love:mini: Issue 2.5

love:minilove:mini 1

FRESH CONTENT, HONEST OpiNiONiSSUE: 2.5love:minilove:mini

Full Dakar ReportACT Mini club profile

test drive

SHOWSOZ Mini 50

Lincoln BIG day Malvern & more...WRC MINI LAUNCHes

into action!

WRC MINI PRESS LAUNCH!!

Masters of the hill

love:minilove:mini

love:minilove:mini

2

Testing out the MINI’s

big boy. p.6

ISSUE 2.5Catch

-up

www.love-mini.co.uk

Copyright blurbCopyright 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.

THIS ISSUE WAS MADE WITH HELP FROM:Craig Watson, Trina Roberts, Peter Gavin, Simon Strong, Brian Thomas, kpbphotography.co.uk, Simon McBeath, everleyphotography.co.uk, Stuart Poole, Neil Masters.

fter a long abscense - sorry about that -

we’re pleased to announce the return of love:mini. This issue is a catch-up

issue of all the stuff people sent in to us and what was already laid out in the magazine. It’s a filler issue,

just to let you know we’re back, and that a proper new issue will be out soon. :)Since we’ve been gone

we’ve had a number of new ideas to help out you Mini fans - so expect more helpful guides and resources on the website and keep up-to-date

with the latest news and events on the love:mini blog. We’re also on Facebook and Twitter, so follow us there.

[email protected]

Craig McBeth

WELCOME

WEBSITE www.love-mini.co.ukBLOG http://loveminimag.blogspot.co.uk

FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/loveminimagTWITTER https://twitter.com/love_mini

36 HRCR MOTORSPORT Coverage of classic Minis competing on the rally track.

42 GuRSTOn dOwn HillCliMb Neil Masters’ KAD-powered Mini competing for the trophy.

46 Club PROfile ACT Mini Club from Australia tell us all about themselves.

50 evenTS liSTinG A quick reference for the upcoming events in 2013, with full details on the website.

4 wRC Mini launCH The grand unveiling of the WRC MINI at Plant Oxford.

6 Mini COOPeR Sd TeST dRive An exclusive press day to test drive the new Cooper SD models.

12 OZ Mini 50 Celebrating the Mini’s 50th year in Australia.

16 evenT RePORTS A round-up of some of your submitted event reports.

20 wORld Rally CHaMPiOnSHiP Coverage of MINI’s progress through the WRC.

28 dakaR 2011 Full reports on the X-Raid Monster MINI team’s adventure.


dash:board love:mini

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WRC RALLY MINI LAUNCH

Rally MINI unveiled at Oxford plant spectacular.

When the

invitation to attend MINI’s WRC launch at Plant Oxford came through the post it was like Christmas time for us.

This was the most exciting news since BMW had bought the Mini name - the Mini’s official reappearance into world rallying.

The word is that the Countryman, the platform the WRC MINI uses, was specifically designed with entry into rallying and competition in mind with the ALL4 four-wheel drive system

motorsport

on the PULSE

the key to choosing the Countryman over the other FWD MINI models.On April 11, 2011, the stage

was set in the “T Building” for MINI to show off. Pulling out all the stops, MINI had assembled a line-up of the top bods from Board of Directors Representative, Ian Robertson, to drivers Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke, as well as Mini

rallying legends Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno Aaltonen.

Walking through to the presentation area you had to pass through a Hall of Fame, with countless rally heroes tackling the terrain in their classics, just as this new one would hope to emulate.

With the lights dimmed a short film detailing the history of Mini rallying and the time and effort spent working on the new model culminated in Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno Aaltonen charging through the screen in their Works-replica Mini before narrowly avoiding reversing off the plinth. Then

Drive it awayWe were surprised to see Kris Meeke’s WRC rally MINI donning a valid tax disc. Is it coming soon to a dealership near you?? (kidding)


the roar of the WRC MINI’s tuned 1.6-litre turbo engine broke the silence before arriving in style driven by Dani Sordo.

After a lengthy presentation guests were invited to field questions to the team members before being allowed to get up-close to the rally car.

The Works rear spoiler and stripped out interior provide a significant weight shift, while uprated suspension and tuning cover most of the other modifications.

Outside Kris Meeke was on hand to “do some donuts” in the car park in the new machine. A full set of tyres later and once the smoke had cleared everyone seemed to have that giggly schoolchild feeling that this was something rather exciting and special. MINI is officially back in the world of rallying. Game on.

Pics clockwise from top left: Kris Meeke’s MINI preparing to burn rubber; team line-up - Carlos Del Barrio, Paul Nagle, Kris Meeke, Dani Sordo; stripped MINI interior and pedalbox; Ian Robertson and Dave Richards; JCW rear spoiler.

on the PULSE

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MINI SD PRESS TEST DRIVEMINI launches the Cooper S D (Diesel) and we get to try it out.

Test drive

Well, this is

embarassing.Since we did this review back in April 2011, and with all the changes that have subsequently gone on... we’ve lost the notepad with all the information from this day.

So, unfortunately, there’s not much we can say about the cars themselves.

We were invited to Babington House, a Grade II listed manor house that is very popular for celebrity weddings - located just outside Frome, Somerset.


It was a beautiful, hot day and when we arrived there was a line of over 30 brand-spanking new MINI SDs all polished and sparkling in the sun... and we were going to get to test drive them!

After a quick presentation, spurting out the fuel efficiency blurb of the Diesel engine alongside regenerative braking and automatic on/off when stopping it was time

to take the car keys off their hands.

With a choice of four, from a Hatch, Clubman, Convertible and Countryman, we let others rush for the Countryman whilst we took the newly-released MINI Clubman Hampton Cooper SD for a spin.

The interior space maybe as limited as it is on all other models and the vinyl/

leatherette seat material may have burned out legs in the hot sun and shorts, but it looked quick, it sounded quick, and boy it was quick!

The neat little touches that make the Hampton a Special Edition are pretty nice too. The black 6-spoke wheels are sweet as, and then there is the Mini 50 doorstep which is a nice nod to the Mini’s

“ “it was time to take the car keys off

their hands.

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heritage. With a car of this size and the extra power now unleashed as diesel model, in comparison, there is some noticeable lag before the power kicks in, but once it does - you’ll be flying along.

ConvertibleAfter enjoying the Clubman Hampton SD, we took it back to try out the next car. Our time was limited and with the day ticking by we chose to skip

the MINI Hatch and take out the Convertible - well it was such a beautiful day, it would have been rude not to.

In a beautiful shade of red, the sleek lines of the Convertible look so good and with the roof down it’s the perfect summer car. It looks amazing - we expect it drive just as well.

It did. Immediately it felt just like a petrol car and the power as

“ “it looked quick, it sounded quick, and boy, it was quick!


instant. With some stunning scenery in the locality and some excellent country roads, we took our time to enjoy the ride and day in the sunshine.

The Convertible, we found, was the most economic on fuel - according to the car’s in-car information. I think it’s fair to say we were quite liberal in our driving and were impressed by the economy of it.

But after a couple of stops to take some scenic pictures for y’all, we had to take it back and try out the Countryman.

“ “it’s the perfect summer car - it looks

amazing

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CountrymanAt the time, the Countryman hadn’t long been released, so this was actually our first hands-on encounter with one.

Bearing in mind that I have a classic Mini as a daily driver - the Countryman was big!

In most cars you have to sit down to get into them, in this, you have to step up. But once in, and adjusted and comfortable, it was time to accustom ourselves to the slightly altered layout.

It is so different to the other MINIs in size and feel. It is big and lumbering and wobbly. We didn’t like it. The central pod line to the rear seats was odd and it just didn’t fit with the MINI ethos. It is essentially a small SUV or a mini SUV, to use a play on words. And although they’ve

packed in the power under the bonnet, and indeed it is quite swift, we didn’t find it as economical when driven at speed as the other MINIs. Now you might argue that this is normal, or to be expected - it is a larger car, so less economical, but at love:mini, it’s not just about whether a car can carry your kids or golf clubs or how much power it’s got etc... it’s about the fun factor - the spirit of Mini and whilst the styling nods and badge may say MINI, it’s just not.

“ “whilst the styling nods and badge may say MINI - it’s just not.


DATEFebruary 27 - March 6, 2011

LOCATIONZetland &

Wakefield Park, Sydney

WoRDS aND PhotoS Craig Watson

Showtime

Celebrating 50 years of australian Minis.

oZ Mini 50 Carnival

It was billed as the biggest Mini-only event ever held in Australia and, despite not

quite reaching the numbers anticipated, it lived up to the hype.

Over eight days – 27 February to 6 March – Mini enthusiasts from across the country celebrated 50 years of the popular small car in Australia, with events in and around Sydney, and Goulburn in NSW.

The Carnival kicked off at the former site of the BMC/Leyland factory at Zetland, only 5km from Sydney’s CBD, with a static display of around 300 Minis. Notable examples included famous race Minis of Brian Foley/Laurie Stewart and Don Holland, stretched Mini limousines, and every conceivable model Mini made locally – as well as a good representation of UK models.

MINI Australia had a small presence, with two of the Countryman models, released to the public only the previous day, on display.

Don Holland and Bob Holden

australia


(winner of the 1966 Gallaher 500 at Bathurst in a Mini) were favourites among the crowd. Former Leyland factory Mini rally driver Andrew Cowan, coincidentally in Sydney on his way to his home in Scotland from New Zealand, also stopped in for a few hours and immediately drew a crowd.

The rest of the week was spent with activities to keep the interest alive, including a tour to the old Catalina Park racetrack – attracting around 60 Minis – a Mini-only drive-in movie night, showing The Italian Job of course, and a boat cruise of the fabulous Sydney Harbour.

There was also a tour to Bathurst on the Thursday, which was attended by around 70 Minis. Departing from the Olympic Whitewater Regatta Centre near Penrith, the cars headed over the Blue Mountains via Springwood and the Great Western Hwy, before turning off the highway at Hartley and taking the picturesque and Mini-friendly (read here, twisty) back roads through Oberon, O’Connell, Lagoon and Perthville, to Bathurst.

After a quick look at the

little-known old Bathurst racing circuit, the Minis assembled at the Mt Panorama pit complex, parking in line in front of the pit garages. What a sight, to see so many Minis, mostly of the Classic variety, lined up on such a famous venue, where the Mini was victorious 45 years previously; taking the first nine places outright – a record that still stands.

Friday evening saw more than 130 enthusiasts gather for a celebration dinner at the Canada Bay Club, Five

Dock. Unfortunately, keynote speaker Stuart Turner from the UK was unable to attend, due to health concerns. But that didn’t diminish the evening. The Australian connection was emphasised with the talk by Bob Holden and an impromptu Question & Answer forum with former Mini racing greats Holden, Don Holland and John Leffler, and former BMC Works rally mechanic Peter Bartram, was very well received. So too was the excellent talk to camera by Stuart Turner, done exclusively for the event.

Saturday saw the Sydney contingent decamp to Goulburn, two-hours’ south, and meet many more enthusiasts from interstate, for a display of over 100 Minis in the centre of town. The highlight of the afternoon’s display was a semi-trailer loaded with nine Minis, providing a perfect centre-piece for the display.

The grand finale for the eight-day Carnival was the Oz50 Mini Festival, held the following day, Sunday 6 March, at nearby Wakefield Park. With over 400 Minis in attendance, including 70 in the racing and regularities


and more than a dozen in the special Mighty Minis parades, as well as nearly 20 former racing drivers from the Mini’s hey-day, this truly was a once in a lifetime Mini Experience.

