up by
From Russia with
Love but it was
to be the next one,
Goldfinger, which
I remember best because I
saved up all my pocket
money for weeks to buy
the gold Corgi Aston
Martin DB5 diecast
model car complete with
a working passenger
ejector seat, now
also a sought after
collector’s item!
Unlike my Dalek this
has survived and is
stored in my loft with
several other prized
Corgi and Dinky
cars, including
some Minis!
Highs and lows
Pictured left to right, from top:
Martin Luther King gives his
famous ‘I have a dream’ speech,
campaigning for racial equality
and an end to discrimination;
TaB cola is launched as a diet
version of Coca-Cola, preceding
Diet Coke. TaB cola is still in
production; A buddist monk sets
fire to himself in protest of the
persecution of Buddists in Vietnam
by the country’s President, Ngo
Dinh Diem. Diem was assissinated
just five months later; Ferruccio
Lamborghini opens up a new car
firm to rival Ferrari; Anti-nuclear
marches were common as the
Cold War and space race hetted up;
Myra Hindley and Ian Brady begin
their killing spree of five children
abducting Pauline Reade and John
Kilbride in 1963; Malaysia is formed
by merging the Federation of
Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo
Of the older
generation?
and Sarawak; Prostitute Christine
Keeler helped to bring down the
We want to
British Government when Secretary
hear your of State for War, John Profumo,
stories of
was discovered having an affair
growing up
with her. She was also sleeping
with a Russian spy. Profumo and
editor@love-
mini.co.uk later the Prime Minister resigned;
A new island is formed when a
massive underground volcano
erupts. It is named Surtsey;
Vostok 6 carries Soviet cosmonaut
Valentina Tereshkova, the first
woman, into space; Disney releases
its 18th feature-length animation,
The Sword in the Stone; Astro Boy
cartoon first airs on Japanese TV;
The first X-Men comic is released;
Pope Paul VI is elected as the 262nd
Pope, succeeding Pope John XXIII;
The second James Bond film, From
Russia with Love, is released less
than six months after the first;
Alcatraz Island is closed as a
Federal Prison; The first Iron
Man comic is released; The
increase of car use saw a decline
in demand for trains and
the demolition of New York’s
beautiful Pennsylvania station
began, causing international
outrage. Madison Square
Gardens would eventually be
built in its place.
1963

love:mini 15
 At home with...

o h n R h o d e s
J
‘S m o k e
wa s
y ’ R
t o
h
M
o d
i
e
n
s w a s to
i ra l ly i n g
M
-
i n
a
i
l
r
e
a ci ng w
gend.
h a t P a d dy

Hopk i rk

Words: David Overfield/Mark Gameson Photos: Mark Gameson

I
n the Mini’s heyday John ‘Smokey’ Rhodes was one of the
leading figures on the track. His infamous style of drifting the
Mini sideways through corners made a memorable impression on
the public and set him up for a host of wins.
While Timo, Paddy and Rauno, were making headlines for their
winning exploits on the rally stages of Monte Carlo, John was
part of a pack of racers setting the pace on the oval circuit. We
wheelspan our way to him at his home in the Midlands for a chat.

love:mini: John you have had a
successful motor-racing career
and are well known in the
Mini scene, what first got you
interested in motor racing?
John Rhodes: When I was
younger I used to go and watch
cars like the Auto Union (now
Audi) cars race. In those days
spectators could stand on the
edge of the track with little
more then a few straw bales or
a row of tyres between them
and the cars. This got me into
motor racing and my career had
three phases.
lm: So this got you interested
in motor racing, how did you
actually get involved in the
sport and what was the first
phase of your career?
JR: The first phase started
when I joined the Hagley and
District Light Car Club, which
in those days was the mecca for
motorsport. We had people like
Ken Wharton and Peter Collins
- a whole host of Formula 1
drivers.
lm: What car did you have to
compete in at the time?
JR: I had an Austin Seven
Special with a supercharged
engine. As you were competing
against the very best who had
very quick cars you had to
constantly raise your game. If
you got within half a second,
or one second of drivers like
Ken Wharton, which I did, you
were very pleased with yourself
- especially as I used to be
my own mechanic. I actually

16 love:mini
I changed a complete axle
between events once

changed a complete axle between events once,

for which I got a very nice award.

lm: Did you meet anyone at the club that helped

advance your career?
JR: I met three brothers, Chris, Julian and Tom,
whose family ran a Glassworks in Stourbridge
and were obviously very wealthy. They could
see I was driving very well and could see I was
very good on the spanners. They asked me to go
over to Chimay in Belgium.
Julian had a Lotus Eleven which they trailered
over on the back of a Land Rover and Chris had
a Tojerio MG. When we arrived the first thing
Julian did was to barrel-roll the Lotus. Chris
then hit a well-known Belgium journalist in
the MG causing both cars to burst into flames!
So we had a mangled heap of a Lotus and the
chassis tubes off the MG which we strapped
on to the trailer. At that time you were only
allowed to take £50 out of the country, and
while going through customs a customs officer
came up to us and said “excuse me sir, have
you done anything to enhance either of these
vehicles?” When we got back to the UK Julian
said to me that he couldn’t take [the wreck]
home as his mum would have a fit, so he gave
me the wrecked Lotus which I repaired and put
an MG engine in it and used it to compete in.

lm: It sounds like the club was a very friendly

place despite the rivalry when in the car?

love:mini 17
 John Rhodes
JR: Yes, it was a friendly place. I was good friends with
a few of the guys; David Baker; Richard Attwood and
Alan Evans, who was a trainee accountant. We were
regulars in the pub and knew the doctor well.
One day the doctor asked Alan how he was, Alan
said ‘not so good’. So the doctor said; ‘look Alan, you
need to do something different
- this training to be an accountant
is getting above you.’ I knew that An idiot crashed the car
John Cooper had got a kit for the
MkI Cooper so I mentioned this to and injured me
Alan - his father was chairman of
a big company so he had plenty
of money - I said I’ll build the car and we’ll share the
racing, which is what we did. We had a lot of success
with the car which of course was the start of the Mini
Cooper S.
lm: By now you had obviously started to get noticed.
Did you get any support from any influential names in
the sport?
JR: We had a lot of support for a guy called Eddie
Maher who was a top engineer at BMC. He would
make something like six different camshafts every
month and give them to Ken Tyrrell for the Cooper
team cars which I was racing against. I managed to
get one of these camshafts and I was beating Tony
Maggs and John Love - both drivers for Cooper - at
Oulton Park until the steering broke. I never got
another camshaft!
18 love:mini
lm: You did well in the single-seater racing, did you
continue in this form of racing?
JR: Yes, The Midland Racing Partnership was formed
and they found me a car which was a Cooper MkII.
This was yet another prototype for the Cooper S as the
engines kept getting better and better as Eddie Maher
was tuning them for John Cooper.
I did very well in that car and
won a number of events.
At the end of the year I
attended a wedding. On the way
back I was a passenger in a car,
along with Alan Evans, who was
in the back, and we were being driven by a complete
idiot who crashed the car and put me out of action.
lm: What did you do after you had recovered from the
accident?
JR: I drove every conceivable Formula Junior car apart
from the Lotus. Then, Bob Gerard, who was a very
good amateur racing driver, got hold of me and asked
me if I would like to drive one of his Coopers, which I
did, and I went all over the place.
lm: You drove in Formula 1 for a time how did you get
involved in that?
JR: I used to build the Cooper Junior Cars for The
Midland Racing Partnership at John Cooper’s workshop
in Surbiton and got to know the team manager ‘Ginge’
and all the top people - including John Cooper of
 lm: What did your team think of your driving style?
JR: The tyres used to reach 125 degrees and Dunlop
were terrified every time I went out because of what
I put the tyres through - I did have tyres burst on
occasion. Although, in four years with the Mini
Coopers I don’t think we had a breakdown. There were
times when I’d say to Ginge this isn’t quite right and
he’d say OK and I’d go away, come back, go out in the
car again and say that’s much better and he hadn’t
done anything to change it.

lm: What was it like driving for the Cooper team?

JR: Because Cooper was an F1 team - the McLaren of
their day - everything was very well prepared. Ginge
would always make sure my car was ready first so I
could go out and set my time early and put the car
away. If one of the cars got damaged we had another
car set up exactly the same, this was a real benefit
compared to some of the top guys who had invested
all the money into one car. So, although they had
faster cars, we were able to push ours to the limit and
break them. John Cooper decided to sell the F1 team to
Marks and Spencer and went to work with Britax. Ron
Dennis used to wash my car when I was at the Cooper
works. We used to see lots of famous names like Jack
Brabham there too.

lm: So that ended your time at Cooper what did you do

next?
JR: I went over to British Leyland who at the time
were the only people who could afford me. I got the
course. They were at Silverstone testing their cars with same money as Paddy Hopkirk, which, to me, was
drivers Tony Banks and John Love at the same time as quite extraordinary as rallying and racing were two
I was. Ginge was there, so I said to him ‘can I have a totally different entities. This of course was during the
go in one of your cars’, to which he agreed. This was a time when Red Robbo (Derek Robinson, Trade Union
great honour as he wouldn’t let anyone other than the spokesperson) was in charge of the company and there
team drivers drive his cars, and I was immediately on were strikes all the time. All the work on those red and
a par, if not quicker, than both of them. white cars had to be done on the quiet, because if the
union found out, that would have been it. They gave me
lm: So you were instantly in tune with the car, how the chance to race MGBs and Healeys. Peter Browning
did your driving style change with the different type of was a good as gold as a team manager.
car?
JR: In being as quick as I was my driving style lm: Did you ever race with the likes of Paddy?
changed and I obtained my driving style that is
recognizable today. Going into Copse, the first corner,
I shot in and, well, the brakes in those days were only
tiny little discs and not very good at all, so I put the
car into the corner and let it oversteer and floored the
throttle. The car went round the corner in a complete
drift and I decided this was the way to drive from then
on. For the next four years in the Minis I used that
style to help me win the championship with all the
other drivers out to beat me. As tyres got better and
wheels got bigger I had to drive ‘properly’ as my style
would have turned the car over.

love:mini 19
 John Rhodes
JR: Yes, we did. In fact, when he gave me a copy of his
book he wrote in it ‘John you were always faster then
me’ which was nice.
lm: What did you do when Leyland closed the
competition department?
JR: Throughout my racing career I had run my own
workshop, although I hadn’t been about much while
racing, but I went back to that.
lm: Was that the end of you career?
JR: No. I had a call from Lord March asking me if I
would like to be involved in The Revival Meeting which
I have now been attending for the last 10 years, where I
have been lucky enough to drive a wide variety of cars
including A40s, Riley 1.5s and Lotus Elites.
lm: What is like to race at Goodwood? Is it is still the
same track as it was when it closed?
JR: It’s exactly the same, if you go off there you’re
going to hurt yourself. I drove one of the Works cars
with injection at last year’s revival to celebrate the
Mini’s 50th. It was fantastic to drive something with
small wheels again but the tyre adhesion is probably
80% better then it was and to drive a car like I used to
physically hurts these day due to the grip?
lm: What would you say was the best circuit to race at,
Silverstone is obviously where acquired your driving
style but is it your favourite track?
JR: I never liked Silverstone because it is a speed
circuit and when you think we were driving cars that
was like a brick going through the air, so we weren’t
fast enough, but Woodcote corner was absolute bliss
because it was a corner that sorted the men from the
boys.
20 love:mini
lm: Back when you were competing it was very much a
sport, unlike today, have you got any stories from then?
JR: Back then no one really had any money and
everything was done on a budget. John Cooper was
given the bodyshells and tyres. At one time I had
a MKII Jag and every two weeks I would go up to
Dunlop and they would fit a new set of tyres to it
for me because I’d drive like I was on the race track.
Everything was given to you - your petrol tank was
filled up at every circuit you went to too.
lm: Have you had any involvement with the New MINI?
JR: Mike Cooper asked me to go to Goodwood and
drive the top brass from BMW round the track in his
210bhp MINI Cooper S which I did for four years. My
son, Tim, had a MINI Cooper which Mike tuned up for
him. It went like a rocket but it was too loud for me.
lm: Why did you give up racing?
JR: I had a big crash at Brands Hatch in 2006 which
has affected my sight and I can no longer drive. I was
very lucky as I went in to the tyre wall at about 80mph.
The doctors said it was only the fact I was so fit after
completing a charity bike ride a few weeks before that I
didn’t suffer worse injures.
WANTED!
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love:mini 21
 Memory Lane
Your classic Mini memories from 1959-2000

My first Mini
Holly Brown Horsler 1996
Here are a couple of piccys of
some of my Mini Memories,
the piccys aren’t great quality
but nevermind you get the
idea.

1998

This one is from my 20th This is of me getting Min my very first Mini as an 18th birthday
birthday. Having passed my present from my parents.
driving test that day, I got some
nice new shiny bits for Min as
birthday presents.
1998
1999

My 21st birthday cake made by

my father-in-law Keith to look
just like Min. This is me just after I had my very first driving lesson in Min.

22 love:mini
Bought new
Paul Taylor
Hi there, just thought I’d send
you a pic of My Mini 25. The
photo of the 25 was taken
on August 1, 1984 - the day
I got it. The other Mini (in th
ebackground) would have been a
neighbour’s.
The car originally cost £4200
and it was my daily runner. I
sold it back to the dealership in
1988, as I had taken up motor
racing and needed the cash for a SUBMIT
tow car! According to DVLA, it
1984 Mini
Memories
was last taxed in 1992.

Video history Find it at: www.austinmemories.com

www.youtube.com/user/austinmemories#p/u/2/P2IK7SXXWQ8

Longbridge General been partially sold off for commercial and

office block Demolition
Longbridge, Birmingham, UK, was the main
factory where the Mini was built thoughout
its production. Since the collapse of MG Rover
Group, which saw the plant close, the site has
residential developments.
This video is one in a series showing the
bulldozers pulling down buildings, some
of which first opened 100 years previous.
Informative captions and sentimental music
add to the tearjerker factor. Prepare the tissues.

love:mini 23
 Storytime Sharing your tales, new and old.
awoke the next day bitten to death,
and headed into Venice itself. A
coffee just off the Piazza da Roma
convinced me that if we wanted to
have enough money for the petrol
home, this was not the place to be!
So off we shot, down the Adriatic
Coast to just south of Ravena, to
a pleasant campsite on the beach.
To this day, Pam reckons she is
the only person in the world to go
to Venice, and not see St. Mark’s
Square or the Rialto Bridge!
We set up camp and by this time
the fuel pump was becoming a
bore. So off we walked, fuel pump
in hand, to a garage some four
miles away, along a hot and dusty
road amid the mad Italian drivers.
Italian Job 1968-style campsite nears Grays. Now you are
probably blissfully unaware of what
I paid the owner an extortionate
by George Wright amount of money when I collected
the sanitary arrangments in France the ‘repaired’ pump, and we settled

P
were like nearly 40 years ago, but down to a great time by the beach,
am, my then fiancee, decided
two bricks, a hole, and no running watching the Germans organise
that we ought to go to Italy
water once,
on holiday. Being but poor
just begins to
students, the only way was to drive,
describe it!
and camp. Easy, when you have a
So the next
Minivan!
morning we sped
So, after a bit of fettling (yellow
off towards the
head lights, GB sticker and such
Alps. I had only
like), I set off from my house in
ever seen the
Nottingham, down the old Fosse, to
place under feet
pick up Pam at Yeovil. Then along
of snow, it’s so
the south coast - no M25/M27 then
very pictuesque.
- to Dover, where we spent the
And we had
night. No need to pitch the tent as I
plenty of time
had a mattress in the back!
to take in the
Next day, going up the ramp on
scenery, as the
the ferry, my engine cut out! The
van boiled up quite a few times on their families to do all the chores,
old problems with the electric fuel
the way up! and then go out and catch the
pump were back. Quickly switching
We camped just over the border chocolate bars dropped by small
the ignition on and off did the trick,
into Italy at Aosta, a famous town parachutes from planes flying along
and we were soon parked up. After
just over the pass, and still quite the beach.
an uneventful crossing we were off
high up. We sampled some cheap The time had come to pack up
into La Belle France, stopping at a
Chianti, rough enough to take the and go, and we had an uneventful
enamel off your teeth, which taught journey back to Dover, apart from
us not to buy the cheapest again. the rapid ignition switching every
Down the mountains the next time the engine cut out! We were
day, and off to Venice, we camped sat eating our lunch before sailing,
at Mestre - the Newcastle on Tyne when I happened to look at our
of Italy, famous for shipbuilding. tickets, that didn’t say 3.30pm, but
The campsite seemed to be in 13.30, which was in 20 minutes
a shipyard from the noise, and time. We chucked everything in
the mosquitos were like bats. We the van, and roared through Calais,

24 love:mini
 SUBMIT
Mini
Story
Do you use your Mini every day?
by Karen Davey

getting there just in time. And
true to form, the fuel pump
did its bit on the ramp, and
we struggled to get on board.
Back at Dover, we declared
our Chianti (mid-price this
time), only to be told we were
only allowed half a litre each,
not the litre and a half we
had both bought. We must
have both looked devastated,
and poor, as we were waved
through anyway. Back to
Yeovil, I dropped Pam off with
her parents and I headed up to
the Midlands again, the fuel
pump packing up seven times
on the last part of the journey.
A great holiday!
H
i, I am now happily using
my Mini as my everyday car.
Generally our relationship is
very good but for one small problem!
Ever since the engine was rebuilt
it has been burning oil and try as
I might I cannot stop the fumes
entering the car. Opening the
windows is a big mistake - because
as all classic Mini owners know they
have a tendency to steam up inside!
What to do? Peer through the bit
of the windscreen you can keep
clear with your demist pad or brave
the fumes, open the window and
get well and truly gassed. Tricky
question - my husband now refuses
to travel any distance in my car and
threatens to jump out if I dare open
the window.
Only one solution left now - yes the
engine is coming out - I will have a
temporary 1000cc’s of snarling death
instead of the 1293 I am used to,
what a shock that will be, especially
uphill!
I need new valve guides and to
have the piston rings checked, so no
quick fix for me. If you see a Mini
clubman 1275 GT in black pottering
along at a very sedate speed it will
be me pretending I am not in any
hurry!
Minis eh? Don’t you just love
them?

Soap opera racing drama

by Dave Hale

F
or some time now we have been advertising an
‘Arrive and drive’ package on our spare Mighty
Mini. We have had a few tentative enquires and
one rental. Most enquiries quickly turned down due to
uncertainties on driving capabilities, drilled into me by
my mum, who always said to me ‘be careful who you
lend your toys to!’
Now imagine our surprise when we see an article in
the Daily Mail by Tina Hobley saying she wants to race
a Mini, and the same week a chap called and asked
about rental. The caller turned out to be Oli Wheeler,
Tina’s husband! Unfortunately the BBC had banned
Tina from racing so Oli got the drive.
Oli has been racing for some time, mainly in
Caterhams and lots of karting - karting with the best,
Jenson Button! But he fancied a real challenge, one
where the driver wins and not the most expensive car -
hence his choice,
Mighty Minis.
2009 was Oli’s
40th birthday,
hence his race
number 40! Oli’s
chosen race
was the 2009
season finale at
Silverstone.
The race day came quickly and luckily qualifying
passed by incident-free for the classic-mini team, thus
leaving us time to enjoy some racing and meet Tina
and the family.
Our race was mid-afternoon, and we were all hoping
it would stay dry. Fortunately it did, however the race
didn’t quite go to plan. Oli had a great start moving up
from 13th up to 7th in one lap. Unfortunately his race
ended early. Whilst challenging for more positions he
was tapped into a spin which ended his race with a
very unlucky front impact.
Oli is not disheartened from his Mini experience and
says he wants to race for four rounds in future! Our
classic-mini team (Caroline and David) should be racing
at all the events this year - sponsorship permitting - as
our main team sponsor CRS Risk has decided to leave
us after five great years.

love:mini 25

Social life
Club Profile:
Manchester Minis
A social club for Mini enthusiasts, with weekly
meets and fun for everyone.
Submitted by Marie James
M
anchester Minis is in
it’s 12th year and still
going strong, with new
members joining every month.
We have over 100 active members
and these spread from Cornwall to
Leeds, not just Manchester.
We are more than just a Mini
club that meets once a month,
we are more of a social club,
and we meet every week on a
Wednesday at the Cheshire Line
Tavern, Cheadle. Most discussions
are not Mini-related, but of course
we do have the usual Mini chats,
but just about anything passes as
conversation. And we have quite a
few technically and mechanically-
minded people, so that helps with
any Mini or non-Mini related
problems.
We have
an
26 love:mini
UK
online forum that anyone can join
and there are sections on there
for mechanical help, as well as
all the all important upcoming
events, and a general chit chat
section.
At the Cheshire Line Tavern
where we meet, I often organise
quiz and raffle nights for everyone
(I’m the Events Organiser, so
everyone kind of looks to me for
things to do, but occasionally
we get some nice fellows who
arrange their own entertainment
so I get to just join in and take a
step back). All the proceeds go to
the club funds which buys things
like flyers, gazebos, banners,
website

FEATURE
renewals etc. We also My Club
do autotest nights once
a year at the pub we
meet at, which always
brings a good turnout of people as
it’s great to watch.
As well as attending all the
main Mini events, we also
organise a few of our own club
runs, which are generally just
to a chippy or a pub, but we try
and stick to the A and B-roads
as they are more fun! We also
meet up for curry nights, or just
a drive out when the weather is
good. We attend many Mini shows
throughout the year and often
have a club stand to display all
our lovely shiny polished Minis.
We do a lot of camping!! In 2009
we went to
Tatton Park
Classic Car
The_ a_ and_ b_ roads
Show and
we won 8th
are _ more_fun
place out of
81 entries for Best Club Stand.
We currently have a few Minis
off the road being restored, I’m
sure they’d like to keep you
informed of what progress they
are making, most of the info can
be found on our forum where they
post pictures of where they are up
to, in the ‘Mini Projects’ section.
Paul Howes and Richard King
are just two of the many who are
currently restoring a Mini or two.
I personally have recently had
my Mini restored by my partner
(Paul Howes) who is a mechanic
Social life
and classic car specialist. After
he spent nine gruelling months
working on my beloved car, I got
it back on the road in December
2008 and three weeks later a lady
drove into the back of me at a
set of traffic lights. Devastated
wasn’t the word, but it’s the polite
version. Thankfully it was quickly
sorted out and I got it back at the
end of January 2009 and it still
looks fantastic.
We’ve also had two Mini club
weddings. One of which wanted as
many Minis as possible to come.
So a bunch of us came with our
Minis and
drove the
bride and
bridesmaids
to the
wedding
venue. It really made her day and
made it that bit more personal.
We also go away as a club
once a year, Angelsey weekends,
Snowdonia weekends, all of which
can be found on our website
www.manchesterminis.co.uk.
We are a very active club and
always welcome new members.
You don’t have to own a Mini, but
if you are an enthusiast , ex-Mini
owner, or your just into cars, you’ll
enjoy an evening with us. The
Mini scene is just the best place
to be.
love:mini 27
 l Club FactFIle
Social life
M Manchester Minis
www.manchesterminis.co.uk

n Formed 1998 Altrincham, Ashton-under-

Lyne, Leeds, Stockport, Cheadle,

o
Meeting place Bredbury, Manchester, Edgeley wouldn’t be fair to point out any
Cheshire Line Tavern, (all the Manchester and south one.
Manchester Road, Cheadle, Manchester areas really).
Project cars
p
SK8 2NZ
Members So many projects are on the go
all the time, but Chris Jackman
Contact details Over 150 members, about 50
has a Clubman Estate project,
Club President active members.
q Dave Vincent
davev@manchesterminis.co.uk Activities
Paul Howes has a couple of
projects, one on his Mayfair Mini,
a complete overhaul, and one on
Car rallies, shows, camping a Minivan, finishing off where
r Events Organiser
Marie James
events, charity events, chippy
runs, autotest nights, raffle and
the last owner left off.

most desired club car?

weblass@manchesterminis.co.uk quiz nights, social get-togethers.
s
I think my Mini always gets a
We meet weekly, not monthly lot of attention. People say they
Areas covered as many other clubs do, so it’s love the colour and would have
We have members from Wigan, more of a social gathering. my car anyday. It’s a 1971, Teal
t Blue Mini 850 (converted to 1293
engine), with tinted windows.
Why should people join Membership fee Restored in 2008.

u
your club?
We are friendly Mini enthusiasts
and welcome anyone with an
interest in the classic Mini,
£10 a year. Membership entitles
you to discount at Moss Europe most popular paint
in Cheadle and usually gets you colour?
cheaper car insurance, when It seems to be blue. We have a

v (MINI owners also welcome).

We do lots of major shows run
you are a member of a club. lot of different shades of blue
Minis.
by British Mini Club, as well cars of interest

w
as other local events such as Too many to list really. We have motorsport
Northern Minis Moorland and too many gorgeous Minis, it competitors?
Coastal Mini Adventure, and
also weekend camping rallies

x and watching racing, and going

to classic car shows (not just
Minis). We enjoy socialising

y
and meeting new like-minded
people, and there is always
someone technical at hand
to help with any car-related

z issues. We also try and hold

raffle and quiz nights at the
club, and do an annual autotest
in the car park which always
0-9 attracts a lot of attention.

28 love:mini
We all like to take part in
the quarter-mile dragstrip at
Shakespeare County Raceway,
and also Santa Pod. We used to
have a member who raced his
Mini, but he sadly moved away.
in a band?
No one
the most?
It’s a close call between Byrney
and Richard King and Paul
Howes.
as we can. It’s become one of
the events that is always in the
diary and not to be missed. We
all do get along so well, it’s just
such a great club to be in.
One other memberable bit of
info is when we went on a night
out for one of the member’s
birthdays, we went to a curry
house on the Curry Mile in
Rusholme, and he was running
late (the birthday boy, Tony
Barnes). We had all ordered
drinks by then, and as he
came in, we were ordering our
starters. The waiter came over
and asked him if he would like
any starters, and his reply was
“Yes please, 2 Cobras” we all
riled with laughter. He didn’t
hear that he had said starter and
not drink. But it’s something
that has stuck and it’s a running
joke.

the oldest? WHO’s WHO?

