The Roaring Season

SP Man your note ; " The Mini that.....senior moment - the deaf engine balancer out Kumeu way - Ted Thompson? - grafted a twin cam Ford engine onto the Mini gearbox. I can only vaguely remember it, but, does anyone know anything about that? "

My comment 29 April 2014,yep ayear ago ; " This could be the original one that I know the " Ted Thompson " one from Kumeu in Auckland that ran 13 inch wheels on the front and 10 inch on the back, ran at a club meeting using the " small " loop circuit at Pukekohe that was broadcast on TV at the time as a live program so quickfire races, I have a couple of B and W photo's of the car [ which I know, I must now find] about 1969/70 I do believe, from other notes, there may have been a few Ford/Mini combinations in Mini's.. great "
and a photo as mentioned - took a year !!!;.

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Can someone tell me who's Minisprint #55 was. Cheers, Bruce

Spgeti wrote:Can someone tell me who's Minisprint #55 was. Cheers, Bruce

Spgeti, at this stage No, but remember both the MiniSprint and the one with the faired in front end, slightly E-type, I think somewhere have a photo of a Mini bent-Sprint as it had a bad accident, will be a silly 3' x 3' inch shot in B and W, [ now have to start a search ].
Gave all my Pukekohe programs 1966 to early 80's away in 2008 - bad decision.

Thanks Roger, I think the E-type front end one was Frank Hamlin. Cheers, Bruce

Kevin Hirst wrote:Sorry to be nosy but what is it powered by now, neat car, drove them back from Todd park brand new in a previous life, loved every minute of them,

Hi Kevin, A few years back I mid-mounted a Subaru WRX Sti engine/transaxle in it as it had been racing with a 1200 Datsun in the back since 1989 but found that although it was a great package it was just not fast enough in today's world. Now it does 0-100k in 3.5, 240ks, & has been super reliable for many seasons. (change oil, go racing......)Reece.

Reeceracer wrote:Hi Kevin, A few years back I mid-mounted a Subaru WRX Sti engine/transaxle in it as it had been racing with a 1200 Datsun in the back since 1989 but found that although it was a great package it was just not fast enough in today's world. Now it does 0-100k in 3.5, 240ks, & has been super reliable for many seasons. (change oil, go racing......)Reece.

Thank's for that Reece, neat setup, would love to do something like that with an imp & have always thought what you have built would be ideal, have just sold my lotus replica [locost] & would love another toy but the years are catching up on the body a bit, [back, knees, etc] best of luck with your future racing.

Spgeti wrote:Thanks Roger, I think the E-type front end one was Frank Hamlin. Cheers, Bruce

Bruce it sure was, have just found a couple of photos. undated but probably 1967, had ducting through the left headlight cowl and the right cowl was fully fared in with perspex and a small light . It has taken a few months to find them..

Thanks Roger, I love these period photos and these two are fantastic.....well done in hunting them down.

Spgeti wrote:Thanks Roger, I love these period photos and these two are fantastic.....well done in hunting them down.

Bruce, there are 3 but the other is side view of the left side front guard - must attach that one too!!, and find the ones of the minisprint - in a box somewhere in my garage, they have moved in Auckland about 7 times then to Sydney and now Bellara, near Brisbane, not quite the journey of Ken Hyndman .. will see what else I have.

Roger Dowding wrote:Bruce, there are 3 but the other is side view of the left side front guard - must attach that one too!!, and find the ones of the minisprint - in a box somewhere in my garage, they have moved in Auckland about 7 times then to Sydney and now Bellara, near Brisbane, not quite the journey of Ken Hyndman .. will see what else I have.

The third shot ..



and one of myself, Grass Sprint Woodhill - Tom Grace's farm NSCC 1971 ..

My first car was a 1964 Morris Mini 850 in 1971. My Dad owned a 1964 Austin 1100 powered by a 1275 S engine with twin 1.5 SU's. That is the car that I learnt to drive in. Some where in one of the motorsport magazines of the time there is an article of this car. I cannot remember who built it but was built in Auckland. Had Austin Cooper badges on the boot lid and a S badge on the bonnet.
I would dearly like a copy of that article. My current project is an Elf which has a small race history. Your last photo brought back those memories Roger. Thanks, Bruce

Not quite a Mini but one Hell of a Minor -

Who did the body work mods on this mini sprint.
Maybe Graham Watson?

I remember looking at an Imp with a datsun engine at Baypark, maybe 1976? It was in the 0-1300 Shellsport race that i was racing in also.

Steve it is in the footage on Youtube from 76, Warren Steel maybe?

Roger Dowding wrote:Spgeti, at this stage No, but remember both the MiniSprint and the one with the faired in front end, slightly E-type, I think somewhere have a photo of a Mini bent-Sprint as it had a bad accident, will be a silly 3' x 3' inch shot in B and W, [ now have to start a search ].
Gave all my Pukekohe programs 1966 to early 80's away in 2008 - bad decision.

Can't find my photo's of the Minisprint but have found the negatives ; have found this in the book / magazine " 30 years of Grand Prix Racing, Ardmore and Pukekohe 1954-1983..



and another from the same magazine ; Ron Brown, who was a mate of Alan Boyles, and became Auckland Car Club president for a time .. the reverse meeting at Pukekohe, the one and only as too dangerous !!.

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SpMan and others, I do remember the Ted Thompson car,this is a photo from the Quickfire Club Circuit meeting at Pukukohe that was televised. has been posted before on another thread, but belongs here !!

Found another photo of the Ted Thompson Mini-Ford at that meeting, must have taken two cameras as this is an old 3.5" square one.



The dummy grid was on the curve just before the left hander by the stables. cropped photo.

Spgeti wrote:My first car was a 1964 Morris Mini 850 in 1971. My Dad owned a 1964 Austin 1100 powered by a 1275 S engine with twin 1.5 SU's. That is the car that I learnt to drive in. Some where in one of the motorsport magazines of the time there is an article of this car. I cannot remember who built it but was built in Auckland. Had Austin Cooper badges on the boot lid and a S badge on the bonnet.
I would dearly like a copy of that article. My current project is an Elf which has a small race history. Your last photo brought back those memories Roger. Thanks, Bruce

Bruce " Spgeti ", Have found a photo of the small class 0-1000 or silimar at Pukekohe late 60's, very much a distance shot and one of the Mini's has an Elf / Hornet nose. will play around with and attach it to the thread, cheers Roger

Thanks Roger, I also have a copy of Waimate Street Race by Scott Thompson that you are welcome to borrow. Cheers, Bruce.

Bruce, would love to but geography is in the way ' Feilding to Bellara ' wouldn't like it posted and then back again. will have to think about it. thanks for the offer