The aforementioned Holden, Holland, Leffler and Bartram, were joined by Brian Foley, Laurie Stewart, Lakis Manticas, Peter Brown, Carol Shaw, John Dellaca, Mal Brewster, and others.

With three full racing grids of nothing but Minis – no fewer than 29 in Group N – the on-track action was thrilling. Old guns Graham Russell from Sydney and Henry Draper from Melbourne

showed they still have what it takes, with one win each in the three Group N races.

After winning Race 1, Russell had and electrical gremlin that caused him to pull over early in Race 2, but the engine came good and, being more than half a lap behind the leaders, he set off on a charge. Slicing his way through the field, he stormed through to take fourth place in the seven-lap event.

The gremlins returned in Race 3, causing his retirement, but Draper’s run in that race was no less impressive, carving his way through from tenth on the grid to first place. That had followed a trying first race, where car problems put him back to last place, and an impressive Race 2 to move from last on the grid to tenth place.

With Russell’s problems in Race 2, and Draper working hard from the back of the field, the top honours were

shared by Ben Tebutt, Ken Nelson (all the way from Ipswich, Qld, and running his original 1960s Mk2 Cooper S), and Greg Hewson, who finished in that order.

Tebutt took second place in the other two races, with Nelson and Lindsay Siebler taking a third place each.

The first and second Sports Sedan Races were won by Bob Bell, with the third taken by Charlie Borg. Borg had qualified an uncharacteristic 11th place, fighting hard to finish seventh and third in Races 2 and 3 respectively, in the highly competitive field.

But the Mini action wasn’t reserved for on the racing track. The Mini Car Club of NSW were actively involved in running a motorkhana in the grass area behind the circuit, with over 20 keen competitors vying for the various trophies. Meanwhile, the Show’n’Shine, organised by the Mini Car Club of ACT, was a battle of

Showtime


the polish cloths for around 85 entrants. Robert Diamante took home the coveted award for Car Of The Show, while his MG Metro Turbo also won the award for best Mini Derivative.

Meanwhile, the Mini Masters (famous past drivers) were busily signing autographs, when not out on the track parading with the Mighty Minis special vehicles. The Mighty Minis included the likes of original race cars of Foley, Stewart, Leffler, Holland (also competing in the Group N races), Manticas and others, as well as a genuine ex-Works rally car, previously

driven by the likes of Paddy Hopkirk, Rauno Aaltonen and Australia’s Evan Green.

Also sharing track space in the parades was one of the last 500 Classic Minis built in the UK, an equally rare Mini 30 from 1989, and various unusual Mini derivatives – Midas, Jem, Marcos, Nota Fang, Metro Turbo and more.

The grand finale to the event was a parade around the track, at almost walking pace, in which every Mini present was able to take part in. Unfortunately, due to the lateness of the parade and an additional delay due to safety concerns – that were finally

resolved in the event’s favour – only about 120 Minis made it out onto the track. Despite that – the organisers had been aiming for over 300 – all those who took part felt it was well worth while, with faces beaming in every car.

At the end of the day, the measure of the success of the one-off event was to be seen in the smiles on peoples faces, and the enormous amount of positive feedback already received by the organisers.

This really was a lifetime experience that is not likely to ever be repeated, and was a fitting way to celebrate 50 years of one of the world’s most popular cars in Australia.


Popular waterside show forced to expand to meet demand.

DATEApril 17, 2011

LOCATIONBrayford

Waterfront, Lincoln

WEBSITE www.

trentvalleymoc.co.uk

Showtime

Lincoln BIG Mini Day

WoRDS aND PhotoS Peter Gavin

Over 200 Minis invaded Lincoln’s Brayford waterfront on Sunday April 19 for Trent Valley MOC’s 4th

Lincoln BIG Mini day.Due to overwhelming demand event

organisers extended the show on to both sides of the waterfront this year to accommodate all the Minis, from club stands to individuals who had travelled from all around the country to converge on the centre of Lincoln. They were joined by thousands of visitors who all enjoyed the fantastic display of Minis in glorious sunshine and also the chance for a spot of retail therapy.

UK


trade show lacking sparkle.

Malvern Mini Show

WoRDS aND PhotoS trina Roberts

DATEApril, 2011

LOCATIONThree Counties Showground,

Malvern

WEBSITE www.

classicshows .org

The latest Mini show at Malvern showground seemed to be filled with

a lot of Minis, but not many people and even less trade and autojumble. However as the day went on, things started to pick up.

Mini-based kit-car clubs were well represented in the club stand areas with the Midas Owners’ club and Mini Marcos club in attendance. Hilltop Minis had the largest presence

with just under 50 cars. Their chosen theme was the celebration of William and Kate’s wedding, they had a real street party going on with plenty of food and jelly for pudding! The amazing display earned them the Best Club Stand award.

Individual entries were of the usual high standard, some very nice minis including a totally original Cinnabar Red City, a green MkI which also picked up a

concours prize and a metallic gold van sporting 13-inch Dunlop alloys and a wicked rear spoiler. Mr Bean Minis were also on show including one with a rather scary dummy sat on a deckchair. Modified Minis were out in force and one of the biggest crowd pullers was a Suzuki powered Clubman with a BMW supercharger.

Overall the show was good, hopefully the weather will be as kind for the October show.


The Pride of Longbridge show is a gathering at Cofton Park, Birmingham

opposite the Rover factory. Any cars built there, at Cowley or Solihull can come along. Its usually held on the weekend nearest to when MG Rover shut in 2005.

Quite a few Mini clubs turned up, including Market Drayton Mini Owners’ Club, Hilltop Minis, Redditch Mini Owners’ Club and Longbridge Mini Club.

The show itself doesn’t have any autojumble or trade, just a couple of people selling bits out of their cars, a burger van and a very relaxed atmosphere. Just about every

kind of Mini was on display from a standard ‘59 to one of the final special edition Mini Sevens. A very rare two-tone MkI van, which had originally been used as a works van then one-family owned its entire life, was drawing the crowds as was an ultra-rare Austin Ant prototype off-road vehicle.

Another feature of the day was a road run from the BMW Cowley plant to Cofton Park with around 10 cars taking part, two of which were a very

tidy RSP Cooper and an early powder blue MkI.

In all, it was a good day out with great weather and well worth another visit next year.

Pride of Longbridge


DATEApril 16, 2011

LOCATIONCofton Park, Birmingham

WEBSITE www.austin

memories.com

the finest examples on display at the home of the Mini.

Showtime



the Mighty Morphs take a day off to visit an animal park.

SCMC Beale Park Run

WoRDS aND PhotoS Simon Strong

DATEApril 24, 2011

LOCATIONBeale Park, Reading

WEBSITE www.south-central-mini-

club.com

Slightly cloudy Easter Sunday morning, we decided to meet at

Benson MacDonald’s for 10am. Scott, Ali, Shifty, Shannon, Debs, Lee, Matt, Chris and Jane attended. A few of us managed to get a cheeky McDonald’s breakfast in before we left for Beale.

We left Benson around 10:30 and headed down the A4074 and some other brilliant Mini roads. Luckily the sun started to burn through on our way to make the day even better.

We arrived in Pangbourne where the Sat-Nav managed to take us down a narrow track, resulting in us all pulling off some brilliant 10-point turns!! Once back on-route it turned out the correct turning was only 200 yards down the road.

On arrival we managed to bag ourselves a good parking spot and Shifty got some

good pics, whilst a few were occupied with some Micro Pigs, and a couple of the girls decided they wanted one!

A heft £9 later we got into the park and started making our way around the animals. At this point the sun came right out. The temp was lovely.

After continuing to walk around some more of the animals it was now getting on for lunchtime. Around 1pm we made our way back out towards the cars and sat down for a picnic, where some were tucking into sandwiches and lots of goodies. Unfortunately Matt was being stubborn and not eating anything except a packet of crisps, until mummy Debs stepped in and laid down the laws!

We headed back into the park around 2.30 and used our free train ticket (that we acquired with our entry fee). After our 10-minute trip we headed to the bit of the park that we had missed - the racoons, meerkats, ducks and the slightly randy capybara!!

Once we had seen it all we headed back to the cars to make our way home. In South

Central tradition we stopped off at a local pub for a cheeky pint before jumping in the cars and setting off.

Was a great SCMC day out as usual, looking forward to the next!

The debut of the MINI WRC Team in Rally Italy, Sardinia was encouraging with both

Mini John Cooper Works WRCs showing a good pace on Day One. Dani Sordo (ES) and Carlos del Barrio (ES) finished the opening eight stages of the rally in sixth, but unfortunately Kris Meeke (GB) and Paul Nagle (IR) had to retire on Stage Three due to a throttle problem that caused their car to go off the road.

Despite the disappointment, the team was encouraged by the performance of Meeke’s number 52 car, having moved up to fourth overall. Sordo, in car number 37, had a trouble-free day. Sordo said: “At the end the car got better and better and I am really happy with it,

but we started really carefully. The plan is to continue tomorrow the same way to learn more about the car, push a bit and change just a few small things.”

Dave Wilcock, Technical Director, said of MINI’s first WRC appearance: “We had a meeting this morning with both drivers and they were incredibly relaxed about today. We had a plan to just go out and feel ourselves in. On the run out this morning Kris thought the throttle was not quite following his pedal very well. He felt the engine was just hanging on a little bit. That progressively got worse as the day went on. It just caught him out on a high speed braking area. It put him off line a little bit, he got onto the loose and just ended up

dropping off the road and damaging the suspension so we were unable to continue.”

Day Two saw more mixed fortunes for the MINI team as Sordo and del Barrio held on their sixth place while Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle again suffered from engine problems after their MINI sprang a water leak, forcing them out for most of the day.

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MINI debuts in WRC

MotorsportRally:Circuit:Hillclimb:Autograss:Sprint

After a year of planning and development the WRC MINI is put to its first competitive test.

ROUND 5

For Danio Sordo it was all good news and happy news, he said: “The day was not so bad. I am happy with the car and happier than yesterday as I have more confidence in the car. The performance of the MINI is good and we are really close to the car in front.”

While the contrasting fortunes for Kris Meeke still failed to put a dampner on him: “We developed a water leak on the way to Stage 10. We tried to fix it but then in the stage it happened again, the engine temperature went up and we had to stop before we damaged the engine. It is a little bit unfortunate that I have not got into my stride yet, but that is part of the game. When you get to a rally you don’t have a second chance, you have to make it work for all three days and it just hasn’t.”

The final day of the first official MINI rally team in 40 years resulted in Dani Sordo bringing his number 37 car home, across the finish line in a very respectable sixth place. But for car number 52, Day Three of the Sardinia WRC

rally saw it parked up in the team

garage with Meeke and Nagle left to watch their team members from the sidelines.

For the MINI WRC team, the result for this rally, and ultimately for all of the rallies MINI is competing in during 2011, is not important, it’s about what can be learnt and improved upon in time for a full calendar of WRC events in 2012.

David Richards, Team Principal, said of the first event: “I think we have shown the performance of the car. We have proved what we can do and I think it has set the mark and set the standard. All signs are really encouraging and we have no real reliability problems at all that we are concerned about. We have to take a lot of positives from the event.

“This morning we had to take the decision not to re-start with Kris. We know what the problem is but we didn’t have a solution to it

here, and anything we did would have been compromised and may have resulted in a recurrence of the problem.

