Table of contents for October 2022 in MiniWorld

It has been so good to get back into a jam-packed calendar of Mini and classic car events after so many were postponed due to the pandemic or had to change their usual date slots. It’s been great to see so many Minis again and I have really enjoyed meeting up with other Mini owners at events. It has also been wonderful to drive my Mini, Sheldon, around now that the 1293cc motor has been tuned on Atspeed’s rolling road. You can read all about that in Jim’s Logbook update on pages 54-57. Mini owners often tell me that they worry that a rolling road set-up will damage their engine their engine but incorrect tuning is a much bigger issue. An engine running too rich or too lean can cause…

Prices include VAT Traders To get your products on these pages email: mw.ed@kelsey.co.uk. Post: MiniWorld, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent, ME18 6AL, UK. (Prices include VAT). Downton-style door mirror Available from Mini Sport are these classic design, lightweight Downton racing-style mirrors. They are available in either alloy, black or chrome finishes and are sold individually. They can be custom-fitted to most Minis on the doors or wings. £24.31 RRP (Ref: JH319) +44 (0)1282 778731 www.minisport.com Endless brakes for 12”-wheels Brake specialist Endless has produced these slick-looking billet alloy 4-pot callipers and 213.5mm ‘E–slit’ solid discs which are designed for 12” Mini wheels or larger. They are supplied with Endless MX72 Plus brake pads and are available from distributors in a range of colours. £POA…

Dave Rippard has been into Minis his whole life. In his youth he raced Minis in autograss championships and currently has seven Minis, including a 1959 saloon which was featured in the July 2019 issue of MiniWorld. He, and partner Clare James, have six children: five sons and one daughter, who have grown up around Minis and Mini projects undertaken by their mechanic father. 15-year-old twins, Ryan and Liam, adore Minis and, after years of ill health due to kidney problems, which led to Ryan having a kidney transplant in 2016, they were encouraged by their parents to undertake a Mini project to give them a positive focus. Clare explains the reasons behind the project to build the fantastic Mini you see here: “Their health issues took a toll on…

Having taken her Mini Mayfair to a local Mini specialist, to have it assessed for restoration costs, Sharon Ekin was given an alternative. “He gave me a price but mentioned that there was another Mini coming in which I might like. It wasn’t a purchase I’d intended on making,” she recalls. She was realistic about the costs of restoration. “It would have taken a lot of money to get the Mayfair where I wanted it to be. He said this other Mini might float that boat a little more and, boy, was he right. Lilly came up from her original home in London, from her first owner’s family, who bought her new in 1973.” The bill of sale shows that Mr Eric Orme ordered a Teal Blue Mini Clubman, with…

The Cotswold Classic Mini Tour returned on Sunday 31 July 2022 with a brand-new route in store for the almost 40 Minis taking part. The tour was in one of the most picturesque corners of England, taking in fords, chocolate box villages and narrow, winding roads that go on for miles and are guaranteed to put a smile on any Mini driver’s face. Beginning at the Fairford Leisure Centre, this is one run where a co-pilot is a real necessity as you will be treated to the most detailed route notes and directions to be found on any run. This is a sign of the dedication to this run of a very small team of volunteers. They ensure that everyone that stays on-track and sees all of the fantastic sights.…

Macmillan fundraising Pete Flanagan of The Sporting Minis Facebook page has raised over £20,000 for Macmillan, mainly thanks to generous donations from Mini owners. “In December last year I very sadly lost my wife, and mum of two, Elizabeth, to bowel cancer after her very brave six-year battle,” explained Pete. “In the final weeks of Elizabeth’s life I came to rely more and more on the nurses from Macmillan Cancer Support. In the following weeks and months I set out on a journey to try and give something back in any way I could. I'm no long-distance runner or mountain climber so I turned not only to friends and family but the Mini and motorsport community that has been a part of my life for so long.” He raised funds…

PADDY HOPKIRK TRIBUTE MESSAGES I met Paddy a few times at Mini events. Last time was at IMM 2019. Pic from 2014’s Kent IMM. Meg Luc This pic was taken at one of the IMMs. I doubt he met many 6'2" leprechauns in his time. Pure gentleman and great craic with him. JP O'Sceallain I met Paddy at many UK shows I attended since 1989. He always had time for a chat and a photo, a wonderful gentleman Mark Le Gallais It was always a pleasure to meet Paddy. A true gentleman and the greatest ambassador for the Mini scene. Dave Hollis (British Mini Club) When the Clubman Estate Register won one of the soapbox awards at L2B Paddy was handing out the trophies. Liz White We got a chance…