Well the oldest roadworthy and
running Mini would be mine,
1971, but I think for the oldest
Mini I would probably say Paul
Howes and his Minivan which I
think is 1969.
Tell us about some
of your adventures
together, the ups and
downs, the banter, the
breakdowns and fun
times.
So much to tell, the majority of
events we do are on the website
with links to pictures (not many
write-ups for the recent ones)
But in the past we did a tower
to tower run, Blackpool tower
to the Eiffel tower. That was a
great adventure. We also did
the International Mini Meet to
Denmark, another great adventure,
although we did have a Mini
breakdown on the way back, and
we had to leave him in Germany
as we had a ferry to catch. His
head gasket had gone and he
barely got onto the ferry the next
day.
Our Moorland and Coastal
Adventures are the best. So
many stories can be told about
the weekend’s antics it would
take me all day to sit and write
it. But let’s just say, we always
get remembered when we go to
the event, as we always have so
much fun and join in as much
Who’s the Chief?
I (Marie James) get called “Manchester Minis’ big sister”
Who’s the Techie?
Various people have knowledge of many Mini technical
issues
Who’s the Computer boffin?
Christopher Jackman and Richard King jointly
Who’s the Anorak?
That would definitely be Edward Lowick (moved to Leeds, but
still a member and comes to events with us still)
Who’s the Boy Racer?
Paul Howes
Who’s the Wise Owl?
Club president, Dave Vincent
Who breaks down the most?
Not had any breakdowns for a while, the last was Robert
Gough, when his clutch gave up
Who is the one who always runs on empty?
Tony Barnes (and his petrol guzzler)
Who is the prettiest?
Oooh tough one, we are all gorgeous!
Who is the oldest?
Dave Vincent FEATURE
Who is the most musical? My Club
Robert Price
Who is the cheekiest?
Robert Price
Who is the most likely to have road rage?
Paul Howes
Who is the most likely carry lots of spares?
Christopher Jackman

love:mini 29
 Mini run
Moonraker Run
Moles Mini Club event serves up
fun, fancy dress and historical run
Words and photos Rob & Jessica Ware
T
his year’s Moonraker
UK Run demonstrates again
how great the weather
can be in April and how
generous Mini enthusiasts are
for charity.
The weekend started on
the Saturday afternoon with
a tricky treasure hunt around
Devizes, with clues leading
us all over this pretty historic
town, starting at Wadworth’s
(the local brewery) Visitor
Centre. It was then back
to camp to get into fancy
dress costumes and enjoy
a BBQ and quiz. Never had
we seen so many famous
people in the field behind the
Three Magpies public house
as Billy Connelly, Freddie
Mercury, Penelope Pitstop,
DATE Clint Eastwood, Matt Smith,
April 24-25, 2010 Britney Spears and many
more attended. (Of course
Location these were our fancy dress
Seend, Wiltshire costumes!). Our thanks to
LENGTH Jurassic Coast Minis who,
Around 50 miles somehow, ended up in charge
of the cooking and the food
Website was great.
www.moles
The charity raffle was
miniclub.com
a success with prizes
donated from New Mini Day,
30 love:mini
Wadworth’s Brewery, Devizes next year, about the same
Motor Panels, WH Smiths and time, so why not come and
others. join in the fun. Watch the
Sunday dawned bright, and diary dates for details.
after a hearty breakfast in
the pub Minis from all over
started to arrive. It was great
to see such a mix of modern
and classic Minis all in one
place enjoying the same thing
and loving Minis for what
they are, great cars.
This year’s run took us
through Market Lavington,
Pewsey, Alton Barnes, Calne,
Bromham and loads more
towns and villages. Driving
through these was amazing,
but Lacock was the pinnacle
as all the tourists were
waving and taking pictures as
we went through.
This was a brilliant weekend
raising just under £400 for
Dorothy House Hospice Care.
Moles Mini Club would like to
thank everyone who attended
for supporting this great cause
and especially Wadworth’s
for their sponsorship and the
Three Magpies’ landlord who
again generously donated all
the camping fees.
There will be another run

Autosport International
Not really a show for Mini lovers of any
kind, but they were there to be found.
N
ick Swift’ gorgeous St
Mary’s Trophy-winning
S was on the Kent
Cams stand in all its glory.
Nick had great pleasure in
telling me that the Historic
Masters Series is this year
going to include a series just
for pre-1966 race-prepared
Minis Historic FIA Appendix
K in both over and under
1000cc classes. Just like the
good old days, when I was
young and club racing and
rallying was a hobby!
The Dunlop stand was
probably the biggest stand,
with its famous Dunlop Cafe,
Colin Turkington’s rapid BMW,
a DTM car, plus the new R56
JCW Class car for this year’s
MINI Challenge. Basically
an R56 Cooper S with all
the racing bits that are used
abroad for the European
JCW Challenge, using KW
Suspension, six-piston brake
callipers and 17” Dunlop slicks
as well as a welded-in full
rollcage. It certainly looks the
part, but on the Saturday there
was no one from the MINI
Challenge series to be seen!
So no one could even enquire
about test drives or costs.
There were a few other Minis
around, grasstrack Minis and
Autocross Minis.
Chris Dugan had a great
display of picture cards
illustrating 33 EJB (‘64 Monte
Winning 1071 S), a 1964 Mini
Cooper S in Surf Blue and a
Cooper Car Co. racer of 1964
vintage. These cards are
beautifully presented and well
priced at £2-3 each, Chris
can be reached on chris@
christopherdugan.co.uk 02392
479467.
The show itself was massive,
anyone who had the slightest
interest in motor racing would
have found something of
interest, £29 to get in plus
£8 to park the Mini! But
it was a full day. The Live
Action Arena featured an
hour long show with cars
of all types, including some
grasstrack Minis with two
motorbike engines, beating
Showtime
Words and photos David Young
the Autocross teams! The star
of the show was the real Stig UK
(Stig Bloemvist) in an original
Audi Quattro racing round the
arena on full opposite lock.
The two main showhalls by
mid-afternoon were packed,
it took ages to get from one
stand to another, people
were looking at scantily-
clad girls and having their Next event
pictures taken with them. I
never understood why they JANUARY
have to have girls posing at 13-16, 2011
car shows, but it does attract
the boys so perhaps I have
answered my own question.
A number of stalls also had
free hats and stickers as well
as lots of simulators to try
your luck on. This show, in its DATE
20th year, is about the racing January 15-16,
community getting together in 2010
the rainy season to show its
Location
wares off to the punters, the Birmingham
rest of the year they are too NEC, UK
occupied with racing. It does
that very well. I will certainly Website
be going next year, athough www.autosport-
international.com
I would advise on getting in
early and leaving early!
love:mini 31

Mini run
London to Brighton
Sun, rain, camping and queues
- it must be London to Brighton
Words and photos Craig McBeth
L
ike many enthusiasts
gearing up for LSMOC’s
25th London to Brighton,
we ended up having a bit of a
mad panic a few days before
DATE to ensure we could go.
May 15-16, 2010 My mate, Pete, who had
already bought a ticket for
Location the run had been involved
Crystal Palace, in an accident just a week
London, UK
before the event. A lorry had
Brighton, UK failed to spot him and tried to
crush him as it moved into his
LENGTH
48 miles
lane. Thankfully he was fine,
but the Mini was not. This
Website was good news for me, as it
www.london-to- meant that we would likely
brighton.co.uk be taking my Mini, who had
only been on the road a couple
32 love:mini
of months and hadn’t been to
a Mini show yet - let alone a
journey of this scale.
With a few days before
setting off, and as usual
before a long journey, I
checked the Mini over. It was
here that I discovered the bolt
that attaches to the driver’s
side top suspension arm and
lower part of the damper had
snapped clean off, leaving
the damper flapping about.
That can’t be good, I thought.
I wasn’t too worried because
I had another top arm in the
garage, but, after consultation,
the collective on Facebook
suggested I should try and
UK
just knock the old bolt out.
OK, so I gave it a go - three
hours of lube, drifts, a drill
and a neighbour’s complaint
later and I gave up. It wasn’t
budging, even the drill had
hardly made an impact.
As it turned Friday - the
day before we set off - I was
starting to get a little bit
worried. It took less than an
hour to get the top arm off
the car, but this meant I had
to find somewhere within
walking distance to see if they
could get the bolt out. I took
both top arms to Chippenham
Vehicle Services who spent an
hour with the blowtorch and
bench press trying to get the
bolts out - to no avail. By this
time it was 5pm on Friday and
things were looking bleak.
I called up some Mini
friends to see if there were
any second-hand spares that
I could buy after Somerford
Mini quoted me something
astronomical. My regular
life-saver, and the man who
superbly welded up my Mini,
came to the rescue, digging
one out of his garage spares.
Within an hour the new arm
was on and the Mini was
ready to roll.
Pete arrived at mine at
about 1pm on Saturday and
we set off at about 2pm. I’d
spent the morning loosely
wiring in a stereo so we could
have some tunes, but hadn’t
secured the head unit. As we
hit the M4 Pete found some
brown tape and stuck it down
before going on to relieve Above and below:
his boredom by creating a Mighty morphin’ Matt black stealth
dashboard from brown tape turbo clubby. Nice.
and masking tape. How very
creative!
Reaching decent speeds,
vision became increasingly
obscured as a number of bugs
impacting the windscreen. As
we entered central London we
had to keep our wits about
us with the busy traffic and
masses of football fans who
were out for FA Cup Final day,
passing right through Chelsea
along the way.
Royal entrance
Arriving at Crystal Palace,
where the run would start, we
were directed to the bottom
field. We parked up next to a
group of girls and began to
love:mini 33
 Officially registration didn’t open until 5.30am, but people were queueing
way before that. This photo was taken at about 7.30am, with many calling for
registration to open on Saturday to prevent such queues.

set up camp. I’d bought a new four- bumped into the latest craze that the
man Lichfield tent from Argos and South Central Mini Club has adopted
was hoping that it would at least stop - fully body lycra suits, or, the Morphs. SmallCarBIGcity team.
condensation forming overnight - it Drawing attention from Mini folk and
didn’t. Pete and I pitched up the tent locals the team were reveling in the
behind the car and left a wide berth limelight.
between our tent and the girls’, as The big screen was up and already
I didn’t want showing films
them to hear me
snoring!
The evening parties of while people chilled
out in the early
Just a few
minutes later,
previous years seemed to evening sun, and
a red Routemaster
some fellow
friends from
have been dampened down returned from
ferrying early
Chippenham, Jas and Kayleigh, parked campers to London.
up behind us, which was nice. They’d After weighing up the fast food
come with some friends of their options in town we opted for Domino’s
Mini Hoff Club, named in tribute to any size takeout option for a tenner.
Hasselhoff. After a quick look around and split the toppings on half the pizza
the venue we headed into town for to our own preference.
beer and food. As we left the park we The evening parties of previous

Pete had wiped the sleep out

of his eyes quicker than me on
Sunday morning noticing this
very cool W&P Mini
with speakers in
the headrest.

34 love:mini
Pete only received a few evil
glares whilst driving my Mini -
after crunching into first gear.

As we headed south it was inevitable

we would catch up with some others
who had left early. Other traffic was
minimal as we passed through Croydon.

As we arrived on Madiera Drive at years seemed to have been dampened down,

around 9.15am, we managed to get a although a group of French campers no doubt
prime spot not far from the traders. used the language barrier as an excuse to
celebrate someone’s birthday rather loudly!
On our late night travels we also found
a stupendously drunk Craig Jarrett almost
passed out and facing the wrath of a fellow
Mini owner by encouraging people to write
‘gay’ comments on the car. Needless to say, the
owner didn’t fancy driving through Brighton
with such comments, and set about scrubbing
it off. We also came across one lad, the owner
of the police van, who didn’t seem too happy
about spending the night with two girls in a
one-man tent! While the highlight for Pete was
No. of MINIS 1000s finding someone watching Lost via projector on
Weather Bright the inside of their tent.
location Brighton Turning in at midnight, we anticipated a
seafront good few hours sleep before everyone woke at
Cost £30 or free the prescribed 6am start. 3am we were awoken
Highlight Camping to engines starting and cars being moved into
and atmosphere at position. The night had turned rather cold and
Crystal Palace Pete decided to try and squeeze his 6ft 4in
frame into the Mini for some sleep, while I
Next event
perservered in the tent until 4.30am.
May, 2011
One of the main complaints about any L2B
I’ve been to has always been the queue getting
out of Crystal Palace - with some runners not
leaving until 12pm. I was mindful of this and
wasn’t too keen to be stuck. As more people
woke up, I started walking around chatting
to people. At around 6am I saw a club make
a break for it en-masse through the bottom
gate to park outside the park gates and avoid

love:mini 35
 the queue. I ran to the Mini Once most of the Minis had arrived - at about
and followed suit, while Pete midday - the crowds soon picked up.
headed for the line for the run
pack. At around 8am I met up
with Pete again who had just
got his pack, and looking over
his shoulder could see the line
snaking off into the distance.

Beat the rush

I’d already decided to let
Pete drive the Mini down to
Brighton - after all he had
bought the ticket for us - and
after some careful words
about some of the Mini’s
foibles we set off ahead of
the pack. We soon caught up
with some others who had left
early and convoyed through
Croydon on to the A23/M23.
Once on the motorway, we
blitzed past most other motors Rick Wyard’s cool
and arrived at Brighton at rusty rat-look Mini.
about 9.15am. The weather
throughout the day was a bit
changable, but stayed fair for
most of the day.
As usual there were some Some Minis arrived
Minis making their debut any way they could.
after an overhaul, and a
plentiful selection of concours
cars and dolled up club
stands. Autotesting was on
display to wow the punters,
but it was Paddy Hopkirk, in
attendance again, who drew
the biggest crowd. Despite
a mild panic when a
child went missing
for 15 minutes, the Hardly any of the MINIs in
day was without concours were standard.
incident.
Catching

36 love:mini
 Anyone reported two loonies
missing?

“I pull on this wire...”

Grrr...

Pirates of
Bournemouth.

our eye was a Stimson Safari Six and Holly

Brown-Horsler’s newly-styled Traveller amongst
others.
Stimson
As the day came to a close we set off back
Safari Six
to Chippenham through the back roads to
Petersfield, Andover and Devizes, where, after
a long, tiring day, I wasn’t prepared to sit in
Sunday evening traffic. Pete said my overtaking
was a little ‘ambitious’, but I swear I had loads
of space before the Land Rover reached us!
After a 270 mile round trip, we made it
back and the Mini had proved itself up to the
endurance test. What’s next?

love:mini 37

Showtime
Bristol Mini Day
New venue hits the spot.
UK
T
he Bristol Mini Show has
been somewhat of a lost
soul in recent years, not
having a place to really call its
home. After a successful spell
at Bath Racecourse in 2007,
the event moved to Puxton
Park, not far from Weston-
DATE Super-Mare, but neither felt
June 6, 2010 like the right place for the
Location Bristol show. In contrast, this
Washingpool year’s venue was brilliant.
Farm, Easter Situated just a mile from the
Compton, Cribbs Causeway junction off
Bristol, UK the M5 in Easter Compton, the
Website rural location had a familiar
www. Mini show feel to it - and
bristolminiday. none of the soulessness of
co.uk Puxton Park.
With both grass and
hardstanding available and
38 love:mini
Words and photos Craig McBeth
a field that didn’t overwhelm
the show, it ticked all the
boxes required for a Bristol-
based show. Perhaps now it
has finally found a place it
can settle into. I was a little
dubious about the decision to
host the concours cars on a
large gravelly surface, given
the chance of stonechips, but
that was only a minor issue
in what was otherwise a great
local show.
Organisers had made
efforts to include more club
activities, with a big tent
hosting its very own World
Cup challenges. Traders were
plentiful, as were the club
cars and club stands. There
was even the opportunity for
No. of MINIS 100s
Weather Bright
location A farm
just outside Bristol
Cost £7 per car
Highlight Club
challenges and
new venue.
Next event
June, 2011
teenagers to try their hand at
some autograss in the back
field in an effort to encourage
newcomers to the sport.
The weather had its ups and
downs, but by the end of the
day a red neck and face gave
a positive weather review.
Long distance travellers,
Torbay Mini Club, found room
for my Mini on their stand
and generally attendance
seemed to be up on previous
years - perhaps the more
clement weather had a hand
in that.
Rounding up the day was a
sackful of trophy presentations
with perrenial winner Sandra
Britton taking three trophies
for Best MkI/MkII, Best engine
Spam, spam, spam spam
.

Fairground fun
for the kids.
Hopping with big balls between your
legs, penalty shootouts and ball and
spoon races were just some of the
World Cup themed challenges.

The very accomodating stand

of the Torbay Mini Club - with
Heading to the Au
some scruffy silver Mini (mine) tograss trials.
bay, and Car of the Show. taking a prime spot!
while Somerset MOC took the
club games award and Paul
Lewis won the Best MINI in
show.
As I left for home the roads
were refeshingly clear and
there were no queues to exit
the showground. Driving
back through the village
some locals had even come
out to give the Minis a wave
and cheer, and courteously
I responded in kind, giving
them a pip of the Mini’s horn.
Hopefully the show will
remain at this venue, and if it
does it can go on to become
even bigger and better.

love:mini 39
 Showtime

Oldest
Estate
Gerry Taylor
was proudly
showing off his Farina Grey
Estate - officially the oldest
known surviving Austin Seven
Countryman. There were plenty
of people interested in talking
to Gerry, and it’s not surprising
The World Cup
- having owned it since 1977, he
just got a whole lot
more interesting! has plenty of tales to tell!
Vauxhall Ecotec

Hi Craig,
remember me?
Nope.

Something
my Mini can
only dream of
winning.

John Deere
Scamp looks
wicked!

Wheely cool
My favourite find of the day
was this Elswick Envoy.
Driving with an Alsatian in the car must Created as a vehicle for
have been... err... tricky!
wheelchair users, it’s based
around Mini mechanicals
Bristol Mod Scooter Club and an auto engine.
turned up. Owner Neil Bayliss is
having lots of fun with his
new purchase, having just
driven back from the IMM
in Germany! The space-
age, stealth-like angles just
scream of retro cool.

40 love:mini
 Buttscratcher!

Natalie Curtis won best car on

a clubstand.

Mongol Mad
Every year there seems to be a
team taking part in the Mongol
Rally in a Mini - and this year it’s
South Devon Mini Club favourite,
James Cornner and his mate.
Attempting to drive from the UK
over 8000 miles to Mongolia,
the pair will travel though many
‘dodgy’ countries, whilst raising
money for charity.
The Clubman Estate seems a
decent choice, but not so sure
how practical that banner will be!
www.southdevonminiclub.com

Super Nova
Dean Collier’s Mini is home to
something a little bit different, with
a Nova GSi transplant, a bulging
bonnet and snake vivarium vents.

Gareth Beech’s newly finished two-tone cabrio stood out

with its Yamaha Brilliant Red centre stripe.

love:mini 41
 Showtime
National Mini Cooper Day
A Mini history lesson.
Words and photos Craig McBeth
T
here’s something about
the National Mini Cooper
Day at Beaulieu that sets
it apart from the other shows
of the season. It could be that
UK it’s almost like a Goodwood
Revival for Minis, where the
oldest and most fascinating
cars turn up. Or it could be
that it caters for all tastes
without even trying to, with
MINI clubs now pitching up
stands alongside classic clubs.
DATE When celebrities and Mini
June 13, 2010 legends decide to make an
Location appearance, this is their Mini
National Motor show of choice.
Museum, Despite being christened
Beaulieu, the ‘Cooper’ day, the appeal
Hants, UK is more than just these nippy
Website Minis. The location at the
www. National Motor Museum in
minicooper.org the New Forest, not far from
the coast, has been blazingly
hot every time I have been for
the past four years; and the
42 love:mini
quaint village, rural location
and museum grounds are a
beautifully picturesque setting
for some gleaming Minis.
Cooper owners do get
Checking every last
privileged parking at the front
of the car displays, and when detail before the
you see so many lined up next judges come round.
to each other it really feels
like a family reunion (and not
just because I have a Cooper).
Of course those with
Coopers of historic interest get
bumped up further in front,
and every year there seems
to be at least one battered
Mini sat beside a lovingly
restored rally hero. Amongst
those heroes was TV chef,
James Martin’s 1962 ex-Works
Cooper S – 8 EMO. He bought
it in 2009 for £67,500 (£13k
under the guide price!), but
wasn’t afraid to give it some
beans as he tore up the grass
in an enthusiastic display for

TV chef James Martin
showing off in his
rather expensive
historic rally Mini.
the crowd.
Over the loudspeakers,
compere Graham Robinson
kept visitors informed of the
arena show times as they
walked around the site, while
also taking time to talk to
other Mini historians. From
The day included
Bournemouth Mini
Club’s annual birthday
celebrations.
standard over-priced food
vans offered up the usual
grub. However, the museum
restaurant was a refreshingly
cool atmosphere and great for
some respite from the sun.
Prices were higher, looking
at around £7-8 for fish and
chips, but the difference in the
quality of food was evident. I
played it smart and got a bowl
of chips and a coke for about
£3.50. The museum is another
area that is open to showgoers
during the day, housing a few
Minis, and other classic cars
of interest.
Another year, another
excellent show at Beaulieu.
This was the first Cooper Day
I’d attended in my Cooper, so
it was a little bit extra special
for us both, and again it was
great to meet up and make so
many friends, new and old.
the arena club stands lined-up
along the edge of the grounds
while wave after wave of cars
filled the space inbetween.
Traders were arranged, mostly
in the shade, providing mild
cover to those slow browsing
the goods on offer, while the
love:mini 43
 Showtime

Single-minded Broadspeed
Drawing plenty of admiring glances
throughout the day was Chris Wooden’s
Broadspeed GT. Chris has a few Broadspeed
GTs, but this particular car was the first
of just 21 built and was also the personal
transport for the designer’s wife - Mrs Broad.

The MCR set

aside space for
dedicated MINI
44 love:mini parking too.
So many Minis, so
much to see and so
little time.

Historians. In a
world of their own.

Taking the mic

Regaling the punters
with historical
tales was Graham
Robinson (right) and
John Parnell (left).
The historians talked
about the myths of
Minis and many of
the great men and
women behind it.

love:mini 45
 Mini run
Minis for Heroes
A simple idea that quickly
became a phenomenon.
Words and photos Craig McBeth
H
ow many Facebook
invites do you get each
week to random meets
and runs organised by Joe
Bloggs from miles away? This
is how the Minis for Heroes
run started out, and, at first,
it was anyone’s guess how
successful/popular it would
be, and whether it would even
go ahead if there wasn’t an
DATE interest. But anything that
July 11, 2010 aims to raise money for the
Location Help the Heroes charity, as
Cirencester, well as offer the opportunity
Glos., UK to pass through the hallway of
repatriated soldiers – Wootton
LENGTH Bassett – is bound to pull on
43 miles heartstrings and draw some
Website attention.
www.h4h-mini- And so, as the Facebook
cruise.co.uk group swelled, the wheels
behind the scene were set
in motion to ensure it could
46 love:mini
be pulled off smoothly. Gerry
Watkins is the man who
takes the credit for the idea
and organisation, and as
some of you may have seen
in the news, these Facebook-
organised events don’t always
go as planned.
With Wootton Bassett a
stone’s throw away from me,
it would have been rude not to
turn up and stretch the Mini’s
wheels on a hot summery
Sunday.
I didn’t know quite what
to expect as I approached
the starting location at the
Royal Agricultural College
in Cirencester, and typical
me, I drove up the wrong
road to the start line instead
of joining the queue from
the back – sorry about that.
Funnily enough though, as
The Royal Agricultural
College was a beautiful
starting location.
I approached I could see
no more than six or seven
Minis, and for a moment I
thought could it have flopped?
Unbeknown to me at the time,
hiding around the corner was
a car park full of over 200
Minis waiting for the word
go. Around 40 of whom had
camped the night before at the
local pub, and with nothing
but praise for the hospitality.
Departing from the front
of the grand Grade II listed
building, famous for spawning
graduates such as Jonathan
Dimbleby, a band of bagpipers
played us out, as the
motorcycle marshals held up
traffic and led the way.
After a quick U-turn round
the roundabout we headed
towards Wootton Bassett via
Kemble and Crudwell before a
 Stopping at Wootton
Bassett to lay
a wreath at the
memorial.

Supporting their loved ones in action.

beautiful Wiltshire B-road past Once the stragglers had end point at Castle Combe
Cleverton and Brinkworth. finally turned up Gerry could with food vans and a few
As the Minis swarmed get on with the raffle and autojumblers was all spot on.
into Wootton marshals were make some serious money This is what a Mini run
powerless to stop local traffic for charity. All in all, over should be about. We had
mingling with the Minis. £4,414.11 was made and over around two hours of driving
Gerry had little time to stop 223 Minis turned up and there on some lovely A and B-
at the war memorial on the was little room for criticism roads. The weather was fine
high street and lay down the for the whole event – it was and whole event flowed like
Mini-shaped wreath in tribute really well organised and a dream. I, and I know many
to Britain’s fallen soldiers. exceeded all expectations. The others, will be looking forward
Each of the hundreds of marshalling was excellent, to this one next year.
Minis filed past the memorial the facilities for camping, the
individually taking a moment involvement of the college
to pay their own personal and their willingness to
respects. Some Mini owners help contribute further in
had come because they had future events, the route, the
a loved one serving in the
forces, or had known someone
who had been injured in
conflict, while others just
came to support the cause
and enjoy a day out driving.
The convoy then headed
to Lyneham, a few miles
away, where the RAF
aircraft actually return with
the soldiers. Passing the
airfields we were directed
down through Calne and
Chippenham, where many
cars got lost thanks to the
traffic lights, finishing up at
Castle Combe racing circuit
which had kindly agreed to Castle Combe circuit
kindly provided an
host the after-run meet and
end point to the run to
raffle.
allow for fundraising.
love:mini 47
 Motorsport
Rally:Circuit:Hillclimb:Autograss:Sprint
ROUN D 6
Allen and Caudle
in the final battle for the title
Going down to the wire for the class champions.
L
ee Allen’s dominance of the
S Class this year was finally
confirmed at Thruxton, when
another triple class win crowned him
overall champion. For Luke Caudle
there was disappointment, another
two wins out of three, but a few points
lacking to retain his overall title from
2009.
Although Caudle had pole for the
opening race, Knox nosed ahead into
Campbell on the opening lap, but
lost out again as they braked for the
chicane. Following his podium finish
at Brands Hatch, Chris Smith made it a
three car break, with all three having
a spell in front.
Knox led up Woodham Hill for the
second time, but outbraked himself at
the chicane and saw both Caudle and
Smith go by. A lap later Smith had
edge at the chicane, before it became
a two way scrap as Knox struggled to
48 love:mini
UK MINI CHALLENGE
Photos www.minichallenge.co.uk
stay in touch.
After a number of exchanges
Caudle managed to retain his slight
advantage from lap 10 and took
victory by 0.376secs.
“I had never led a race before, but
managed to keep cool. Luke pushed
me hard, but there was only slight
contact. It’s my best finish but I
just couldn’t match Luke under
braking at the chicane,” said Smith.
“That was one of the hardest
races I have ever had, but knew
second would be enough for the
class title. I still wanted to win
though, but he was better than me
every lap through Church,” Caudle
replied.
Knox retained a solitary third, “I
got my usual good start and led,
but then struggled for straightline
speed. Once the club Class cars got
between us I lost the tow and couldn’t
Words Peter Scherer
Thruxton
MINI CHALLENGE LEADERBOARD
Final Standings
Rank Driver Total
1 Lee Allen 397
2 Luke Caudle 393
3 David Ogden 345
4 Chris Knox 328
5 Kevin O’Connor 318
6 Justina Williams 317
7 Lee Sullivan 284
8 Sam Osborne 283
9 Chris Smith 259
10 Craig Freeman 233
11 Jason Richardson 222
12= Sarah Parsons 202
12= Chris James 202
14 Dean Raymond 162
15 Gavin Bristow 143
catch up again,” he explained.
Jason Richardson had run strongly in fourth
Motorsport
after taking the returning Andrew Bailey on the
second lap, but had a clash with a Club Class
car at the chicane. “The top three had gone and
then the other car turned on me. It damaged the
steering and down the side,” he explained after
retiring to the pits.
Gavin Bristow had made his way by Bailey
and retained a solitary fourth after Richardson’s
demise, “a bit disappointing, they just got away
from me,” he said.

Race Two
Knox again had the better of the start, with
poleman Caudle second until Smith surged by
into the chicane. They continued nose-to-tail,
while behind them Richardson out-powered
Allen for fourth and Bailey followed a lap later.
Bristow had also lost out at the start and began
to pick his way past Sullivan, before closing on
Allen too.
Having got alongside Knox into Noble on
lap 3, Smith led into Allard on the next lap.
But that allowed Caudle to threaten again and
he managed to split the pair, by two wheeling
through the chicane on lap eight.
Caudle’s charge continued and he hugged
the inside line past the pits on lap 13, only for
Smith to fight back again at the chicane. Knox
had started to fall back again, but with the
lead pair side-by-side into the chicane for the
last time, they managed to slow themselves up.
Caudle‘s pace going in left him slower on the
exit, making it a three-car drag race to the line.
Smith claimed his maiden victory, with Knox
snatching second, all three covered by only
0.038secs.
“That was too close at times, but a good race.
Halfway through I thought I had got a gap and
then Luke caught me. I thought oh no and didn’t
get a good run at the chicane on the last lap, but
then Luke was slower out,” said Smith.
“I just gambled on their tussle slowing them
up, which worked,” Knox added.
“I just braked too late into the chicane and it
gave Chris the run to the line,” said Caudle.
Bristow claimed fourth again after Richardson
pitted with debris after a big spin. Bailey spun
off at Brooklands on lap 6, which handed fifth
back to Allen and a healthy class win over
Sullivan and Raymond. “The rain shower put a
bit of a twist on it, but I had the class sewn up
early on and made it safe,” said Allen. “A bit The ExcelR8 team’s pitch is a
lonely, just playing on my own,” Sullivan added. hive of motorsport chat.

love:mini 49
 Motorsport
Race Three
Caudle, Allen and Ogden
had all been crowned class
champions, with only 3 points
between Allen and Caudle
for the overall championship
and a reverse grid there was
everything to race for in the
final round of the season.
Richardson had pole and
extending an early lead,
when his engine suffered a
temporary misfire exiting the
chicane. As he pitted Caudle
took control, from Smith, Knox,
Bailey, Bristow and Allen.
The top three soon broke
clear again and Bristow
took Bailey for fourth on
lap 6, before the safety car
was scrambled after the
unfortunate Kevin O’Connor
had been tipped into the
barrier opposite the pits.
It came down to a one
lap sprint from the green
flag. Smith had the lead up
Woodham Hill, but Caudle got
by at the chicane to end his
season on another win.
“What a great season,
unbelievable. ExcelR8 and my
sponsors have been fantastic,
and in the end it just wasn’t
enough for the overall title
this year, but with Lee Allen
50
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love:mini
moving up to the JCW car next
year I may have to come back
for a head to head...” said a
smiling Caudle.
“I was ahead into the
chicane, made a mistake and
lost it again, but hadn’t seen
the last lap board,” said Smith.
Caudle hadn’t either. “That was
shaping up to be a good race,
then I caught the club cars, out
came the safety car and it was
all over,” said Knox.
Bristow and Bailey held
station in fourth and fifth with
Allen sixth. “I have got an R56
in the garage, so whatever
Luke races next year I will,
even it’s lorries,” said Allen.
“I did have a bit of a scare
though when I thought I had a
puncture behind the safety car,
so I backed them up before the
green flag just make the place
safe,” he added.
Raymond was second in class
with James pipping Sullivan for
third at the chicane on the last
lap, after changing a front tyre
during the safety car period.
Kounnis took the club class
laurels, from Williams, Osborne
and Ogden. “A stunning year
in my first motorsport season,
today I let them get on with it,
just to make sure of the points
for the class title,” said Ogden.
UK MINI CHALLENGE
FR IEN DLY
Donington
Words Peter Scherer
Photos www.minichallenge.co.uk
J
ason Richardson proved to be
the man to beat in the non-
championship season finale at
Donington Park. He may have had
R56 class champion Luke Caudle
and Chris Knox up against, but he
emerged from the day as a double
winner - his first ever overall
victories.
No fewer than eight new drivers
joined the line-up, along with this
year’s Mini Challenge Champion
- Lee Allen, Club Class Champion
- David Ogden and Craig Freeman,
who moved into the R56 class for
the first time.
It was a disaster for Freeman as
he stalled at the start of the first
race and got away dead last. It was
three abreast though for the lead
into Redgate, with Caudle gaining
the initiative from Richardson and
Knox as they charged through
the Craner Curves. Knox snatched
second at the Old Hairpin and had
the lead a lap later, but Caudle
retook into the chicane as the top
three continued nose-to-tail.
It was also a three-way fight for
Motorsport
Donington exhibition
End of season run-out for new setups and newcomers.
fourth with Allen heading Chris Caudle had been safe in second
Callister-Russell and Chris Smith. until a damaged manifold lost
Richardson made it past Knox for him power and having quickly
second on lap 3, by two wheeling retaken Allen, Knox took the place
through the chicane, but the battle on the last lap. “I had just lost too
for the lead had allowed the next much straightline speed,” Caudle
group to close on them too. explained.
After Knox had briefly retaken Allen was delighted with his
second it became four for the lead, fourth place, “yes happy with that,
with Allen having made a break being so close to the leaders and
from his group and tagged on first time in the new car,” he said.
behind. But Allen suddenly found Smith had got past debutant
himself in third after the young Callister-Russell on the fourth lap,
Scot careered over the gravel at the but gave it back to him on the last,
chicane, which gave the lead duo “I had tried to get a run on Lee
a slight break and Richardson a and put two wheels on the grass at
chance to challenge. Coppice,” he explained.
“I had been alongside Jason but
just misjudged it,” said Knox.
Into the chicane for the ninth
time it was side-by-side for the
lead but Richardson emerged with
a fractional advantage. Richardson
gradually consolidated his lead and
collected his maiden victory.
“This has been a real team effort,
we really wanted to deliver today
and we did. Once ahead I just put my
head down and went for it,” he said.
love:mini 51
 Motorsport David Ogden was seventh, his first
time on slicks and S class winner
Dean Raymond was eighth, having
led the class throughout. Aaron Steele
managed second in class despite
missing qualifying, having got the
better of former European Truck Racing
Champion George Allen early on. George
was out in son Lee’s title-winning car
and having his first race for 15 years.
“Lee suggested it last week, so I said
OK and had to rush around to get my
licence,” said George.
Although Sam Osborne dominated the
Club Class, there was plenty of action
behind. Debutant Paul Watson managed
to escape in second, as Keith Issatt had
to fight off new boys Lee Shropshire and
Peter Priest for third.