“What has come out of this weekend very strongly is that we have a real team effort and all members of the MINI WRC Team have instantly gelled together. I want to thank everyone for the hard work to get us to this point. It has been an amazing effort and the outcome has been very encouraging for all of us. It was also nice to see our efforts recognised as the team has been given the Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally Award.”

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Motorsport

Pos No Driver Time Diff

1 1 S. LOEB 3:45:40.9 -2 3 M. HIRVONEN 3:45:52.1 +11.23 11 P. SOLBERG 3:46:04.7 +23.84 2 S. OGIER 3:47:12.4 +1:31.55 6 M. ØSTBERG 3:48:23.5 +2:42.66 37 D. SORDO 3:49:08.5 +3:27.6

12 17 A. ARAÚJO 3:58:50.6 +13:09.729 12 D. OLIVEIRA 4:58:54.0 1:13:23.1

Following the MINI team’s WRC debut in

Sardinia, the Rally Finland was the next MINI event on WRC calendar. Having had a mixed bag of results from the first event, drivers Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke were looking to build on their previous outings - with Sordo looking to build his confidence in the car and Meeke searching for reliabilty and to finish a rally.

At the end of Day One of the Neste Oil Rally Finland the MINI WRC Team was just where it

wanted to be with its two cars still running and no problems to report. In the evening Dani Sordo (ES) and Carlos de Barrio (ES) returned to service in Jyväskylä, after 39.74 kilometres of competitive running on three stages, sixth overall in the number 37 MINI John Cooper Works WRC, while Kris Meeke (GB) and Paul Nagle (IR) were ninth in number 52.

From the first stage it was a matter of taking it easy on one of

the World Rally Championship’s toughest and most unforgiving events. Sordo has competed in the event for the past few years, but Meeke has not been here for five years and never in a WRC car. The weather was hot and humid as this is the driest summer in Finland for 23 years, but rain was forecast overnight.

A largely problem-free day on Day two of Neste Oil Rally Finland


Motorsport

ROUND 8

WRC MINIS fail the

test in FinlandSordo and Meeke forced to retire as the trecherous terrain causes car trouble.

enabled both drivers to gain valuable knowledge and competitive experience of the MINI JCW WRCs, bringing them to the overnight halt in Jyväskylä without a scratch on either of them. Dani Sordo (ES) and Carlos del Barrio (ES) were seventh in the number 37 car, and Kris Meeke (GB) and Paul Nagle (IR) were eighth in the number 52 sister car after over 170 kilometres of competitive driving since the start. Meeke’s MINI still hasn’t

shaken its niggles and there was one small problem when he was about to start Stage Eight and the ignition failed. The resulting delay cost him two minutes, translating into a 20 second penalty. Meanwhile Sordo

overshot at the first junction on

Stage 11 to lose some

time, but he was

soon back in

the right direction despite losing 10 seconds to Meeke over the 12 kilometres.

MINI WRC Technical Director, Dave Wilcock, was particularly pleased with Meeke’s perfomance on Day 2: “Today we are particularly pleased with Kris, who is driving very well. His plan is just to learn the roads, get through the rally

and go home with experience. He is overachieving above our expectations, and driving within himself and taking no risks. Dani is driving well, but nobody knows these stages from today. He is happy with the car, the tyre wear seems to be good, but on the stages he knows tomorrow we are expecting him to go well and up the performance to show what the car can do.”

Driver Kris Meeke was also pleased with his consistency:

“It has been going pretty well. I probably have not been trying much harder than yesterday, but the more you get back into rally speed the more you get a feel for these roads and the more it just comes to you. On the long stages we are about half a second a kilometre behind the likes of Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier, which I think in this territory is pretty good. It shows we still have a bit of work to do, with both the driver and the car.”

Downward TrendHowever, the optimism that filled the MINI team at the end of Day Two had all but evaporated 24 hours later following the retirement of both the WRC MINIs from Day Three of the WRC Finnish Rally.

Meeke’s number 52 car was pulled out after 19 of the 22 stages, while Dani Sordo only missed out on the very last stage - both were precautionary measures after a lot of sand and dirt was sucked into the cars’ cooling system.

The problems started on Stage 17, Leustu 2, when Meeke suffered from a puncture and then overheating. Then, on the next stage, Surkee 2, Sordo, then seventh, also had problems with the

sand blocking the air intake and lost 45 seconds to the leaders. The team’s engineers knew they would learn nothing more from cars limping through stages so they were ordered back to Jyväskylä and not attempt the Power Stage to avoid engine damage.

Team Principal, David Richards, was understandably disappointed but took positives from the event: “There is obviously a great sense of disappointment throughout the team that the rally should end for both Dani and Kris within sight of the finish. However, we have to take heart from the performance of the cars throughout the event, with their pure speed and the fact we were close to the pace right from the word go. We now go to a very different surface, with the asphalt rally of Germany which will present further challenges and another step in the learning curve for our new team.”


Motorsport

Day one of the ADAC Rally Germany ended with the MINI WRC Team in a very

encouraging fourth and fifth overall. From the very first of today’s six stages Dani Sordo (ES) and Carlos del Barrio (ES) in the MINI John Cooper Works WRC number 37 and Kris Meeke (GB) and Paul Nagle (IR) in the number 52 sister car were putting in competitive stage times. As the cars arrived in Trier for the overnight halt the Spanish duo were in front by just 17.3 secs, although the honour of a top three stage time went to Meeke.

While the weather had been hot and dry up to the start of the event, as the cars got onto stage two the rains came. The Citroen duo of Sébastien Loeb (FR) and Sébastien Ogier (FR) had opted for a different Michelin tyre strategy, as in Germany they could choose either hard or soft compounds. They took soft, while the other top teams took hard and this proved quite crucial

in the wet conditions that only affected part of the one stage but gave them an advantage.

With six stages over 133 kilometres covered today, the crews are now ready for another eight stages and 150 kilometres tomorrow. Ahead of them they have the very tough Panzerplatte stage on the Baumholder tank training ground, which is 34.18 kilometres long. This stage, which is run twice, has often been a major decider in the outcome of this rally.

Dave Wilcock, Technical Director:“It was a good day

for us. The weather played a big part in our positions and performance in the morning loop, with the rain on stage two. Everyone was on hard tyres and Citroen, with their weather information, took soft. They took 30

seconds off the rest of the field! Our battle is now with Ford and into the second loop we were chasing Mikko Hirvonen. Very quickly both Fords struck problems, so we find ourselves in a reasonable position at the moment in fourth and fifth. We are very pleased with where the MINI is in tarmac form, and very optimistic for the rest of the rally. I am sure tomorrow’s stages will suite Dani, and Kris is also really optimistic. Kris had a small fuel surge problem, but we have replaced all the parts

Motorsport

ROUND 9

Tearing up the

tarmac in germanyA first podium position for the WRC team as electrical gremlins cause grief.


and are confident that is sorted for tomorrow.”

Dani Sordo:“I am very happy as the

performance from the MINI in this rally is quite good. Fourth is not so bad, and honestly I didn’t expect to be in this position after day one. This morning the times were really close, but now they are not so close, as I think everyone has started to wake up on these tarmac roads. We have a little bit of work to do on the understeer in the corners, but as we are only on our third rally with this car we are not so bad. The times from Citroen are very fast, but Kris and myself will keep pushing hard and I think the work the team has done today is very good.”

Kris Meeke:“It has been a really enjoyable

rally and driving here has given me a smile. I have always liked this rally and gone well in the junior categories. This is my first time here in a world rally car and everything is coming at you a little faster. This morning there were places where I was hesitating, and we had the damp stage on the hard tyres which was quite difficult. I got comfortable and was really happy, but had a little problem on the second stage of this afternoon’s loop. The engine started cutting out towards the end of the stage, and then on heavy breaking it stalled completely and I spun and lost six or seven seconds. Overall I have to be very encouraged by the pace and to be setting times in the top three has to be

encouraging. We have a 45 minute service so we have to get to work now to try and resolve that little issue, even though I did not have it on that last stage. ”

Day TwoThe MINI WRC Team has every reason to feel satisfied after day two of Rally Germany, as Dani Sordo (ES) and Carlos del Barrio (ES) are now third overall in their MINI John Cooper Works WRC number 37. While Kris Meeke (GB) and Paul Nagle (IR) in number 52 are still in fifth, they have had a far from easy day with a puncture on stage 13 and a broken rim on stage 14 causing them to lose over a minute on the leading cars.

Number 13 proved unlucky for not only Meeke, but also the man chasing him for fourth, Petter Solberg (NO). While Meeke came

off the 15.23 kilometre stage 23.3 seconds behind the leader, Sébastien Loeb (FR), the Norwegian was even further behind with a loss of 31 seconds, also due to a puncture. The 34.18 kilometre final stage of the day on the Baumholder tank training ground also caused high drama for Loeb, as he became one of numerous drivers to suffer a puncture during the day and dropped to second behind his Citroen team-mate, Sébastien Ogier (FR).

Day two was held in extremely hot and sunny conditions, but there is a question mark over the weather for the final day as heavy thunder showers are forecast for late morning. The remaining crews have another five stages and 76.31 kilometres of competition which include the Power Stage of Circus Maximus back in Trier early in the afternoon.

Dave Wilcock, Technical Director:“That has been a pretty good

day as we started fourth and fifth and finished third and fifth. Dani has had a clean run through and set really quick times with Mikko Hirvonen. Then on the last stage he put in a blistering pace and finished within a couple of seconds of Sébastien Ogier and was second quickest. We were clearly faster than the Fords on that stage, and

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that was the one I really wanted to see where we really were with the others working perfectly. This is only our third rally and we know we can improve and from where we are now that is a really good benchmark. Kris had a fantastic day starting in fifth. Petter Solberg jumped him on the first stage this morning, but then had his problems, as did Kris including a little scare on the last stage of the day where he had a slow run through after

sustaining a little bit of damage to a wheel. He is still just in front of Solberg. Tomorrow Kris has to keep his nose clean, and Dani has to consolidate third if he can as Hirvonen will come out charging. The target is to stay on the podium, as we like it there and don’t want to get off it.”

Dani Sordo:“Honestly we didn’t expect to be

here in third on our first tarmac rally for the car. I am really happy

with the car. We did some changes to the set-up and today the MINI was quite good and helped me do the good times. We will continue to do the same tomorrow and try to finish on the podium. We don’t have enough of a margin to feel safe, as you can have a puncture, you can spin or the weather may be bad. I am not going to start thinking about the podium, but just to try to drive well as we still have another day. The most important thing is we are still close to the opposition, and if we do modifications to the car for the future we are planning we can then be really close.”

Kris Meeke:“We have had a few wee

problems, and we picked up another puncture on stage 13. Everyone seems to be hitting trouble. Dani and Sébastien Ogier are the only two in the top eight or nine who have not picked up a puncture, so it is proving to be a challenge. We were just a little bit unlucky in that sense. Then on the second run through Panzerplatte the car was a little bit nervous underbraking, it cut away from me and stopped very gently against a small stone,


it broke the rim and we had a massive vibration for the rest of the stage. When we have had a clean run we have really been on the money, and have been able to be right up there with the times. We have not been consistent enough, but that will come as this is only my second ever start on a WRC event on tarmac. ”

Day ThreeA podium position on the ADAC Rally Germany was the reward for the MINI WRC Team after Dani Sordo (ES) and Carlos del Barrio (ES) finished third in their number 37 MINI John Cooper Works WRC after a flawless drive. It also looked as if their team-mates, Kris Meeke (GB) and Paul Nagle (IR), were set to make it to the finish in Trier, but then on the penultimate stage an electrical gremlin struck and the car stopped while they were still fighting for fourth.

