Table of contents for February/March 2022 in Performance MINI

WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 ISSUE Hello and welcome to the last issue of the year! I don’t know about you, but 2021 has felt like an absolute blur. It seems like only yesterday that we were coming out of a Coronavirus Christmas into an uncertain new year, and you know what? 2021 seemed pretty okay for the most part though I’m typing this with a few weeks of the year left, and I don’t want to jinx things… Obviously, from a car point of view, it was great to be able to get out to some shows, enjoy the scene, meet up with old friends and just get out and about with our cars! And those summer memories feel especially warm and cosy right now, with winter in full…

PRODUCTS NEW GEAR CHECK OUT THE LATEST TUNING PRODUCTS FOR YOUR MINI… SCORPION 4 INTO 1 R50/R53 EXHAUST MANIFOLD From £467.62 Working as technical partners with MINI Challenge UK for many years, Scorpion has a fair case that its 4 into 1 R50/R53 manifold could be the ideal option for those looking to maximise performance. Used for the past two years on all of the Cooper-class cars, the manifold is constructed from T304 stainless steel and comes with the option of sports catalyst or de-cat which can be easily interchanged due to the flanged fitment. The manifold is interchangeable with Scorpion’s ever-popular cat-back systems or the OEM exhaust and comes supplied with a full fitting kit including gaskets. www.scorpion-exhausts.com AUTO FINESSE WONDER WOOL WHEEL BRUSHES From £14.95, pack of all…

FEATURE F56 JCW AN ABSOLUTE GEM LIKE ITS PRECIOUS STONE NAMESAKE, THIS LAPIS BLUE JCW IS RARE AND OH SO PRETTY Words BEN BIRCH Photos JASON DODD Dan Fow could well be living the dream. Working at a university by day and as a DJ by night, he gets to enjoy more than his fair share of parties, and to top it all off, he owns not one but two of the coolest MINIs out there! Some of you might already be familiar with one of them – a patina-painted, air suspension-equipped R50 show queen called ‘Gonzo’, which in many ways has still not been out-uniqued on the scene. But in this feature, we are turning our attention to his other whip – this classy F56 which although much more…

CLUB DIRECTORY IN THE SCENE IN THE CLUB! LOOKING FOR A MINI CLUB IN YOUR AREA? TAKE A LOOK AT OUR DIRECTORY FOR ENTHUSIAST GROUPS NEAR YOU… NATIONAL MINI CLUBS BRITISH MINI CLUB www.britishminiclub.co.uk FULL ON MINI www.fullonminis.co.uk MINI COOPER REGISTER www.minicooper.org CLUBMAN ESTATE REGISTER www.clubmanestates.co.uk MINI TORQUE www.minitorque.com TOTAL MINI www.totalMINI.com GP OWNERS CLUB www.gpoc.co.uk 210CLUB FACEBOOK GROUP www.facebook.com/groups/210Club (Challenge210 Owners only) MINI MOVEMENT www.facebook.com/groups/MINI. Movement MINI COOPER OWNER/ DRIVERS CLUB www.facebook.com/groups/504433849698049 R53 OWNERS CLUB www.facebook.com/groups/154538898666141 MINI Y-REGISTER www.miniyregister.co.uk 02 S REGISTER www.02sregister.co.uk MINIACS ONLY GROUP www.miniacsonlygroup.co.uk THE CLUB53 www.theclub53.com MINI BITZ – KILL ALL CHROME www.facebook.com/killallchromeminibitz BMW CAR CLUB GB www.bmwcarclubgb.uk MINI WHORES www.facebook.com/andy996sps JCW CLUBMAN UK REGISTER www.facebook.com/groups/1713021032320203 MODDEDMINI.COM www.facebook.com/groups/1727463463951925 BMWMOG www.facebook.com/groups/997488570719427 SCOTLAND NEW MINI SCOTLAND www.newminiscotland.co.uk MINICLAN www.miniclan.com SCOTTISH MINIS www.scottishminis.com MINI MAYHEM SCOTLAND www.facebook.com/groups/200110513800064 IRELAND MINI…

IN THE SCENE MINI FESTIVAL BRANDS HATCH WITH 100s OF MINIS ON DISPLAY, THE BRANDS HATCH MINI FESTIVAL IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST GATHERINGS OF THE YEAR Words ELIZABETH DE LATOUR Photos JASON DODD WHERE BRANDS HATCH CIRCUIT, KENT WHEN 22ND AUGUST 2021 Bringing together both Mini and MINI owners, the Brands Hatch Mini Festival is the ultimate celebration of all things both Mini and MINI, with enthusiasts from far and wide descending upon the iconic circuit in Kent. The variety of cars on display was simply dazzling, with countless MINIs in attendance, and just about every single generation and model accounted for, ensuring there was plenty on show to keep all modern MINI enthusiasts enthralled and entertained. There were immaculate standard machines sitting alongside full-on modded builds,…