Race Two
Knox got the jump on his rivals at the
start of the second, heading Caudle and
Allen into Redgate. Poleman Richardson
was only fourth after being slow to get
away. “It was George Allen’s fault he
had been talking about green lights
before the race and I was waiting for
one,” he joked.
Caudle was inches from Knox’s
tailgate as Richardson reclaimed third
from Allen, but Steve Liquorish was
close in fourth, having taken over Chris
Smith’s usual car.
It was side-by-side for the lead again
at the chicane on lap 2, before Caudle
nosed ahead on the exit. Two laps later
Richardson ousted Knox too with a
similar move before closing down on
Caudle’s lead.
As they exited the chicane for the

52 love:mini
seventh time there was the
tiniest of gaps on the inside Motorsport
for the run into Redgate.
Richardson took it and just
held off Caudle under braking.
But Caudle came back as
strong as ever and retook the
lead a couple of laps later at
Redgate, only to lose out again
to Richardson with four laps
to go.
“I had made a mistake and
Luke got me back, but then he
did the same and I got him,”
Richardson explained.
“I just couldn’t stay with
Jason today, a credit to him.
Looking forward to next
season though, Lee Allen
will soon be used to his car,”
Caudle added.
Knox retained third but
dropped back on the last lap
after a brief off at the Old
Hairpin. Allen kept Liquorish
at a safe distance for fourth
and Ogden completed the top
six. Freeman just held off S
class winner Arthur Forster,
who was out in Raymond’s
car. “Proper racing, front
wheel drive among some
friends, it was awesome,” said LEFT: Jason Richardson takes
the North East Touring Car the win, and shows some
promise for next season.
playboy and sporting hero.
Callister-Russell had a BELOW: Richardson’s team,
subdued race in ninth after an including Miglia legend Bill
excursion and Steele completed Sollis, will be back for 2011.
the top 10. “It’s the cheapest
form of racing I have done
and I would certainly consider
doing it next year, I’m seriously
looking at an R56, I thoroughly
enjoyed the day,” said Steele
after taking second in class,
from Allen Snr and debutants
Bob Hosier and Len Coed.
Osborne took the Club Class
from Watson and Issatt. With
Peter Priest taking fourth
and an impressive fastest
lap. “Apart from a bit of club
karting I haven’t raced before,
I really want to do it next year
now after that,” said Watson,
an opinion shared by most of
the newcomers.

53
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love:mini
 Motorsport
Phillip Island
ROUN D 5
Stokell’s superb
Island drive
Stokell makes a blinding start and
ascent through the grid to take the plaudits.
D
ecoRug Racing’s Paul Stokell
has stormed to race 1 victory
during Round 5 of Hertz
MINI Challenge at Phillip Island.
Stokell began race 1 fourth on the
line after grid positions were based
on practice 2 from Friday under the
Force Majeure ruling. This was due
to a small accident in qualifying
involving Ken Wootton which forced
all competitors back to the garage
without completing a time.
For this, no points were awarded
for qualifying which in-turn meant
no success ballast applied to any
car for the round’s first race.
It was a magic effort by the
Queenslander to move up four spots
and pass Championship leader
Chris Alajajian on the outside of
turn 1 on just the second lap of the
race.
Local favourite Sean Carter began
on pole in his ON TIME EARTH R56
entry but was quickly reeled-in by
the two series front-runners. To his
credit the 19-year-old stuck with the
pair which made for some exciting
racing as the trio diced throughout
the eight lap race.
54 love:mini
AUS MINI CHALLENGE
Words and photos MINI Australia
www.mini.com.au
After getting away to great starts as high as fifth until a fan belt
Peter McNiven, Craig Innes and snapped, forcing the youngster to
Josh Hunt all went off the track, on retire from the race. Scott Manson
just the second turn of the circuit, also missed the entire race after he
relegating them down the order. failed to make repairs to his R56
Fortunately the boys fought back Challenge car in time for the start.
and all finished inside the top-10 Pizza Capers UberStar Innes
with McNiven the best of the trio, fought back diligently, after his turn
finishing the race in fourth and 2 off, to finish the race 10th overall
proving that local experience counts and in the process setting the
for a lot around here in Phillip fourth fastest lap-time for the day.
Island.
The battle for fifth was also a
fierce one with Beric Lynton and
Race 2
Chris Alajajian has won his fourth
new comer Elliot Barbour running
round of the year in the final race,
side-by-side on the final lap from
however, he saw a shade of pure
turn four until the chequered flag,
brilliance by last year’s MINI
with Lynton taking the spoils.
Challenge champion Paul Stokell.
Unfortunately it wasn’t all smiles
After starting at the rear of the grid
for the entire MINI Challenge
the DecoRug driver
contingent with the Woottons
in the wars
after Ken
was forced
in on the
out lap
with engine
sensor issues.
Son Chris
was running
Find out more about AUS MINI CHALLENGE. www.mini.com.au/scripts/main.asp?PageID=27379
pulled off one of the greatest
drives in MINI Challenge
history to carve up the field
and win the race over team-
mate Josh Hunt.
Alajajian’s consistency saw
him finish the round on top
of the podium but only by the
slimmest of margins to 25-
year-old Hunt who showed
superb form to finish on the
podium in both races and just
one point behind Alajajian for
the round. The final rostrum
step was claimed by another
series debutant in Elliot
Barbour who, at 19-years-old,
showed great maturity to steer
the McElrea-run R56 Challenge
car home in fantastic style.
Fourth overall was Gold
Coast MINI Dealer Beric
Lynton while Pizza Capers
UberStar driver Craig Innes
showcased his talents on the
way to a top-5 finish during
the Kiwi’s first motorsport trip
downunder.
Motorsport
Unfortunately for local lad
Sean Carter disaster struck in
race 2 when the 19-year-old
Victorian left the track on the
opening lap, losing control
on the grass and spearing
back on, right into the path of
series front-runner Stokell. It
still didn’t deter Stokell and
his team from re-entering
the final race and pull off the
miracle of all drives to win.
Prosurv Racing’s John
Modystach’s consistency paid
off as he finished the round
equal seventh with Kiwi Gavin
Yortt, while Sydneysider Aaron
Zerefos steered his Fiji Water
entry to ninth as he diced
with Brisbane-based Brendan
‘Cookie’ Cook throughout the
weekend.
Initially local Peter
McNiven had won the round
but was later deducted 44
championship points for a
rules infringement prior to
race 2.
love:mini 55
 Motorsport
ROUN D 6
Records
smashed as
Stokell closes
the gap
Alajajian’s poor form open’s
door for Stokell on street circuit.
C
hris Alajajian has come up
trumps in a battle with V8
Supercar legend Glenn Seton
to win the opening race of Hertz
MINI Challenge at the Armor All
Gold Coast 600 – round 6 of the
series.
The JAXQuickfit Tyres driver
was locked in a fierce battle with
Seton until the veteran tried to
pass Alajajian on lap 8, clipping
the inside rear and spinning
both competitors. Fortunately for
Alajajian, the pair we’re far enough
ahead of the field for him to rejoin
the track and retain the leading
position.
Unfortunately for Pizza Capers
UberStar driver Seton, the incident
caused enough damage to the front
right wheel that he slipped back to
13th before retiring to the pits on
the final lap. Despite the setback
Seton still picked up a maximum
36 points in the earlier qualifying
session where he threw down a
phenomenal final lap to snatch pole
– off Alajajian – by a skinny 0.22
seconds.
56 love:mini
AUS MINI CHALLENGE
Benefiting from the incident
was Gold Coast MINI Dealer Beric
Lynton who had a superb run to
hold-off DecoRug Racing’s Paul
Stokell after Lynton passed the 2009
MINI Challenge champion on the
opening lap. Lynton steered home in
second with Stokell topping off the
podium places finishing just three
and a half tenths behind the Gold
Coaster.
Fourth and fifth respectively
went to the rookie pairing of
Peter McNiven and Sean Carter
as the two Victorian youngsters
continue to battle for third-place
championship honours. Coming
home in sixth was Prosurv
Racing’s John Modystach who
had a sensational race to post his
best finish of the year in the MINI
Challenge series.
Race 2
Paul Stokell took Race 2 honours by
the smallest margin in the history
of Hertz MINI Challenge. DecoRug
Racing’s Stokell pinched the win
on the last corner of the 10-lap race
Words and photos MINI Australia
www.mini.com.au
Surfers Paradise
when ON TIME EARTH driver Sean
Carter ran wide. Stokell and Carter
were neck-and-neck coming down
the final straight, so much so they
couldn’t be judged by the naked
eye, but time control told the story
as Stokell emerged victorious by a
mere 0.01 seconds.
Coming home third for a second
consecutive podium was Gold Coast
MINI Dealer Beric Lynton whose
flat-out performance sees him as
the top placed local driver for the
weekend.
Unfortunately Carter’s main
rival for third in the championship
standings, Peter McNiven, struggled
with ABS issues in his Supercharger
Batteries MINI R56 and dropped
down to 13th for the race. This
now sees the gap for third in the
championship reduced to Carter’s
favour.
Despite starting from the rear of
the grid after replacing an entire
engine overnight – DecoRug boss
Bill Gremos performed well on his
first race in the MINI Challenge
series, finishing 12th from his 16th
Find out more about AUS MINI CHALLENGE. www.mini.com.au/scripts/main.asp?PageID=27379

place start on the grid.

Rounding out the top-10 was
Motorsport
Gold Coaster Tom Pickett whose
consistency is beginning to pay off
despite limited experience of the
category.
Pizza Capers UberStar driver
Glenn Seton put in a stella
performance finishing fifth despite
starting from 13th on the grid. The
Gold Coast driver also posted the
fastest lap of the race as he caved
his way past eight cars over the 10
lap race.
top-3 for the weekend.
Unfortunately it was not all smiles
Overall championship standings
for MINI Challenge drivers Brendan
will now come down to the wire in
Cook and Chris Wootton who both
Homebush with series leader Chris
retired from the race. Cook was
Alajajian having a less than sub-par
subject to a passenger ride when
performance compared to his usual second to last corner and cross the
the wheel nuts sheered completely
winning ways. After taking victory chequered flag victorious for race 3.
off bringing his race to an abrupt
in race 1 things didn’t go to plan for ON TIME EARTH driver Sean
halt. Fortunately there was no
the Sydney driver as he was forced Carter put in a sterling effort with
further damage as a result of the
to retire with suspension damage two podiums in races 2 and 3 to
incident.
after collecting some debris on the finish the event fourth overall
circuit. and, more importantly, close the
Race 3 Seton gave the Pizza Capers crew gap to 13 points on rival Peter
DecoRug Racing’s Stokell was the plenty to smile about from the 35th McNiven as the pair continue to
most consistent performer for the floor of the Mantra Sun City as he battle for third place honours in
weekend finishing with a third, stormed home with a final lap of this year’s MINI Challenge driver
second and first place result for brilliance to give the Pizza Capers standings.
the three races as he took top MINI R56 its first ever race win The star driver for the event was
honours from V8 Supercar legend since the UberStar concept was racing debutant Troy Adams who
Glenn Seton with Gold Coast MINI introduced at the start of 2009. The finished each race inside the top-8
dealer Beric legendary driver carved up front- with an incredible sixth place in
Lynton runners Stokell and Sean Carter the final race despite limited racing
rounding on the very last lap, coming from experience and no experience in
out the third to pass both drivers on the MINI Challenge racing.

Surfers paradise?
Or just paradise?

love:mini 57

Motorsport
ROUN D 11
Drew pips Astin
after engine fault
Thompson out leaves opportunity that Astin
can’t take. Words Roy Sisley
D
ave Drew took full
advantage of Kane
Astin’s misfortune in
the closing stages to record
his second race win in the
penultimate round of the
Miglia Challenge.
The 17-car entry was
reduced when 2010 champion
Paul Thompson withdrew, as
he was clearly in no fit state
to race, despite setting some
rapid times in testing. MGOC
F Class Champion Martin
Wills was a welcome addition
as he had an outing in Endaf
Owens’s car.
Qualifying was halted after
only three and a half minutes
as three cars strayed off the
wet track into the gravel at
Druids. Once the session
resumed Kane Astin took
control to claim pole with a
60.292sec lap, ahead of Colin
Peacock, whilst Aaron Smith
produced his best qualifying
showing so far to head the
second row.
Kane flew off the line to
head Colin, Aaron and Niven
Burge into Paddock. As the
closely bunched mid-grid
pack raced off the line, Mark
Sims got clipped, sending him
spinning off backwards into
the Armco barriers, prompting
the introduction of the safety
car to allow the removal of the
heavily damaged car.
The race resumed for just
one further lap before a spin
by Colin Peacock at Graham
58 love:mini Find out more about Mini Miglias. www.mini7.co.uk
Brands Hatch
Hill
DUNLOP
Bend on MIGLIA
lap four,
CHALLENGE
saw him
collected by Niven Burge and
Tony Le May, which led to
Tony’s retirement.
Kane led on the restart, as
Dave Drew closed on Aaron
Smith, before swooping
past on the outside line into
Paddock Bend on lap eight.
Owen Stinchcombe and Mark
Cowan were next up, ahead
of a four-car dice for sixth
led by Phil Harvey from Paul
Simmonds, Robert Humphreys
and the recovering Colin
Peacock. Colin continued his
upward progress, reaching
seventh after passing Phil
Harvey on the 11th lap. Sarah
Munns’ climb up the order
from her lowly grid slot ended
after a spin at Graham Hill
Bend prompted her to pit into
retirement on lap 12, with both
Paul Simmonds and Martin
Wills also retiring on the
same lap.
Kane Astin’s hold on the
lead came to a dramatic end
with Dave Drew passing him
on the final lap after the
number 11 Miglia slowed with
a broken con-rod causing
Astin to limp round and be
pipped on the line for second
by Aaron Smith.
Mark Cowan, Colin Peacock
and Owen Stinchcombe
completed the top six places
after an eventful race.
ROUN D 11
Slippery
surface
favours
Hunters
While Paul Spark cements
the championship title.
Words Roy Sisley
M
ax DUNLOP
Hunter’s
Mini Se7en
CHALLENGE
mastery
of the greasy
conditions saw him record his fourth
victory after an eventful race, which
needed two safety car interventions.
Paul Spark produced a strong
recovery drive to clinch the challenge
title.
The 22-car entry included the
welcome return of Terry Barringer
restoring the Hunter’s Garage line-up
back to its full complement.
Max set pole with a 1.04.899 lap,
which was over 1.5 seconds quicker
than fellow front row occupant Gareth
Hunt.
At the start Max found himself
swamped on the run to Paddock, with
Gareth heading the order from Paul
Spark, Andrew Deviny, Tristen Knight
and James Bowers-Coulson, Gareth
and Andrew had sideways moments
at Paddock, before the leading pack
was shuffled further as Paul Spark
and Tristen Knight got out of shape at
Graham Hill Bend, promoting Gareth
Hunt back into the lead with Max
recovering to second as the safety car
was deployed so Anthony Towey’s
car could be moved from the Paddock
Bend gravel trap.
As the green flags were shown at
the start of the fourth lap, Max was
quick to make his move, diving past
Gareth on the inside line into Paddock
Bend, with Gareth running wide into
the gravel, where he was joined by
David Robinson to prompt the return
of the safety car.
 Max was quickly into his
stride again as Dick made
it a Hunter one-two after
passing Graeme Davis on the
outside line exiting Druids
on the eighth lap. Paul Spark
was making rapid progress
up the order after his earlier
excursion, passing Damon
Astin and Graeme Davis on
successive laps to reach third
on lap 10. Behind him Andrew
Deviny headed a seven-car
train disputing fourth, which
also included Graeme Davis,
James Bowers-Coulson,
Damon Astin, Steve Trench,
Tristen Knight and Nath
Burge.
Paul Spark closed on Dick
Hunter, before passing him
as they crossed the start line
ROUN D 12
Stunning Smith
swoops to win
Peacock and Drew secure second and third
in final standings. Words Roy Sisley
T
he weekend just got
better and better for
Aaron Smith, after
qualifying third and finishing
second in Saturday’s race, he
recorded his first win after a
masterful drive in the final
round of the Challenge. Mark
Sims was the sole non-starter
after his heavy impact coming
together with the Armco in
the previous day’s race.
After an overnight engine
change Kane Astin was
quickest away from the
outside of the front row to lead
into Paddock Bend from Niven
Burge, Dave Drew, Aaron
Smith and Colin Peacock.
All was not well with Kane’s
car, as he slowed and dropped
down to sixth behind Tony Le
May, before slipping further
back as the race unfolded.
Find out more about Mini Se7ens. www.mini7.co.uk
to commence the penultimate
lap, Julian Affleck remained
in control of the S Class, with
Kevin O’Shea his nearest rival
on this occasion.
Andrew Deviny remained
in fourth with James Bowers-
Coulson and Nath Burge
following him home.
Max Hunter spoke on the
podium of how he eased off in
the closing stages so he could
glance at father Dick’s scrap
with Paul Spark for second in
his rear view mirror, whilst
Paul was able to celebrate
clinching the title, with Dick
enjoying his return to the
podium, as he commented on
how the wet conditions sorted
the drivers out.
Brands Hatch
Niven DUNLOP
found MIGLIA
CHALLENGE
himself
heading a
five-car lead train, which now
saw Colin Peacock in third.
Sarah Munns had quickly
elevated herself up to sixth
from her fifth row grid
position and was striving
to tag herself on to the lead
scrap.
Once again the safety car
made an appearance after
Mark Cowan ran wide into
the gravel trap at Paddock Hill
Bend. Aaron Smith climbed
to third after passing Colin
Peacock on the inside line
into Druids on lap 10. Dave
Drew was next in Aaron’s
sights and the pair of them
raced side-by-side during
the 11th lap before Aaron
Motorsport
dived through on the inside line into
Paddock on lap 12.
Further back, Rob Howard was
being kept busy defending eighth
from Owen Stinchcombe, Phil Harvey
and Robert Humphreys. Niven
Burge’s hold on the lead was only
to last for one further lap as Aaron
repeated his inside line swoop into
Paddock to move to the head of the
field with two laps to go.
Colin Peacock and Tony Le May
both found a way past Dave Drew on
the penultimate lap, but were unable
to dislodge Niven Burge from his
hard-earned second position, with the
three of them covered by just 0.114 of
a second at the chequered flag.
Sarah Munns was a safe sixth
throughout, whilst Kane Astin’s
final finishing position of 13th rather
summed up his weekend. The large
crowd was quick to acknowledge
Aaron Smith’s excellent drive as he
circulated the circuit on his slowing
down lap, a moment he is bound to
savour for a long time. The joyous
scenes on the podium rounded off a
memorable race for everyone.
Mini Miglia Challenge
Final Standings 2010
Rank Car No. Driver Points
1 3 Paul Thompson 170
2 2 Colin Peacock 156
3 6 Dave Drew 151
4 11 Kane Astin 150
5 69 Tony Le May 141
6 53 Niven Burge 140
7 5 Sarah Munns 136
8 4 Mark Sims 125
9 99 Mark Cowan (N) 107
10 72 Rob Howard 103
11 26 Owen Stinchcombe 92
12 42 Paul Simmonds 89
13 21 Aaron Smith 88
14 10 Phil Harvey 84
15 28 Robert Humphreys 68
16 20 Endaf Owens 57
17 55 Michael Green 54
18 44 Paul Clark 44
19 17 Steve Whiteley 38
20 7 Dave Edgecombe 36
love:mini 59
 Motorsport
ROUN D 12
Max makes it two for
the weekend
Hunter makes it look easy in the wet.
S
unday’s wet conditions ensured
that we witnessed another
masterclass in driving in such
testing circumstances by Max Hunter
who duly completed a memorable
double victory to round off the 2010
season with win number five from
the eight races he’s competed in.
Max found himself alone on the front
row after Gareth Hunt pulled into
the pits at the end of the green flag
lap to non-start after an errant stone
from his excursion into the gravel the
previous day had remained lodged in
the rotor arm compartment.
Max led away into Paddock Hill
Bend from Tristen Knight and Paul
Spark, with Andrew Deviny passing
Dick Hunter on the outside line to
snatch fourth. Paul Spark rose to
second after passing Tristen Knight
as they started the second lap, with
Andrew Deviny also finding a way
past Tristen shortly afterwards.
Nath Burge made it up to ninth
after passing Darren Thomas at
Paddock Bend on the third lap.
Andrew Deviny slipped inside Paul
Spark at Paddock Bend to rise to
second as Max pulled well clear of
his pursuers, with his ability to find
grip through the corners aiding his
getaway.
Steven Hopper made a spectacular
exit to the race after he ran wide into
the gravel trap at Paddock Hill on
the fifth lap, only for the car to dig in
and flip over onto its roof. Steven was
quickly out and able to reach a place
of safety to the relief of the large
crowd on the spectator banking.
Tristen Knight and Dick Hunter
60 love:mini
Join
the club
You don’t have to be a race
driver to be a member of the
M7RC.
For an annual fee of just
£18, when booked online,
Mini 7 Racing Supporters
Club members will enjoy
a range of benefits and
Brands Hatch
exclusive offers, which
include:
Words Roy Sisley • Special ticket offers at
selected round
were DUNLOP • Discounts on M7RC
disputing Mini Se7en sponsors products.
fourth in
CHALLENGE • Access to the members
fine style, only area of the M7RC
website.
while James Bowers-Coulson was
• Special ‘Mini Only’ car
heading a seven-car train scrapping park at selected rounds
over sixth, which also consisted of • Subscription to the Pit
lan Deviny, Graeme Davis, Darren and Paddock newsletter
Thomas, Nath Burge, Steve Trench and Pitlane Magazine
and Damon Astin. • Invitation to M7RC social
Julian Proctor was holding a clear events.
advantage in the S Class, on the • Discount on M7RC
way to his second class victory of Souvenir Collection
the season, having also triumphed
For more information visit
in the ninth round at Cadwell Park.
the Mini 7 website or contact
Steve Trench’s fine drive ended when Mike Jackson 0121 707 5881
he ran wide into the gravel trap at mike.jackson@mini7.co.uk
Paddock Hill on the eleventh lap. Dick
Hunter secured fourth
after passing Tristen Mini Se7ens Challenge
Knight on the exit of Final Standings 2010
Graham Hill Bend Rank Car No. Driver Points
on lap 12. Darren 1 35 Paul Spark 172
Thomas worked his 2 85 Andrew Deviny 159
way through the 3 46 Max Hunter 155
pack to clinch sixth, 4 8 Ian Deviny 148
a fine reward for 5 5 Graeme Davis 144
his endeavours after 6 24 James Coulson 144
three retirements in 7 6 Nathan Burge 142
a row. 8 37 Gareth Hunt 119
Max Hunter spoke 9 10 Darren Thomas 118
on the podium of 10 77 Tristen Knight 116
how his experience 11 50 Dick Hunter 102
in autograss racing 12 91 Julian Affleck (S) 96
had enabled him to 13 25 Mike Rayner (N) 88
search and found 14 60 Malcolm Keat 79
the grip in wet, and 15 69 Steve Trench 57
extreme, conditions, 16 95 Julian Proctor (S) 57
which he showed 17 30 Robb Addison 56
to great effect 18 34 Anthony Towey 53
throughout the whole 19 92 Kevin O’Shea (S) 52
weekend. 20 63 David Robinson (N) 52
In the Pit
Dave drew
Name: Dave Drew
Age: 39
Occupation: Garage/Recovery
Operator
Website: www.jd-motors.co.uk
Racing Team: JD Motors
Sponsor: Mini Sport Ltd /
Vision Vehicle Solutions /
JD Motors
Current racing series: Dunlop
Mini Miglia Championship
Car number: 6
Car details: Red/White/Blue
with 1300cc Swiftune engine
Best series position: 6th
Racing since: 2009
Racing history: None for the
last 21 years
How did you first get into racing
and then racing with Minis?
I was seven years old when my dad
drove in the same championship as
I compete in now, and I have strong,
scary memories of some of his on-
track actions. We are also family
friends of Paul and Boot Gaymer who
both were very successful in the late
’70s. Paul winning the Se7en and
Miglia titles back then, so the Mini
racing has been very much a big part
of my life.
I have followed the same series on
and off ever since really, and back in
2008 I went to watch the Miglias at
Brands Hatch and met Ralph Saunders
who was leading the championship at
the time. I basically got talking with
him and Ralph showed me what my
life was apparently missing! Ralph
helped me locate a great car and here
I am.
What appeals to you about racing
Minis over other cars?
No race series I have seen even gets
close to the action and excitement
that both the Mini Se7ens and Miglias
produce. The presentation and detail of
every car is incredible and the racing
couldn’t be any closer. Most Miglia
races finish with a gap of about 2-3
seconds separating 1st to 9th places,
and these cars don’t hang about 0-60
in just under four seconds and a top
speed of 130mph. Need I say any more?
What type of character are
you in the pit?
Too early to say. Rob Howard (Miglia
backmarker) has a bit of a reputation,
and answers to ‘Gorilla’ these days,
but in fairness it’s all in good spirit. I
would like to think of myself as Cole
Trickle from Days of Thunder. I’m sure
I will get some stick from that..!!
With who do you have racing
rivalries and why?
We’re all rivals after the same thing,
but one that sticks out is Sarah
Munns, not only because of the female
element but Sarah is very quick, and
ever since I have been in the Miglias
both Sarah and I have always been
close on the grid and our finishing
positions too.
Describe your best driving
experience?
It has to be last year (2009) Round
4 at Brands Hatch. It was my fourth
ever race in the Miglia, and I stuck it
on pole position. Had that lap been in
the race, it would have pulverised the
standing lap record, I went on to get
my first podium in the race (3rd).
And you’re scariest driving
experience?
In the Miglia, at the end of Revett
Straight at Snetterton, when front outer
CV joint exploded! No drive and no
brakes! Thankfully it was during a
practice session.
What ambitions do you
have for the future?
To retain my race sponsors
www.minisport.co.uk and together
win a Miglia race, and aim for a
championship title.
What is your dream car?
Apart from the Mig, the Audi RS4
estate does it for me! And I would love
a Porsche GT3, but can’t have either
as Mark Sims (Miglia Driver) has them
both, and I would get some serious
stick..
Who is your hero and why?
Love him or hate him, Michael
Schumacher. An amazing talent, and
he will win another F1 Championship
before he really retires.
Who would you most like
to race against?
I would love to be in a Miglia race
with Peter Baldwin, Ralph Saunders,
Andy Hack and Bill Sollis, what I
could learn from that race would be
inspirational.
What is your road car?
VW Golf R32, a great Car. It reminds
me of driving the Miglia in a
comfortable kind of way, if that makes
sense.
love:mini 61