Sordo had a rally long battle with the Ford of Mikko Hirvonen (FI) and after 19 stages and 359.59 kilometres of competition finished 48.1secs ahead of him. For Kris he started the final day in fourth ahead of Petter Solberg (NO) in his Citroen. Despite a rear puncture on the first stage of the day, Meeke only lost 1.1secs to Solberg. However, on the second one what Meeke described as an ‘optimistic’ pace note saw him have an excursion into the vineyards and drop to fifth. Despite this he started a fight back, but then when the car stopped on stage 18 the battle with Solberg was over.

It was only 11 months ago on the 15th September that the MINI rally car first turned a wheel in testing in Portugal. In that time the team has competed on only three World Rally Championship events and made it to the podium on its first tarmac event. While this may be the team’s first podium, for the second time this season it has been awarded the Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally Award for Sordo’s great drive.

David Richards, Team Principal:“I don’t know where to start to

thank all the people who have made this possible. Dani has driven an impeccable event, and never put a foot wrong. I never doubted his abilities. Poor Kris - if there was any bad luck it was always with him. To have such cruel luck on the second to last stage I really feel for him, but his day will come. He has proved how competitive he can be here and I am sure he is looking forward to France.”

Dave Wilcock, Technical Director:“The morning stages were dry

and we took a bit of a gamble. All the competitors took soft tyres, but we did a split and took the safe option for Dani and Kris went for hard. It was absolutely the right choice, as we could see after ten kilometres into the first stage the hard tyres had warmed up and I was confident we were on for our first fastest stage. Then at the lunchtime service the heavens opened for the afternoon stages and soft was the obvious choice for everyone. Dani was matching Hirvonen and picked up the pace when he had to and drove a

stunning finish. For Kris we had a loss of electrical power three kilometres into the penultimate stage. The problem was a broken terminal, a really simple problem as you can do thousands of miles testing and never have this problem.”

Dani Sordo:“I am really, really happy for me

and the team. For the first rally of the car on tarmac this is very good. This is a surprise and the times were so close to Ford and Citroen that we have a lot of confidence for the next rally. The car is really good on tarmac. We have a good set-up and the suspension is perfect. I tried to push hard on the power stage and it was great to be third, but I didn’t want to take any risks.”

Kris Meeke:“The day started out as going

to be a bit of a battle with Petter Solberg. We held him in the first one and then on the second we had a little error on the pace note side as the note I had made on the recce was a little bit optimistic and I missed my braking point and lost ten seconds there. After lunch it was very wet and there was only a second between myself and Petter on the first stage, and then on the next about halfway through the car started to cut out on me, eventually stopped completely and there was nothing we could do. It was quite clear it was an electrical issue as there was no power to the control box inside the car. It was traced to just a little wire that had come off and it was one of those things. ”



The Monster Energy X-raid team celebrated an historic success in the five-day Abu

Dhabi Desert Challenge, which started on April 3rd and finished on April 7th. It marked an historic achievement for the X-raid team. The MINI All4 Racing was triumphant less than three months after its first appearance in the Dakar Rally.

The duo of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA/FRA), claimed victory ahead of their team mates Leonid Novitskiy and Andreas Schulz (RUS/GER) in a

BMW X3CC. Novitskiy not only secured valuable points for the FIA World Cup for off-road rallies, but he also took the outright lead in the World Cup drivers’ standings.

The two X-raid crews controlled proceedings in Abu Dhabi and made the fight for overall victory between themselves. Peterhansel secured three of the five possible stage wins and eventually beat Novitskiy by a winning margin of 15m16s. The Russian and his German co-driver shadowed Peterhansel and Cottret throughout the event. Novitskiy snatched

victory on the third stage and briefly led Peterhansel in the overall standings.

“Stéphane and the MINI All4 Racing have shown to be in excellent shape and deserved this victory,” said Monster Energy X-raid team boss Sven Quandt.

“Although he stalled twice, technically we had no problems. Even Leonid has shown a very strong performance. The second place puts him in the FIA World Cup lead and in a very good position. He maintained his tactics and approached the rally wisely. “

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X-raid MINI takes

win in second Abu Dhabi sanddunes are no match for the MINI All4 Racing team.


Motorsport

The MINI All4 Racing was developed by the Monster Energy X-raid team in just 90 days for the Dakar Rally. In Argentina and Chile, it quickly became a crowd favourite. The next outing for the MINI All4 Racing will be further east at the Silk Way Rally. Teams will head from the Russian capital of Moscow to Sochi, the venue of the Olympic Winter Games 2014.

Motorsport

Russian recoveryMINI team put problems behind them to climb back in to a podium position.


Stage 1 - LIPETSK The Monster Energy X-raid Team endured mixed fortunes on the opening leg of the Silk Way Rally between Moscow and Lipetsk. Electrical problems troubled the MINI All4 Racing team of French duo Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret, and they finished the stage down in an unofficial 68th position.

Heavy rain had soaked almost the entire 261km of the route of the day’s stage between Moscow and Lipetsk and muddy conditions prevailed.

Peterhansel was slowed around 40 kilometres after the start with

electronic problems. The Frenchman had to stop twice and could not attack for the rest of the stage. He finished an unofficial 68th in the rankings.

“At the beginning it was very good, but we had to stop at kilometre 43,” said Peterhansel. “We tried to solve the problem. But eventually we had no alternative but to drive slowly to the finish. The stage itself was not easy, because the grip changed continuously.

“We still do not know exactly where the problem came from. We assume, however, a problem with the electronics. But it’s better for us to have those difficulties here and not

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on the Dakar,” admitted Monster Energy X-raid team boss Sven Quandt. “On the other hand, I must say that the MINI All4 Racing has never before driven in these conditions. Our vehicles have not been designed for this amount of mud.”

Stage 2 - VOLGOGRAD Stage 2 is the longest stage for the participants in the rally. The day starts with a liaison of 364km, before crews tackle 484km against the clock. A short 2km liaison takes teams to the bivouac. The start of the stage is believed to be over fast, wide tracks before the terrain becomes sandier with a few dunes

The Monster Energy X-raid Team was rewarded for its hard work by taking a stage win and the overall lead in the Silk Way Rally after the second special stage between Lipetsk and Volgograd on Monday.

Peterhansel and Cottret clinched the stage victory in their Mini All4 Racing. The mechanics had worked all night on the car to resolve the technical problem that had slowed the Frenchmen on the opening stage.

Peterhansel began the special in 11th position on the road and quickly caught several competitors. He was able to pass a Kamaz truck at a checkpoint and, in the dunes towards the end of the stage, he overtook Holowczyc and the two X-raid team drivers reached the finish together.

“If you start from 11th place, you have the motivation to pass all before you,” said Peterhansel. “It’s like a game and it was fun. When we caught up with Krzysztof we stayed behind him in order not to take any unnecessary risks. The stage itself was a mixture of everything: fast passages, sandy stretches and small dunes. It was definitely not an easy day.”

Stage 3 - ASTRAKHANThe third stage takes crews from Volgograd to Astrakhan. After a liaison section of 148km, the special runs for 432km and finished 10km from the bivouac. The first 240km run through the Russian steppes, where navigation will be tricky on the deceptive tracks. Sand dunes will also be on the agenda again.

The Monster Energy X-raid Team had three reasons to celebrate on the third leg of the Silk Way Rally between Volgograd and Astrakhan on Tuesday. The team’s three cars snatched the top three positions on the day’s special stage.

Polish driver Krzysztof Holowczyc and Belgian co-driver Jean Marc Fortin secured their first stage victory in a BMW X3 CC, the French duo of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret finished second in the team’s MINI All4 Racing and the Russian pairing of Alexander Mironenko and Sergey Lebedev rounded off the top three in a second BMW X3CC and moved up to second place in the general classification.

Peterhansel looked set to claim his first stage win through the early sections of the special, but a small mistake dropped him behind his teammate. “Shortly before the first dunes, in the camel grass, we got stuck,” admitted Peterhansel. “I selected reverse and then we got stuck on a large clump of camel grass. It was about nine minutes before I was able to get going again. This was very disappointing.”

“Today’s result was very good for us,” said Monster Energy X-raid team boss Sven Quandt. “However, today’s stage was very hard for the cars and it has already taken its toll. It was important to have strong suspension and a good chassis. Our three cars are running like clockwork.”

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Stage 4 - ASTRAKHANOn Stage 4 sees crews tackle a 400km loop stage around Astrakhan. Fast tracks will again be part and parcel of the special, which also includes 45km in sand dunes and a return to faster tracks for the final 60km.

The Monster Energy X-raid Team recorded the first and second fastest times on the fourth leg of the 2011 Silk Way Rally, a punishing loop stage around Astrakhan.

The French duo of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret set the fastest time of the day in the team’s MINI All4 Racing and moved up to second place in the overall classification.

Peterhansel eventually won the special by nine minutes. “It was a very long sandy stage with many off-road sections,” said Peterhansel. “Especially when you are

traveling off-road, you must be very careful. The Silk Way Rally only lasts one week, but the stages are much longer than the Dakar.”

Holowczyc was content with the runner-up spot. “It was nice to drive behind the master (Peterhansel – nine-time Dakar winner),” said the Pole. “I hope he is not angry with me. The stage lasted for six hours and the navigation was very difficult. To see the way was not so easy!”

Stage 5 - STAVROPOLStage 5 begins with a 55km road section to the start of a 689km special stage in the direction of Stravopol. This is followed by a short liaison of 21km to the overnight halt. Navigation across the vast Russian steppes will not be easy and water crossings and mountains will be prevalent towards the end of the stage.

Poland’s Krzysztof Holowczyc and Belgian co-driver Jean-Marc Fortin snatched victory for the Monster Energy X-raid Team on the fifth stage of the

2011 Silk

Way Rally between Astrakhan and

Stavropol in Russia on Thursday.The stage win marked the

pinnacle of another successful day for the X-raid team, with the French duo of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret recording the second fastest time in the team’s MINI All4 Racing and the Russian duo of Alexander Mironenko and

Sergey Lebedev finishing third in their BMW X3 CC.

Later in the stage, the Pole caught Peterhansel and remained behind his teammate. “We saw that there was something wrong with him and stayed behind to help in case we were needed.” The Frenchman suffered problems with the cooling system for the turbocharger after around 150km of the stage

and had to stop twice to

refill the system with water. “It was disappointing, but we made the best of it to finish in second place. There were some nice tracks near the finish, including an uphill pass through grassland.”

Peterhansel had a special encounter when he visited the farm to ask for water to fill the cooling system. “I came with the helmet, ran into the yard and there was an old woman with no teeth,” said the Frenchman. “She was quite shocked when she saw me. Then I winced.


The men had recently slaughtered a lamb and were about to pull the skin off! They were very friendly and gave me water…”

Stage 6 - MAYKOPFor Stage 6 the crews tackle two short special stages en route to Maykop. The day began with a 36km liaison section to the first

113.68 km timed stage. The

terrain

features wide, open

grassland and

narrow, winding

paths before heading into a 30km neutralization zone. The second timed section is extremely fast, and features numerous 90-degree bends.