IN THE SCENE MINIRUNUK REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY RUN Words and photos JAKE DENNIS WHERE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM, ALREWAS WHEN 14TH NOVEMBER 2021 Every year, the annual MiniRunUK Remembrance Sunday Run takes place in Tamworth, bringing hundreds of Mini owners together on this special day to raise funds for the National Memorial Arboretum. With the Minis decorated in poppies, they convoyed down the A5 to be greeted by crowds of spectators standing on the bridges overlooking the Minis, cheering and waving as they go by, and Mini owners did what they do best by flashing the lights, beeping their horns and waving to the crowds. After the 20 minute run, the Minis arrived at the arboretum, where we attended the Sunday service and paid our respects to those that made the ultimate…

FEATURE R61 PACEMAN JCW A PACE ODYSSEY YOU MIGHT NOT SEE MANY MODDED PACEMANS ABOUT, BUT THIS ONE MAKES UP FOR THAT IN A BIG WAY, AND ITS TRANSFORMATION HAS BEEN ONE HELL OF A JOURNEY… Words ELIZABETH DE LATOUR Photos JASON DODD It’s fair to say that you don’t see many Pacemans around, either on the road or in the mag, but that doesn’t mean this slightly more unusual MINI doesn’t have its fans with Dave Mayo being one of them, and he’s built himself something truly individual. “Since the release of the BMW MINI back in the early 2000s I have been a big fan! The shape, design and link to its heritage were just on point. The Paceman is actually the seventh MINI I’ve owned, from the…

FEATURE TURBO R53 COOPER S BOOST JUNKIE WITH OVER 300HP ON TAP, THIS TURBO-SWAPPED R53 COOPER S IS ONE FULL-ON MONSTER MINI Words ELIZABETH DE LATOUR Photos RICH PEARCE Opting for forced induction with the R53 Cooper S was a big-brain play by MINI. It meant a small engine could output a decent amount of power without having to be a high-revving unit, along with plenty of torque, and choosing supercharging over a turbo made it a unique offering among its rivals. Naturally, factory forced induction also meant that when it came to extracting more performance from the 1.6-litre four-pot, options were plentiful, and gains were impressive. However, while superchargers are great at delivering lag-free power and the MINI’s positive displacement setup serves up a lovely spread of torque, if…

THE BEST OF 2021 THE PAST YEAR HAS SEEN SOME AWESOME FEATURE CARS SHOWCASED ON THESE PAGES, SO WE’VE PICKED OUT A SELECTION OF HIGHLIGHTS, FROM THE MOST POWERFUL MINIS AND MOST DAZZLING WHEELS TO THE SEXIEST ENGINE BAYS Words ELIZABETH DE LATOUR Photos VARIOUS POWER DECEMBER/JANUARY FEBRUARY/MARCH RAFAIL TSARTSARIS 295HP R56 JCW EDDIE OLIVER 335WHP TURBO R52 CONVERTIBLE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ANDY TAN 300HP+ F56 JCW OCTOBER/NOVEMBER AARON SINGH 380HP F56 GP3 WHEELS DECEMBER/JANUARY IAN HIBBARD R53 JCW 8X17” ET35 JAPAN RACING JR18 POWDER COATED CANDY RED FEBRUARY/MARCH BRETT ANDERS R56 COOPER S 7.5X18” VOLK TE37 SEIBON EDITION JUNE/JULY ELLEN WILLMOTT SUPERCHARGED R50 ONE 8X16” ET0 AND 9X16” ET0 7TWENTY STYLE 44 JUNE/JULY MEGAN TOMBS F56 COOPER S 8.5X17” ET13 RONDELL 1789 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ANDY TAN 300HP+ F56 JCW 8X18” ET45 BBS…

MOTORSPORT TRACK GUIDE WET-WEATHER DRIVING HAVING GUIDED YOU AROUND THE UK’S CIRCUITS, ALEX NEVILL NOW SETS ABOUT TEACHING YOU THE FINER POINTS OF CAR CONTROL ON TRACK IN OUR NEW SERIES Words ALEX NEVILL Wet weather races are known in motorsport as ‘the great leveller’ as these are the conditions in which the driver can really make the difference. Driving on track in the rain is a real challenge for drivers of all levels, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a complete novice. There’s no better test of your car control and concentration than a wet circuit. GENERAL TIPS Watch for track evolution: even in the dry, you should look at a race track as a living thing, constantly evolving throughout the day as the weather (temperature etc.) and the…