Motorsport
Keith
Calver’s
Post Historic
Touring Car
Championship
diary
www.calverst.com
A
fter the
jumping out of
gear issue at
Thruxton and the
subsequent engine and Lydden Hill
transmission removal,
and discovering of the cracked/split
metalwork underneath the remote
gear change unit, it was time to do
something about that. Proceeding to
remove the Quickshift gearlever and
remote unit, I noticed the retaining cup
for the gearlever was a little skew-
whiff. Tugging gently upwards on the
gearlever caused the whole lever and
retaining cup to lift. That’s not right.
Looking more closely, the retaining
cup had lifted up over its retaining
peg. Hmm. Removing the retaining
cup I could pull the cup retaining pin,
which also acts as a locator for the
gearlever to stop it spinning round,
out with my fingers. This should be
a press-fit in the aluminium housing
of the Quickshift lever. A little more
experimenting revealed that with
the pin pushed all the way into the
housing, the retaining cup was not
held in place, and therefore neither was
the gearlever in a vertical plane, and
with the pin pulled all the way out
until the cup stopped it going further
it was almost possible to rotate the
gearlever. Going through the motions of
selecting gears, especially the fore/aft
movement showed the whole Quickshift
assembly rocked back and forth. I then
noticed that the retaining bolt of the
aluminium housing/extension piece of
the Quickshift on the driver’s side was
wobbling around. I could unscrew this
with my fingers, made easier by the fact
the retaining bolt thread had been worn
very baggy.
Having removed the gearlever from
the remote housing, I could see deep
score marks in the rod extension eye
piece the gearlever sits in to rotate the
selector shaft. Looking at the nylon
62 love:mini
Damper pulley damage caused by
a loose bolt.
Problem child
As one issue gets fixed another rears its ugly head.
ball at the end of the gearlever, the
manufacturers had used externally
‘eared’ retaining circlips instead of just
round wire ones, the ears had been
banging up against the underside of
the extension rod eye piece until it had
bent them over, and with the lifting
of the gearlever in use had caused the
scoring inside the eye piece. Not only
that but the plastic ball sat too high in
the eye-piece anyway. So it looks like I
have found the source for all my missed
gear changes... not me driving like a
muppet at all, but a failed and faulty
Quickshift that, after careful inspection,
is just very badly made. Being a copy
of the original KAD one it looks as if
the manufacturers (later discovered
to be Minisport) have simply copied
it without recourse to understanding
the design and therefore the important
factors of making it work correctly.
In my humble opinion, it is a piece of
junk. I returned it to the place I bought
it (not the manufacturer) with a note
explaining all this and the fact it had
cost me two engine rebuilds and two
races. I was not at all impressed, but
somewhat relieved to discover it was
not my driving!
Fits but no starts
The engine rebuild was making me
a little concerned though. The crank
ground up well and the rod re-sized OK
with no obvious signs of distress. So a
new set of rod bolts and crank bearings
and a bunch of gaskets and that should
all be fine. Except the big-ends needed
a grind down to +0.030” to clean them
up. No problem as regards to strength,
considering I use standard 1275 cranks
with the 1.750” big-end pin. The problem
was that I don’t keep in stock race
quality bearings at that size. And the
crank was only returned to me on the
ROUN D 5
Friday morning of the weekend I had
to get the engine back together again
and in the car. There was nothing for
it, I had to fit standard type reticular tin
bearings to the big-ends. The main issue
with using standard bearings in race
engines is that they are badly affected
by high temperatures as seen by parts
in a race engine. To the point where
they simply fall apart. I got the rebuild
completed and back in the car by the
end of the weekend inbetween other
commitments with a view to finishing
the installation Monday night then firing
it up Tuesday lunchtime. All was going
according to plan right up until the
engine would not start Tuesday.
Having spun the motor over to
get oil pressure up and installed the
spark plugs, the starter simply clicked
futilely. I assumed the starter had cried
‘enough’ (one of the Brise Axial pre-
engaged versions) after 5 years of use.
Knowing my main men for my dizzies
(H&H Ignition Solutions) were now
offering a high torque starter, I gave
them a buzz that afternoon. Though
they did not have one in stock, they
organised one to be sent directly to
me from the manufacturers (Wosp).
Great. So the fire-up would have to be
Wednesday lunchtime. The starter duly
arrived Wednesday morning. Wednesday
lunchtime I whizzed home to get it fitted
and the engine fired up. This unit has
an external solenoid, of such immense
proportions that it comes with one of the
3/8” UNC mounting bolts fitted. Worse,
the solenoid is so big and mounted in
line with the mounting bolts that the
starter had to be fitted with the solenoid
hanging down underneath it. This now
meant the only way to do that ‘fitted’
bolt up was with a spanner as there
was no way you could get fingers to
it at all. The seriously restricted space
available between the subframe and the
gearbox casing meant you could only
turn the bolt one flat at a time – AFTER
you had managed to engage it in the
threads in the transfer gear housing.
That one job took me nearly 20 minutes
to complete! I was not best impressed I
can tell you. With it fitted and connected
up, I hit the start switch, and... lots of
whirring noises but no engine turning
over. AARRRGGGGHHHH!! NOW what?
No time to faff about, I rang Brise and
ordered another Axial jobby, though
Tim Brise was somewhat surprised that
the original one had called ‘time out’.
With no time to play with (leaving for
the track first thing Friday morning),
he agreed to get one away to me for
delivery Thursday morning.... the costs
were starting to rack up a bit.
Wednesday night I spent 30 minutes
removing that WOSP starter motor, re-
mounted the remote gear change unit
on the now strengthened tunnel (2mm
thick VERY stiff ally plate ‘saddle’) and
fitted the old KAD Quickshift unit. Oh
yeah – the KAD Quickshift. I’d replaced
this with that dodgy Minisport unit
at the beginning of the year because
it had become resistive after several
years service. The problem was that the
original plastic ball had become sort of
scuffed up. A quick chat with those fine
fellows at KAD, and a new ball arrived
in the post. Fitted that – and it worked
perfectly again. Brise held good to their
word and the new axial starter turned
up Thursday morning. Fitted it Thursday
lunchtime, engine turned over, coughed,
spluttered, nearly fired, then stopped. Hit
start switch again – ‘CLICK’, ‘CLICK’...
Oh for Pete’s sake! I removed the new
unit and bench tested it – perfect.
Then benchtested the old unit. Perfect.
Hmm. I then started thinking a little
more clearly about what was going on.
I then checked the clutch adjustment,
and my suspicions were immediately
confirmed... the flywheel had moved
up the taper on the crank a long way.
Enough to need a further 3/16-inch of
adjustment on the clutch push rod...
this meant the flywheel was now way
too close to the starter pinion for it to
engage. Looking at the old starter motor
pinion confirmed this – the leading edge
had been ‘machined’ flat by the ring
gear teeth. I whipped the starter motor
off, fitted a couple of washers between
the starter and transfer gear casing and
‘Hey Presto’! It works! For some reason
the flywheel taper had been spreading/
expanding having been removed/refitted
a few times. Yet to be resolved as to
why. Right now I was happy the starter
Find out more about Keith Calver. www.calverst.com
worked and I could fire up the motor.
After getting the coolant temp up to
65 degrees (all I can manage with fast
idle), I turned it off and checked for
leaks. Nothing. Cool. I fired it up again
and reset the ignition timing to what
was required and I was happy with the
installation. Except for those standard
spec rod bearings of course.
Keeping it casual
Friday morning I loaded up and headed
off to Lydden. A long haul – not made
any easier by the M25 roadworks and
the Blackwall Tunnel being shut. Still,
I made it early enough to get signed in
and scrutineered on the Friday evening
– ours was an early start for a change.
Signing on at 07:00, Scrutineering at
08:00, qualifying at 09:00. At least all I
had to make was qualifying.
The day dawned bright and sunny
and very, very windy. Lydden circuit
being in a natural ‘bowl’ was not too
affected. Only those in the top spectator
stand were ravaged by the wind. My car
was ready except for the tyre pressures,
which took me minutes to deal with.
Suited and booted I headed off to the
collecting area. The plan was simple
– keep the gear change point at 7,000
rpm once warmed up, watch the vital
signs and take it easy. Drive casual,
if you like. And that is exactly what I
did. What amazed me was the results
showed I was only 1 second off the
lap record for my class. That is twice
now that I have driven ‘casually’ and
been close to the lap record (did this
at Brands). The only interesting bit in
qualifying was finding out that a very
worn tyre (no tread grooves left at all)
has no grip. I fitted this to the right rear
as it only needed to deal with the only
left turn (Devil’s Elbow) on the circuit.
First time round at meaningful speed
I had maximum opposite lock on and
a bootfull of throttle to stop it going
all the way round! Anyway, 14th out of
20-odd starters wasn’t too shabby out of
a grid composing me and all the others
at over 1600cc. The main problem was
going to be the two Camaros sat next to
each other on the grid two rows in front
of me.
Sweltering in the heat of a bright and
sunny day, we gathered in the collecting
area for the race. Usual sort-out for grid
locations, warm-up lap, re-assemble,
lights on, off, and away. A decent start
had me round the outside of the two
Camaros – COOL! Or so I thought. First
time into Chessons drift (weird up-hill
right-hander that tightens at the exit)
Motorsport
and cars were going in all directions
trying to avoid each other – like they
suddenly realised it wasn’t a drag
race and there was a bend involved.
Squeezed way out to the track edge I
had to back off or get forced onto the
grass – and of course that brings the
‘me on pause, everybody else on fast
forward’ syndrome into play. Dammit.
Head down, concentrate on catching and
passing cars as soon as possible. All
went well until I came up against the
Great Wall of China – the two Camaros
having at it. In the end I decided to
make a lunge between them – feasibly
losing door handles, arch extensions and
sill trims off both sides of the car at the
same time. I made it through unscathed,
but now the tyres had given off their
best and the next group were some 70
yards ahead and I wasn’t making an
impression on them. OK, time to drive
casual again and see how quick I could
go then. A 15 minute race, so some 16
or so laps... I had already done around
10. The gear change was working
perfectly once again, so no problems
there. The vital signs were all good and
those big-end bearings seemed to be
holding up OK. Then with a few laps
to go – BIG metal scrunching/whirring
sound started. A glance at the gauges
– all good. Engine was running fine, car
handling fine – so what the Dickens was
it? I backed right off and the noise went
away – everything was still working
fine... so back on the gas. 50 yards down
the track the noise came back. Since I
was in ‘no mans land’ and had nothing
to gain from continuing to thrash the
car, I decided to retire before anything
major occurred.
Back in the paddock, off with the
bonnet – nothing obvious to see. No
fluids leaking out, nothing hanging off.
So I loaded it and headed home. This
is becoming one of those seasons... if
it can go wrong, it will. Ho-hum. Since
this was a Saturday race, I was home
Saturday evening. That gave me Sunday
to hook the motor out again, I’d planned
on doing so to replace those standard
big-end bearings anyway and to
change the gearing for the next race at
Snetterton... And soon found the problem
– the damper pulley bolt had come
undone. Luckily because it is a long
one it was being held in by the engine
mounting bracket. So now a strip down
to see what had caused that.
love:mini 63
 Motorsport
Words George Edwardes
Photos Mark O’Flanagan
ROU ND 4
Clarke revives title hopes
Bumper cars see double tight final.
B
en Clark took his first
win of the 2010 season
in dominant fashion
to take victory at the Blyton
Park track. The victory puts
Ben thoroughly back into the
title hunt, with five points
separating the top three
drivers going into the halfway
stage of the championship.
Ben started the day taking
the fastest time of Heat 1 in
front of the Edwardes brothers
with a convincing heat
win, which demonstrated to
everyone that he would be the
man to beat throughout the
day.
David Bell was a welcome
addition
64 love:mini
to the grid after missing the
first three races of the year
alongside Malcolm Dickenson
who made his first appearance
in the class after spending the
last few years preparing his
car.
Heat 2 went the way of Tom
Edwardes who closely held
off Ben in a thrilling race.
Kris Hudson posted the third
fastest time even though he
had been suffering from air
filter issues that had resulted
from dust blocking up his
filter and therefore reducing
engine power. It was Kris’
younger brother Keifer who
would be the first casualty
of the day with
his second
X
Mini
Blyton Park
engine failure of the season
leaving him out of the days
racing at the end of the
second heats.
George took the fastest time
in Heat 3 again in front of
Ben. Mark Griffin continued
to post competitive times in
all of the heats securing him
a good grid position for the A
final.
All girl action
With the Minicross class
once again producing
bumper entries, a B Final
was necessary to thin the
grid down before the A Final
commenced.
 It was to be a two horse
race however as Malcolm The dusty, loose gravelled
Dickenson had to retire at the
end of Heat 3 with a blown
track helped to show off
the best of Minicross.
Motorsport
engine.
It was to be one of the best
races of the day as Kelly and
Sam went head-to-head over
the five-lap final. Kelly was
able to take an early lead as
the lights went out which
she held for the remaining
laps. Sam fought gallantly
as the two female Minicross
drivers showed that they
could fight just as hard as the
boys on the track. The signs
of a failing engine began to
slow the charge as Kelly was
able to pull out a 0.4 second
advantage as they crossed the
line. Kelly was then able to
take up her place at the back
of the A Final grid for what
would be a great five laps of
racing.
As the lights went out Tom
took an early lead into the first for fourth place, however, Tom was able to keep Ben
corner whilst Ben was able to continued to provide close on his toes as the pair crossed
slip up the inside of George racing as lap Mark, David and the line. George was the last
going through the chicane. Richard jostled for position. of the podium finishes with
Ben then was able to pass Richard would be the fourth a 4.0 second deficit on the
Tom as the pack moved onto casualty of the day as a result leaders. Kris held off Mark
the back straights. The leading of engine problems. A hole to maintain his record of
two drivers were then able to in the sump resulting in the finishing within the top four
pull away from trailing pack engine seizing up as he went at every event of the year so
throughout the race. into the last corner. far.
The battle

65
Find out more about Minicross. www.mini-cross.co.uk
love:mini
 Motorsport
Words George Edwardes
Photos Mark O’Flanagan X
Mini

ROU ND 5

Extended highlights
Showtime for the TV with rolls and night racing. Blyton Park

T
he first British Rallycross of the last lap to take the being able to see out of the
night race was won third fastest time in the heat. windscreen.
by George Edwardes This would be the last time Kelly Bird showed her true
at the Lincolnshire track at that Tom would feature in the pace after Heat 2 with third
an event that did not finish event as continuing problems fastest times overall whilst
until midnight and saw the in Heat 2 and 3 saw him not Mark Griffin continued to set
Minicross final shown live qualify for the final. competitive times throughout
on TV for the second time Once again Ben took the the day.
this year. The final, the third fastest time in Heat 2, even George took fastest time in
outright victory for Edwardes with a scary moment going Heat 3 although a dramatic
this season, saw any of the into the first corner unable barrel roll in the cornfields by
leading three drivers capable to slow the pacesetter down. Brian Wade became the talk of
of the win on the floodlit The biggest problem in the the field. The car was fixed in
track. second sets of heats was due time, ready to compete in the
Ben Clark was once again to the wet loose section. Keifer final.
the pacesetter for the day, Hudson, who was running in
taking two fastest times in a solid second position after a,
the heats and pole position for so far, disappointing season,
Spinning around
By the time the final began,
the final. Once again showing had to slow down due to not
that he is still the man to beat
when it comes to racing at
Brian Wade has a spectacular roll into the
the Blyton circuit. Brian Wade
fields but is OK to compete in the final.
returned to the class for the
first time in 2010. However,
it was championship regular
Richard Wakeling who found
himself missing from the grid,
unable to change his engine
in time and was still working
on the car on the morning of
the event!
Heat 1 saw Ben Clark take
the fastest time with Kris
Hudson coming in, in a close
second. George Edwardes
managed to pass his older
brother Tom on the last corner

66 love:mini
darkness had descended upon
the track and the scene was
set for a thrilling race featuring
a bumper grid of 10 cars.
As the lights went out,
Clark suffered from a uneasy
start, allowing Edwardes
to take the lead into the
first corner, followed closely
behind by Kris Hudson. A
spin from Kelly resulted in
the remaining pack having to
take evasive action, however
everyone was able to pass
Find out more about Minicross. www.mini-cross.co.uk
through onto the loose section
safely.
In an effort to make up
for his disappointing start,
Clark set about trying to pass
Kris Hudson. Kris who was
having to both defend and
attack throughout the race
managed to hold off Clark for
the remainder of the race. As
the front three cars jostled
for position, Mark Griffin was
able to close up the gap to
third place. By the last lap
Clark became frustrated and
ran wide, enabling Griffin to
slip up the inside and claim
third position and his first
podium finish of 2010. Keifer
Hudson came across the line
in a solid fifth place in front of
Sam O’Flanagan.
At the halfway mark in
the championship, the 2009
champion still holds the lead
in the title hunt continuing
his record of five consecutive
podium finishes.
Late night racing set a
different atmosphere.
67
love:mini
 MINI 2011
Facelift
makeover
The se
cond refresh to the MINI’s
appearance has been revealed,
along with an announcement
of two new diesel models for
2011.
From September 2010, all
MINI saloon, Clubman and
Cabrio models will be subject
to the update, although we
expect newer models to
feature elements of the new
look. The subtle changes
follow on from 2006’s refresh,
which again moved the MINI
away from it’s child-like look
to something more serious.
Overall, the cars have been
touched up inside and out
and there is also a new set
of colours and a new range
wheels to tie-in with the
restyling.
Starting at the front you
can see the most noticeable
change in appearance is in the
lower bumpers, front and rear,
which have been extended
downwards to conform to
those new pedestrian safety
regs and prevent knee injury
in the event of a collision. This
in turn has given the MINI a
more aggressive stance, which
68 love:mini
Overhauling the MINI’s
look and two new models.
may be to the liking of most
male drivers.
For Cooper S owners - who
have been crying out for brake
cooling vents - their prayers
have been answered negating
the need to remove the front
foglights for a similar effect.
Optional xenon headlights
can be ordered with either
black reflectors or adaptive
lighting which turns the
headlights as you turn the
steering wheel - essentially
enabling you to see round
corners better.
From the side the indicator
repeaters have been visually
enhanced, looking less
plasticky and featuring a glass
cover with concentric circles.
S owners are again treated to
something a little more flashy.
At the rear all MINI models
now feature dynamic LED
rear lights that shine brighter
the harder you brake. Under
particularly hard braking
they will even flash to warn
following cars that you are
braking sharply. Additionally
the reversing light has moved
position from the light cluster
to join the foglight on the
lower rear bumper.
The Clubman has had its
own tweaks with the rear
light cluster confoming more
to other models with a chrome
surround, while the Cooper
S model has a wide opening
between the two exhaust
pipes which replicates the
form of an air outlet and is
bordered by chrome edging.
Inside, the central facia
has been darkened from the
contrasting light grey to black,
and a new LED display sits
within the basic speedo. The
optional premium speedo now
comes with a colour screen
which can be used to watch
videos via an external device.
More chrome has also
been added to the interior
surrounding airvents and
on the steering wheel. Trim
colours have been revamped
and claim to be made from
better materials than before.
Optional ambient lighting is
now also available, covering
756 shades of colours, and the
interior and exterior mirrors
are available with auto-
dimming.
 on the PULSE
2011 MINI One/Cooper/D 2011 MINI Cooper S

• Bumpers lowered • Brake cooling vents

and widened in grille on Cooper S
• Optional xenon • Integrated reversing
headlights with and fog light on rear
Adaptive Lighting • LED brake lights
• Redesigned side • New wheels
repeaters • Restyled dashboard

love:mini 69

Double D
As part of the redesign of the MINI
family, two new diesel arrivals
have been born in the shape of the
MINI Cooper D Convertible, and
the MINI ONE D Clubman. The
two new diesel units have been
improved to develop 74.3mpg and
just 99g of CO2 per km. The 1.6-
litre units have also been intricately
designed to produce the same
optimum ratio between bore and
stroke as the 2.0-litre engines fitted
in BMW cars. The blurb claims
they boast improved responsiveness
and efficiency over the outgoing
diesel units, also helped by their
lightweight aluminium construction.
Performance-wise the MINI
Cooper D offers a maximum output
of 82 kW/112bhp at 4000rpm and
peak torque of 270Nm (199lb-ft)
between 1750 and 2250rpm.. While
the dash from 0 to 100km/h (62mph)
70 love:mini
takes 9.7 seconds on the way to a
top speed of 197km/h (122mph).
The turbo-diesel unit powering
the MINI ONE D develops 66
kW/90bhp at 4000rpm and places
maximum torque of 215Nm (159lb-
ft) on tap from between just 1750
and 2500rpm. The MINI One D
completes the sprint from 0 to
100km/h (62mph) in 11.4 seconds
on the way to a top speed of
184km/h (114mph).
The improved petrol engines
MINI launched earlier in 2010
will continue to be used in the
all variants, offering 75-184bhp
depending on which model you
choose.
Other tweaks within the efficiency
of the car include new ‘thermal
encapsulation’ of the drivetrain
- basically storing heat to prevent
wear and inefficiency in cold
start-ups. This runs alongsde the
MINIMALISM technology, which
features Brake Energy Regeneration,
electromechanical power steering,
the Auto Start/Stop
function and Shift Point
Display.
New wheels for 2011
Five new colours will
also be available, but not
for all models. British
Racing Green, Spice
Orange and Ice Blue can
be chosen, or for Cooper
S buyers, an exclusive
Eclipse Grey can be
specified. The final colour,
Chili Red, will now be
available to JCW buyers
as a contrast colour.
To help owners with
their choice of colours,
MINI has developed three
‘design worlds’ which
co-ordinates a selection of
colours to suit a theme of
‘Rally’, ‘Classic’ or ‘Scene’.
The Works
The John Cooper Works (JCW)
has also been overhauled with a
new set of colours. Chili Red can
now be specified exclusively for
the MINI John Cooper Works and
MINI John Cooper Works Clubman
as a contrast colour for the roof
and exterior mirror caps, and can
be combined with the Pepper
White, Pure Silver, Midnight Black,
British Racing Green and Eclipse
Grey paint finishes for the body.
And to complement the effect, the
standard-fitted 17-inch light-alloy
wheels in Cross Spoke Challenge
design can also be specified in
black as a no-cost option.
The interior of the extreme sports
model, which is powered by a
155kW/211bhp four-cylinder engine,
is kitted out with black sports
seats featuring contrasting red
stitching and trim elements in Chili
Red. The steering wheel rim, the
gearshift lever and handbrake lever
gaiters also have contrasting red
stitching. Another exclusive option
available for the MINI John Cooper
Works, MINI John Cooper Works
Clubman and MINI John Cooper
Works Convertible are Lounge
Leather seats with red piping. The
instruments of these three model
variants are fitted as standard with
anthracite-coloured dials.
Images courtesy of BigBlogg

JOHN COOPER WORKS 2011
Our View
The five-year overhaul was not critically needed, but it
does help to keep the MINI feeling fresh and up-to-date
with modern trends and rival models.
As already mentioned the brake cooling vents on the
S are a welcome addition, as is a fresh range of wheels
and colours. LED lights can sometime be seen as a bit
chavvy, but the dynamic element where they shine
brighter depending on the strength of braking is pretty
cool. Likewise with the adaptive headlights.
Personally I think the restyled bumpers look better
and give the MINI a better stance when viewed head-
on. Improving the side repeaters so they look less tacky
is definately a good thing, as is enhancing the quality
of materials used on the interior - although we are yet
on the PULSE
to see this in the flesh.
The dashboard switch from silver/grey to black gives
a more mature feel to the interior, but the option of
various shades of ambient lighting is a novelty at best.
The introduction of two new diesel engines is
welcome too. Having driven a Cooper D in Australia,
I wasn’t impressed with its lack of pulling power, so
these units offer hope of an improvement.
All-in-all we quite like what has been served up,
but there are some grumbles from other corners of
the scene who wanted more from the JCW, or should
that be less? MotoringFile.com suggests that the JCW
should come with an options list allowing customers
to remove items, making it more stripped out and
lightweight, and why not?
love:mini 71
 Countryman
launch
Checki ng out the big brot her
of the M IN I fa m ily.
Launch
The m
ost controversial MINI to date
was unveiled to Mini clubs
in the UK on May 29, 2010 at
MINI Oxford.
After sweetening us up with
some breakfast we were led
into a dark room with just
the glowing words ‘MINI
COUNTRYMAN. GETAWAY.’
visible.
In the moderate darkness,
sitting patiently we could see
two large objects covered by
sheets - two?
MINI Chief Designer - Gert
Hildebrand - came out and
started to reel off all the spiel
about the design and the
reasoning behind it, before
showing a short film.
The long and short of it is
72 love:mini
- yes there are two different
models. One is the ‘standard’
model, for the ONE, Cooper
and D, and there is a modified
design specifically to appease
Cooper S owners who want
their MINIs to be more
different to the base models.
Pictured here are the blue
Cooper D, and the metallic
Cooper S. These are pre-
production cars and the
interior is not finished yet, so MINI look, just expanding on
don’t take too much notice of the proportions of each. The
the dull interior trim. chassis has been raised for
We already know the extra ground clearance and
Countryman and Beachcomber with ‘All wheel drive’.
are using the same four-metre The super large wheels
long platform (four metres, come at 17-inch as standard,
11cms to be exact), and with the option to fit 18 or
slightly longer than the MINI 19-inchers. The roof has been
Clubman, it is quite obvious shortened and comes with
this is a BIG car. roof bars as standard on both
The whole car retains the models.
 on the PULSE

MINI Cooper S Countryman

MINI ONE D Countryman

love:mini 73
 Gert explained that a lot of
time had been spent trying
to design the largest rear
door possible, for easy access
and to help maximise leg
and headroom. All four seats
are fully adjustable, and
the Cooper S models have
an additional central rear
seat, while the base models
have the centre rail running
between the seats.
Other design tweaks include
a clean rear hatchback, with
the MINI logo being used as
the opening handle, while
other lights and lenses have
been moved further outwards
to maximise space. This
includes side repeaters being
74 love:mini
Both models feature positioned on the A-panel,
roof rails and LED while the rear lights are of the
rear lights, while
LED type to conform to the
the Cooper S has
restyled bumpers,
facelift recently given to the
rest of the range.
grille and side
As you would expect safety
repeaters to set it
apart. regulations have played a
part in some of the design,
and that mainly applies to
the bonnet and front bumper,
which fulfils pedestrian safety
regulations by way of soft
bumper which avoids knee
injury and rolls the pedestrian
on to the bonnet. The bonnet
wheels are five-stud wheels
itself is spaced 60mm away
instead of the normal four-
from the engine block to help
stud.
cushion any head impact.
There will initially be 11
colours available, including Two of a kind
Pure White (different to Pepper The differences between
White) and a unique shade the two models are slight in
of brown - which seems to design - with the front and
be coming back into fashion. rear bumpers accounting for
It will be produced in Graz, most of the changes. The
Austria, most likely alongside base models have a thick
the forthcoming Beachcomber. slatted grille and no brake
One element that was cooling vents, while the
particularly pleasing to Cooper S model sports a more
some in attendance, was the aggressive look, with a mesh-
inclusion of brake cooling type grille with the air scoop
vents in the front grille. At (normally seen on the bonnet)
the time, we didn’t know this now placed centrally to direct
would become standard on air into the heart of the
Cooper S models from 2011. engine. The S also includes
As with many MINI models, the brake cooling vents and
one of the key elements of twin exhaust.
the design was ensuring that There will be five engine
standard parts were used from choices at launch from the
models already in production. MINI ONE Countryman
That means that most parts (98bhp), MINI ONE D
are interchangable with other Countryman (98bhp), MINI
MINI models, however the Cooper D Countryman

(112bhp), MINI Cooper Countryman
(122bhp), MINI Cooper S
Countryman (184bhp). Prices for
begin at around £16,000 for the
ONE model and up to £20,000 for
the Cooper S variant - although
additional options are likely to
inflate this.
Quizzed
We quizzed Gert on whether this
MINI would actually be able to go
off-road - after all with 4WD, chunky
wheels and a raised chassis, the
implication is that the Countryman
is an all-rounder. Gert didn’t seem
too keen to be asked about this
Our View
In all honesty, I wasn’t impressed.
For a MINI take on other SUV type
cars, yeah, sure, it’s quite good, but
I just don’t see the purpose of it. It’s
supposed to be a family car, OK, so
just give it four doors - does it need
to be SUV-like? It seems as though
it is lacking in identity and purpose.
Is it a true off-roader? If not, then
why does it bother to have 4WD and
a raised chassis?
- being a designer, not an engineer -
and gave me the impression that it is
not an SUV and not suitable for off-
roading. However, MINI’s literature
suggests otherwise stating: ‘The
MINI Cooper S Countryman and
MINI Cooper D Countryman can
be ordered as an option with MINI
ALL4 permanent all-wheel drive.
Here, an electromagnetic centre
differential positioned directly on the
final drive varies the distribution of
power seamlessly between the front
and rear axles. In normal driving
conditions up to 50 per cent of the
drive is sent to the rear wheels,
in extreme situations as much as
100 per cent. The result is a new,
So, it’s not a normal four-door
family car, like a Mondeo, and it’s
not a true off-roader, like a Land
Rover. My suspicions tell me that as
a business, MINI figured it would
be easier to build two cars from
the one platform (Countryman and
Beachcomber) rather than two new
platforms (for a normal four-door
car, and the bigger Beachcomber).
It does make commercial sense,
but is it what the buying public
on the PULSE
traction-led expression of the agile
handling for which MINI is famed.
The MINI Countryman comes as
standard with the Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC) system. Available as
an option are Dynamic Traction
Control (DTC, standard on the MINI
Cooper S Countryman – both with
front-wheel drive and ALL4 all-
wheel drive – and MINI Cooper D
Countryman with ALL4) and an
electronic locking function for the
front axle differential.”
The proof, we guess, will be in the
pudding - once it’s launched we’ll
soon find out whether it can traverse
muddy hills or not.
want? Has the recession put people
off the idea of these SUV-like
cars - or Chelsea tractors - which
are perceived to be gas-guzzlers
(diesel = about 65mpg, petrol about
46mpg).
Personally, I like this model the
least out of the MINI family, but
I do like the Beachcomber which
is the same size. I would have
preferred to see a proper four-door
family car rather than this.
love:mini 75
 Beachcomber
launch
The lates t M IN I model
is revealed in Detroit.
Launch
MINI
officially unveiled the MINI
Beachcomber concept at
the 2010 North American
International Auto Show
(NAIAS), and love:mini was
there to see it. It’s based on the
upcoming R60 (Countryman)
that’s just been released in
Europe and will be in the
US in February 2011. The
Beachcomber concept is a 21st
century update on the classic
Mini Moke, as can be seen in
the familiar grille shape and
lack of doors and roof.
At 2:45pm EST on January
11, 2010, the MINI press
conference began with Ian
Robertson, Member of the
Board of BMW AG, Sales and
Marketing, showing up in
front of the press in a MINI
E (the all-electric MINI being
currently tested).
After a song and dance by
the MINI dance team, the
MINI Beachcomber was
revealed to the press from
behind a wall. The MINI
76 love:mini
Concept at first looked big,
but comparing it to the MINI
Clubman, it’s not that much
bigger. The one thing I’m sure
of is that MINI will not let the
handling and the fun factor
go away with this crossover.
The only way to really tell is
to drive it, but since this is a
concept that won’t happen, so
we’ll just have to wait for the
Countryman to come out to
find out about the fun factor
and the handling.
Fearless fun
Here’s what Ian Robertson
had to say about the MINI
Beachcomber Concept: “The
inspiration for the MINI
Beachcomber Concept is clearly
born from the MINI Crossover,
combined with the vision of a
radically open body concept.
The result is a MINI that’s
tough, fearless and ready for
any open air adventure.
It provides a highly emotional
driving experience where
you are in close contact with
your surroundings, whether
it’s cruising through town,
enjoying rough tracks in the
Words and photos Chris Ordon
mountains, or breezing along
the beach. It offers extreme
freedom in driving.
Through its robust and
versatile character, the MINI
Beachcomber Concept also
captures the spirit of the
Mini Moke, which stood for
adventurous motoring back
in the sixties. The rugged
appearance and the minimal
body components and interior
clearly reflect elements of the
Mini Moke. This is further
accentuated by the overall
design language, such as the
characteristic radiator grille.
This concept has a new
innovative all-wheel drive
system, ALL4, as well as an
elevated seating position. The
MINI Beachcomber Concept
can be driven without doors, a
conventional roof and all other
body elements which might
limit the intensity of the open
driving experience.
This car retains its special
character in all road and
weather conditions. In the
event of bad weather, drivers
can quickly use the soft roof
and lightweight doors.”

