1960/70's Mini Racing Photos

[mab01UK]

Photos uploaded:
billycooper (Mk1 Forum)

[gt917]

Absolutely brilliant

[Andy Clegg]

Brings back wonderful memories from Oulton Park.

[mab01UK]

More Photos Here:-
http://www.hughmillerphoto.com/Motor...inis/i-SG4Bbc3

[mab01UK]

(March 1967 Mini Seven Club Magazine)

[mab01UK]

The 'Complan Mini' Turbo - sponsored by Glaxo Laboratories (Ireland) Ltd., and driven by Alec Poole. The 1.3 litre turbo charged Mini had a power output of 180bhp, ran 13" wheels with 8" front rims and 7" rear rims, could touch 140mph on the straights, and had an overall weight reduction on the standard model of 2.5 cwt. It had more power than Mini transmissions of the day could stand, so it would strip the cwp during a long days racing. The Complan Mini mainly raced in Ireland... but Alec did a lot of Mini racing in the UK in the 1960s and 70's. He was British Saloon car champion [fore runner of the BTCC] in 1969 driving a Cooper S.






"Alec spoke about his hugely successful race exploits- (he was the British Touring Car Champion in 1969 in an Arden Mini Cooper S). He explained that the trick in qualifying was to perhaps not get out of the way of the bigger class Escorts and when they slowed slightly, to tuck in behind them for the all important tow! We also spoke briefly about a fearsome machine Alec raced known as the Complan Turbo Mini. That car grew from 1300cc to 1430cc during development
The Complan Turbo Mini

and ended up with huge arches and a Clubman style front and as Alec explained, there were teething problems but when it went, it really went! This car was reputed to have in excess of 180bhp- from an A series turbo- in 1971 and it was apparently sold to the Carribean."
http://motorsport.ie/2015/08/07/moto...tage-festival/

[mab01UK]

Great old 1960's films....recently posted on you tube:-
Brands Hatch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejZLq4GDdcE

Mallory Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNtxUl6cZGA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34n1S-jJQSQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fCqV5qMBog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t2VLY4fadc

Lydden Hill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k32LNlYbK_Y

Silverstone:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv2DykhnfCI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXrxX4-WZTM

[275 GTB-4]

Here in Australia we are pleased to have Rauno Aaltonnen visiting for the 50th anniversary of his October 1966 Bathurst 500 win with our Bob Holden (Mini = first 9 across the line) and also the Southern Cross Rally 50th celebrations

[mab01UK]

Couple of nice period photos of Mini racer Simon Ridge in the early days at Brands Hatch (around 1966-67) when he was running his own Free Formula car and before the heady days of sponsorship! He later drove for Automex & D J Bond.
Original Photos: Sunrise International Productions B.S.Kreisky (Archive: Martin Henn)

[mab01UK]

Terry Harmer - his last racing Mini 1978 (Mini Racer 1966 to '78)


(Photo: Terry Harmer)
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~terry01/index.html

[SidewaysFeltham]

Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4

Here in Australia we are pleased to have Rauno Aaltonnen visiting for the 50th anniversary of his October 1966 Bathurst 500 win with our Bob Holden (Mini = first 9 across the line) and also the Southern Cross Rally 50th celebrations

In circa 1970/1, I had the distinct pleasure of driving Rauno Aaltonen's Monte winning Cooper s.

My then local main agent'sidentified we were the largest local trade buyer of Abingdon Special Tuning bits, and since the Stores Manager had Aaltonen's car for a show week, ran it around in his lunch hour.

Naturally all my mechs were over it like wasps around a jampot!

I, however, talked him into allowing me to take it for a spin...

(At the time, we built, tuned, maintained and refettled many Cooper s race, rally, autocross and road cars and competed in all those classes, too).

I quite forget the guy's wife, sitting docilely in the front passenger seat.



She wasn't quite so calm when we returned: rather white faced... I still sometimes feel guilty about that. Not often though!

Standard works spec car: 1293 c.c. over-bore; 649 full race cam (993 c.c. F3 XSP engine); twin 1 1/2" SUs (Weber not homologated); beefed up alternator; free flow fabricated exhaust; Dural Sump Shield; Hydrolastic suspension, plus front shocks; full balance and lightened; straight cut transfer gears and close ratio box plus Salisbury LSD.

Went like a whippet.

[mab01UK]

Originally Posted by 275 GTB-4

Here in Australia we are pleased to have Rauno Aaltonnen visiting for the 50th anniversary of his October 1966 Bathurst 500 win with our Bob Holden (Mini = first 9 across the line) and also the Southern Cross Rally 50th celebrations

Rauno Aaltonnen at the Motor Classica 2016 in Melbourne with his Works Mini.


(Photo: Mk1 Forum - winabbey)


(Photo: Mk1 Forum - winabbey)


(Photo: Mk1 Forum - smithyrc30)

[275 GTB-4]

Lovely...I shook the great man's hand

[mab01UK]

The McLaren and Mini Cooper Connection
http://old.minis-auckland.org.nz/technical/McLaren.html

"On 26th January 1963 Bruce won the Teretonga International race in the South Island of New Zealand in a Cooper F1 car, and thrilled spectators by some extraordinary drives with the Mini Cooper Number #47, in supporting saloon car races. At this meeting Bruce was doing some exploratory laps in this Mini with Innes Ireland in the passenger seat when the car lost a right front wheel and ended up in the sand hills at the side of the track."


Bruce McLaren standing by his F1 Cooper looking at his stranded Mini Cooper at Teretonga 1963.

[275 GTB-4]

Terrific pics and story...

[JTL392]

http://www.jdclassics.co.uk/showroom...ck-V8/8770.htm

some info on the buick mini

http://mk1-performance-conversions.c...ta_history.htm

[morninggents]

Did the Mini Buick ever actually race? I can't remember.

[Surf 1275]

Originally Posted by morninggents

Did the Mini Buick ever actually race? I can't remember.

Yes definately, Oulton and Mallory spring to mind. Brian Redman tested it at Aintree to try and tame the handling. It was also 'drag' raced at Santa Pod and hillclimbed at several venues, currently owned by Jonathan Buncombe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXQyFuy9bvs

[morninggents]

Thanks, Surf. I've seen the Oulton clip before but it was only a test session by the look of it. I've also seen reference to Mallory Park Boxing Day meeting but not sure the Mini Buick actually turned up or raced.

[mab01UK]

Originally Posted by JTL392

http://www.jdclassics.co.uk/showroom...ck-V8/8770.htm

some info on the buick mini

http://mk1-performance-conversions.c...ta_history.htm

Thanks for posting the link, some of the interesting old photos below!

[JTL392]

Anyone know about this one, I was thinking maybe Australia, what year did wheel arch extensions become compulsary in UK

[275 GTB-4]

Originally Posted by JTL392

I was thinking maybe Australia

Why? Our sports sedans etc featured enormous wheel arches and flares quite early...could be a hillclimber though...

[kurski]

no photos, but our country Mini 1000 Cup Finland started 1978, first champion was Harri Ruusu, and 1979 champion was Michael Ehrnroth.

[mab01UK]

From Dec 2019 Classic & Sports Car magazine...

[mab01UK]

Designed and built by Gordon Allen from half a 1700cc BDA (so rated at 850cc). In the 1970's special saloons there was an 850cc class which was full of destroked/overbored 970 Cooper S engines, usually running exotic 8-port heads and the like. This 2 cylinder BDA was a real winner once a few niggles were overcome. It was used by Peter Day in a Mini and also a Fiat 500 (the "Mighty Mouse") Here it is at home in the Mini;