After three long days racing across Russia, the Monster Energy X-raid team only had to tackle a relatively short 168km special stage against the clock between Stavropol and Maykop on the Silk Way Rally on Friday.

The French pairing of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret were pipped to the stage win by the Russian driver Vladimir Vasijev and

duly set the second fastest time in their Mini All4 Racing, a mere 1m 24s behind the Proto driver.

Peterhansel was the fastest driver on the track for much of the stage, but had to stop and change a flat tyre. The delay cost the Frenchman about three minutes and the day’s stage win. “Too bad we had to stop short,” said a disappointed Peterhansel. “Especially since the test was very nice to drive today. The navigation was not too difficult for the stage. “

Finish - SOCHIThe final leg of the 2011 Silk Way Rally sees crews tackle a 227km liaison section and then a short 16km seventh special against the clock. The route runs through a riverbed and includes

numerous water crossings. After a further 117km road section, crews hope arrive in Sochi for a triumphant podium finish.

The Monster Energy X-raid Team completed the gruelling Silk Way Rally in first, second and fifth positions at the podium ceremony in Sochi on Saturday.

Polish driver Krzysztof Holowczyc and Belgian co-driver Jean-Marc Fortin claimed outright victory in their BMW X3 CC, the French pairing of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret finished

second in a MINI All4 Racing and the Russian duo of Alexander Mironenko and Sergey Lebedev were fifth.

For Peterhansel, the first stage had been crucial to the eventual outcome. After problems with a supply of diesel, he lost over two hours to the front-runners and was classified down in 68th position. But the Frenchman worked his way quickly back up the leaderboard and, after the third stage, he had already reached fourth overall. A day later, he snatched second position. Peterhansel also won two of the six stages.

“I’m rather disappointed, I finally came to Russia to win,” said the Frenchman. “But at least we were able to use the rally well to continue to test the MINI. The prerequisite for this was good. The long tests were stressful and there was also a certain amount of pressure weighing on us.”

“We started with three cars and have taken three to the finish, plus we could still secure the top two spots in the standings,” said Monster Energy X-raid team boss Sven Quandt. “Surely Stéphane is disappointed but, on the other hand, we carried out a lot of work on the MINI. The Silk Way Rally was good preparation for the Dakar, but we still have work to do.”

Just one week after the one-two success at the Silk Way Rally in Russia, the team was again in

winning ways at the Baja Spain.The Portuguese duo of Filipe

Campos and Jaime Baptista claimed victory in the round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies at the wheel of their BMW X3 CC.

Portuguese team mates Bernardo Moniz da Maia and Joana Sotto-Mayor secured eighth position in the MINI All4 Racing and the Russian-German duo of Leonid Novitskiy and Andreas Schulz finished seventh in their BMW X3 CC and maintained the lead in the 2011 FIA World Cup.

Campos gave his opposition no real chance in the three-day event around Zaragoza. The Portuguese

won the super special and three of the four stages. The result was all the more impressive, bearing in mind that the BMW driver had to open all four specials as the first car on the route and had no tracks to follow. Only on the last stage did he set the fourth fastest time.

Novitskiy maintains his lead in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies after this fourth round, courtesy of seventh position. Main French rival Jean-Louis Schlesser could only finish 10th. Novitskiy lost several minutes on the last stage with three flat tyres and, because his car was only carrying two spares, he had to wait for team mate Moniz da Maia to lend him a spare wheel.

Baja Spain marked Moniz da

Maia’s first appearance in the MINI All4 Racing. The Portuguese tackled all the stages without problems and set several useful stage times to record an eventual eighth overall.

“All three cars in the top eight. That’s a really good weekend for us,” said Monster Energy X-raid team boss Sven Quandt. “Filipe has driven very fast and steady and has rightly secured the victory. The Baja Spain was also a success for Leonid.

“We must also remember that our rivals in the Mitsubishis were able to run with a six-speed manual gearbox and a larger air restrictor. Bernardo also had a good run to eighth. That was a really good result. “

Motorsport

Baja Rally Spain

Portugese teammates take over the driving of the MINI All4 in Spain.


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SERVICE RESTORATION SPARES

1 Bonnet MK1, MK2 & MK3 £135.002 Front wing with or without side repeater £88.003 Full scuttle repair £115.004 A post stiffener - internal hinges only £21.505 A post boxing plate - MK1 & 2 (MM) / MK3 £14.29/£13.006 A post step repair - internal hinges £70.007 Rear wing MK3 / MK1 & 2 (MM) £95.00/£84.838 Backpanel - Screen down/Gutter down £180.00/£250.009 Full boot hinge panel £140.001 0 Inner ‘A’ panel (including scuttle closing panel) £55.001 1 Outer ‘A’ panel MK1 & 2 / MK3 £32.50/£19.991 2 Scuttle closing plate £12.001 3 Door - MK1 & 2 / MK3 £535.00/£405.001 4 Door skin - MK1 & 2 / MK3 £70.00 each1 5 Rear valance / closing plate (Partial/Full) £45.00/£23.77/£31.641 6 Stiffener-boot fl oor to arch / Rear bulkhead £18.60/£10.871 7 Companion bin closing plate / Inner sill stiffener £11.76/12.181 8 Heelboard - Full / Half £62.00/£30.001 9 Full wheel housing £75.0020 Rear turret repair / Mudguard £43.00/£31.602 1 Full fl oor pan / Half fl oor (rod change) £190.00/£87.0022 Floor sling shoe £5.8923 Jacking point / Seat belt anchor £13.74/6.4024 Boot fl oor / Seat pan skin £160.0025 Inner wing bare / comes with A post & ‘A’ panel £106.07/£175.0025 MK1 & MK2 van pickup inner wings £99.0026 Flitch repair panel (NG) £10.7927 Radiator cowl / Vent panel £51.00/£39.5028 Boot fl oor side repair / Rear repair (MM) £23.76/£18.0029 RHD tank stand £12.1830 Front panel Pre 1976 / Post 1976 (rubber mounted) £150.003 1 Boot lid MK3 / MK1 £170.00/£330.00

Waist rail (below 1/4 light) Pre ‘70 / Post ‘70 £25.54/£39.26Clubman wings / Front panel £98.06/£96.60Clubman bonnet / Inner wing £148.03/£162.96Mini under wing liners (helps prevent corrosion) £83.52

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27

26

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running gear, suspension, brakes, etc. £1591.225 Rear subframe assembly includes all

running gear, suspension, brakes, etc. £1236.886 Rear subframe mount kit - bushes, pins, bolts, etc £41.767 MK1 front subframes £394.45

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1 Rear number plate backing £11.752 Rear number plate bracket £8.203 1/4 valence seam capping £6.644 Rear 1/4 valence Genuine/Non Genuine £18.65/£9.725 Rear 1/4 valence closing plate £5.046 Centre valence Genuine/Non Genuine £32.47/£12.257 Centre rear valence closing plate £27.728 Van or Estate - Fuel tank / Fitting kit £195.00/£6.139 Rear valence seam capping £6.64

VAN/ESTATE REAR VALENCE PANELS

1 Radius arm nipple shroud £7.202 Saloon outer sill - MK1 & 2, 4 fl ute (MM) £18.362 Saloon outer sill - MK3 Genuine / Non Genuine £32.50/£10.202 Van & Estate outer sill MK1 & 2, 4 fl ute (MM) £17.642 Van & Estate outer sill - MK3 Genuine / Non Genuine £28.39/£10.503 Seat cross member - Pre 1974 / Post 1974 £56.17/£61.124 Seat cross member end repair £18.905 Companion bin - Saloon MK1,2,3 / Clubman Estate £30.46/£82.66 each5 Genuine companion bin MK3 onwards £31.646 Lower companion bin repair Saloon MK1,2,3/Club Estate £16.66/£14.86 ea7 Wide front to rear fl oor c/w outer sill and jacking point £135.298 Narrow front to rear fl oor c/w outer sill and jacking point £81.439 Full length inner sill - Saloon / Estate £26.46/£28.8010 Battery cable cover £15.4311 Complete fl oor assembly Heritage £535.0012 Front foot well repair - Budget / Restoration £12.60/£35.75

FLOORING PANELS

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GENERAL RESTORATION PARTS

Somerford Mini also have a FULL workshop facilities. We are experts at restoring Minis and turn out some of the BEST IN THE COUNTRY. We also offer other services from general repairs and servicing to up-rated engines and suspensions. In fact we cater for anything connected with a Mini. We offer expert advice and professional honest service. Why not visit our ever expanding shop and workshops?

BRAKES

M. Cyl - single line (plastic tank) / Dual line £46.48/£77.18Wheel cylinder - all types in stock From £8.28M. Cyl seating gaskets - Large / Small £1.42/£1.13Brake fl exi hose - Front / Rear £7.02/£7.80Rear brake Adjuster / Wedge £2.05 each/£4.10 eachHandbrake bellows £2.28 eachBrake backplate - Front / Rear £41.11/£32.89Brake shoes - Front / Rear £12.74/£12.29Handbrake cables - Twin / Front / Rear to rear £4.75/£4.20/£4.74Brake drum - Standard / Spaced £14.29/£14.58Brake disc - 8.4” / 7.5” / Vented £10.20/£26.81/£14.40Brake disc 997 / 998 Cooper £48.72 eachBrake pads - ‘S’ / Late / Vented £20.64/£13.80/£19.30Complete brake pipe lit (copper/brass unions) From £78.19Individual brake pipes From £8.59Brake servo MK1 & MK2 / Brake servo kit MK3 £327.60/£161.82

CARBURATION

Air fi lter - HS2 / HS4 / Injection Cooper £6.78/£5.08/£9.54Carb rebuild kit - HS2 / HS4 std / HIF44 £37.58/£46.98/£55.49Carb jets - Standard / Waxstat £16.85/£32.68Heat shield kit - HS2 / HS4 Stainless £12.72Throttle cable - HS / HIF £3.88/£9.19Choke cable - MK1 & ‘S’ / 1969 & 1989 £14.40/£14.40/£7.31Carb Needle / Spring £10.21/£5.46Twin carb link pipe £10.08Fuel pump - Manual N.Gen/Manual Gen/Electric N.Gen £17.75/£35.51/£56.10Electric fuel pump mounting Bracket / Clamp £7.15/£6.60S.U. pump banjo union £4.21Fuel fi lter in-line (replacable element) £9.00Fuel hose - Rubber / Braided (per metre) £5.06/£7.14Front/rear copper fuel pipe - Saloon / Van & Estate £13.97/£28.37Carb return spring - Standard / Twin carb £2.54/£2.56Twin carb linkage kit £17.41Fuel pump blanking plate £3.78

CLUTCH

Clutch kit - Diaphragm / Verto / Injection £59.05/£91.20/£113.11Slave cylinder - Diaphragm Gen/N.Gen/Verto Gen/N.Gen £28.64/£11.44/£43.81/£25.91Flexi hose - Diaphragm / Verto £8.68/£4.74Clutch cover - Standard / Orange / Grey £27.95/£38.28/£47.10Master cylinder - Plastic tank / Tin tank £52.51/£79.62Release bearing - Diaphragm / Verto £9.68/£12.25Return spring £2.34