The rear has only a half door, but more awkwardly
the rail runs right down the centre of the boot space,
potentially obstructing large items of equipment.
The interior is likely to be updated again to conform
to the new 2011 refresh, but you can see steering
wheel grips and red leather snakeskin-like trim.
Two new aircraft-like dials monitor the position of
the car. Speakers also replace airvents.
on the PULSE
Seatbelts are integrated into the
seat, while a compass sits below
the handbrake to aid navigation.
Our View
We suspect the Beachcomber
concept will go into full
production, although it is likely
this will be in Germany or
Austria rather than Oxford.
Internally it will include the
centre rail that we’ve seen on
the Countryman, however,
seeing it run right though the
boot doesn’t seem ideal for
those wanting to carry large
bags. Three new dials have
also been added, with two to
monitor the MINI’s position
with aircraft-like floating
horizon gauges, and a compass
to keep drivers heading in the
right direction whilst off-road.
Because of the open-air
design, the airvents have been
replaced with powerful speakers
to counteract the wind noise.
The seatbelts have been cleverly
integrated into the shoulder
of each seat, doing away with
chassis mounting points, and
each seat is adorned with a
sporting motif to reinforce the
The rear door pack looks like
a spare wheel holder, but is
actually extra storage space.
fun, sporty, character of the
MINI.
Despite claims that
lightweight panels and roof
can easily be fitted should the
weather take a turn for the
worst, we’re not aware of any
secret storage facility for these
panels - and who is going to
kart them around ‘just in case’?
Styling-wise we like it a lot
more than the Countryman,
but still have some reservations
about the drivetrain. If it uses
the same mechanics and
differential as the Countryman,
then it might encounter some
difficulties in its off-road
role, but hopefully MINI will
appreciate that this will be used
off-road, unlike the Countryman
which, from what we
understand, will be pretty much
a Chelsea tractor - looking like
an off-road car, but without
the capabilities to actually go
off-road. Only time will tell, but
we can’t wait - this is the most
exciting MINI yet!
love:mini 77
 Monty will continue business
to contribute to
MiniWorld as a
freelancer.
Monty quits MiniWorld
The big man takes his bow.

Long-
serving MiniWorld
had left amid sale
negotiations, but
word from the
Kelsey a smaller,
more budget-
concious publisher,
Editor, Monty MiniWorld camp is questions are being
Watkins, has that he had, in fact, asked about how
resigned from planned to leave budget changes
his post as the some months ago. will affect the
magazine moves to Nevertheless, the quality, regularity
new owners. loss of Monty will or marketing of the
Kent based be seen as a blow magazine, and its
publisher, Kelsey, to the publication, affiliated events.
has bought the which, under his The fact that
magazine from IPC, tenure, successfully Kelsey already has
along with four outsold rival Modern MINI on
other titles, after magazine, Mini its books leads
a strategic review Magazine since its many to think that
by IPC resulted in launch. the two magazines
selling off their Speculation could merge in the
niche mags. about the future future. In the short-
It had been of the magazine term though, it will
reported that Monty is rife. With continue as usual.

PROTOTYPE

Future diesel models spied

2012 MINIs spotted on the German roads.

Motoraut
hority.com has posted up
According to onlookers
the cars had a typical
diesel sound to them.
these pictures of two new MINI hasn’t confirmed
diesel MINI models which production for either
have been pounding the model yet, but it does
streets of Germany. seem to make sense as it
Suspected to be part expands the brand.
of a 2012 line-up both For the original story
cars sport a ‘SD’ badge, www.motorauthority.com/
indicating it is in fact a blog/1049870_spy-shots-
diesel. 2012-mini-clubman-s-diesel

78 love:mini
competition

MINISPACE design winners

When MINI
introduced the centre rail into the
new Countryman, it invited a whole
host of accessories to be spawned.
Taking advantage of the creative
minds of MINI enthusiasts, the firm
set a design challenge to create the
ultimate ‘click on’ accessory.
Having never run a competition
like this before, there was a chance
it would receive little response - but
instead the MINISPACE team were
overwhelmed by the creativity of
enthusiasts.
After narrowing the entries down to The other top four designs
five, it was finally decided that “Fire in were “MINI Star Karaoke”
the MINI” by Satoshi Nakamura from by chris_townsend25 from
Berlin, Germany, was the winner. As Southampton, UK; “MINI
a result the design was produced as a Gamer” by tillathenun from
prototype and Satoshi received a nice Rome, Italy; “Extra Steering
trip to the Paris Motor Show 2010. The Wheel” by dougRG from
team described the winning entry as Guatemala City, Guatemala;
“Thought-provoking and eye-catching, and “Tag Your MINI” by
the delightfully jaunty idea of installing alexkenny21 from Torino, Italy
a contained fireplace inside a MINI - which allows you to graffiti
was too sexy to pass up.” the inside of your MINI.

design Head of Porsche

Hard core
M unich Univeristy student,
Neal Steinhoff, has come
up with this concept for the
next generation of MINIs
- dubbed MINI Core. It keeps
the R56’s wheelbase but adds ChALLENGE
a slicker, rounder look to the
car but keeps its traditionally
short overhangs and ‘wheel at
MINI v Porsche
each corner’ philosophy. Challenging the big gun to a race.
This summer,
the head
of MINI USA, Jim
decided to find a
Porsche and a driver to
race against anyway.
McDowell, embraced After designing a fair
the spirit of MINI and track, suited to both
decided to have some cars, at Road Atlanta,
fun by challenging the race was on. After
Porsche to a race much internet hype
- a MINI Cooper vs. a and weeks of build-up
Porsche 911. the challenge finally
Sadly, the Porsche took place on June 21.
bigwigs didn’t take To find out the result
the bait, and after a watch the video links.
second hilarious and Challenge gauntlet
impassioned appeal The Response
from Jim, MINI The Race.

love:mini 79
 Obituary

Ralph Broad passes away

Engineer and racing team boss dies.

Broadspe
ed founder, Ralph Broad,
John Fitzpatrick and
even Broad himself
piloted the Mini-based
has died at the age of 84. cars to famous class
Broad used Mini wins all over Europe.

Main photo courtesy Paco Sanchez

mechanicals to produce In the late ’60s he
his fastback racers switched allegiances
which competed against to Ford, becoming
the Works and Cooper successful with Escorts,
Car Co. teams in the Capris and Anglias
British Saloon Car before returning to
Championship in the British Leyland working
1960s. with Triumphs and
Racers John Handley, Jaguars.

safety

Power steering
US Govt. starts investigation.

The US
Government has
where the investigation
is expected to begin. If
further issues come to
announced it is to light regarding other
start an investigation models, this could be
into the power expanded.
steering on MINI MINI has said it will
Coopers following fully co-operate with
54 complaints to the the investigations.
National Highway It has been known
Traffic Safety for a little while
Administration that there have been
(NHTSA). some issues with the
The issues relate power steering in
to 2004/5 models, some MINIs. In 2009
of which there is an the issue was raised
estimated 80,000 in by UK Consumer
circulation, and this is programme, Watchdog.
social

New clubs finder site

Search, find and plot local clubs.

The social
arm of the MINI brand -
MINISPACE - has relaunched
its club finding website and
directory, with new enhanced
functions to make searching for
local clubs easier.
Displayed as a Google map,
the site uses cached information
to provide local clubs currently
listed in the directory. You can
also use the Google Maps zoom
function to show a broader
or more precise area of the
country.
Users can search for a club
specifically, using the club
name, or by town or country, WANTED: Original Headrests
Club administrators can also
submit details of their own Classic Mini interior firm, Newton Commercial,
group to be added to the map has run out of twin-post headrests, meaning it
after filling out a few details. can’t refurb or sell any more until they get some
Find the finder here at: more units.
www.minispace.com/en_us/ They’re the type used between 1993-95, so if you
clubfinder have some in your spare parts pile, you might be
able to make few quid from them. 01728 832880

80 love:mini
 GET YOUR
MINI FEATURED
Unlike other magazines, we’re not just looking
for the shiniest, most perfect Minis.

We want to hear the stories of all types of Minis,

from the dilapidated workhorses of the world to your
latest creation - and everything inbetween. But most
importantly we want to hear about you - the people -
and your experiences and most heartfelt moments. Those
unforgettable occassions in a Mini that made your heart
beat a thousand times faster and bring the biggest smile
ever to your face.  That’s what love:mini is all about...

email: editor@love-mini.co.uk

love:mini 81
@@ @@ @@ @@ @ @
@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
@@our@Sho@ut @ @ @
Y@ @ @ @ @ @ editor@love-mini.co.uk www.love-mini.co.uk

@@ @ @ @@ @@ @@
G o t a pin ion? Sh@
n o@ a re it!

STAR
@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
Articulated and during the

@@ @ @ @ @ @
meal they drove it
LETTER Walking in the rain near
up to him.
Geneva’s airport in
The truck was
Switzerland I suddenly saw

@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
never registered,
this semi trailer parked on a
but is fully
loading bay. There was an ad on
functional.

@@ @ @ @ @ @
the lorry for a company repairing
The man
fuel trailers, but the building was
used it as an
empty and it seemed the company
advertisment for

@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
had moved to another location.
his company and
So I jumped the fence, hoping
still does.
that no german shepherd would no photoshoping or anything like

@@ @ @ @ @ @
He told me he has just repainted
come and have a bite at my throat, that. In certain areas, such as
it and is looking for parts to replace
and took a few pictures. Broken Hill, the area went dark as
the missing ones.
This was in the spring of 2008 the sun was unable to penetrate

@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
The truck can still be seen but
and I googled a little to see if I the dust!!
now in an industrial area called
could get more information on this Brett Nosse
Vernier, also not far from the

@@ @ @ @ @ @
unusual truck, but without any
airport.”
results. It looks like the MINI has gone
Ydrolina Mini Cooper
One and a half year later, a friend extra terrestrial in this pic. We

@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
who had seen the photos, gave wonder what the Martians think
Thanks for this Ydrolina. It
me the phone number of the proud make of it?
never ceases to amaze me what
owner.

@@ @ @ @ @ @
weird and wonderful creations
Not surprisingly, this man was
people make from Minis.
a fan of british cars and owner of
several Minis.

@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
He had received the truck as a Cheeky
wedding gift in 1990. His friends Hi Craig,

@@ @ @ @ @ @
had concealed the truck they had Here are a few pics of us
built for him in a shed not far away having a laugh at a MINI advert
from where the wedding party was, celebrating 50 years. Hilltop Minis

@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
founders, Jan and Rich, thought it
would be funny to park their MkI

@@ @ @ @ WIN!
in front of it and send you a few
cheeky snaps.

@@ @@
Dave Lane

@@ @@ @@ @@ @
Yes, it would have been nice of Moss vouchers
them to include a classic Mini in www.moss-europe.co.uk

@@ @ @ @ @ @
the ad, especially one as nice as
Classic British car parts restoration
that one. specialist, Moss-Europe, is kindly
offering a £25 voucher to the best letter

@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @
sent in to us each issue.
MINI on Mars? No matter where you are in the world
Hi Craig, you might have heard you can still get your

@@ @ @ @ @ @
about the dust storm that went all vouchers, and then
over Australia due to the drought! I spend them on high
thought you might like the photo of quality bits for

@ @ @ @ @
your Mini.
my MINI in the middle of it!
To be in with
Please note that there has been a chance, just
82 love:mini email us a letter!
@@
RANT
The
@@ Trend
@@What real@ly gets our goat Bitesize chunks

@@ @@ from the scene

@@POTHOLES
THIS ISSUE:

@@ @@ HOT
@@ @ @
The
@@ @ @ @
bad weather may be but what about all the odd potholes
back in the UK, but even on residential streets, and those on
3000 miles and the
before winter arrived there’s been the popular back-routes? These have
love:mini Mini is
cause for complaint about the state of been subject to neglect, and by the

@@ @@ @@
still going strong.
the roads. Driving around town in a time they are fixed, new potholes
classic Mini is like doing an Autotest, will have appeared. It’s as if the MINI Countryman

@@ @ @
swerving to avoid holes, bumps and roads get intensive treatment when open day at MINI
subsidence. things get really bad, but the general OXFORD gives us a
And these aren’t maintenance to prevent good look.

@@ @@ @
tiny bumps that are these problems aren’t
occassional, these considered. Meeting new
are regular, wheel- We all pay our friends in Australia.

@@ @ @
swallowing canyons
that can cause
untold damage on
fair share in taxes
but surely road tax
should go directly
Weather in the UK
finally hits 25C.

@@ @@
the Mini, and even towards building Aluminium billet
the MINI. What the and maintaining the alloy cylinder

@@ @
hell is going on? network, and that this heads hit the
Doing some should happen over the market.
errands today I had course of the whole
to visit my local year, not put it off until Panic: two days

@@ @
council offices, the spring after the before L2B and the
and low and behold the worst road roads have crumbled. Mini’s damper bolt

@@ @I had come across led staright to
the council building. Fortunately,
someone had obviously pulled their
I’ve seen on TV new machines that snaps off.
can fill a pothole in 20 minutes, a job
Inconsistent
that would take a manual worker a
weather is playing

@@
thumb out of their ass as there was
a massive resurfacing truck and
lot longer, so aside from the capital
havoc with our
costs for the machine this should
Mini maintenance

@@
about six or seven people working
on this one 100m stretch of road.
I’m sure it would have taken them
at least all day to fix this section,
surely be a no-brainer.
plans. Not all of
As usual it seems the beauracrats
us have heat, light
are willing to take our money and
and space in our
offer very little in return. Thanks!

@
garages, you know.
Potholes still not

@@ Your views from the digital world

“I’ve been through three our road! I had to drive Sonia Bowmar-scothern
filled wrecking out
suspension.
Queuing for hours
tyres and one wheel in a mile out of my way to up to leave Crystal
“Yeah we have a pothole

@
two months and last get to the Post Office! Palace on L2B.
at a mini roundabout
month my mate’s car had They have very roughly about 5-inches deep.”
£2000 worth of repairs filled them now, but they Marcel Parkinson
from a pothole.” have done it so badly
Greg Haynes
“We had 40 at the top of
that it’s now like 40 little
speed humps ”
“I think they made
Minty’s exhaust fall off!”
Rebekah Louise Johnstone
NOT
love:mini 83
 The lock-up
Showing us your Mini stuff

Bruno Cottanceau

Hello love:mini, my name

is Bruno Cottanceau. I’m 54,
single and I live in France.
Here is a picture of my
MINI Cooper S, which I have
nicknamed UK GIRL!
She is a 2004 Cooper S
model, and has been treated
to a few luxuries, such as
a reprogramed ECU, JCW
brakes, new WebSpoke wheels,
JCW injectors and airbox, all
of which has pushed the bhp
output up to about 200bhp.
I hope you all like my
beautiful UK Girl as much as
I do.
Sam Renton
Hello love:mini, I’m Sam
Renton, 20, and currently have
my own media production
company based in Stafford.
I have restored my Mini
with my dad for the past two
years. We bought it completely
standard from its previous
owner in
FEATURE
My Mini
Newark. The front was the
worst, but we were amazed
with the condition of the doors
and rear. We replaced the
whole front and had it fully
resprayed. I replaced the rear
subframe and sprayed it a
funky green. i have also given
it a retro MkI look, to set it
apart from other Minis. I hope
to spray the front subframe
and engine in the near
future as well as
change the
interior.

84 love:mini

Carlos Lopez Michel
I try to tell you a bit of history with
‘Beto’ my Mini. In 1994 my mother
bought it for daily travel to college,
since then I have kept it.
It was a 850cc and now has a
1275cc, 286 Kent cam, flipfront and
Andy Mullen
Here is my MINI. I am a mechanic
and I did all the modifications
myself. The MINI had the gearbox
reconditioned in May and a new
clutch.
Here is how much I’ve spent on it:
JCW carbonfibre dash £250
JCW filter £50
OMP strut brace £60
OMP lower brace £40
Spax coilover suspension £600, I paid
£150 second hand
other things.
I have done all the work, I am an
industrial engineer and mechanic. I
also maintain some of my friends’ cars.
Last year I finished the trailer,
done with another half Mini, just to
celebrate 50 years.
Greetings from Chile
Carlos
White S spoke wheels £100
Four-branch manifold £170
Milltek cat back exhaust £300
Facelift rear lights £60
Xenon headlights £300
Gloss black headlight rings £6
JCW aero grille £120
Cooper S half leather seats £150
second hand
Spotlights £60
Carbonfibre bonnet scoop going on
soon £89
So just under £2000 spent. This is
my first MINI as I was only 19 when
I purchased this but I am looking at
getting a Cooper S next year!
Callum Sinclair
Dear love:mini, I have had my
Mini since 2009 as my first car,
it a 1990 Rover Mini Checkmate
998cc completely standard. I’m
16 and I originally bought it off
my nana for my 14th birthday
and spent two years getting it
ready, keeping it looking nice for
when I start driving soon.
It’s used regularly, I let my
nana drive me around, ha-ha!
When I start driving it will be
used to get me to Mini shows.
I’m hoping to attend the IMM
and Mini In The Park, fingers
crossed! And using it to get
me back and forth to work and
college.
I’ve got alot of work to do to
it though. I’m restoring it back
to how it looked once it came
out of the factory! I love it to
bits. My nana owns three other
Minis they are a A-reg Mini
City E, C-reg Mini City E and
a Mini 1000. The whole family
litterally has Minis, we love
them! It’s possibly the best car
made. I am part of a Mini club
called Welsh Rarebit Minis who
are regulary found on the Wirral
- Llandudno Run every year.
So basically Minis are in my
blood, and in 20 years time
i’ll still be driving Minis! The
classic ones that is!
love:mini 85
 A
ANNIIM
M A L
M
M A G I
ICC

86 love:mini
If one of the main duties of a Mini is to turn heads,
then Mark.Paul.Deren - aka Madsteez - has created
something that is sure to do that... and much more.

Words Jessica Brown

Photos Madsteez

love:mini 87
Miniween
A
rtist Mark.Paul.Deren, a.k.a.
Madsteez, is a multi-faceted
artist and designer who
hasn’t let being born blind in one
eye and having three first names
hold him back. In fact, this human
tornado of frenetic energy is busy
88 love:mini
enough for three people.
As an artist, he has held solo
exhibitions in New York, Los
Angeles and Tokyo, in addition
to group showings all over the
world, and is also the founder of
WEENfaktory – which specializes in
multimedia design including brand
identity, creative direction, graphic
and fashion design, packaging,
flash animation and typography.
However, this self-proclaimed
ferocious kite-walking, nerd rope-
eating, Dolorean-loving, zebra
pinstripe-
wearing
WEENBEAR is probably best
known for his large-scale, vivid
and multilayered paintings, where
strange and familiar figures are
integrated into abstract landscapes.
For his latest project, though,
Deren is going with a more
MINImalistic approach.
Deren has partnered with
Southern California car dealership
Irvine MINI to create their very
own WEEN!MAL mascot – The
MINIWEEN. In addition to creating
the mascot, Deren has hand-
painting a MINI Cooper – donated
by the dealership – with his
distinctive art.
 The MINI Cooper has been roaming the streets of Orange is not the only unusual object that Deren has put
County, California, in 2010 visiting charitable events his stamp on. In addition to his own line of shirts
sponsored by the dealership. and bags, he’s covered a couch,
Irvine MINI has also teamed up Deren’s style will appeal to sneakers, skis, snowboards and
with the Miocean Foundation – a even designer jeans with his
nonprofit foundation dedicated to our trendsetting clients own distinct style. Which begs
protecting and improving Orange the question: What is left to
County’s 42-mile coastline by reducing urban-runoff WEENify? The answer, apparently, is everything.
pollution. According to Deren, who is striving to be “the
“We wanted to find a really novel way to raise some thugged-out Martha Stewart,” no object is safe.
funds for our favourite charities,” said Irvine MINI Sales Everything – from toasters to nightlights, fishing
Manager Steve Rudkin. “We think Deren’s cutting- rods to shower
edge visual style will appeal to our trendsetting and curtains, cookware to
environmentally friendly curling irons – is on
clients.” the list. WEENTOWN
Not surprisingly, a car here we come!

love:mini 89
Miniween

90 love:mini
love:mini 91
 Living with a
Nightmare

92 love:mini
Boys and girls of every age, wouldn’t you like to see something strange?
Come with us and you will see, this, our Mini of Halloween...
F
or it was a cold winter’s
night when King Jack of
Birmingham found life under
new ownership.
It all began many years ago
when women lusted to look
like Cindy Crawford and men
aspired to be Bon Jovi. As was
the case with 35-year-old Grant
Woodhouse (more Metallica
than Bon Jovi), Jack’s future
owner, who was living the dream
working in a guitar shop – think
Wayne’s World.
“My life was all about guitars
and bands, never into cars at all,”
says Grant. “But once my first
band started gigging I needed
something to carry all the gear
around in.”
Grant’s first car wasn’t a Mini,
but it wasn’t far off - an Austin
Metro 1.3. With the back seats
down, the band’s equipment fit in
no problem. “We were only gigging
pubs, so the amps weren’t huge...
yet!”, he explains. But by fate,
the hand of God, or just Grant’s
bad driving, the Metro died a few
months later after a crash. Now,
we don’t want to give Grant a
bad name, but he says he also
‘bumped’ his next car – a Ford
Fiesta 1.1, which was quickly
followed by another Metro and
Fiesta again. While on the
search again, his sister
mentioned a Mini for sale.
“I laughed at her, telling
her ‘it had best have a
roof rack! How would
I fit all my guitars in
Words Craig McBeth
Photos Ben Whitehouse
love:mini 93
 Nightmare...
Pinstriped doorcards, white
seat piping and a multitude
of skulls give a creepy
Halloween feel.
the back of that?!’,” he recalls. But
check it out he did, and after taking
it for a test drive he was hooked,
taking it off the guy for £500.
“The first thing I did was stick
some huge Spiderman stickers in
the back windows,” says Grant. “I
had that one for about
a year and a half. She
ran great, but one
I swapped a VW Beetle for a Clio,
day just got slower
and slower until
simply because it had a heater
she wouldn’t run
anymore.” And of course in those
days Minis were two a penny so not
many people cared if they were run
into the ground.
‘Tank’ing it
As the band got bigger – as well as
the amps – another Mini wouldn’t
have been practical, so he bought
another Metro instead, naming it
‘The Tank’. “It felt huge after the
Me and the Estate. The original workhorse.
94 love:mini
Mini,” he says.
But it wasn’t long until Grant
was back in a Mini – this time an
Estate, after someone ran into The
Tank, turning it into a tin. Using
it as a workhorse for his gigging
equipment the roomy back end and
opening rear doors of the Estate
made short work of loading and
unloading. The Mini served him
well for a good few years, until it
too was written off by someone
crashing into him. Again, this could
have been fate, as after a year on
foot Grant picked up a 1974 Purple
Beetle which he needed to impress
a girl. The Beetle drove like a boat,
was slow, unresponsive, and the
Jack getting some TLC.
Hand-painted by
Grant.
inside
froze up in the winter, but impress
it did, and that girl is now his wife.
Once he’d snagged her though, he
swapped it for Clio; “because it had
a heater,” he says. Smart move.
Come December 2008 and through
general conversation
Grant mentioned to his
then-fiancé that he’d love
to have another Mini one
day. And, as if by magic,
one appeared for sale
around the corner from their new
house. “It was exactly what I was
looking for,” says Grant, “black with
a white roof, MkI grille and 10-inch
wheels.”
As an early Christmas present
Grant bought Jack – which is
actually short for Jacqueline
– on Christmas Eve. She is a 1990
Checkmate with a standard 998cc
engine.
 “Looking over her with my
lack of mechanical knowledge,
she seemed fine. The test
drive took me back to when
I had my first Mini 15 or so
years ago. She drove great, so
I struck, what I thought was, a
deal with the guy.”
After a cup of tea at home
the desire to show her off to
friends and family became too
much, so they decided to take
her out for a drive. “Typically
for me, she didn’t start up,
so jokingly she instantly
became the Nightmare
Before Christmas to us and
I mounted a small Jack
Skellington bust on the dash.”
And so Jack/Jacqueline was
born.
However, Grant’s mechanical
genius neighbour - Paul - has
kept Jack running sweet as
a nut ever since, and has
even come to the rescue in
emergencies when the lights
failed and she broke down
twice. What a guy, the things
people do for Minis.
A new adventure
With a new car, new year
and soon to be new wife,
the scene was set to embark
on a new adventure into the
Mini community, and a year’s
worth of Mini 50 shows lay
ahead. First stop was a cold
January event at Bingley Hall,
Staffordshire. “It was our
first-ever Mini show and the
seed of our new obsession. It
showed us just why the classic
Mini is known as the Mr
Potato Head of the car world.”
So they got in on the act and
started their personalisation
of Jack - buying a pair of
headlamp eyelids and set of
HT leads. Seeing the Betty
Boop-themed Mini also gave
them some food for thought,
and in February that recipe BEWARE:
began to take shape, with the Skulls bite.
interior given the Nightmare
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 Nightmare... treatment. controlled replica Minis that was a set of wind deflectors and
The doorcards fascinated him the most. “I knew I a shiny GB sticker, but now added
were painted black with white had to make a clone of mine too,” is a flip front! “And I’ve found a
pinstripes to match Jack he says. strong new love for the Riley Elf! I
Skellington’s suit, while the After popping along to a local will have one some day,” exclaims
window winders received Morris show, where Grant’s partner Grant.
Jack Skellington heads fell in love with beautiful Purple
and Grant even Morris Pick-up (ahh, we see, it’s the
hand-painted a new purple she likes huh?), the couple
knob for the glovebox. had a rather busy month in May
At the spring Malvern – as they got married after 10 years
Show the compiling of together. Congratulations. But there
the never-ending list of was still time to visit Himley
extras began, but it was Hall and get some
the radio- more stuff for Jack.
Ticked off the list

As I was pouring the second tub of oil in,

I knew it was too much...