FEATURE R50 COOPER HOT STUFF RIDING ON AIR, SITTING ON DEEP-DISH WHEELS AND DECKED OUT IN A WHOLE HOST OF STRIKING STYLING ADDITIONS, THIS COOPER IS ONE COUPLE’S IDEA OF CHILI RED PERFECTION Words MARTYN COLLINS Photos JASON DODD MINI has a lot to thank Frank Stephenson for, with his iconic exterior and interior design. His rationale was that the R50/R53 MINI should be a continuation from the 1959 original if Austin and Rover had more regularly updated it. Even 20 years on, the short overhangs, floating roof, and that curvy one-piece bonnet still look sharp and modern, bringing new fans into the fold – some who had never considered a MINI before. Wayne Denman and Zoe Pescott, the owners of this distinctive Chili red R50 Cooper, are perfect examples…

PROJECT CARS TODD’S R53 RALLYCROSS CAR AFTER A ROUGH 2021 ON TRACK, THE TEAM MAKES PLANS FOR 2022 TO COME BACK STRONGER THIS ISSUE’S RUNNING REPORTS: After the troubles of the first half of 2021, the team decided to use the second half of the year to rebuild and build back stronger. Many options were considered, including scrapping the R53 altogether. Eventually, however, once a strip-down was completed and the engine inspected, the decision was made to give the old Tritec/W11 lump one last go. The engine itself was actually in remarkably good condition, especially given the shiny metal present in the oil after Pembrey. The source appeared to be the bearings in the turbo, which is quite understandable given the temperature of it! Away from the engine, both the…

NEWS MINI SHADOW EDITION Following its introduction on the MINI Clubman and Countryman in early 2021, the Shadow Edition is now available to order on the MINI Hatch, Convertible and MINI Electric. Offered exclusively to the UK market, the Shadow Edition has a Midnight black metallic exterior paint colour, with contrasting Silver roof and mirror caps and Piano black exterior, creating a dramatic and streamlined look. The Shadow Edition for MINI Hatch and Convertible is based on the Sport trim level, while the MINI Electric Shadow Edition is based on the Level 3 model. All models benefit from special edition graphics on the bonnet, integrated scuttle trim and the A-panel, while MINI Hatch also includes the Shadow logo on the lower roof. Inside, the Shadow Edition has Anthracite headlining and…

TRAX SILVERSTONE 2021 IN THE SCENE TRAX SILVERSTONE 2021 AFTER A YEAR OFF, TRAX SILVERSTONE WAS BACK FOR 2021, AND IT MADE UP FOR THAT 12-MONTH BREAK IN A BIG WAY… Words ELIZABETH DE LATOUR Photos JASON DODD WHERE SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT, TOWCESTER WHEN 3RD OCTOBER 2021 TRAX Silverstone is an awesome show. The sheer size and scale of it, the variety of cars on display, the location, everything about it feels special. It’s one of the biggest, loudest and most exciting motoring events of the entire year, with literally something for everyone, and, alongside the incredible amount of cars, there’s a massive trade village, public track time and spectacular drift displays. The 2020 event may have been cancelled, but 2021’s show made up for that in a big way –…

FEATURE R53 COOPER S ROTA DAMASCUS SEEKING A PROJECT TO BUILD WITH HIS DAUGHTER, PAUL MCLOUGHLIN HAD AN EPIPHANY AS HE SAT LOOKING AT THE CLASSIC MINI ON THE DRIVEWAY… Words DANIEL BEVIS Photos 24SEVEN PHOTOGRAPHY The bridge between classic Minis and modern MINIs is a robust and well-trodden one. There’s a natural thought progression from one to another, an evolution in desires and aspirations, whether it’s the newer car replacing the older or simply a case of the two sitting side-by-side on the driveway. For Paul Mcloughlin, the Issigonis influence stretches way back to his first car; “I passed my test in a Fiesta, but I like to think I really learned to drive in a Mini,” he muses. The car in question was a 1975 Mini 1000, which…

R50 MINI BUYING AND TUNING GUIDE R50 MINI NOW CONSIDERED A MODERN CLASSIC, THE FIRST-GENERATION ONE AND COOPER STILL LOOK GREAT, ARE WELL MADE, FUN TO DRIVE, HAVE MODERN SAFETY FEATURES AND WILL NEVER BE CHEAPER Words MARTYN COLLINS Photos MINI, 24SEVEN PHOTOGRAPHY How do you replace a car that’s been on sale for four decades? That was the headache facing Rover, especially when BMW took the helm in 1994. Concepts debuting in 1997 kept Classic Mini fans guessing, but as it turns out, these were all designs rejected before the final Frank Stephenson-styled model. That model, or the R50 MINI as we now know it, finally made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September of that same year. However, with Rover’s sale to the Phoenix consortium, BMW…