COOLING

Standard Radiator - 3 Row/Comp 2 row/MPi £69.60/£91.78/£162.06Oil cooler - 13 row £42.62Braided pipe kit - Mini / Clubman £31.06/£35.03Thermostat / Blanking sleeve / Housing £4.92/£8.82/£12.89Radiator cowling rubber £5.40Radiator hoses to 1990 - Top / Bottom £4.68/£8.64Top hose ‘S’ / GT £3.58/£6.74Heater control valve MK1 / MK3 / MK4 £19.98/£15.00/£30.11Water pump £20.45Cooling fan - 2 Blade / 6 Blade £27.36/£34.32Top radiator bracket - ‘S’ or GT £8.99Heater hose £3.06 per metre1275 fan spacer £9.38Heater cable - MK1 / MK2 & MK3 £14.40/£11.94

ELECTRICAL

Fuel sender Saloon/Estate £25.54/£25.54Indicator switch MK1 / MK2 / MK3 £33.06/£30.60/£38.10Fuse box - 2 Fuse / 4 Fuse £10.08/£18.00Floor starter switch £27.84Solenoid - Standard / Push button £10.20/£23.50Floor mounted dip switch £19.92Headlamp switch - MK1 / MK2 / MK3 £10.36/£21.60/£9.00Battery cable - front to rear £19.50Battery - Clamp / Rod £6.76/£1.91Dynamo - reconditioned. (exchange) £63.00Alternator - reconditioned. (exchange) From £45.90Voltage regulator £22.07Starter motor - recon. (ex) Inertia/Pre-engaged £90.00/£84.40Complete wiring looms From £179.83Wiper wheelbox - MK1 / MK3 £51.66/£17.36Washer pump - Electric / Manual £13.50/£22.92Wiper park switch / Multi plug £13.20/£6.54Wiper motor - twin speed £43.50Indicator fl asher unit MK1 / MK2 & 3 / 1991 onwards £5.99/£4.68/£10.36

IGNITION

H.T. leads & plug caps - Period MK1 £32.05 setH.T. lead set - Various colours / MPi £12.25/£15.32Electronic ignition kits - Aldon / Lumenition £97.87/£87.36

Aldon competition dizzy £176.17Ignition switch MK1 & 2 / MK3 & MK4 £10.36/£54.82

LIGHTING

Clubman side indicator unit £68.74Rear light - MK1 / MK2 / MK3 £47.86/£48.72/£49.60Rear lens MK1 - Red / Amber / Screw kit £8.10/£6.05/£5.04Rear lens MK2 & MK3 £15.66Headlamp sealed beam unit £13.22Quadoptic halogen headlamp kit RHD/LHD £38.98/£48.62Steel headlamp - Bowl / Rubber gasket £10.80/£4.20Plastic headlamp bowl (including rim, gasket & adjuster) £11.40Headlamp bezel - Genuine / Non Genuine £16.27/£7.30Front indicator unit - Genuine / Non Genuine £15.32/£7.14‘Works’ chrome boot mounted spot lamp £121.966” driving lamp set - Black / Chrome £31.66/£22.14Stainless spotlamp bracket £7.20Pick-up rear light - 1976 onwards £25.63Rear number plate MK1 & 2 - Genuine / Non Genuine. £29.15/£8.02MK3 Interior light / Interior light switch £9.90/£5.94

PLUGS/CONTACTS/CONDENSERS(All types in stock)

Standard coil/Ballast/Electronic/Sports £19.03/£19.67/£22.28/£21.31Low tension lead (MK1 / MK2 25D) £5.34Distributor vacuum unit 25D / 45D £46.55Engine splash guard kit (includes clips, etc) £35.75Standard battery / Heavy duty £41.72/£59.16Metal vacuum advance pipe with fuel trap £25.20

RUBBER BUSHES/MOUNTINGS

Rear subframe mounting - Large / Small £3.53/£1.14Rear sub mounting pin £17.26Tie bar - Standard / Heavy duty £1.08 each/£7.66 set of 4Bottom arm - Standard / Heavy duty £1.80 each/£11.23 set of 4Rear shock top cap £4.08Top arm rebound buffer £1.80Front bump stop (not hydro) - 1 Bolt / 2 Bolt £7.15/£7.66Bump stop (hydro) - Front / Rear £7.20/£6.60Shock absorber - Front / Rear, top £2.28/£4.86

Front subframe - Front mount / Rear mount £3.60/£5.70Rubber suspension cone - Genuine £49.60Rod change mount £4.38Remote housing mount £4.92Engine mount manual £3.05Engine mount auto - RHD / LHD £26.98/£12.34Engine tie bar kit - Standard / Up-rated £2.38/£7.66Remote to gearbox - Front £3.54

SUSPENSION/STEERING

Radius arm rebuild kit £14.29 eachKnuckle joint £4.08 eachSwivel pin kit (service one hub) £10.73Track rod end - Genuine / Non Genuine £13.50/£4.96Steering rack (new) RHD / LHD £67.86/£72.22Sports pack limited travel rack (Non Genuine) £90.00Nylon steering column bush - Upper / Lower £4.50/£4.74Timken front disc bearings - Genuine / Non Genuine £65.34/£14.04Timken front drum bearings - Genuine / Non Genuine £68.26/£12.42Timken rear bearings - Genuine / Non Genuine £42.89/£11.34Drive fl ange ‘S’ / 8.4” / Drum £27.85/£30.48/£29.62Shock absorber - Front & Rear £18.38 eachHydro pipe - Nylon / Copper £35.75/£33.78Displacer dust cover £7.14Top arm rebuild kit £13.20 per armFront towing eye £10.20

MASSIVE SELECTION OF NUTS, BOLTS AND BODY HARDWARE

Sportspack £5750.00 eachClubman Saloon £5950.00 each

RESTORATIONWe have unrivalled knowledge and experience. With full workshop facilities and highly skilled staff, we can restore your Mini to the highest standards. We cater for all types and years of Minis and can make your dream come true!

REFURBISHMENTSadly every Mini succumbs to the dreaded rust. Our Refurbishment service could be the answer. Typically all ‘skin’ panels are replaced and the car receives an external respray. This will bring your Mini to it’s former glory and give it at least another 15 years of life!

OTHER SERVICESWe have a fully equipped workshop and carry over 9000 new parts. We have over 20 years experience and a very skilled, knowledgeable workforce. We are able to carry out any job here is a list of some of our services, please contact us with your requirement: accident repair, mechanical repair, servicing, MOT tests, modifi cation & tuning and re-shells.

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ONE OF THE LARGEST STOCKISTS OF MINI PARTS IN THE WORLD, WITH OVER 12,500 PARTS AVAILABLE!

WHILST WE ENDEAVOUR TO SOURCE AND SELL THE BEST QUALITY PARTS AVAILABLE, WE REGRET WE DO NOT CATER FOR CONCOURSE CARS.

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BODYSHELLS (Range includes MK4, SPi, MPi)

Engine splash guard kit (includes clips, etc) £35.75Standard battery / Heavy duty £41.72/£59.16Metal vacuum advance pipe with fuel trap £25.20

Rear subframe mounting - Large / Small £3.53/£1.14Rear sub mounting pin £17.26Tie bar - Standard / Heavy duty £1.08 each/£7.66 set of 4Bottom arm - Standard / Heavy duty £1.80 each/£11.23 set of 4

‘FREE’ CATALOGUES For your FREE copy of the CLASSIC MINI ACCESSORIES and/or BODY PANEL catalogue, please contact us by phone or email (see top of advert).

CD ROM Over 12,500 parts listed! Full of information and explanatory notes. Includes 40 exclusive video clips of the last ever Mini being built at Longbridge. UK £4.08 incl. P&P. (Outside UK £5.00 incl. P&P).

RESTORATION REFURBISHMENT OTHER SERVICES

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SHOP OPENING HOURSMONDAY-FRIDAY: 9am - 6pm SATURDAY: 9am - 2pm SUNDAY: Closed

NEW LOOK WEBSITE! More than a website, this is the most useful resource tool in the business. Over 12,500 parts fully illustrated and many are available to buy online, visit . . .

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Tel: (Parts) 01249 721421 Fax: 01249 721316 Email: [email protected] Unit 2, Broadfi eld Farm, Great Somerford, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 5EL

WE STOCK THE ENTIRE HERITAGE BODYSHELL RANGE. PLEASE CONTACT US WITH YOUR REQUIREMENTS.

www.somerfordmini.co.uk

SM032 MM Issue 210 RESTORATION.indd 1 06/02/2013 14:01


ROUND 2

HRCR Mini Cup:

Down AmpneyRound 2 sees the King take the trophy while a host of newcomers battle for the scraps.

Motorsport

Cheltenham Motor Clubs ‘Get it Sideways’ Stages Rally was to

be Round 2 of the Mini Cup Championship for all Minis up to the end of 1981. The event was held at the former WWII airfield at Down Ampney near Cirencester and provided 10 stages of around five miles each. The event attracted a full entry of 60 cars.

11 Mini Cup registered drivers entered, which was the largest entry of Minis seen since the championship started in 2008. There were also two other non-registered Mini crews entered.

The venue, although having two quite long straights, suited the Minis, with Clive

King/Polly opening up a small lead of eight seconds over John Brooks/Phil Harvey, both in Cooper Ss, after the first two stages. Unfortunately Paul Price, on his very first event, with the immaculately prepared 1960 Cooper S was to suffer a broken driveshaft on Stage 1. It was not to be his day for when he re-entered the ‘trophy’ rally later in the day the steering arm failed.

Eric Davis/Russell Joseph, in a 1275 GT, were down on power for the first two stages until the fuel pump was changed at the second service, which got them back on the pace. Manxman Adrian Kermode along with Maurice Beckett from Northern Ireland,


RACE RESULTS1 King/Polly 2 Davis/Joseph3 O’Hanlon/Roberts4 Brooks/Harvey5 Thompson/

Thompson6 Dutson/Fellows7 Hart/Griffiths 8 Mackintosh /Somerfield9 Lock/Myers

WoRDS Brian thomasPhotoS www.kpbphotography.co.uk

To follow the championship visit www.hrcr.co.uk and click on the Historic Stage Rally Challenge

Motorsport

also in a Cooper S, started slowly but picked up the pace, setting the fastest time on Stage 5 before retiring with a cracked diff’ casing. Other Minis entered were son and father team of Jason/Hugh Thompson, Andrew O’Hanlon back with Gemma Roberts for the first time since their big accident together on the ranges of Epynt last year, Nigel Dutson/Keith Fellowes in another GT and Alison Lock/Hugh Myers in yet another Cooper S. Two new crews to the series were Finlay Mackintosh/Abi Somerfield and Stuart Hart/Paul Griffiths again both in

Mini Coopers.

Leading the lineKing/Polly had a trouble-free run, always managing to just stay ahead by a few seconds of the rest of the field, setting fastest times on all but two of the 10 stages. They also finished in 13th place overall in the event which was an amazing achievement amongst some very quick ‘modern’ machinery. The real battle was for second spot between Davis/Joseph, O’Hanlon/Roberts and Brooks/Harvey. It was ‘nip & tuck’ all day with only two seconds covering the three of them after Stage 7. Davis/Joseph went on the attack and set the second quickest time on Stage 8 and the fastest time on Stage 9 opening up a 13-second gap on O’Hanlon/Roberts. However Brooks/Harvey were still only one second behind O’Hanlon/Roberts going into the 10th and final stage. O’Hanlon/Robert pulled three second back on Davis/Joseph and beat Brooks/Harvey by two seconds, so at the end there were still only 13 seconds covering all three crews.