96 love:mini
 Centre
caps and
tyre valves
get the
treatment.
Cornwall was the
honeymoon destination and
Jack wasn’t going to be left
behind. The newlyweds’
friends had decorated the Mini
with balloons, flowers and the
obligatory ‘Just Married’ sign,
and on the way down south
they were greeted with many
cheerful road users pipping
their horns to wish them luck.
However, something tends
to go wrong to make these
trips more memorable, right?
And a honeymoon is a perfect
occasion.
“As we passed Bristol we
needed to stop for fuel, I filled
up and was ready to carry on
with our journey but I noticed
my oil light came on and
stayed on. In a panic I ran to
the petrol station and bought a
litre and poured the lot in the
engine, waited a moment and
checked the dipstick. To
my bemusement it only
showed a drip at the bottom
of the stick, so I shot back into
the station for another litre...
As I was pouring the second
tub in I knew it was too much,
but I was just going with what
the dipstick was telling me.
All this time my newlywed
wife was telling me ‘that’s
way too much, you know’. My
initial response was: ‘what
do you know about cars, you
can’t even drive!’.
I whipped
out the
dipstick to prove my point
and it was still just a little
drip at the bottom of the stick.
I looked under the car for
leaks, but nothing. I couldn’t
understand it. Then I had a
brainwave; start the car, it
may mix the old and new oil
round a little. It did and I’d
gone over the MAX point by a
fair way. Panicking, I decided
to hit the motorway and burn
off the extra oil. As we got
back up to speed I looked in
the mirror to see a huge cloud
of smoke behind us, I slowed
down and as the smoke
started to dissipate I could see
the outline of another Mini
behind us. I pulled over to
the hard shoulder and, to my
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 Nightmare...
relief, so did he.
After a brief introduction our new
friend, Ben, from Minis of Tiverton
(MOT), told us to follow him and
he’d not only get us safely off the
motorway but also get us some
help. My wife - now quite smug
telling me ‘I told you so’ while I
was thinking I’d killed our little
car - and I sat down for a coffee,
Twenty minutes later Ben returns
with another member of MOT,
James. He whipped a trolley jack
out of the back of his car, hitched
up our poor motor and promptly
drained our oil and refilled us back
up to the correct level. I’ll always
be eternally grateful to those guys,
they not only got us out of a very
sticky situation but also saw us
safely back on our way.” Mini
camaraderie strikes again.
Wonders of the web
Disaster averted the happy couple
returned from their honeymoon and
continued with their integration
into the Mini scene. After picking
up some chrome wheel-arch covers
at Birmingham MOC’s Cannon Hill
Park show, they popped along to
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Mini Spares Midlands’ Open Day.
It was here that Grant spotted a
‘50s American classic in black and
green, sporting some cool hand-
crafted stainless steel cobweb
headlight covers. “I knew they’d
fit in perfectly with our Nightmare
theme,” says Grant, “so I got
talking to the owner and she told
me to see Ms Metal’s website in
the USA. It didn’t take me long to
Google her and get a pair ordered.”
With 2009 being the Mini’s 50th
anniversary, it was fortunate that
Grant and his wife had become
involved just at the right time – and
living in Birmingham, the IMM was
just a stone’s throw away compared
to some of the pilgrimages some
other owners had undertaken.
Being so close it would have been
rude not to attend, so attend they
did, and they were amazed to see
so many Minis from so far away.
“The best part for me was just
wandering round the huge camping
area looking at all the clubs and
seeing how far people had come,”
Grant remembers.
After visiting the Uttoxeter show
and falling in love with the ELF-240
Baby Melody is growing
accustomed to her new
surroundings.
Web-tastic.
Mini
caravan and some 10-inch
Starmags, it was off to Stanford
Hall. “My wife found a lovely purple
(Purple again!) Mini Pick-up that
she took a fancy to and I now want
my Mini deseamed!” Ah, the joys
of Mini ownership and the many
creative, and usually conflicting,
ideas that whiz through our heads.
As October finally drew in, the
couple had decided that Jack had
to be ready for Halloween and their
trip to Disneyland Paris. Over the
previous months they’d set the
wheels in motion when Grant got a
mate to make up some Nightmare…
door and roof decals for the car.
These finally came through and
the bulk of the theme was in place
and looking good. The trip abroad
was an adventure in itself, with the
convoy taking wrong turns
Inspired by others at the
and the usual Mini maladies
of oil leaks etc. as they drove Malvern Mini show.
through France. But they made
it and met some good people
along the way. “We made
some more friends including
Oz the Gopher & Phil, Martin
and Emily, Sherrie Haslett,
and Michael and Holly with
the Tigger van – who had
unknowingly inspired us
to do this trip after seeing
the Tigger van in last year’s
review,” says Grant.
“I was extra proud, as not
only were we at the second
home of Disney in a Mini for
the Mini’s 50th, but it was
Halloween too - my car couldn’t
have been more appropriate.”
After the show the couple
ran back into the park to
get a photo taken with Jack
Skellington himself, perfectly
rounding off the weekend.

Minis v Bugs
Even after a hectic year the
couple didn’t let up on their
travels. Just a few weeks later
they shot off to the autumn
Malvern Mini show. This was
followed by a charity turn out
for Children in Need, when
word got round that there was
a VWs vs Minis meet at the
Waterman Pub near Coventry.
Both CV1 Minis and
they met up with friends they disrespect… why? Well you know
Medievil Mini clubs welcomed
had made over past 12 months. what kids are like, and they’ve
the pair and as well as the
Medievil Minis invited them to just had another addition to the
Minis there was a mix of
display Jack on their stand and family. Baby Melody was born in
pimped out campers and bugs.
the Horslers were there in full May 2010, and is fast becoming
“One lucky fella pulled up in
Christmas a regular on the Mini scene with
his camper
gear with the family – although how keen
towing his
Minivan One lucky fella pulled up a copy of mummy is at being relegated to
their club the back seat we’re not quite sure
behind him,”
says Grant. in his camper towing his newsletter yet… As for Jack, he’s no longer
which had a nightmare, as he
“He said
he couldn’t Minivan behind him Grant’s car on continues to run like
the cover. a dream, turning
decide which
As far as heads and most
one to bring, it would be like
introductions go to the Mini importantly, giving
leaving one of his children at
scene Grant and his wife have the kiddies a good
home if he had to pick just one!”
dived right into the deep end and scare at Halloween.
And so the perfect Mini
have come out smiling. In future Our man jack is
year was rounded off with a
though the Mini is going to King of the Pumpkin
final show at Stoneleigh for
have to cope with being treated patch. Everyone hail to the
Christmas celebrations where
with a little bit of contempt and Pumpkin King
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 A tour Down Under
love:mini takes a journey around Queensland
and hooks up with some friends.
I t’s not every day that you
get the opportunity to go to
Australia. And when the call
came in February 2010 to
offer me and my family the trip of a
lifetime for two weeks in Brisbane,
we could only say ‘yes please’ and
‘thank you very much’.
With only two months to prepare,
a limited budget and no idea where
to begin, we set about researching
the area and drawing up places to
visit.
Brisbane is Australia’s third
largest city, located midway up the
east coast. and about 12 hours drive
north (960km) of Sydney. It is built
around the Brisbane River and is
surrounded by a bowl of mountains.
When we arrived in early April
it was just entering autumn, but
temperatures were still reaching
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27-30°C. It was quite an adjustment
from the chilly 5°C we had been
experiencing back in the UK.
We’d not even reached our ride
from the airport car park when we
spotted our first Mini in Australia.
Without hesitating I approached the
two lads sat in the classic Clubby
and said a quick hello. Unprepared
and cameraless, I missed the
chance to get a picture, but was
chuffed to have seen a Mini so early
in the trip.
MINI loan
After a few days with the family I
headed up the coast to Caloundra,
where I had arranged to borrow a
MINI from Coastline MINI Garage
- a BMW/MINI dealership.
The people there were great and
really friendly, much like most of
the people we met on our travels.
From my short time in the country
so far, I’d noticed a lot of differences
in the way they do things in Oz.
We sat down and talked about
cars in Australia and how they
seem to be mainly Asian models.
It turns out that the costs of
importing European cars severely
inflates the end retail price -
making them more of a luxury item
to many Australians. Back in the
UK we take for granted the number
of MINIs on the road, but in
Australia they are almost as scarce
as classics are in England.
And it’s not surprising. Having
seen how incautiously the majority
of the population drive, I too would
probably opt for a cheap $15,000
Suzuki Swift over a $46,000 MINI
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Our boat

Someone’s
nicked me
shoes and
dressed
me in a
tea towel.

Big enough to fit a family of

four and economical enough 
to go 800km on a full (40-litre)
tank. And that’s not Driving
Miss Daisy-type driving either.
But when fuel costs nearly half
of what it does in the UK, you
can certainly afford to use a
bit more.
Driving in Australia was

Posing
outside
over there with bumper-to-
bumper tailgating seemingly
the norm. My biggest surprise,
Sundive
though, was to find a brand
diving and
new motorway had been built
snorkling
centre in to bypass the city - in which
Byron Bay the politicians want to cut
after drying pedestrian deaths - only to
off. discover it is a toll road, and
because of this hardly anyone

a real eye-opener (well both uses it. As an outsider looking

Looking inland from
Tamborine Mountain.
Cooper D, like the one we
were using. Perhaps BMW
could use a bit of BL ingenuity
and open up a plant down
there to cut import costs and
really break into the market.
With new
models
such as the Fuel costs nearly
Moke-a-like
Beachcomber half of what it does
- aimed
at action/ in the UK
adventure-
orientated customers - I for
one think the Australian
market would be ideally suited
to the MINI brand and image,
but to-date it’s hardly made an
impact.
For us though, it was the
eyes really) - you need to be in, it is easy to expect things
super alert to the standard to be like in the UK, especially
multiple lane system. It was being an former British colony,
my first experience driving
abroad, and with English
signs and right-hand drive I
thought how hard could it be.
Driving itself was fine, but it
did take some time to get used
to having cars criss-crossing
and overtaking
from both sides,
the frequent
intersections and,
dare I say, almost
draconian speed
limits. I didn’t
see any rules in
force that suggested drivers
should ‘keep left except
for overtaking’ and would
regularly come up against a
rolling roadblock of cars all
doing the same speed. And
braking distances - I don’t


perfect car. Familiar and fun. think it’s ever been mentioned
Lighthouses dotted the coast
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and offered great views. 101
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Views to the Gold Coast but unlike New Zealand, Australia
and beyond... looked to the Americans as inspiration
in breaking away from the British rule
- a rebellion of sorts (like doing the
opposite of what your parents tell you
to do). And as such you could spot a
lot of American influences, even in
simple things like road signs.
As with most things though, once
you’ve had time to adjust it quickly
becomes second nature, and before
long we were taking in some dusty
backroads.
Snorkelling
Our first trip was about two hours
south to Byron Bay where we went
snorkelling. Having never done it
before, we were kitted out in wetsuits
and sent for laps in the local hotel
swimming pool as guests watched
on whilst eating their breakfast. How
Kookaburra

The road home was a twisty
102 love:mini one - perfect for the MINI.
 The sign we’d all
been waiting to see.
embarassing. After sussing it out we
headed out to the beach to help launch
the boat which would take us 2km out
from the shore to Julian Rocks.
The conditions were perfect and
once in the water we saw puffer fish,
leopard sharks and lots of reef fish
too, it was truly amazing - despite
swallowing an unhealthy amount of
salty sea water!
The next day we set off to Tamborine
Mountain for some amazing views
out to the coast and inland. Stopping
at a botanical garden - which seem
to be everywhere - we soaked up the
atmosphere and tranquility of the
wildlife and lucious surroundings
before enjoying the twisty mountain
roads home.
Having driven the Cooper D for a
couple of days at this point, I was
finding that for a diesel car it lacked
A deserted botanical garden
Play areas are everywhere
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Brett’s MINI

the grunt and torque in the

low rev range you’d expect
from a diesel. It did have had arranged to meet up
six gears, and is supposedly with fellow MINI owner Brett
designed so it can be driven the envy of some of his fellow
Nosse, who had travelled just
like a petrol MINI, but it is enthusiasts.
a few inches on the Australian
almost etched map - but a
in stone that Competitive
Back in the pits
Brett signing on good six hour
diesels are drive - to come To make the most of his
torquey, and this
Brett accusing me
and see me lengthy journey we decided
one just wasn’t. and join in the to go karting. Two 8-minute
Nevertheless,
of ramming him
Mini run the sessions for $30-odd bucks
it was a fine next day. Brett wasn’t bad and again the
machine and is fortunate weather hadn’t let us down.
served us well., enough to have bought the reg Kitted up and briefed we set
covering over 1600km in plate ‘MINI’ for his car, and off and I set about finding my
a week - almost supersedes what I thought was line. I found one and stuck to
doubling the a cool ‘MINI 92’ on my loan it, but it hacked off some of
mileage on the car. He tells me he’s also just the more experienced racers
odometer. bought the ‘Cooper S’ plate for who were almost
On Saturday I his classic, so is very much queuing up behind

Doing the Burnley

Good to go kick some ass!
massive proud.


One of the two karting tracks

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at Kingston Park Raceway. 103
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up for the run, and with some cool accessories.
a way past. Time Just check out those MB wheels.
up, and my arms
were a little achey, but
I was just getting into it. Brett
and I checked times only to
discover I’d only clocked up
two laps. What? It turns out
the transponder on the kart
was faulty, so all eyes were on
the next session.
The ‘pros’ had gone off and Inside!
this left us racing similarly
experienced people. After
chatting to the friendly
staff we got put onto a
double session - 16 minutes.
I started at the back with
Brett in front of me. I
was feeling good and the
rivalry was hotting up as we
exchanged fierce words.
Finding an improved line
almost instantly I was using
the brake a lot less and flying
through corners at full throttle,
teetering on the edge of the
Car 26, a Morris Cooper S, was our car
tyres’ traction. Buzzing round
of the day. It actually ran in the 1970
the track I was overtaking Bathurst race, driven by Lynne Keefe and
everyone, cutting inside at the
corners and battling against
 Arthur Olsen, finishing 36th.

the sideways slide.

Ahead I saw Brett on the
long straight, with a corner
coming up that I take tightly
and others go wide. Braking
late I cut inside and he
swerved off into the tyres,
cursing as I sped off to take
first place. I was overjoyed.
Back in the pit we joked as
he accusing me of ramming
him, but we’d had fun and set
off in good spirits ready for
the early start the next day.

Bowden’s Own
The Mini Club Queensland
Inc. had arranged a run while
I was in Australia and so I
asked to tag along. The trip
was about 100km north of
Brisbane to Buderim and a
famous car collection
called Bowden’s Own.
It’s a family collection
started over 35 years ago
in order to preserve some

104 love:mini

I met up with some
other Mini friends
for dinner...
of Australia’s most prestigious
race cars. The collection
now boasts over 80 cars and
include Australian driving
legend Allan Moffat’s 1972
Touring Car Championship-
winning Ford Falcoln GTHO
Phase III, Peter ‘Brocky’
Brock’s 1978 Holden LX Torana
SS A9X, and Dick Johnson’s
1982 Ford XD Falcon named
‘Tru-Blu’. The three-hour tour
and talk by Dan Bowden
explored all the history of
these cars, as well as some
great stories and anecdotes
of the rivalry between drivers
and manufacturers at the
time.
The garage has also started
producing their own car
cleaning products after years
of research and unsatisfactory
results with other brands.
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The run itself was a simple
affair up the motorway, but
it was interesting to see how Allan Moffat’s
well kept the classic Minis 1969 Ford
were. Of course rust isn’t so Mustang
much of an issue with the hot
climate, and I doubt many, of
the 30 or so, are daily drivers,
but you could tell from the
likes of MB Wheels, perfect
sprayjobs and immaculate • Australian historical car
engine bays that a lot of love collection
had been lavished on this little • Premium car care products
lot. We were even graced with
• Buderim, Queensland, Australia
a former Bathurst Mini that
competed in the great race in • www.bowdensown.com.au
1970. And all too soon it was
time to go.
Dan Bowden regaled the
That evening Brett and I
met up with some other Mini
friends (Jess, Kirsten and
crowd with racing stories
Mitchell) for dinner at the best
 And here’s a garage most of
us wouldn’t mind owning.
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steakhouse in Brisbane. It was found our camera Lunchtime

nice to be able to sit and have
a decent chat to some new
people rather than the usual
fleeting conversation, although
I did think $27 just for a steak
(no chips) was bit steep.
Zoo days
Australia Zoo was our last
big hit of the week, but when
we arrived on Monday we
Finally, a mouth bigger than mine!
One of the
Glasshouse
Mountains.
106 love:mini
had packed in,
so rather than
miss out on some memories,
we headed to the beach
for the day where we built
sandcastles and tried to bury
my daughter up to her waist -
but she was having none of it!
Tuesday then, and the zoo.
I’m a big fan of Steve Irwin
and it was great to visit the
place he loved so much. The
animals looked so happy and
the enclosures were larger
than some UK housing plots.
It was at the arena show
where they got up close and
personal with the crocs - “This
is what you don’t do to a
croc... (splash splash)” - that it
became particularly poignant
though, with flashbacks on
the big screen of Steve, his
passion and his infectious
personality. He will be sorely
missed.
After the show we took the
opportunity to buy a photo
posing with a koala - well
how often is that going to
happen? They also do shots
with other animals including
a tiger! But it must have been
his day off when we went.
In the kangaroo enclosure
we were expecting to see
maybe a few bouncing around
in the trees away from the
walkway, but far from it.
Some $2 kangaroo food and
a walk into the sunshine
found a whole gang of them
sunbathing on the grass. A
bit cautious I approached one
with some food, who spritely
jumped to his feet and had
a little feed. Amazing, I was
feeding a kangaroo.
As the day came to a close
we headed home, stopping off
at the Glasshouse Mountains
- narrowly avoiding a wild
’roo on the way. These large
uprisings out of the ground
are actually formed from
volcanic lava. At one time
the ground level of the area
was the same as at the peak
of the mountains, but years
of erosion of the surrounding
land has exposed them,
creating these amazing rocks.
That concluded our MINI
tour of the Brisbane area, but
it’s fair to say that there was
still a lot more to see and do!
A special thanks must go to
Coastline MINI, who, without
their help, most of this
wouldn’t have been possible. If
you ever want to buy a MINI
in Australia these are the
chaps to talk to.
Coastline MINI
Sunshine coast
dealership delivers a
ray of light to
new customers.

J
ust 100km up the coast
from Brisbane is where you
will find Coastline MINI
garage, in the Sunshine Coast
town of Caloundra.
Situated on one of the
main roads leading into the
beachside resort, nestled in
amongst a host of other car
dealerships, Coastline MINI
dominates the road with three
MINIs peering over the balcony
to be seen from all around.
In a purpose-built, stylish and
modern building, it’s impressive
glass structure houses an
award-winning team of around
60 professionals that can sell,
service or part-exchange a
MINI, as well as providing top
quality customer service from
the moment you step through
the door. Such excellence has
led Coastline MINI to become
the No.1 BMW dealership in
Australia.
I spoke to Ryan McCabe
and Karen Moye about the
dealership and brand. With
prices for a base model costing
around $37,500 (and up to $65k
for a Clubman JCW), it’s no
She served
us well.
surprise the country is
dominated by cheaper
Asian cars. With European
cars seen as a luxury over
practical Utes, both Ryan
and Karen see how the
MINI is still quirky and fun
enough to appeal to both
the older generation, who
remember the classic, and
the young who can relate
to the whole brand image.
And their secret weapon
to convince customers to
forget about the price tag
- a test drive!
With finance deals to suit
all, there’s no reason why
more of Australia couldn’t
be having more fun driving
on those dusty backroads.

Coastline BMW
• MINI/BMW sales
• MINI/BMW servicing
• Part exchange available
• No.1 BMW dealer in Australia
• Award-winning customer service
• Nicklin Way, Caloundra, Queensland
• www.coastline.bmw.com.au

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 The
Business
Getting to know your Mini vendors •
Services
Tuning
• Repairs
• Engine building
• Servicing

Bill Richards Racing

After working with the best at BMC Special
Tuning, BRR continues with the same ethos.

W
e are a small, friendly
company dedicated to
building and tuning
mainly BMC/A-Series engines for
all forms of motorsport and road
use.
As well as building ‘one-off’
projects, we also service, repair
and provide TLC for everyday
road Minis.
Bill Richards served his engines for other marques
apprenticeship at the world including MG, Triumph, Austin
famous BMC Special Tuning Healey and Ford.
Division, before setting up Bill We offer a bespoke service
Richards Racing which moved to in which the engine and car
its present Ashford (Kent) home preparation will be matched
in the 1980s. precisely to your needs. Whether
Bill began racing in 1976 and this be racing (Sevens, Miglias,
continues to race his two self- modified or historic saloons,
prepared Minis and iconic space Mighty Minis, Minicross or
frame Metro with great success. grasstrack, rallying, historic,
Although Minis are our contemporary, stage or road)
speciality, we also prepare sprinting, hillclimbing, track

108 love:mini

Bill Richards
Racing Team
Clubman
Our self-built and prepared
Clubman will once
again compete in the
Dunlop Motorsport News
Championship (a championship
which it has won outright
in previous years). This is a
modified saloon championship,
which although mainly
southeast based also visits
Thruxton, Snetterton,
Silverstone and Mallory Park.
The field contains an eclectic
days or standard/fast road
use.
Bill has a unique customer
service philosophy, he
encourages customers to get
involved with the building of
their engines and if possible,
to spend a day with us at our
workshop to observe their
engine being engineered and
built.
We do not supply DIY
engine kits or bolt-on tuning
parts, and will not fit a tuned
engine into an unsafe car.
As well as our UK
mix of machines including
Nissan Skylines, various
marks of Ford Escorts, SEATS,
Peugeots, Renaults etc.
Our Mini is powered by a
1480cc 16v twin cam KAD
unit. As the head is ‘non-
standard’ the car is subject to
a 50% capacity multiplication
moving last year’s Class D
customers we have many
customers and friends in the
USA and Europe. Our engines
can be shipped worldwide,
and if circumstances permit
Bill will supervise their
installation and setup.
Champion into Class C.
Metro
Our Metro (a Maguire Mini
spaceframe ‘wearing’ a
Metro body) is undergoing
a further year of test and
development following the
installation of her 300bhp 2ltr
Ford Duratec.
She will compete in the
SEMSEC Sports and Saloon
Championship. This unique
championship is mainly
based at Lydden Hill and
Brands Hatch and provides a
competitive ‘home’ for Special
GT cars, Special Saloons,
Modified Saloons and Sports
Cars.
Tintop
Our Tintop Mini fulfils many
roles within the team: test
car, racecar stand in, track
day car, rental car and
promotional/show car.
In the past she has also
competed in the BARC Tintop
Championship and regularly
stars at the Lydden Hill BHP
shows.
CONTACT
Business
Profile
Do you run a
Mini-related
business?
Contact us for
your free DPS
profile and let
our readers
know what
you’re about, Bill Richards Racing
and what Unit 24, Ellingham Ind. Estate
services you Ashford, Kent, UK
offer. TN23 6NF
+44 (0)1233 624336
editor@love-  bill.richardsracing@btconnect.com
mini.co.uk
www.billrichardsracing.com
love:mini 109
 Gear
classic
Bits and pieces for your ^Mini

om bonnets
Total Paintworks Cust
o.u k
w w w.totalpai ntwork s.c
From £370
le bit dif ferent
Wa nt someth ing that litt
from the crowd?
to set your M in i apar t
t notice the cu stom
Well, you ca n’t help bu
works with their
bonnets from Total Pa int
or porated into the
M in i lights ca ref ul ly inc
nels.
steel and fibreglass pa
Ma nu factu red by we ldi ng in tu nnels
lights,
profil ing and adding the
into the bonnet before dle ss
na l creativity are en
the possibi lities for perso
o available.
with bespoke desig n als

Rear
lights
are also
available.

itg Megaflow Air Filterwww.

www.itgairfilters.com
From £49
Air filter specialist ITG has designed
this Megaflow air filter specially for
classic Minis equipped with an SU HS4
carburettor.
The filter has a special wedge shape to
clear the bulkhead on classic Minis using
a single SU carb and can be supplied
with a baseplate to suit any SU.
ITG’s unique flame retardant Tri-Foam
system promises that the Megaflow filter
will last at least four times as long as the
MSX Crossflow Cylinder Head equivalent standard filter and cleaning at
www.webcon.co.uk service intervals will not be required.
From £949
Carburretor specialists, Webcon, are throwing
their hat into the aluminium cylinder head ring,
with its own crossflow item.
The heads are manufactured to the exacting
standards expected of a Webcon product, and are
up to 75% lighter than the original cast iron units
thanks to the use of LM25 aluminium.
The new head is designed to flow up to
25% more efficiently, offering full crossflow
characteristics. It also features silicon bronze
valve guides and is designed for use with Weber
DCOE carburettors or throttle bodies using the
same fitment pattern.

110 love:mini
 Rear Coil-over Subframe
www.minimania.com
From $1195
It’s a bit pricey, but this replacement item for the rear
subframe from Mini Mania, looks way cool. It consists of
a beam axle, with anti-sway bars, coil-over dampers and
lightweight radius arms with adjustable camber and toe
alignment, plus ride height adjustment. No wonder they
claim it is the ultimate rear suspension for the classic Mini.

Revotec Cooling Fans
www.burtonpower.com
From £46.95
Burton Power is now stocking Revotec’s cooling
fan range, ideal for extra heat dissipation on a
hot engine or as a replacement item on models
with auxillary electric fans. These universal
items are available in either Slim Line (just
52mm thick) or High Power (63mm thick)
versions. Brackets and loom connections subject
to an additional fee.
Thermostat Housing
Fitting Kit
www.minispares.com
£3.94
As part of a new range of fitting kits,
Mini Spares has launched the Thermostat
Housing Fitting Kit, suitable for all single
tier thermostat housings. As with all the kits
in the range, it will include all the fixings,
gaskets, bolts, washers and studs needed to
carry out the service procedure.
In most cases the kits will be made up from
genuine Rover components with reproduction
parts only used when genuine items are no
longer available.
love:mini 111
 Gear
new
Bits and pieces for your ^Mini

Mi1 Wheel/Tyre Package

www.ac-schnitzer.co.uk
£1369
Looking for a new set of wheels? Well
AC Schnitzer have a superb wheel/
tyre set offer available at the moment
and you stand to save a massive £553
on a complete wheel and tyre set.
Made from lightweight alloy the
cool five-spoke 17-inch wheels
come with tyres already mounted
and balanced and includes theft

GAZ adjustable SUSPENSION KIT

protection and an emergency tyre
inflator kit, where applicable.
ww w.gazshocks.com The Mi1 package is suitable for
£584.32 +VAT all R50 and R56 MINIs whether
If you’ve already been hatchback, convertible or Clubman.
toy ing wit h the power
out put of you r MIN I, then
it’s wor th investing in some
uprated suspen sion, and
special ists Gaz have just the
kit.
Suitable for all MIN Is from
2002-on, it has been specifically
designed for road use wit h the
occasional track day in mind, and
d
comes wit h adju stable nickel-plate
w
dampers wit h coilover struts to allo
the ride height to be adju sted by
between -25 and -65mm.
Alternative spr ing rates are
ava ilable, as wel l as a ‘Gold’ kit for
more serious track use.

