1960/70's Mini Racing Photos

[mab01UK]

Simon Ridge - Automex Mini - Lydden Hill paddock 1969


(Photo: John Phillips)

[mab01UK]

(Photo: John Phillips)

More details below on the Lydden race, as remembered by Simon Ridge after seeing these old photos taken by John Phillips back in 1969:-

"The race in the photos at Lydden was on 24th August 1969. I was on Pole, and alongside was Mike Chittenden in his Morris Minor with a full race Ford 1650 under the Bonnet. I knew I had to get off the grid fast and keep him behind.
If he had got ahead, I would only have been able to get past on the corners, and with that size engine he was fast down the straights. I got a great start, and after a few laps at 10tenths, pulled out a good lead, so I eased off a bit, but in the last few laps, found I had eased off too much as he had now caught me, and looming in the mirror, I had to drive on the limit to keep ahead.
At the Flag there was just one second in it. Too close for comfort. I won the Jack Playford Trophy, and got fastest lap. The other Minis were some way back.
Strange thing, the time was 50.8, and I had broken the Lap Record the previous year on 20th July at 50.6, which I held for two and a half years. Obviously not 10tenths enough !!
The car had a new engine fitted, and Automex had put a “Running In “ sign in the back window. Talk about Red rag to a Bull !!! Think you can just see it in the photo."
Simon Ridge

[mab01UK]

More nice period shots from Brands Hatch back in May 1969......















(All Photos: John Phillips)

[mab01UK]

Brands Hatch 1969 - Druids Bend
(All Photos: John Phillips)

[mab01UK]

More colour photos from Brands Hatch 1969
(All Photos: John Phillips)

[mab01UK]

Some more photos from the race paddock at Lydden 24th August 1969....








(Photos: John Phillips)

[mab01UK]

Rallycross at Lydden - January 1970
(All Photos: John Phillips)

[mab01UK]

1966 Bevan Austin A40:-
https://www.facebook.com/bevanimp/

[mab01UK]

From Morris Mini Minor 848cc to Twin engined Jag Mini 2950cc.
"In 1960 Gordon Allen bought Morris Mini Minor Registration Number 620 AXE for his wife to learn to drive in. At that time he had an engineering and tool making business and his spare time was spent on modifying engines, mainly for motorcycles. He enjoyed owning various cars but favoured Jaguars. His wife did not take to driving and the Mini became little used. Having driven the Mini, Gordon got to like it and admire its driveability (of course he would!). Naturally the driving experience is enhanced when more power can be added, so various tuning parts were fitted, mainly from Alexander and Speedwell. Gordon’s thoughts then turned to racing the Mini and so in 1961 a number of saloon car races were entered...."
More details and photos here:-
https://twiniminis.com/

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by mab01UK

From Morris Mini Minor 848cc to Twin engined Jag Mini 2950cc.
"In 1960 Gordon Allen bought Morris Mini Minor Registration Number 620 AXE for his wife to learn to drive in. At that time he had an engineering and tool making business and his spare time was spent on modifying engines, mainly for motorcycles. He enjoyed owning various cars but favoured Jaguars. His wife did not take to driving and the Mini became little used. Having driven the Mini, Gordon got to like it and admire its driveability (of course he would!). Naturally the driving experience is enhanced when more power can be added, so various tuning parts were fitted, mainly from Alexander and Speedwell. Gordon’s thoughts then turned to racing the Mini and so in 1961 a number of saloon car races were entered...."
More details and photos here:-
https://twiniminis.com/

A fascinating story!

[E.B]

Originally Posted by mab01UK

From Morris Mini Minor 848cc to Twin engined Jag Mini 2950cc.
"In 1960 Gordon Allen bought Morris Mini Minor Registration Number 620 AXE for his wife to learn to drive in. At that time he had an engineering and tool making business and his spare time was spent on modifying engines, mainly for motorcycles. He enjoyed owning various cars but favoured Jaguars. His wife did not take to driving and the Mini became little used. Having driven the Mini, Gordon got to like it and admire its driveability (of course he would!). Naturally the driving experience is enhanced when more power can be added, so various tuning parts were fitted, mainly from Alexander and Speedwell. Gordon’s thoughts then turned to racing the Mini and so in 1961 a number of saloon car races were entered...."
More details and photos here:-
https://twiniminis.com/

Fascinating.