The name of Paul Easter will be forever linked to his outstanding win in a Mini Cooper S on the snowbound 1965 Monte Carlo Rally with crewmate Flying Finn Timo Mäkinen. It was the stuff of legend. Paul was born in a snowstorm in January 1939 in Tottenham, North London. “During WWII my father was a civil engineer. Then, in 1954, he bought a garage business in Old Stratford, near Milton Keynes,” says Paul. Later, it provided the facility where Paul prepared the cars in which he honed his competitive racing and rally driving skills. His first car was a Morris Minor. Interestingly, the notion to take part in local rallies came while he was watching TV while TV commentator Raymond Baxter describe rallies such as the Monte Carlo. Paul…

■ OWNER AT THE TIME: Jon Alexander■ ISSUE: April 2010 This well-travelled Innocenti Mini Cooper 1300 Export was partially built in Milan, Italy, then finished and registered in Seneffe, Belgium, where it lived for a while. It then went to live in the UK in 1981. In 1988 it was put up for sale, as it was a non-runner, and Jon Alexander went to look at it. Lots had already been refurbished, including suspension, brakes, tyres and wheels. A new 1275 engine and gearbox had also been added. Jon bought the Inno and found that all it needed to get going was a new electric fuel pump. A quick respray was carried out, to smarten it up, and he enjoyed using it for a short while and then moved it…

Michael Firth’s history with Mini Mokes goes back to the 1970s. Being Mini-based they are easy to maintain but they were very affordable at the time, as Michael confirms. “They were cheap. You’d pay about £200 for a Moke.” In 2022 the same can’t be said as these cheeky little runabouts, particularly early ones, are more in the £20,000-upward range. “I’ve had lots of Mokes in the past and decided I wanted another so bought this one.” Sourced from eBay, Michael’s English-built car was bought in 2017 from the person he thinks may have repainted it… but there were some issues. “The bodywork was good but the bonnet was all rusty and from a Cagiva Moke.” In other areas, the Spruce Green paintwork was in excellent condition. The Moke’s minimalist…

2022 September 17-18 Isle of Wight Adventure Minis travel to Sandown Racecourse on the Isle of Wight via Red Funnel Ferries from Southampton. Free camping available or paid-for static caravan accommodation. Mini runs allow you to explore the beautiful countryside. www.westcountryminis.co.uk/iow 25 Classic Car Show Multi-marque show at Netherton Cricket Club, Dudley, West Midlands. +44 (0)7771359731 25 OhSoRetro Multi-marque event at The Rec' in Margate, Kent. Clubs, show 'n ' shine, traders, autojumble, live music, kids' entertainment. www.ohsoretro.co.uk October 2 Autumn gathering Multi-marque event at Amberley Museum, near Arundel, West Sussex. Enjoy the museum’s exhibitions. www.amberleymuseum.co.uk 6 Mod 'n' Mini Meet At London’s Ace Café on the first Thursday of every month. Good food and good atmosphere at an iconic venue. https://london.acecafe.com 9 Brooklands Autumn Motorsport Day Multi-marque event at…

A lot has changed in the world of Minis over the last 50 or so years. Back in 1972 a Mini was the perfect first car; teenagers would buy one for anything from about £50 upwards. They would learn to drive in the Mini and then, following a test pass, the more enthusiastic owners would start to modify and improve their Mini. It has to be said that not all were actually improved though. Some became student Minis; some were ‘tweaked up’ with trim-less wheels, 1¼” wheel spacers and often a more than generous helping of chequered tape and STP stickers. Matt black roofs and bonnets were creeping in too. The real enthusiasts enhanced their Minis with 4.5”-wide Reverse Rims, Dunlop Formula D1 or Cosmic alloy wheels, nice seats and a…

“BMC was asked to provide 50 black cars for the Metropolitan Police Force to try out.” We’ve featured quite a few of Ian Corkill’s fab Minis over the years. Despite owning many interesting cars, Minis have always been a passion. “There have been Minis in our household since 1965 when my father bought a Mk1 998 Cooper.” His father rallied Minis and Ian bought his first one, a Mini-Minor 850, when he was 15, entered his first rally at 16 and rallied for some years. He started his career as a BMC truck mechanic, recently retired as a Porsche main dealer and has stayed true to his first love. “Most supercars have passed through my hands but there are only Minis in the garage now, apart from two Twin Cam…

Cranleigh Showground, in Cranleigh, Surrey, was the venue for this year’s running of the event on 14 August. Considering the stifling heat from early on in the day, there was an impressive turnout of classics including many Minis. A number of Mini Clubs had stands. The annual event is organised by Cranleigh Lions which does charitable work in the local community. There were plenty of trade stands selling autojumble items and crafts. A barn containing antiques was a welcome relief from the blazing sun. Sensibly, some car clubs took along gazebos and parasols to shelter members from the heat. Kids were well catered for, with plenty of activities available, and there was a live band. Thankfully, there was an array of refreshment stands for a cooling drink, including the excellent…