Piper
Wilko R/C MINI performance exhaust
www.wilkinsonplus.com www.piperexhausts.co.uk
£6.58 £385 +VAT
While out and about around town, doing The coolest turbocharged
non-Mini related activities, I spotted this little MINIs around use these 2.5-inch diameter
box of fun at Wilkinsons. exhausts in the MINI CHALLENGE, and now you
At just under £7 it’s not likely to last could too. Available from Piper Exhausts, the single
forever, but it’s cheap enough to be worth a and twin systems are completely street legal and
punt if you’ve not already will pass MoT emissions tests when used with
got an R/C Mini. Or it either a Piper downpipe and SportsCAT or original
could be a nice factory cat. More importantly, you could see a 14
cheap gift! bhp increase as well as looking supercool like
those in the MINI CHALLENGE.
112 love:mini
TOOLBOX Elbow
Essential equipment
Grease
Givin’ it
r some hard graft
Paint Thickness Teste
Kamasa Combination
Spanner Set
£70.42 www.gunson.co.uk
£7.99
www.kamasa.co.uk CYBER CLEAN
Kamasa’s Combination Spanners Check for paintwork
www.cyberclean.net
have been on the market for over quality and filler.
30 years and they now thought
From £4.99
it time to bring out a new one. Cyber Clean
Using the same quality is a new
of highly polished Chrome revolutionary
Vanadium, the full
cleaning material for around
sizes range from 6mm
to 32mm. A hanging the car and home. Working in
blow mould case much the same principle as
completes the set. Blu-Tack, it can mould itself into
all the nooks and crannies other
cleaners cannot. As well as
collecting dirt, dust and grime,
Save-A-Battery
it features a disinfectant action
Charger and
to kill germs too.
Maintainer
£59.95
www.nimbusmotorsport.com
This compact charger from the US AUTOGLYM SURFACE
claims to be one of the best with DETAILING CLAY KIT
intelligent microprocessor tech that £24.99
will optimise and monitor your www.autoglym.com
Kamasa Handy Socket and Bit Driver Set car’s battery.
£12.57 With a fast charge time,
The latest kit designed to get
www.kamasa.co.uk connectors to 12v fag lighter and the best shine from your car’s
This handy socket and driver set is perfect for domestic plugs, the charger will paintwork is this clay kit from
keeping in the car for those roadside fixes. also tell you if your battery is too Autoglym.
dead to be revived.
With a magnetic quick chuck and a host of By using its specially
Metric and Imperial sizes, plus a number of formulated clay bar and Rapid
screw bits, this all-in-one package could be
Detailer you can remove that
a lifesaver for both classic and MINI owners
- and at an excellent price too. invisible layer of ‘fallout’ from
the atmosphere which can
build up on paintwork and
impair your car’s shine. Comes
40
00 with polish, two cloths, Rapid
r e mel 9.99 k er
D £8 l.co.u Driv
Detailer and Clay bar.
From .dreme m p act
I
www ss
ordle
k it aC
Ma -ish m Kit
0 a.co ctor
£8 .makit o nne
C
www al
ctric
o n Ele
s
Gun .co.u
k
£!5 .gunson
ww w

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WORKSHOP
Showing you how it is really done.

DIY TECH I
Objective Bleeding the classic
Bleed all of the air out
of the classic Mini’s Mini’s brakes by Craig McBeth
brake system.
Disc-braked dual circuit type later Mini.
Tools
• 2x 7/16” AF
(11mm) spanners Bleeding the brakes is an essential most popular way to do this job on
• 5/16” AF (7mm) part of the maintenance required your own. Available for about £25
socket/spanner to keep your classic Mini on - or cheaper if you shop around
• Catch tray the road. Usually it would be a - we recommend every classic
• Eezibleed kit (or two-person job, with one person owner has such a kit. It will make
assistant) pumping the brake pedal while bleeding the brakes a lot easier,
• Air pressure the other adjusts the bleed nipple and when it comes to the brakes,
gauge (footpump) - however, the Eezibleed kit from you don’t want to be risking
Gunson is by far the easiest, and anything.
Time
30 minutes
PREP: You will need to Remove both front are accessible from
Difficulty chock the back wheels wheels, this gives you underneath the rear
2/10 of the Mini and jack easy access to both of the car without the
up the front end and front brake callipers. need for jacking if
Cost place it on axle stands. The rear bleed nipples necessary. Open and
£24.99 prop the bonnet up for

1
access to the Brake
website
www.gunson.co.uk/
Master Cylinder.
item.aspx?cat=674&
item=1818

Alternative method
1. Unpack the
Eezibleed kit.
Inside you will find
Ask a friend to pump various-sized caps. Find
the pedal, but you the one that fits your
will need to watch brake fluid reservoir.
the brake reservior You will need to detatch
for fluid running out the spade connectors
more often.
fitted to the brake fluid
reservoir cap before
removing it.

2. Once you have

identified the
correct-sized cap from
the kit, you need to

114 love:mini
 6. Run the black air hose from the
bottle cap to the air valve on the
tyre. The air pressure from the tyre acts
in the same way as pressing the brake
pedal, applying constant pressure to the
brake fluid in the system.
This constant pressure helps push any
trapped air bubbles through the
brake pipes where we will now
release it.
The Mini we are using uses a
dual brake line system. You can

2
identify this because there are
two brake lines coming out of the
brake master cylinder, just under

6
the brake fluid reservoir.
assemble the
There are also two types of

5
kit.
dual line system, this is the
The brass
later one, from 1985 onwards.
union with the
When bleeding the brakes
clear pipe fits
you should bleed each
into the hole
wheel in a particular order.
in the cap lid.
Once poking
through the
hole, fit the
washer included 4
in the kit and
then the other
half of the union.
Tighten this
moderately with
two 7/16” (11mm)
spanners/sockets

3. Next you need to fill up the bottle

with brake fluid and fit the cap.
This acts as an extra reservoir.

4. Fit the other cap to the brake fluid

reservoir and find somewhere to
lightly wedge the bottle in. I wedged
mine between the brake fluid reservoir
and the engine steady, perched on the
clutch cover.

5. Once all the caps are tightly done up

you need to get one of the wheels 3
you have removed and place it at the
front of the car. Using a foot pump, or
pressure gauge, let some air out of the
tyre until the pressure reaches 20psi.

love:mini 115
 BLEEDING BRAKES
For the late dual line system the order

7
should be: passenger rear, driver rear,
passenger front, driver front.
The general rule of thumb is to start
with the wheel furthest away from where
the brake fluid begins, and work your
way back towards it. For alternative
brake systems refer to Haynes manual.
You can either jack up the rear and do
the rear wheels first and then jack up
the front and do the front ones, or place
the whole car on axle stands.

7. Place a drip tray underneath the

first wheel, and, using a 5/16” AF
or 7mm spanner/socket, slowly undo the
bleed nipple. As fluid begins to flow,
ensure the drip tray is catching the
fluid. Open up the nipple further and
watch the fluid as it pours out. Look for
any bubbles of air in the fluid. This will
be noticible in the flow of the fluid. If
it stutters or the flow is not constant,
there is air still in the system. Keep the
bleed nipple open until the flow of fluid
is constant and uninterrupted. Allow
the fluid to flow for as long as necessary
until you are satisfied the fluid flow is
constant. When you see this, nip up the
bleed nipple.

At this stage, go back to the engine

bay and check to see how much fluid
is left in the bottle. If it is needing a
top-up, remember to disconnect the air
pipe from the tyre before unscrewing the
bottle cap. Top up the fluid, replace the
cap and reconnect the air pipe to the tyre.

Repeat step 6 for the other rear wheel.

8. Once the rear wheels have been

bled, again, check the bottle and top
up if necessary. Then move the drip tray
to the passenger side front wheel. Using
a 7/16” AF or 11mm socket/spanner,
slowly undo the bleed nipple. Fluid is
likely to leak down the calliper here so
try and be prepared. Alternatively, we
made a funnel from the top of an old
bottle to help direct the fluid. You can
also use a bit of piping or rubber tube if

116 love:mini
 you can find the right size.
Again, watch the fluid for a consistent
and constant flow, and then close the
bleed nipple.
Repeat this for the driver’s side calliper.

9. When all the wheels have been bled

go and disconnect the Eezibleed
kit. Remember to detatch the air pipe
from the wheel first. Then unscrew
the bottle cap and place the bottle to
one side. Then remove the brake fluid
reservoir cap. Place the original brake

8
fluid reservoir cap on and go and test
the brake pedal. Ideally the brake pedal
should feel stiff with little travel. If you
find the pedal moves significantly, or
you have to pump the pedal to get any
pressure in the pedal, you will need
to go through the whole process again
until the pedal travel is minimal.
It is also worth noting that the seals
in the brake master cylinder can perish,
causing air leaks into the system. This
can also make the brakes feel ‘spongy’.

9
Check this by watching for air bubbles
in the brake fluid reservoir (with the cap
still on) whilst pressing the brake pedal.

10. Once you are happy with the

feel of the brake pedal, check to
ensure the bleed nipples are tightened
(not too much), and replace the spade
connectors on the brake fluid reservoir
cap. These connectors will illuminate a
button on the switch dashboard if the
brake fluid runs too low
- but really you should

10
check this every now and
again and before long
journeys.

Haynes ref:
Sec 6.2; 9.2

love:mini 117
 Submit your articles

WORKSHOP
Showing you how it is really done.

dIy TecH II
Replacing the numberplate
light housing by Pete Parmiter

This is a very simple job to do and only requires a Objective

screwdriver. At Castle Combe I picked up a silver light Change the
housing for my silver Equinox to replace my boring black one. numberplate
Here’s how I fitted it. housing on a
later Mini.

1 1. Start by unscrewing the

four screws holding the
lights in place - two on each
Tools
• Phillips
light. This will make it easier screwdriver
when removing the housing. • Replacement
light housing

2. Move in to the boot

and unscrew the three
screws holding the housing
Time
10 minutes
in place. Make sure to hold
Difficulty
the old housing with your 1/10
other hand so it doesn’t drop
off, taking the lights with it. Cost
About £10 new

3. Pull away the rubber

surround and gently
take the lights out, the
old housing can now be

4
discarded, the new housing
can now be fitted start by
re-attaching the lights then
the screws in the boot.

2 4. And it should look

something like this.
There we go, a new light
housing fitted
in the space of

3
five minutes
and it looks
much better
than the old
one.

118 love:mini
HELP US - HELP OTHERS - HELP US - HELP OTHERS

WORKSHOP
Got a job to do on your Mini?
Send us some photos and a step-
by-step guide to help others.

Guides
les
subm it your artic

WORKSHOP
love:mini is all about getting
is really done.
involved and helping others.
Showing you how it
Not wor
king! So next time you’re out doing
Diagnostic a job on your Mini, why not
Indicator fa ilu re take some pics along the way
WORKSHOP
1991 Carb’d Subm it your articl
by Craig McBeth
Mini
es

and send them in with some

into the
th e sItuAtiOrsndon’t activate when the indi
d
r stal k is switche
PROBLEM the Min i’s indicato
e’s how we diag nose
Shcato
owin g edie
you dhowit. it is rea
d the fault and rem lly done. simple steps.
Indicators have ‘on’ position. her
dIy TecH III single bulb not flas
hed
stopped working
Ch eCk
then we wou
beg un our investig
ld hav e
ation And if you really want
TOOLs
th e fuse 35a mp
the
there - checking
none
In our case the
fuse for the indicato
rs,
Upgrade your ear wir ing, socket
ly spec
and bulb.
to show off your skills and
TiME TO fix MINI door checkhAs An ythI ng
30 minutes
and also the brak
lights, had blow n.
e

and
by Andy Simpson
straps
Ch Anged? roughly
knowledge, why not offer
After replacing it
DifficuLTy
1/10
activati ng the indi
it blew aga in. A blow
is acce
cato
n
ptable,
rs,
A s new models get
components you
‘old’ model spruced
rec
updated with impr
ently we had
fitted aoved
might find you wan
Min
stereo to the
checkious
t yourhad obv
i, and
lys with later ones.
strap
something a little more taxing.
fuse onc e up with some new Removaleof the door
cOsT som
been play ing with
lem too. er bits panel is also requ
but twice is a prob
Here we look at replacing changing door hand ired for
was
hAzA rd
£5-£6 early style it les and front spea
ating. wires. doorIn this case kers.
that needs investig see if
Because the indi cato rs
WA rn Ing LIght wor th look ing to

Diagnostic
Obje
ALTERnATivE use
ctive
there were any exp
osed
and brake llights Replace early specswitch in
METhOD
use a multimeter
the same fuse, whe
new
n we MIN
fuse we strap
flipI ping
ours case
this
door check vated all
acti
with later ectl y.
wires or con nection
that were cau sing
a
s
1. You need to remo
ve the
door panel. Hold ing
the
test ed each s ning ligh ts corr door panel to the
and follow the rs war
item
foun d ther e frames are

Had trouble diagnosing a

cato t. We
activated the indi this esta blished
that all shor four T30 Torx screws
current with the as either WHY e a couple of possibleclips.
and some
l and brake lights indicato r bulb s wer e wer
indicators on unti cau sing Smoo the
culprits and duly
covered
cou ld have been
ther door
you find the fault . so the bulbs
the problem.
open
morewer
ingking
wor action and
not at fault. had
e ctive
attra
a them with insu latin
g
2. Using a sma ll flat-
screwdr iver, remo
door hand le surround ve the
head
niggling issue? We will go
that might by pryi ng
ut any wiring jobs
tOOls it off where the two
k abo
through the steps of sourcing
Thin
T30 Torx
insulation
circles
blown. For screw
caused a short. Use
driver meet, or in the midd
to see if they have haveladed
Smal l flat-b le of the
Check your fuses ls wire s. long side of the surr
el, the top fuse had blown, which dea screwdriver
tape to cover any exp ose d ound.
my mod Larde flat-b
and brake lights.
the problem and how to rectify
laded
with the indicators
screwdriver

2
Dremel-type tool
or
drill with bits

time
20 minutes it with you.
DifficultY
2/10

AlternAtive metH

Fixxer
OD
N/A

cOst
About £20 each side

184 love:mini
Got a burning
186 love:mini
question or

? SUBMIT
technical

Tech
Want to see a specfic article? issue?
Tell us and we’ll do our best! Send it in

articles
and we’ll
answer it.
All our tech articles are checked by
various experienced Mini enthusiasts

love:mini 119
 Submit your articles

WORKSHOP
Showing you how it is really done.

dIy TecH III

Upgrade your early spec

MINI door check straps
by Andy Simpson

A s new models get updated with improved

components you might find you want your
‘old’ model spruced up with some newer bits
too. Here we look at replacing early-style door
check straps with later ones.
Removal of the door panel is also required
for changing door handles and front speakers
if you want to do combine a few jobs.

Objective
Replace early spec
1. You need to remove the
door panel. Holding the
door panel to the frames are
MINI door check
straps with later four T30 Torx screws and some
items clips.

WHY
Smoother door
opening action and
2. Using a small flat-head
screwdriver, remove the
door handle surround by prying
more attractive it off where the two circles
meet, or in the middle of the
Tools long side of the surround.
• T30 Torx
screwdriver
• Small flat-bladed

2
screwdriver
• Large flat-bladed
screwdriver
• Dremel-type tool
or drill with bits

Time
20 minutes

Difficulty
2/10

Cost
About £20 each side

120 love:mini
3. Next, with the small screwdriver,
very carefully pry out the reflector
at the other end of the door to reveal a 6
screw. Unscrew this.

4. Using a larger flat-bladed

screwdriver, slide it into the front of
the armrest to press a hidden tab and
release the bolster, exposing another
screw.

5. Remove the three other Torx screws

in the door bezel.

6. Using the large screwdriver, pry the

bottom of the door panel out and lift
8
it away.

7. 7
You need to remove the speaker.
Four Phillips screws hold it in place.

8. This will give you access to

drop the old checkstrap out
and put the new one in.

9. The rubber dustcover needs

9 10
to be lifted off the bolts on
the door.

10. Undo the two bolts

on the door and the
one on the A-post.
12. I used a Dremel tool to
enlarge the hole in the
door, to allow the new checkstrap
to fit through. Paint the bare

11. Now withdraw the

checkstrap out of the
speaker hole.
metal so it doesn’t rust. Refit the
three bolts, don’t forget to slide
the dustcover onto the checkstrap
before you bolt it in place.

11 13. Pop the dustcover

14
over the bolts and
clean up. Job done.

13 14. The new ones look a

lot stronger than the
old. They are a lot smoother
and the door seems
to move more
like a quality
car rather
than an old
banger.

love:mini 121
 Submit your articles

WORKSHOP
Showing you how it is really done.

Diagnostic Not workin

g!

1991 Carb’d Indicator failure

Mini by Craig McBeth

PROBLEM THE SITUATiON

Indicators have The Mini’s indicators don’t activate when the indicator stalk is switched into the
stopped working ‘on’ position. Here’s how we diagnosed the fault and remedied it.

Tools Check single bulb not flashed

then we would have
None the fuse begun our investigation
In our case the 35amp there - checking the
Time to fix fuse for the indicators, wiring, socket and bulb.
30 minutes and also the brake
lights, had blown.
Difficulty After replacing it and Has anything
1/10 activating the indicators, changed?
it blew again. A blown Recently we had roughly
Cost fuse once is acceptable, fitted a stereo to the
£5-£6 but twice is a problem Mini, and had obviously
that needs investigating. been playing with some
Alternative Because the indicators
Hazard
wires. In this case it was
method and brake lights use the Warning Light worth looking to see if
Use a multimeter same fuse, when we Flipping this switch in there were any exposed
and follow the tested each new fuse we our case activated all wires or connections
current with the activated the indicators warning lights correctly. that were causing a
indicators on until and brake lights as either This established that all short. We found there
you find the fault could have been causing the indicator bulbs were were a couple of possible
the problem. working. So the bulbs culprits and duly covered
were not at fault. Had a them with insulating

Check your fuses to see if they have blown. For Think about any wiring jobs that might
my model, the top fuse had blown, which deals have caused a short. Use insulation
with the indicators and brake lights. tape to cover any exposed wires.

122 love:mini
tape. A new fuse was
fitted and tested. The
Flasher unit behind the dash in its holder.
Flasher unit
fuse didn’t blow this Following the loom
time, but there were still through the bulkhead
no lights. it feeds into the area
behind the dials.
Loom Fortunately for me, my
Mini didn’t have a dash
inspection fitted at the time, so I
At this stage it is time could easily pull out the
to look for any physical dials to inspect behind
damage or shorting them.
along the wiring. Here the indicators
Looking in the engine feed into a small silver
sher unit.
bay inspecting the wires box (rectangular in this Front and back of the fla
and connections from case, but is also circular
car uses another
the indicators to the or black), this is the
flasher unit
main loom which feeds flasher unit. To check - for the hazard
into the bulkhead, there to see if this was the warning lights
was no obvious sign of problem we needed to - this could
damage or connection use another flasher unit. explain why the
issues. Again, fortunately this
Check all along the loom from the steering
column through the bulkhead to fusebox, and
from fusebox to indicators. Check for any
breaks or damage and do a ‘wiggle’ test.
hazards work, but not
the indicators.
This second flasher unit
is located in the engine
bay by the passenger
side bulkhead. Removing
this, after making note
of which wire connects
to which connector, I
replaced the dashboard
flasher unit with this
one. After trying the
indicators, everything
was working as it should
- problem solved. And
the culprit - a dodgy
flasher unit. A quick trip
to Somerford Mini and
£5 later and the hazards
were back wired up and
in working order.
e.
r unit in plac
New flashe

love:mini 123
 diary
Craig McBeth
T
here’s so much to
tell it’s hard to know
where to start.
Anyone who followed
my previous diaries in
Mini Magazine will have
probably got to the point
1991 Rover where it was all welded
Mini Cooper up and i was putting it all
Spec: Carburrettored back together last year.
1275cc A-Series It was slow progress, as
with Stage 1 kit, tends to be my way, but I
Falken Ze912 finally got the engine back
tyres. Standard
mechanicals.
in, wired up and the car
running thanks to some
Now named Bruce,
he has been in my
local friends, and in the
new year it was just a case
ownership since
2007 and was my
of fixing the few bits that
first car. would fail the MoT.
Bought for a Come MoT day and I
bargain with tax was bricking it. Imagine,
and MoT he needed three years of hard work,
serious welding to learning as you go along
get through the and this would be the
next test. culmination of whether
Friends from you had done it right
Wiltshire Avon Mini
or not. I was looking
Owners (WAMO)
to keep costs down so
helped out and the
mechanicals were found an online deal at a
rebuilt (except the Kwik Fit station that only
engine) before
finally passing a www.facebook.com/
retest in March 2010. cmcbeth
124 love:mini
Back on
the road
Three years after purchase, Bruce
finally hits the roads of the UK.
charged £35, rather than thought. Don’t fail me on
£54. The inspector took welding. I took time to
his time to check it over calm down a little and
while I waited nervously politely asked to speak
in the viewing gallery to the tester and we
observing his every move discussed the welding and
and mentally working out acceptable standards. He
what he is checking and was trying to tell me that
whether I had made sure it the outer sills had to be
was working. seam welder, rather than
All done and it spot welded. Not wanting
had failed. It wasn’t to be rude or get him
No, no, no, no , no, I
thought. Don’t fail
me on welding
completely unexpected, offside, I explained that
but disappointing. More the Minis were spotwelded
worringly though was like that originally. He said
what he had failed it on. he’d look in to it and I set
A few little jobs, like high off for the minor fixes. The
emissions and lightbeam retest was the next day - a
angles, but the one that Sunday would you believe.
almost stopped my heart The retest went fine, the
was the one questioning tester accepted the welding
the welding on the sills! and the Mini has been
No, no, no, no no, I working hard ever since.
www.love-mini.com www.facebook.com/loveminimag
http://loveminimag.blogspot.com

Bruce made it Brighton
and back without a hitch.
His first long-haul
trip. Good boy.
Anyone who says you can’t
use a classic Mini as a family
car has never tried, as I’m
happily fitting in my family of
four. Me, my wife, and Holly,
3, and Anekin, 1.
Catching up
In a quick round-up to bring
you up-to-date the Mini
has been excellent, and not
broken down once (thank
god), but there have been
issues - as you would expect.
A couple of days before
SNAP - the lower
damper arm pin
lodged in the
damper.
exchange surcharge of about
£40, however, once I took the
steering column off it was
clear that it was the teeth
on the column, not the rack
that were worn. Well, worn
is a bit of an understatement
- they were comepletely
absent. Looking at the price
for a new column I wasn’t
too happy, but then as ‘they’
say - eBay is your friend, and
I managed to get one for £15
including delivery.
Once arrived it took about
half an hour to fit and the
Mini felt like brand new with
its characteristic responsive
steering - something I had
obviously been fully missing
out on since the rebuild.
I’ve also been having
regular problems with a
wheel leaking air, so bought
a pair from a local guy,
hoping to solve the problem,
however one of these fails
to hold air too, so I’m
considering getting a can of
London to Brighton I had a
tyre weld and seeing if that
bottom damper arm pin snap
does the trick.
and had a mission to get that
As the winter has set in
fixed in time, the top engine
I had a little spin whilst
steady keeps rocking loose
exiting a roundabout a little
so I want to get an Ultimate
too fast, but no harm, no foul
Steady, now the water pump
and I’ll note that down as a
is leaking so I’m having to top
up the water before every trip
learning experience.
while I wait for a replacement,
and the clutch slave cylinder Torbay Minis found space for Bruce at
is knackered. I’ve managed to the Bristol Mini Day show.
overcome this temporarily by
bleeding the slave cyclinder
and topping up on fluid, and
that seems to work for a
couple of months.
More recently
though I was
experiencing some
play in the steering
wheel. I thought
this was a problem
with the rack and
possibly a couple of
teeth sheering off. I
got a reconditioned
rack from APB for
about £26, plus an
love:mini 125
 diary

Norman Nelson On the railroad run

Rolling with the Shasta Minis for a cruise,
evening booze and some awesome views.

T
his past summer well, so we reserved
we drove a caravan one so we could
of MINI/Minis to cook our smores
Penticton BC Canada for and marshmellows
Pooper Mini Meet West 2010. This over a campfire.
was a 2500-mile round trip Friday night we
& Pynt Syz and our Minis ran great. enjoyed dinner at the
2004 MINI Cooper S We are busy each month Railroad diner in the
1973 Mini Cooper
with runs throughout park. A very good
I am 59 years old, Northern California. meal! After dinner Our Minis parked in front
retired, living in We had our Railroad Park we headed to our spot of our cabooses.
Shasta in northern weekend, and this recently in the parking lot and
California, USA. I am we ran the mountain roads dragged out the chairs
married to Jesse. We outside of Oroville. and Karaoke machine
are the proud owners Once again the Mt and sang well into the
of two Minis and we
Shasta Minis were up night.
are baby-sitting a
to their old tricks. We Saturday morning started beach.
3rd named Kruezr for
three years. began our Railroad Park with a run up to Mt Shasta After our run and
Pooper is my Resort Run by checking for breakfast at the Black lunch we returned to
2004 MCS (R53) that into the park on Friday Bear Diner. That’s where the Railroad Park Resort
has been highly afternoon. This resort has we met up with several to hang-out at the pool,
modified. I drive converted Cabooses that other members. We then socialise, and sip a cool
it mostly for Mini were positioned around headed off to Dunsmuir beverage. Castle Crag
runs but I also take the grounds and pool and via back roads, stopping stands directly behind
it on track. Our spa. Each of us stayed for a short hike and visit the resort and provides
1973 Mini Cooper
in one and were able to to Hedge Creek Falls. Then spectacular scenic
is named “Pynt
pull our chairs into the it was off to to the Shasta background views. We all
Syz” and we have
stripped it down and parking lot for evening National Fish Hatchery, enjoyed the diner so much
removed all rust, and socials. There is camping and onto Lake Siskiyou for the night before that we
repainted. We added available at the resort as lunch and a visit to the decided to return again to
wheel fenders and
running boards and
www.facebook.com/ www.redwoodempiremini.com www.kaesminiclub.com/forums
a windup key.
norman.nelson1 www.moasf.com www.mondo-minis.com

126 love:mini
 The beautiful deep blue Siskiyou Lake.

Lunch
in D
on Fr unsmuir
iday w
it
the ga h
ng.

Jesse, Bob, and I

feeding the fish.

on Saturday night. Sitting directly along the

After dinner we pulled out cool Sacramento River the
our chairs and firewood and diner is a favourite spot for
headed to the campsite to MS-REME events. It’s easy to
tell spooky stories and roast hop on I-5 South for returning
marshmellows and smores. to the Sacramento or the bay
Sunday we departed the RR area.
Park and stopped at Penny’s The Subway Cave is not far
Diner for from the town
Parked up at the Sulfur Works
breakfast, of Old Station. at Lassn Volcanic Park.
then we could cook It’s a 1200ft-
continued long lava tube
on to SR- our smores over which formed
89 and a
drive for a campFIre around
something
a stop at around 30,000
Burney Falls. We hiked to years ago. That ‘something’
the far side of the falls and then drained away or
got some great views. After disappeared, leaving just the
about an hour we jumped hardened lava tube. Inside it
back into our Minis and is absolutely pitch black, so
headed off to Lassen Volcanic you’ll need a torch!
Further links
National Park with a visit to Finally we stopped at the www.waterfall
Subway Cave and dropping recently opened Kohm Yah- Overlooking Burney Falls. swest.com
down to the Riverside Bar & mah-nee visitor centre before www.ohranger.
Grill for dinner in Red Bluff. setting off for home. com/lassen-
volcanic/poi/kohm-
yah-mah-nee-
visitor-center
Lounging around the pool at the At the base of www.rrpark.com
Railroad Park Resort. Burney Falls. http://gocalifornia.
about.com/od/
californiapictures1/
ig/Lassen/Subway-
Cave.htm

Thanks to
The eerie
O2 Motorsports
Subway Cave. www.o2motor
sports.com
7 Enterprises
www.7ent.com
Mini Mania
www.mini
love:mini
mania.com
127
 diary

Donald flies again

After seven years off the road
the MkII is back.