Re the Twin engined Mini (620 EXE) more info and pics here: http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums...ooper-s/page-2

[mab01UK]

The 'Driving Ambition' Mini Special Saloon Car Race
Mini Special Saloon Car race at Brands Hatch for the 'Driving Ambition' TV series in 1984. Peter Baldwin was the 'real' driver of his own race Mini. Other drivers include Ginger Marshall and David Enderby:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H8Fy-ErdEk

Mini Special Saloon Car race at Brands Hatch from the BBC 'Driving Ambition' TV series shown in 8 episodes one hour long in 1984 and repeated on UK Gold a few years later. Later known for his Mini Miglia, Peter Baldwin was the 'real' driver of his own Ford BDA engined race Mini. Other 'real' race drivers of the time include Ginger Marshall and David Enderby.
"Eight-part serial about a middle-aged housewife who is obsessed with making her mark in the man's world of fast cars. Script by Paula Milne. BBC1 tx 1984/03/03 - 1984/04/21 (Sat) 8 eps. x 50 mins."

Episodes
* A class of their own (21/04/1984)
* Big torque (14/04/1984)
* The thin red line (07/04/1984)
* The Late breaker (31/03/1984)
* Manifold depression (24/03/1984)
* Five O'Clock shadow (17/03/1984)
* Dream Machine (10/03/1984)
* A little differential problem (03/03/1984)

[mab01UK]

Ginger Marshall's Mini Clubman Estate leads off the line (Imp engine on a Mini gearbox), this is 1976 it is a Forward Trust up to 1000cc Special Saloon race, the 850cc Imp was on pole but didnt win."





Ginger's brother was the mechanic. They had had 5 special blocks cast which included the block itself and the adaptor to fit the Mini box
http://www.startline.org.uk/slol21/terrapin2.htm

[Gerry Taylor]

Originally Posted by mab01UK

Another great race just uploaded below from the 1970's at London's Crystal Palace circuit.....

Crystal Palace saloon car race 03/10/70
The up to 1000cc Saloon car race from Crystal Palace (10 laps) as shown on BBC Grandstand. Commentary by Murray Walker.
Pole - 196- Roger Wiliamson - Ford Anglia - Holbay F3 Engine
197 - Les Nash - Ford Anglia
201 - Simon Ridge - Automex Mini 992cc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eDmnIt-_7U


Roger Williamson (Anglia) leading Simon Ridge (Automex Mini)

Hi, the first
photograph is Les, not Roger. Cheers! GT

[mab01UK]

Neville Trickett's Minisprint racer

Mini-Sprint GT - May 1967 - MotorSport Magazine

Stewart and Ardern transform the Mini bodyshell
When the Mini was introduced most people thought a family saloon car could not be made any smaller if it was to seat four people in reasonable comfort, but someone always has to prove public opinion wrong and the first to do so, we believe, was Neville Trickett. His idea of lowering the car has been put into production by Stewart & Ardern Ltd., the Morris distributors, who skilfully cut the body in two places to reduce overall height by 4 1/4 in.

In fact the demonstration car is 5 in. lower than standard since the Hydrolastic suspension has been dropped, and it drew as much attention in the street as some exotic American cars we have been testing recently – not presumably because it is so startling, rather because it is obviously a Mini … but different. There is a definite trend toward "personalised" popular cars and this one might well catch on in limited quantity despite a large price label which reflects the amount of surgery done on the bodywork.
The basic Mini-Sprint conversion, which costs £335 onto the price of a Cooper or Cooper S, involves cutting the body above and below the waist-line, taking out a depth of 1 1/2 in. at each level and increasing the rake of front and rear windows. The Mini-Sprint GT conversion costing £400 takes an extra 1 1/4 in. from above the waist, making a total of 4 1/4 in., removes all the welded seams which stand proud of the normal bodywork, replacing them by butt or lapped joints which present a neater and smoother appearance. Perspex is fitted in all side and rear windows (the back side-windows no longer hinge outwards) and of course the doors, wings, and boot-lid have all been cut to size. Included in the specification are an acrylic paint finish, in any colour, rectangular Cibie headlights, a small diameter leather-trimmed steering wheel and column rake adjustment.
This is obviously a very sizeable operation and the workmanship is extremely good; it is not possible to see where the cutting has been done. However, despite special optional front seats and rear seat trim, we did not feel that the general appointments of this car lived up to a £1,000-plus price tag and would prefer to spend some of the money on Radford treatment such as nice, well-fitting carpets, soundproofing, electrically-operated windows, an instrument console and so on to make the car feel more luxurious.
Wind noise has been slightly reduced by the elimination of seams, but the 1275S engine in the demonstration car was such a rough, noisy unit – as they all are – that it feels an exciting experience anyway to reach 100 m.p.h. which we estimated to be the maximum speed, an extra three or four miles an hour deriving from smaller frontal area and slightly reduced weight.
Lowered suspension adds to the overall effect but while improving the high-speed handling, it was not ideal for roadwork as the Mini-Sprint was really harsh on bumpy roads and the front wheels sometimes hit the wheel arches. The wheels, incidentally, were magnesium alloy with 4 1/2J rims costing £70 for a set of five.
Individuality costs money and with a car like this it is hard to assess a reasonable price. Considering the work involved the cost is undoubtedly justified, especially since the bare bodyshells can be bought for £230 or £260 depending on the conversion and built up from there, and while we can think of better ways of spending up to £1,250 this is very much a matter of taste. – M. L. C.
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...mini-sprint-gt