Thompson/Thompson suffered clutch problems for part of the day but had a good battle with another HRCR crew out in an Austin Healey. Mackintosh/ Somerfield suffered an intermittent misfire, Dutson/Fellows, Hart/Griffiths, and Lock/Myers did not report any problems and all recorded good finishes in the overall event.

ROUND 3

HRCR Mini Cup:

Severn Valley Tortuous terrain takes its toll on the Mini teams.

Motorsport

The Severn Valley Stages organised by Midland Manor Motor Club over

seven fast flowing forest stages of Epynt provided an opportunity for the HRCR Mini Cup contenders to sample all but one of the same stages as those tackled by the BHRC crews. A well thought-out route and timetable meant that the crews had the minimum of ‘second usage’ and those stages that they did twice remained in good condition. The only stage not tackled again was reported to have been the roughest by other crews. The organisers even arranged for the Mini crews to run at the front of the field in a totally separate event.

Slightly disappointing was the entry of only six, but together with the British Historic Rally Championship contenders the ‘historic’ crews made up over 75 percent of the total field.

Series leader Clive King was back with his regular co-driver, Bob Ward, for the first time this year in their Cooper S. They set off in their usual ‘all out attack mode’ from the off and were around 20 seconds a stage quicker than anyone else on the first four stages. They held a 1 min 26 second lead over Eric Davis/Russell Joseph in their 1275 GT when they pulled into the showground at Builth Wells for service. Hot on Davis/




Motorsport

Joseph’s heels were Andrew O’Hanlon/James Crook’s Cooper S, only 4 seconds adrift. Next up was Paul Price who was paired up with ‘Polly’ for Paul’s first real event following his first stage problems on the previous event. After a steady start, they picked up the pace and they finished second fastest behind King/Ward on SS4. Nigel Dutson/Keith Fellows, also in a 1275 GT, had an interesting morning having quite a few moments including a very near stage exit on SS3.

The remaining Mini crew suffered problems

on the first loop, Jason/Hugh Thompson lost all brakes on their Cooper S on SS1 and drove the remaining three stages using only the handbrake, but had to take two stage maximum scores. Tyre wear was a talking point in service as most of the fronts were well worn after only 24 miles of stages.

Despite the problems, all the crews set out on time from the Showground for the final loop of three stages.

Turning point Stage 5 was to be the turning point of the event as King/Ward suffered their first DNF of the season with driveshaft failure and the Thompsons retired with a reoccurrence of their brake problem. Stage 5 also saw Price/Polly retire with engine overheating which left only three of the original six Minis still running.

King/Ward’s retirement left the fight for the outright win between Davis/Joseph and O’Hanlon/Crook. O’Hanlon took back the four second deficit on Davies to lead by 0.6 second going into Stage 6. Davis/Joseph seeing King stopped on stage must have inspired them as they then took 10 seconds out of O’Hanlon/Crook to lead by nine seconds going into the final stage. Another five seconds to the good on the last stage meant a Davis/Joseph took the overall win by margin of only 15 seconds over 40 miles.

O’Hanlon/Crook were second and Dutson/Fellows came home third and picked up a pot. Davis and Joseph take over the lead in Mini Cup with King dropping to fourth.

RACE RESULTS1 Davis/Joseph2 O’Hanlon/Crook3 Dutson/Fellows

DNF King/WardDNF Price/PollyDNF Thompson/Thompson


ROUND 4

HRCR Mini Cup:

Midsummer StagesMini crashes and mechanical failures shake up the leaderboard again,

Motorsport

South Wales Auto Club (SWAC) provided Round 4 of the HRCR Mini Cup supported by Astran

Cargo Services Ltd. The whole of the event runs within the confines of the MOD site at Caerwent. The venue has a multitude of different roads and provides a great test of a driver’s ability and keeps the co-drivers on their toes with all the changes of direction. It has a reputation of taking no prisoners if you stray from the straight, and in some places very narrow, tracks and getting too close to their unforgiving kerbs. Those that have ventured there before either love it or hate it. It was the first time the series or the HRCR has been there for a full blown stage event and prior to the event it appeared to be a popular choice to be included in the series.

Seven Mini crews took to the start, but only three of the drivers had been to the venue before. There were

seven stages, each around 10 miles with various loops added or removed to provide the changes. The day also turned out to be the hottest day of the year, luckily the organisers had suggested we service together in the overspill area which provided plenty of shade.

First up was the early championship leader, Clive King with Bob Ward (Cooper S) hoping to put their first retirement of the year on the Severn Valley behind them. They were followed by Eric Davis/Russell Joseph (1275 GT) the new leaders in the Mini Cup, Andrew O’Hanlon/James Crook (Cooper S), Fin Mackintosh/Craig Jones (Cooper S) and Nigel Dutson with new co-driver Melanie Holmes, (1275 GT). The 2009 HRCR Mini Champion Ken Pryce with Mark Crisp (998 Cooper) put in his first appearance of the year, Stuart Hart/David Percival (Cooper S) rounded of the seven-car

entry.All our guys were seeded together

numbers 60-66. Stage 1 was unfortunately stopped after only King/Ward and O’Hanlon/Crook had completed their run which meant the remaining six crews all received a rather unfair ‘notional’ time as per the MSA rules. Davis/Joseph probably suffered the most as they came across the Escort which had gone off and correctly stopped as the SOS board was being shown. The notional time dropped them nearly a minute behind King/Ward and 21 seconds behind O’Hanlon/Crook.

Stage 2 was to be the end for three crews, Dutson/Holmes had an off and visited quite a bit of the surrounding countryside before getting stuck down a bank, while the Mackintosh/Jones’s Mini lost a front wheel when the studs sheared. Both these crews finally got out but




Motorsportwere both declared OTL. Worse was to come on the same stage when Hart/Percival rolled their Mini into a ball, fortunately neither suffered any injuries but it looks like the car will require a complete re-shell.

After this things started to settle down, although several crews reported loss of brakes part way through each stage and King/Ward were also reporting a slipping clutch. They still set the fastest times on Stages 3 and 4 but both Davis/Joseph and O’Hanlon/Crook were starting to get much closer to them, with only two seconds separating the three crews on SS4. O’Hanlon/Crook set the fastest time on Stage 5 with Davis/Joseph a few seconds behind, both now setting quicker times than King/Ward whose clutch problem was getting steadily worse. However they did still hold a 38 second lead going into Stage 6 and hoped it would hold out, but eventually the clutch said enough and forced them into

retirement. This meant O’Hanlon/Crook briefly held the lead, but then had an off when they lost brakes on SS6 which took them several minutes to extricate themselves. This promoted Davis/Joseph into the lead with O’Hanlon/Crook still in second spot but now nearly a minute behind. A steady run to the finish and the win would be theirs and would see Davis/Joseph consolidate their lead in the Mini Cup. However as they say ‘it’s not over until the large female sings! Going down a fast straight a balljoint broke sending them into the only tree anywhere within sight. The GT took a big frontal hit and was extensively damaged, but fortunately again neither crew members suffered any personal injuries. This left O’Hanlon/Crook to take the win with the only other finisher Pryce/Crisp and the only crew to have a fairly trouble-free day.

A really tough event probably made worse by the extremely hot

conditions, a few delays but generally the organisation was very good. Only one problem for us – they had forgotten to get any awards for our guys – hopefully soon to be rectified.

The results of the last two events have certainly altered the points tables with Andrew O’Hanlon and Russell Joseph now holding top spots in the Mini Cup.

Next round will be back on the gravel for the Neath Valley Stages, this popular event usually has a very good entry from our guys, but with the extensive damage to two of the cars there will be a lot of midnight oil to burn if they are to make it to the event.

RACE RESULTS1 O’Hanlon/Crook2 Pryce/CrispDNF Mackintosh/Jones

DNF Dutson/HolmesDNF Hart/PercivalDNF King/WardDNF Davis/Joseph



ROUND 1

While Masters’ and White’s Minis rule.

Tiff Needell and Fifth Gear co-presenter Jonathan Smith entertained a lively crowd

at Gurston Down Speed Hillclimb weekender on April 16-17 with some spirited and very rapid driving in the amazing Ariel Atom V8 supercar.

Although it was the first time in the 500bhp car AND the first time in a hillclimb competition for both drivers, the pair looked like hillclimb veterans by the end of the meeting!

Tiff won the Chairman’s Invitation class on 32.56 seconds from Jonathan on 33.89 seconds, and both drivers professed to having thoroughly enjoyed their day, which was also being used to gather footage for an item to be aired on Channel 5’s Fifth Gear motoring programme.

In the up to 1400cc modified limited production saloon car class

it was a tight affair as Neal Masters from Southsea, in his 1.4 Austin Mini, edged in front of Jim White (Southampton) in his Clubman on the second run by just nine hundredths (36.48s).

Sunday’s event was unfortunately curtailed to a single competitive run apiece following a lengthy delay in which the rescue crew and the paramedics dealt with first a high speed incident that befell one of the drivers, which thankfully saw him only bruised and shaken, and an almost simultaneous call to a spectator who was taken ill. The competitive runs had to be stopped while the relevant medical personnel were tied up with these incidents, and the ensuing delay meant the meeting was shortened.

Neal Masters set an identical

winning time to Saturday in his 1.4 KAD-powered Austin Mini to take the up to 1400cc modified limited production saloon car class again, although he had dipped under the class record in practice so there’s more to come from Neal. Former Bournemouth resident Colin Smith, now from New York, Lincs, showed the progress he has made with his 1.0 turbocharged Vauxhall Nova as he edged into second spot just two hundredths ahead of Jim White in his 1.4 Mini Clubman.

Motorsport

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GEAR AT GURSTON

Frequent heavy showers played havoc with track conditions in Saturday’s ASWMC Hillclimb

Championship counter, but Terry Graves, from Launceston, mastered the conditions in his 3.5-litre Gould GR37 V8 to top the times and grab ‘BTD’ (Best Time of the Day) on his sole run, pipping Andy Forsyth from Blandford by a mere two hundredths of a second, thus ending 3.5 Pilbeam MP58 pilot Forsyth’s 18 month unbeaten run at Gurston club events.

The second round of the Gates of Brockenhurst Gurston Down Hillclimb Championship and Top Ten Challenge on Sunday saw much better conditions with some fast times being recorded, including two class records. Neal Masters, from Southsea, trimmed another two hundredths off his own up to 1400cc modified limited production saloon class record set just three weeks earlier in the 1.4 Austin Mini shared with father Graham, who also set a personal best. And Anthony Orchard from Wareham

carved nearly three tenths off the up to 1400cc modified limited production sports car class record in his 1.4 Westfield Megabusa.

The weather intervened, for not the first time, on Saturday afternoon as the up to 1400cc modified limited production saloons came out, and Jim White from Southampton (1.4 Austin Mini Clubman) was the last to get a virtually dry run as the heavens opened. His three-second plus winning margin was not really representative, as final class runner and arch-rival Neal Masters had to contend with deep standing water.

On Sunday there was a good battle again in the up to 1400cc ‘modprod’ saloon car class with first Neal Masters dipping

under 35 seconds, then Jim White edged ahead on his second climb by six hundredths only for Masters to reassert himself again with a new class record and a four tenths winning margin. Unofficially this puts him into the lead of the Gates of Brockenhurst Gurston Down Hillclimb Championship after the second round, ahead of White in second place.

MotorsportROUND 2

beating down the

gates of brockenhurstWet weather puts Masters in control.