Mark Gameson

W
ell, after seven
years off the road
- due to Dumbo,
my Downton, taking up
all my time and money - I
Donald have finally got Donald, my
MkII, back on the road.
& Dumbo
It all started back in
1969 MkII Super
May at Himley Hall. I
Deluxe | 1999 Downton
Sport Touring
had always said that the
only alloys I would ever
I’m 30, from fit to Donald would be a
Worcestershire, UK, set of Dunlop D1’s. Well, I
and have been in to found a nice set at Himley.
Minis since I was They needed refinishing
15/16 when I went to
but were nice and clean.
my first Mini meet.
Donald is an Island
Well I couldn’t not buy
Blue/Snowberry White them could I? This was
1969 Morris MkII the initial spark to get me
Super Deluxe and is thinking that it was time
my first Mini. I’ve to get him back on the
owned him since I was road. The second spark that
16. finally set the wheels in
Dumbo is an motion was deciding that
Almond Green/ we wanted to refresh the
Snowberry White
club website, this meant I
1999 Downton Sport
Touring. I have owned
needed to get some decent
him from new and is photos of Donald, so over
a genuine Downton the May Day bank holiday
- one of two models weekends I dug Donald
produced to celebrate
the Mini’s 40th www.facebook.com/
birthday. mark.gameson
out of his corner
in my parents
garage. After I
had given him a
DONALD
bit of a clean and
taken the photos I
put his battery on
charge for a while.
To my surprise
after turning over
a few times he
fired up!
That was the
final push I needed
to get Donald ready
for his first MoT in
some seven years.
The spring bank
holiday weekend saw
me and my brother
Paul check all the
vital bits for the
MoT and give it a
bit of service. With
the MoT booked
for the following the
Tuesday, at Car Care jobs sorted. While it was
Services Halesowen next to light and the roads quiet,
my works, surprisingly, it we decided to drop Donald
didn’t take too long to get off at the factory. As I
www.carryonminiin.co.uk www.nottsminiclub.co.uk
www.smallcarsbighearts.co.uk www.carcareservices.co.uk

128 love:mini

hadn’t driven him for seven
years I was imagining all
sorts of trouble on the 10-mile
journey, but to my surprise
the only issue I had was one
front drum was getting hot.
This soon cleared and I was
able to enjoy driving Donald,
who still has his original
Hyrdolastic suspension and
drums all round. It was quite
an experience after driving
Dumbo for so long, with front
discs and 4-pot callipers; and
our everyday car has discs
all round so you really do
have to think about when you
need to stop when driving
with drums.
To me and most of my
friends’ surprise Donald
passed! Since passing his
MoT I have used him locally
when the weather has been
The Notts MINI Club were
more than welcoming.
friendly. I had a great time with some
absolutely fantastic roads and made some
good friends too. Two days later saw Dumbo
heading down the M5 for his annual trip
down to North Devon to take part in The
Legendary Grand Tour organised by The
North Devon Mini Register. This, for me, is
Dumbo mixes it up
the event of the year - 250 Minis, 100s of
with the big boys.
drivers and passengers, three days, 1000s
of spectators, Minis and drivers/passengers
good. He also attended his in fancy dress raising money for a worthy
first show in eight years at cause - Children’s Hospice South West. This
Cannon Hill Park. My brother year’s event was made even better by the
Paul drove him as neither fact we had our own campsite. Both of these
of his Minis were working events are what Minis and MINIs are made
at the time. Future plans for for and thanks go to everyone involved in
Donald include getting those organising them.
Dunlop D1s refurbished and
fitting discs upfront. Beautiful countryside, beautiful roads,
Meanwhile, Dumbo has beautiful weather, beautiful Minis.
been enjoying going to
shows and the odd weekly
shopping run and has been
on two excellent Mini runs.
The first of these was
Nottinghamshire MINI
Club’s two-day invasion
of Wales. Being the only
classic on the run to say I
was slightly nervous about
the reception I would get
was an understatement.
Well I had no worries
there, everyone was really
Above: The closest most of us want
our Minis to get to saltwater.
Right: It’s for charridee mate
- give us your dosh.
love:mini 129
 love:mini merch
Get the hottest new threads. http://lovemini.spreadshirt.co.uk

50
Over 50
Styles!

130 love:mini
 know:mini
text intro
A
s one of the original
models launched in 2001,
the budget model MINI
One received a facelift like the
other MINI Hatches in November
2006. When released for sale
in January 2007 the refreshed
car featured a new Prince 1.4-
litre, 16v engine - a joint BMW/
Peugeot development - replacing
the Tritec/Chrysler unit. MINI
quotes this as producing 95bhp,
with fuel economy of 53.3mpg
and a top speed of 115mph. The
POWER: 95bhp @ 6000rpm
TORQUE: 140Nm @ 4000rpm
TOP SPEED: 115mph
FUEL ECONOMY: 53.3mpg
FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 40-litres
INSURANCE GROUP: 5E
LUGGAGE CAPACITY: 160-680 litres
OPTION PACKS: ‘Salt’ and ‘Pepper’
MINI ONE MKII
new engine was also rotated
180 degrees so that the exhaust
downpipes exited closer to the
front of the car, preventing a
heat build-up in the cabin.
Available in 11 colours with
a matching roof, the budget
emphasis on the MINI One
means a lot of elements are cost
options. However driving assists;
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
(including Hill Assist) and iGR
- Brake Energy Regeneration,
come as standard. As of 2008
all MINI models are fitted with
BMW’s EfficientDynamics fuel-
saving technology.
Other changes for the MKII
models include a racy start/stop
button replacing the ignition
key, all gearboxes changed
to six-speed auto or manual,
lengthened front end and
restyled ‘half’ grille, indicators
moved inside headlights, larger
boot capacity.
MINI One (2007-2011)
ENGINE: 1.4-litre, 16v
Prince
GEARBOX: Six-speed Getrag
ORIGINAL PRICE: £12,730
love:mini 131
 ‘SALT’ option pack
Floor Mats in Velour Front Fog Lights
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment On-Board Computer
Storage Compartment Pack Interior Lights Pack

Wheels
The MINI One comes with 15-inch steel
wheels with 175/65 R15 tyres as standard but
there are seven alloy options available from
the factory: 5-Star Spooler, 15-inch Rotator
Spoke, 16-inch 5-Star Blaster,16-inch Bridge
Spoke, 17-inch Crown Spoke, 17-inch Flame
Spoke, 17-inch Web Spoke.

Grille Lights
The MkII MINI grille Along with the restyle, the
has been redesigned indicators were moved to
and on the MINI sit inside the headlamp.
One comes with a The headlight unit is
chrome surround and now also fixed to the body
black centre, Below leaving an aperture in the
the bumper is a bonnet when opened. The
secondary grille. wheel arches are also now
The MkII also has fixed in place.
an extended front
end to offer extre
pedestrian protection.

132 love:mini
 Rear end
The rear light cluster has been
enlarged with the new look of the
back end.
An extra 10-litres of boot
capacity has been engineered and
a third brake light at the top of
the rear window is also added.
The MINI One’s exhaust pipe is
very low-key and not very fancy.

‘PEPPER’ option pack

Leather Steering Wheel Heated Mirrors and Windscreen Washer Jets
Chrome Line Exterior On-Board Computer
Floor Mats in Velour Interior Lights Pack
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment 15-inch 5 Star Spooler Light Alloy Wheels
Storage Compartment Pack Basic Bluetooth Function with USB Audio
Front Fog Lights

love:mini 133

Interior
The MINI One is fitted with
cloth upholstery as standard,
and a black and silver trim
finish. The driver’s pedals
have been spaced further
apart in the MkII and the
footwell lights help to find
dropped items.
Air conditioning, airbags,
134 love:mini
Dashboard
MINI One’s dashboard is still
pretty well equipped despite not
being as flash as other models.
The leather/wood steering
wheel is multifunctional and now
adjustable in both rake and reach.
A rev counter with digital speedo
sits behind the wheel and the radio
includes an MP3 compatible CD
player.
Driver Stability Control (DSC)
helps assist with hills by keeping
the brake applied for two seconds
after being released.
ABS, alarm, central locking,
electric windows, immobiliser
and SPA Switch Point Display
all come as standard.
The rear window comes
fitted with a wiper and washer,
and is heated too. Tinted glass
helps reduce glare, and a
stop/start button replaces the
ignition key.
love:mini challenge No.1 60 SMITHS

Driving fun in the spirit of the Mini

0

10-60mph
The challenge
No.1

• Starting at a
rolling 10mph,
reach 60mph in
the quickest time
possible.

The rules

• Timing must
start from when
What is it? travelling at 10mph
DISCLAIMER • Use a witness to
Safety is paramount M ost of us are a
bit competitive,
so in the name
better than your
mates, or anyone else
in the community
time the test and
watch the speedo
in any of these
of good fun and - then why not give • The road used must
challenges. Obey
bringing a little it a shot and earn be flat and straight
the road laws at
more love:mini spirit yourself a place on
all times and only
to the community, our leaderboard -
attempt a challenge we are setting something else we’ll
where the laws various Mini-related sort out later.
permit and after a challenges to see We’ve started with
safety assessment. who is the best in an easy one, but Entries
each test. some future tasks
love:mini accepts We haven’t quite may involve using Entries need to include
no responsibility for worked out a long- items such as cones. the following details to
any eventualities term format yet, so Put the challenge be accepted:
which may occur for the time being to your fellow
they are individual, enthusiasts at your • Challenge result
from attempting • Date of challenge
one-off challenges. next club meeting.
a challenge. All • Time of challenge
Bragging rights is If you have any
challenges are all that is on offer, suggestions feel free • Road name/no.
attempted at your but if you’re up for to get in touch, and • Driver name
own risk and it a challenge and remember - Safety • Car spec (engine
is up to you to reckon you can do First. size, cam, wheels,
determine whether non-stripped/
you have the skill stripped interior
level to attempt it Send your entries to us at • Name of witness.
safely. editor@love-mini.co.uk

love:mini 135
 Get the look... Wheels & brakes
...of the MkIII Cooper S 10-inch Minilites
The MkIII Cooper S had a very £46.82 each
understated look due to the fact the BL didn’t View item
want to draw much attention to it and steal
sales away from its more profitable new model 7.5-inch disc brakes
— the 1275 GT. £25.85 each
As such, the main elements of the MkIII View item
Cooper S look are fairly basic. Here are just
some of the parts you can get to help you Callipers for 7.5-inch discs
fashion the look. Other parts, not shown, may £111.63 each
also be required. View item

Interior
130mph speedo
£126.18
View item

Water temp gauge

£33.95
Badges
View item
Bonnet badge
£15.43
Oil pressure gauge View item
£48.53
View item
Cooper S boot badge
£12.78
Colours View item

BL A-panel badge
Bronze Teal £5.58
Yellow Blue View item
Exterior Glacier Blaze
White
Bumper overriders Aqua Bedouin
£15.57 each
View item Flame Antelope
Red
Chrome trim Boot
£7.64
View item

Bootboard Right hand fuel tank Boot board brackets

£50.55 £487.63 £27.37
View item View item View item

136 love:mini Pictures courtesy of Mini Spares www.minispares.com

 Street Spirit

B4271
North Gower road
One of South Wales’s hidden
gems of a road.

Suggested by Phil Jones

W
e all know Minis are at their
best when being driven. Sure,
it’s fun to rebuild, paint and
polish them, but the real thrill comes
from sitting behind the wheel on a
nice stretch of clear road.
Finding those nice sections of road
though, is becoming increasingly
difficult, so we thought we’d put the
question out to you guys to see what
roads you like the best.
Phil Jones says the B4271 North
Gower road in Wales is unbeatable,
“with more ups and downs than
Jordon’s breasts” — this we’ve got to
see, and from the photos you can see
how the wide open road beckons with
the panoramic views and blue skies.
The long stretch of road gives a
clear view of the route ahead enabling
Photos courtesy www.rural-roads.co.uk

you to judge each deviation with

accuracy and confidence. Littered with
a number of rises and falls, it’s a route
that’s sure to thrill.
Situated just west of Swansea on
the Gower Peninsula in Glamorgan,
it was the first area in the United
Kingdom to be designated as an Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956.
The Route
The route along the North
Gower road (B4271) starts
from the west of Swansea
and Upper Killey, just north
of Swansea Airport and
Fairwood, and leads west
to Llanrhdian. The road
passes through the village
of Llethryd where there is
a Bronze Age burial site
SUBMIT
Street
named Tooth Cave.
The road runs for six
miles through arable land Spirit
and is complemented with
a number of rises and falls
which add to the pleasure of
some spirited driving.

love:mini 137
 Games
ALL HOURS
itie
Extra curricular activ
Forza 3
MINI league
T
MFer, Craig Jarrett,
has thought of a great
way for MINI and
motorsport fans from all
over the world to have fun
together - MINI racing on
Forza Motorsport 3.
Having already run a
similar league with Forza 2,
Craig is keen to make this
league bigger and better
than ever before.
Anyone with an XBox360
and Xbox Live is welcome
to join in, and such is
Craig’s dedication to the
game that he has spent
numerous hours designing
a heap of liveries.
Craig says he uses his
John Cooper Works design
for his own car (above
right), but has spent time
layering graphics to create
the Mr Bean car (also above
right), a TMF-branded car,
which he says took him
the longest to do, as well
as magazine-branded cars.
We wonder whether they
138 love:mini
GAMER
TAGS
Hook up with other
Mini friends on your
favourite games
s
FORZA 3
GAMERS
Robbie Kenning
STIXXXXX
Derek ‘Delboy’
Tarrant
MiniRG164
Aaron Pike
aaronpike007
LATEST GAMERS
Alex ‘Heals’ Healey
alexhealey
Chris ‘Indy’
Hamilton
INDYCWH
will turn
up for the
party and go head-to-head.
Imagine Stephen Colbran
(MW) vs Jeff Ruggles (MM),
and no doubt we’d join in
just to mix it up and try
some Schumacher-esque
ramming.
Even better, maybe we
could get some real MINI
Challenge drivers from the
various series’ from around
the globe to sign up and
put the virtual masters up
against the real-life racers.
It might not be as accurate
and precise as the awesome
GT Legends, but it sure is
accessible to whole host of
people who have XBox Live.
Craig is just testing the
water at the moment to see
how much interest there
is in the idea, but it sure Interested? Find it on Facebook
sounds fun to us and with Register your interest by
the cold, dark nights setting joining the group or get
in, it could be just the tonic in touch with
to get your Mini driving fix Craig Jarrett.
whilst tucked up in the warm.

GAMing
GRAN TURISMO 5
It’s been a long five years
since the last full Gran
Turismo release, but
here it is, exclusively on
the PS3 and competing
against its Xbox rival
Forza 3.
GT’s strength has always
been its breadth and
depth, and this offering
is no different with over
1000 cars included and a
host of new options.
Where Forza has tried
to imitate GT with an
arcade feel, GT itself has
remained focused on the
realism and simulation
elements. While the
graphics in the new game
look a bit dated, and the
online multiplayer quickly
rushed for the deadline,
it’s elements such as
the random course
configurator that turns
rallies into heart-stopping
unpredictable drives.
OK, who forgot to
lock the closet with
my Iron Man suits
’T
is the season to be
jolly, because all
the good summer
films come out on DVD and
a few winter blockbusters
are expected at the cinema.
Jake Gyllenhaal’s first
proper turn at something
more action-packed has
reaped postiive reviews as
the Prince of Persia. Gamers
of all ages will be familiar
the format, which mixes
elements of Aladdin and
Tomb Raider together.
Plotting relatives and
backstabbing in a quest for
power pretty much sums it
up, and to be honest it was
just a tad disappointing, but
Cinema
SAW 3D
You should know
what to expect
by now from the
seventh SAW
film, but now
it’s in extra
scary 3D!!
DVDs
in?
still a lot better than a lot
of the pap on the shelves at
the moment. And with the
lovely Gemma Arterton on
show before retiring from
Hollywood, it makes for an
enjoyable night in. Yum yum.
Iron Man 2 had a hard
act to follow, and it puts up
an admirable fight to be as
good as the original, just
falling short.
Downey Jr is brilliantly
witty and Mickey Rourke
puts in a star turn as Iron
Man’s nemesis, but despite
a great soundtrack from
AC/DC you can’t help
feeling it’s lost its cutting
edge in the plot department.
JACKASS 3D
You laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll
hurl again. Yes, the kings
of crude are back, and true
to form, they are jumping
on the 3D bandwagon,
meaning those stunts are
gonna look even sicker!
love:mini 139
 d
ed itor@

Notice b o a r SUBMI
T

lov
ote
My N

e-m i n i.c
o. k
u
its and bobs.
Your messa g e s a n d ot h e r b
STOLEN
Appeal
for stolen
Births, Deaths & Marriages
Minis,
information
Announce
club Births
changes, Millie J Whitfield  08/06/2010
company Melody May Woodhouse18/05/2010
special
offers, Deaths
advertise Daryl Turner (aka Taffy1967) This is a message for everyone to keep an
Mini-  22/05/2010 eye out for this Mini! It belongs to one of the
related John Dogza 01/06/2010 members of Central Mini Owners’ Club and was
Mick Walsh (aka GP Mick) stolen on the evening to early hours of Monday
jobs, births,
May 24 - Tuesday 25.
deaths and  08/07/2010
It’s a black Mini, vents in the bonnet,
marriages Sportpack arches with side skirts, deseamed
Send front, a red checkered roof, red leather interior
birthday, and rear numberplate under the bumper with
good the reg F722 POY.
Vicky is desperate to get Gert back, and with
luck or
so many defining features it should be quite
anonymous Club Announcements easy to spot. If you see it, call the police.
personal New Leicestershire-based Mini club
messages - 4th Gear Mini Club. www.facebook.
com/group.php?gid=138770572808
142&ref=search

CRUNCH
On June 2, TMF member
- minispaniard had an
accident. Read the full
thread here.
“We were overtaking
a lorry on the A12 (near
Colchester) when the Audi
A6 in front of us slammed Please keep your eyes peeled for this Mini
on his brakes. I tried to which was stolen from the Watlington Norfolk
squeeze between the Audi area over the weekend 21-23 May, whilst the
and the central barrier... owners were away in Germany at the IMM.
but hit him on the driver’s It was seen being towed away on Friday 21 by
side rear corner and with a white Transit with yellow writing on the side,
both cars spinning we although it’s believed they had stolen the keys
hit the lorry while going aswell. They presented themselves as plumbers.
backwards. It’s Salmon Pink with a white roof and rear
I’m glad we had bucket spoiler, bonnet vent, mTech bodykit, blacked out
seats and harnesses. I
windows, black wheels. Reg: P837 UBH.
can´t fault the strength of
Again, it’s pretty distinctive, so if you ever see
the Mini and how it held
it, get on the phone and give the police a call
both impacts.
asap.

140 love:mini
 Hottest Mini Owners
Votes
now being
ta ken
Think much of yourself? Reckon you’re pretty tasty? Expose
yourself to the crowd and see how hot you are voted by others.
VOTE FOR
Chris YOUR Tricia
FAVOURITE
Just for fun
we’ve teamed
up with a
Facebook
group for
owners to
show off and
see how hot
Zoey others think
they are.
To vote click
the image
below.

The

S ingle? Looking for some fun or something

more serious? Finding someone who is
Hook-up Zone
willing to accept your obsession with Minis can
To appear in these pages email
often be difficult - so why not hook-up with someone editor@love-mini.co.uk with the details
who is equally enthralled by our favourite little car... below or visit the Facebook page.

TAGLINE
Looking for: Dating,
Relationship, Fun? Find love
Interests: Minis Send us a photo
e,
and... .... with your name, ag
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oking
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for, contact details
Mobile
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love:mini 141
DIGIMINI The weird and wonderful from the web

Snapped dicking arou

nd

This may be the best excuse ever to be early for work. Our friend Neil from northern England was the first to
his office one morning, and he decided use his MINI Cooper to create a picture in a snowy parking lot. Neil
wasn’t trying to send his boss a message or make a statement about global warming, he just saw a patch of
virgin snow and got inspired.  COURTESY: MotoBullet.com

#1
acebook MAINSTREAM
updates COOPER REGISTER

DONAGAL MOC Founded by web veterans

www.facebook. Anorak and Taffy1967, the
com/group.php?gid=
130514716977174 Mainstream Cooper Register
is a shadow of its former self
MINI SINGLES but still houses a wealth of
www.facebook.com
/pages/Mini-Singles information for owners of the
/125851927433083 early 90s model.
The site also links in with the
ROVER MINI
www.facebook.com/ Mini Cooper Register forum for
pages/Rover-Mini/ access to new information and
395853421457?v=desc immediate help.

142 love:mini
 Web Threads
Taffy’s Tardis
A section on TMF dedicated to the encyclopedic Darryl Turner.
www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/index.php?s=da34c6977aa7ca7d
afa265819bad076e&showforum=209

Neighbours
Mini owners oggling over hot chicks from the Aussie soap.
www.turbominis.co.uk/forums//index.php?p=vt&tid =151210&fr=0

totalParenting
totalMINI’s guide to family-friendly products for the MINI.
www.totalmini.com/forum/107-totalparenting/

Big Flippy Richards

love:mini sponsored has three broken ribs
racer Bill Richards had and some cuts and
a lucky escape back bruises. He returned
in April after being home within a couple
involved in heavy crash of days and, like typical
at Brands Hatch in the Bill, he has already set
closing laps of the sec- about getting a new
ond Dunlop Motorsport race Mini back up and 1977 LEYLAND CARS MINI
News Saloon Car Cham- running. A new shell CLUBMAN AUTO RED
pionship. has been sourced and Item number: 170499543114
Bill was kept in sprayed and should be Location: Swindon, UK
hospital overnight for returning to tear up the
observation where he tarmac soon. This uniquely-styled beast
caught our eye on eBay. It’s de-
GP 1636 scribed as a Auto Clubby Estate
(red, officially).
BLOG Follow Peter Braun’s exploits with his
JCW GP MINI (no.1636). The bodywork has been
sprayed pink before being
professionally graffitied with
a deathly graveyard, skull-like
theme.
Included in the auction is a
second auto engine, although
the seller states that the driver’s
floorpan has a four-inch split
and corrosion on the rear pas-
senger door.
When we last looked the car
had reached over £600 with a
few days to go. One thing’s for
sure, it’ll certainly be headturner
for whoever buys it!

love:mini 143
 Showcase
The best Minis on offer
£XXX
Contact details
Owner Your name
Engine details Tel  Your telephone no.
Email Your email address

Info about the car’s

engine and any upgrades

Bodywork

SHOWCASE Give detailed information

your Mini with about any rust, where it

E
extended info and is, how bad, any dinks
or leaks and colour
pics.
information

L
Email editor@love-
mini.co.uk

M P
X A
E Interior

Detailed info about the

History

Use this space to provide

car’s interior and any history of the car, such as
changes/mods made previous owners and any
feats of achievement

144 love:mini
 Changing hands
Advertise your stuff for free
Want to sell something?
Advertise it here for free. Send
a picture, details and contact
TORQUAY, UK £2x
info to editor@love-mini.co.uk
WEYMOUTH, UK £12,xxx
Classic Mini top arm, no MINI GP, bonnet scoop, red

!
bushes, rusty, worn, needs wing mirrors, white roof,
refurb. 077XX or email rear spoiler, good condition,

?
thisaddress@hotmail.xxx. fresh mot and tax for
12months. 01275 485XXX

Buying
tips for
QUEBEC, CANADA $14,875 classics
Tio od ercin henisl inci-
duisi exer susto commodit •V
 iew
vercis ad modolore commy the car
MIDLANDS, UK £7,9xx if at all
nisPutem nonsequisl delit,
2006 MINI Cooper, Blue WILTSHIRE, UK £1,00xxxx possible
with white roof, sunroof,
74,000miles, taxed and
mot’d. Good condition,
Amazingly rare classic
Mini Cooper in Quicksilver.
6 months tax and mot, Econulput alisl ute velit laor-
perat, sim dolore doleniatue
•C
 heck the
bodywork
PL
?
custom check interior with needs paintjob and a few for rust.
new carpets. Engine rolling simple jobs doing. No rust. Bodywork
roaded to 175bhp. New Call 0777834XXX or email usually
tyres and all round it is in myminsthebest@gmail.com costs more
good shape. Call 01234 XX to repair
XXXXX (6-10pm) or email in labour

?
johnminiforsale@email.xxx costs than
AM

AUCKLAND, NZ $15,655 anything

Tio od ercin henisl inciduisi else.
exer susto commodit verci-
dunt velenit ating eugiam •E
 ngines
aliscil iquate vero esequis can be
ad modolore commy nis- replaced
COLORADO, USA $19,875 Putem nonsequisl delit, cheaply
EX

Tio od ercin henisl inciduisi conulput alisl ute velit laor-

exer susto commodit verci- perat, sim dolore doleniatue •C
 heck the
KENT, UK £150 dunt velenit ating eugiam chassis
Advertise your
MELBOURNE, AUS $21,875 numbers
998cc A-Series engine. ipis ero ea facincilit inim
Removed from Mini City. Mini
vel euis eraestie dolore min
bits for
Tio free.
od ercin henisl inciduisi with the
86,955miles, runs well but exer susto commodit verci- logbook/
ulputat prate faccum iliOrepics and info
Email
could do with rebuild. HIF dunt velenit ating eugiam V5 to
minim et lam quis autat
to editor@love-
44 carb and 3.1 diff includ- aliscil iquate vero esequis aliscil iquate vero esequis ensure
ad modolore commy nis-mini.co.uk
ed, £150. Other parts also ad modolore commy nis- the car is
available, enquire within. Putem nonsequisl delit, genuine.
Putem nonsequisl delit,
0779843XX or email paul@ conulput alisl ute velit laor-
conulput alisl ute velit laor-
justminibitsmadeup.xxx perat, sim dolore doleniatue
perat, sim dolore doleniatue
love:mini 145
 Coming up...
event preview
T
he British Mini
Club’s Mini Fair has
become the traditional
opening event to the Mini
season.
Every January, thousands
of enthusiasts flock to
Staffordshire County
Showground to peruse the
wares available from a
large selection of traders.
Over 100 traders turn out
for this fair, from new parts
retailers to breakers with
a heap of dirty and used
bits. Whether its a set of old
original Cosmics or a some
new shiny alloys, they’ll
most likely be here.
The top names always
turn out for this one with
Minisport, Huddersfield
Spares and Somerford
Mini having a dominant
presence. While both Mini
146 love:mini
Mini Fair, January 30
Date 
Location 
 ST18 0BD
Price
Highlights 
Website  www.britishminiclub.co.uk
Magazine (as sponsors) and
MiniWorld generally attend.
In recent years the British
Mini Club has welcomed
MINIs into the fold, and are
housed in an annex of the
main hall.
As punters line up at
the entrance there will be
Minis for Sale outside as
well as a fair amount of
them in the car park too.
Despite the trade
emphasis of the event,
Mini clubs tend to go all
out with their stands,
and it’s no surprise when
the BMC is offering £250
for the Best Club Stand.
Check the club’s website
for more information on
2011’s theme. It’s also a
great opportunity to attract
new members and show off
personal Minis that might
January 30
Bingley Hall, Staffs,
£9
Win a Mini for £1
tend to get lost in amongst
the crowd.
As usual with a British
Mini Club event, there
will be the highlight of
the day, when everyone
gathers around The British
Mini Club’s stand in eager
anticipation to hear the
numbers drawn for Win a
Mini for £1 raffle. Every
show we buy a ticket, but
still no luck, although we
do know some people who
have won twice! With the
club regularly spending up
to £5k for a pristine and
highly desirable car, with
low mileage, some people
attend just for the raffle!
All in all, the MiniFair
is a great way to start the
new year, bump into old
friends and pick up some
more goodies for your Mini.

Calendar of events
Comprehensive listings from around the globe
January 1
New Year’s Day Parade
Start the year as you mean to go
on by joining in London’s famous
New Yea’s Day parade. Some of
the bigger London Mini clubs
will be getting involved.
www.londonparade.co.uk
January 16
Wirral to Llandudno
Pack the Thermos and scarf for
this refreshing run from the
Wirral along the north coast of
Wales to Llandudno seafront.
Bookng form
www.wirral-minis.com
January 13-16
Autosport International
See the latest and best
motorsport goods and cars on
show at the NEC.
From £30
Birmingham NEC, B40 1NT
www.autosportinternational.com
26 January - 2 February
Rallye Monte Carlo Historique
Take on the famous Col de Turini
in winter weather and retrace the
trackmarks of rallying legends.
www.acm.mc/rmch/rmch_main.
php
JANUARY 30
Mini Fair 2011
British Mini Club’s first big
outing of the year is more of
a trade show to pick up those
final bits for projects before the
summer.
About £8
Bingley Hall, Staffordshire County
Showground, ST18 0BD
www.britishminiclub.co.uk
February 25-27
Race Retro
The biggest historic motorsport
show in Europe offers fresh goods
and plenty of entertainment.
Stoneleigh Park, Coventry,
CV8 2LZ
www.raceretro.co.uk
VIEW
Event
April 29-
Listings
May 2
Mini Splash
Dash
Easter
weekender
March 19 taking in a range
Northumberland of activities from watersports to
Borders Rally treasure hunts.
Closed-club Mini rallying with £15
the Mini Cooper Register in the Cumbria
Newcastle and Durham area. Booking form
info@northumberlandbordersrally. www.cumbriaminicruisers.co.uk
co.uk
www.northumberlandbordersrally. April 29-
co.uk May 2
Riviera Run
March 27 A Mini run to Newquay for a
Brooklands Mini Day weekend at Trevelgue Holiday
The first outdoor Mini show of Park, Newquay, Cornwall.
the year and a chance to test Caravan hire for 3-days £27.50pp
your engine on the historic www.rivierarun.co.uk
track’s Test Hill.
Brooklands Museum, KT13 0SL May 2
www.brooklandsmuseum.com
East Midlands Mini Show
Trade show and Mini display.
APRIL 8-10 About £8
South West Mini Brakes Thoresby Park, Newark, Notts.
Combe Martin, North Devon. NG22 9EP
Second weekend in April. Tents www.classicshows.org
- £30. Tents with Electric hook up
- £54. Statics and Chalets - £160. May 4-8
Site club house and bar, live
entertainment, daily Mini runs.
Dutch Mini Rally
Annual Mini run with organised
swminis.forumup.co.uk
by some Dutch guys. This yeat
they’re off to Germany.
April 10 www.dutchminirally.nl
Malvern Mini Show
Undercover trade fair with Minis MAY 22
on display. Great for any final Mega Mini Meet 2011
project purchases. Charity event organised by
About £7 the LMR at Lytham Hall, in
The Malvern Showground, Lancashire. Entry Fee £5.00
Worcestershire, WR13 6NW
01253 736652
www.classicshows.org
April 17 May 30
Suffolk Run Knebworth Mini &
VW Show
Bury Mini Club’s annual charity
jaunt along the north Anglian Minis and Vee-Dubz share a
patch at Knebworth for a retro-
!
coast.
www.buryminiclub.co.uk cool day.
Knebworth, Herts. SG3 6PY
www.classicshows.org
April 24 Check
H2H Run each
HAMOC’s annual charity run
June 10-12
from Huntingdon to Hunstanton event’s IMM 2011 Switzerland
gets bigger every year. Official Berner Mini Club is hosting
£5. website 2011’s International Mini Meet
in St. Stephan. There is plenty
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire for any planned and facilities for families.
www.hamoc.co.uk
changes. €60
love:mini 147
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148 love:mini