[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;

[mab01UK]

From Dec 2019 Classic & Sports Car magazine...





"One of the most interesting cars competing in Irish saloon class events is undoubtedly the 'Complan Mini' - sponsored by Glaxo Laboratories (Ireland) Ltd., and driven by Alec Poole. Highlight of a successful 1970 season was a dramatic victory at the I.M.R.C. meeting in the Phoenix Park, when after being left at the start, Poole provided the driving thrill of the year in coming through the field to win by almost 2 seconds. The 1.3 litre turbo charged Mini has a power output of 180bhp, runs 13" wheels with 8" front rims and 7" rear rims, can touch 140mph on the straights, and has an overall weight reduction on the standard model of 2.5 cwt."

More info and photos on the Complan Turbo Mini here:-
https://tentenths.com/forum/showpost...23&postcount=6

[mab01UK]

March 1974 - Gordon Allen: The Crankshaft Man of Slough (Motorsport Magazine)
"Gordon Allen is something of an engineering adventurer. His various achievements over the years in the pursuit of engineering enjoyment and motor sport pleasure include designing and constructing a two-cylinder, twin-overhead camshaft racing motorcycle engine, constructing upon Mini gearboxes two four-cylinder, 1.5-litre alloy block engines fitted with adapted Jaguar twin-cam cylinder heads and placing one in each end of a racing Mini, making his own eight-port alloy cylinder head for a Mini complete with his own fuel-injection arrangement and now his latest trick is to adapt a Ford-BDA cylinder head to his own designed arid manufactured block and crankshaft assembly to create a 16-valve, five-bearing, dry-sumped, racing Mini engine. Several Allen BDA-engined Minis are racing successfully, including that of Peter Kitchen, in which Allen has an interest and which I was fortunate enough to try at Silverstone last year (but that's another story).

However, constructing engines is really a hobby for Allen, who runs Allen Tool and Engineering Ltd., from Slough Trading Estate (Slough 23782). It is a hobby which led him by chance into the manufacture of crankshafts and his small engineering works is becoming widely known in competition circles for the quality of his nitrided steel crankshafts machined from solid billets. Many leading engine builders use his crankshafts in Formula Two, Three and Atlantic Ford BDA engines, but his manufacturing capabilities spread far beyond these modern racing realms into vintage and historic crankshaft manufacture. He can make any crankshaft so long as it is not too big for his machines and provided a drawing or preferably an actual example (even broken) of the crank required is available.
More here:-
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...3/gordon-allen

[mab01UK]

Pluck of the Irish - January 2014 (MotorSport magazine)
"The old adage that 'nice guys finish last' isn't strictly true, but they rarely finish first. To succeed in motor sport at a high level requires steel-plated self-belief. That and a certain clear-eyed ruthlessness. But there are exceptions. Reeling off a list of Alec Poole's, achievements in motor sport is met with a look of playful incredulity from the man himself. That and a shrug, as though his career has been one long lucky streak. As a former works BMC driver, one with a British Saloon Car Championship title on his résumé, he has every right to brag, but instead appears baffled by the attention."
More here:-
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...28/pluck-irish

[mab01UK]

From the BRSCC film - Two in September:-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bwM...YoJyznN2e/view

[mab01UK]

[mab01UK]

[mab01UK]