WoRDS Simon McBeath PhotoS Simon McBeath / everleyphotography.co.uk

love:minilove:mini 43To follow the series visit www.gurstondown.org


ROUND 3

Rough ride as

masters and white Bike entrant pushes the Minis to the limit.

In a thrilling and incident packed meeting featuring a large car and bike

entry, Neal Masters from Southsea retained his hold on the top spot of the Gates of Brockenhurst Gurston Down Hillclimb Championship with another pair of consistently quick times in the 3rd Tony Marsh Memorial event at Gurston Down on July 17th.

On a track just about dry after morning practice was affected by rain, Masters posted sub-36 second times on both runs in the family 1.4 Austin Mini, within half a second of his own class record, to fend off class and championship rival Jim White’s (Southampton) 1.4 Mini Clubman by just 0.23 seconds.

Meanwhile Chris Cannell

from Salisbury took his 1.7 St Bruno Roughcutter to the win in the Historically Interesting class and posted his best championship score this year to retain third overall.

Once again the up to 1400cc modprod saloon car class produced an exciting battle between two men who have pulled away from the rest of the class in the past couple of seasons. Southampton’s Jim White ran first in his 1.4 Austin Mini Clubman but could not break the 36-second mark, although he was close first time up. But archrival Neal Masters from Southsea definitely has the edge at the moment and once more dipped into the 35s to win by 0.23 seconds and consolidate his overall Gurston championship lead.

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Social life

love:minilove:mini46 love:minilove:mini46

How would we some up our club culture, maybe I should check with the

members on that one?I would say we are fairly casual

people aged from Kids up to 70s. A hardcore group go to just about everything. Some turn up for specific events and others are into shows. I had the idea that we should look into competition more. The way I see it the younger people are the future of the club, Club Level Competition might appear more attractive to them than putting on your grey

cardigan and driving intestate at 55mph. We haven’t had too many members take it on, but now with CAMS affiliation our members can race under our club banner now. It’s all still new, and I hope its a growth area into the future.

The members are a diverse bunch, and I wouldn’t trade one of them for quits, they are all great people.

Our culture is about as varied as our members list. You have your died in the wool roundnose boys, the MINI drivers, the

Clubby-lovers and the Mokers. We have nutters, cruisers, BHP chasers and pie-eaters (on runs to Braidwood anyway) to name but a few. The best part is most of them just like having fun with their cars in their own way, whichever event or car they chose.

Fun TimesWe have had lots of fun over the years, but probably the best times have been in years gone by at the Hay Mini nationals. Close knit accommodation and

Down Under in central australia the aCt Mini Club are celebrating over 25 years of union.

Club Profile:

aCt Mini Club

Submitted by Stuart Poole

australia

Social life

FEATUREMy Club

love:minilove:mini 47love:minilove:mini 47

way too much cheap Port from the dodgy winery over the road.

All our runs are great fun, and these days we especially enjoy catching up with our friends from the Wagga club for their annual Mini Muster (thanks guys).

Back in the day (before draconian speed laws) there used to be a tradition among the Cooper/GT boys to go for a “hoon” after most runs. I was never old enough or big enough cc-wise to participate in my mere 998, but I believe they were a high speed pub crawl. How they all survived is beyond me!

We have nutters, cruisers, BHP- chasers and pie-eaters...

WEBSITEwww.actminicarclub.org

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wHy SHOuld PeOPle jOin yOuR Club? Cos we’re awesome

MeMbeRSHiP fee$40 per year or $50 per family

CaRS Of inTeReSTSaints KAD Mini, Barry and Pam Quick’s beautiful MkI Cooper S

PROjeCT CaRSLots, probably more than runners

wHaT iS THe MOST exPenSive/RaReST CaR Owned by a Club MeMbeR?Sue Chong’s 2009 JCW

wHiCH iS THe MOST deSiRed Club MeMbeR’S CaR by OTHeR Club MeMbeRS?Barry’s or Saints’ cars

wHiCH iS THe faSTeST CaR/laRGeST bHP?Probably Matt Power’s Starlet GT Hybrid

wHiCH iS THe MOST POPulaR PainT COlOuR (Of MeMbeRS CaRS)?

Red

any MOTORSPORT COMPeTiTORS?Yep, 3 appendix J racers and a couple of people into Gymkanas

wHO’S in a band?Marcel!

wHO OwnS THe MOST?Another good question, probably Wayne

wHO OwnS THe OldeST? Definitely Renata, and she’s proud of it too.

FEATUREMy Club

48 love:minilove:mini

Club FactFIle

aCt Mini Car Club www.actminicarclub.org

48

fORMed 25th November 1984

MeeTinG PlaCe Deakin Soccer Club, Deakin, ACT, Australia

COnTaCT deTailSClub President Stuart Poole SecretaryRenata Moores

[email protected] 0409 637 308

aReaS COveRedACT and southern districts

MeMbeRSAbout 60

aCTiviTieSRuns, tech days, shows, some competition

49love:minilove:mini 49

Who’s the Chief? Probably reluctantly me, Stu

Who’s the teChie? No doubt Wayne, and a bloody good one at that.

Who’s the joker? Anto, without a doubt, but Matt power isn’t far behind

Who’s the Computer boffin? Anto again

Who’s the AnorAk? Got a few of ‘em actually

Who’s the boy rACer? Matt Power

Who’s the Wise oWl? Ian Miller/ Barrie Brown

Who breAks doWn the most?

Anto (Minis don’t have computers)

Who is the one Who AlWAys runs on empty? No-one really

Who is the prettiest? You shouldn’t ask a gay man that question!

Who is the oldest? I haven’t asked!!

Who is the most musiCAl? Marcel/ Chris G

Who is the Cheekiest? Anto /Matt

Who is the most likely to hAve roAd rAge? Let me know so I can steer clear of em!

Who is the most likely CArry lots of spAres? Dunno, but Anto should. Probably Wayne.


APRIL 3SHMG Polly Runwww.shmg.co.uk

MARCH 2-3Mini Winter Rallywww.mini-winter-rally.blogspot.com

MARCH 10Minimine Runwww.crewes-missiles.co.uk

MARCH 10Austin Morris Daywww.brooklandsmuseum.com

MARCH 24Brooklands Mini Daywww.brooklandsmuseum.com

MARCH 31Mini Scatter Rallywww.snowdonminis.co.uk

APRIL 1East Coast Mini Runwww.eastcoastminiclub.co.uk

APRIL 1Easter Mini Runwww.miniclublimburg.be

APRIL 10-14Techno Classica Essenwww.siha.de/tce_uk.php

APRIL 13Pride of Longbridge Rallywww.austinlongbridgefederation.co.uk

APRIL 14Lincoln BIG Mini Daywww.trentvalleymoc.co.uk

APRIL 14Malvern Mini Showwww.classicshows.org

APRIL 14Mollenritwww.minifunclub.be

APRIL 21Suffolk Runwww.buryminiclub.co.uk

APRIL 21Mega Mini Meet 2013www.lancashireminiregister.co.uk

APRIL 28H2H Runfwww.hamoc.co.uk

MAY 2Dutch Mini Rallywww.dutchminirally.nl

MAY 3-6Shropshire Mini Splash Dashwww.minisplashdash.webeden.co.uk

MAY 4-6Riviera Runwww.rivierarun.co.uk

MAY 4-5Back to Downtonwww.dewsc.org.uk

MAY 6East Midlands Mini Showwww.classicshows.org

MAY 9-15Italian Job Special Editionwww.italianjob.com

MAY 10-12Minis on the Baywww.morecambebayminiclub.co.uk

MAY 12British Mini Daywww.britishminiclub.co.uk

MAY 17-20IMM 2013www.imm2013.eu

MAY 25-27Minis on the Prom

www.newportminiowners.co.uk

MAY 25-26The East Anglian Jobwww.eastanglianjob.co.uk

MAY 26-27Motorsport at the Palacewww.motorsportatthepalace.co.uk

MAY 26-27Cheshire Classic Weekendwww.classicshows.org

MAY 27Surrey Festival of Transportwww.classicshows.org

JUNE 1East Lothian Fun daywww.elmoc.co.uk

JUNE 1-2Mini Cooper Show ‘n’ Shine Weekendwww.cheshireautopromotions.co.uk

JUNE 2London to Brightonwww.london-to-brighton.co.uk

JUNE 8-9MCR Mini Cooper Daywww.minicooper.org

JUNE 15-16National Transport Festival of Waleswww.ntfwswansea.co.uk

JUNE 16Normanby Hall Mini Daywww.trentvalleymoc.co.uk

JUNE 16Bristol Mini Day www.bristolminiday.co.uk

JUNE 16Knebworth Father’s Day Festival of Transportwww.classicshows.org

JUNE 21-23North Yorkshire Mini Adventure

Event highlightsComprehensive listings from around the globe


www.northyorkshireminis.co.uk

JUNE 22-23Brands Hatch Mini Festivalwww.mini-festival.co.uk

JUNE 27 - JULY 1LEJOGwww.smallcarsbighearts.co.uk

JULY 4-7Magical Mini Adventurewww.greatdays.co.uk

JULY 7Retro Fundraiserwww.retrofundraising.co.uk

JULY 7Gaydon Mini Festivalwww.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

JULY 12–14SkegMiniFest Episode 3www.SkegMiniFest.co.uk

JULY 13-14Scottish Vintage Vehicle Transport Extravagandawww.glamis-castle.co.uk

JULY 14Thames Valley Festival of Transportwww.classicshows.org

JULY 16-24Italian Job Tourwww.italianjobtours.co.uk

JULY 21Minis on the Wreckwww.brightonminiclub.co.uk

JULY 26-28Help for Heroes Mini Weekenderwww.h4h-mini-cruise.co.uk

JULY 28Cotswold Mini Classic Tourwww.minifixers.co.uk

AUGUST 2-4Cambridge Mini Club [email protected]

AUGUST 11Mini In The Parkwww.miniinthepark.co.uk

AUGUST 16-18Mini Club Limberg Weekenderwww.miniclublimburg.be

AUGUST 17-18Mini Clubman & 1275GT Weekendwww.cheshireautopromotions.co.uk

AUGUST 23-25The Northern Mini & Retro Ride Showwww.northernminishow.com

AUGUST 23-25International Mini Moke Meeting for Mokeswww.belgianminisontour.be

AUGUST 25-27Legendary Grand Tourwww.smallcarsbighearts.co.uk

AUGUST 25-26Blenheim Festival of Transportwww.classicshows.org

AUGUST 26East Midlands Mini Showwww.classicshows.org

SEPTEMBER 1

MiniFest @ Uttoxeterwww.

britishminiclub.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 1Berkshire Festival of Transportwww.classicshows.org

SEPTEMBER 8Lancs Classic Car and Motorcycle showwww.classicshows.org

SEPTEMBER 13-15Goodwood Revivalwww.goodwood.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 15National Mini Showwww.miniownersclub.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 19-26Minis to Ireland01730 818336www.minicooper.org

SEPTEMBER 28Castle Combe Mini Action Daywww.castlecombecircuit.co.uk

OCTOBER 11-13South American International Mini Meetwww.clubmini.com.br

OCTOBER 19-20Late Autumn Run07834 081667

OCTOBER 20British Mini Club NEW showwww.britishminiclub.co.uk

OCTOBER 20Malvern Mini Showwww.classicshows.org

DECEMBER 1Christmas Mini Showwww.classicshows.org

Event highlightsComprehensive listings from around the globe

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JANUARY 1New Year’s Day ParadeStart 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


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