Minis and Imps

Shooting the bull on historic motor racing and motorsport history.
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Steve Holmes
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by Steve Holmes »

Thanks to Laurie Axcell for the following images of his various road and race Minis, owned during the last 39 years.

This is his beautiful 1964 1,071cc Austin Cooper S which he still owns:

4Cooper 6.jpg


P7070016.JPG
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Steve Holmes
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by Steve Holmes »

More Laurie Axcell pics. These are from his Mini 7 racing days during the 1980s:

4amini7 1981 3baypark cars .jpg


mini7 baypark3.jpg
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Steve Holmes
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Re: Minis and Imps

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Mini7 racing 2.jpg


Three minis.jpg
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Steve Holmes
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by Steve Holmes »

Here is Laurie's beautiful Britax Cooper replica he currently races:

541.JPG


702.JPG
khyndart in CA
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by khyndart in CA »

Here in California I get a lot of people that laugh at my 1962 Mini Cooper and do not believe that they could compete in a race with
Mustangs and Camaros etc.. I have this picture on my desk at work to show that Minis were competitive.
I am not sure when it was but I do know it shows the Mini and the Mustang climbing the hill to approach Druids Corner at Brands Hatch and you can see how the crowd is enjoying the race.
(It looks like the "Britax" Mini in NZ and the "Kent Cams" Mini in England had very similar paint schemes )

Mini at Brands.jpg




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Steve Holmes
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Re: Minis and Imps

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Brilliant photo Ken!
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Steve Holmes
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by Steve Holmes »

Fantastic photo here by Steve Twist, from Pukekohe during the 1968 New Zealand racing season, and the first under Group 5 rules. This was the year the PDL Racing Team was formed, with Robert Stewart and Clyde Collins running a pair of PDL Minis.

Stewart ran the 1001cc-1300cc class, while Collins was in the 0-1000cc class. Stewart finished second in his class in the championship, behind Angus Hyslop, who I think is pictured here in the green Cooper S sat right up Stewarts tail pipe.

07 1967 1968 Pukekohe g018.jpg
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ERC
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by ERC »

Does anyone have a photograph of the ex-works 4WD Mini that still resides in NZ? I know who owns it, but I have never seen a pic of it. I might have to lean on him to see if I can see the car some time...
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Roger Dowding
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by Roger Dowding »

ERC wrote:Does anyone have a photograph of the ex-works 4WD Mini that still resides in NZ? I know who owns it, but I have never seen a pic of it. I might have to lean on him to see if I can see the car some time...


ERC, would be great to see, They ran one in the Targa Florio, back in the 60's and John B from SPR models had a 1;43 in the range which I missed getting hold of.
Have found a few more pics of Mini's racing this time at Dunedin Revival Street Races in 1984 ; must get them scanned and posted
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Roger Dowding
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by Roger Dowding »

Roger Dowding wrote: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..

[ATTACH=CONFIG]29652[/ATTACH]

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 !!.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]29653[/ATTACH]


Have found my own photos of these two incidents The Minisprint after the accident,NZ Grand Prix meeting January 1968
Minisprint Pukekohe GP 1968  Gilbertson ACCI11102015.jpg

and Ron Browns Mini, both before and after .The Reverse direction meeting April 1966
Mini Pukekohe April 1966 Ron Brown #1, CCI11102015_0001.jpg

As it arrived, and below, how it left.
Mini Pukekohe April 1966 Ron Brown #2, CCI11102015_0002.jpg

Mini Pukekohe April 1966 Ron Brown #3, CCI11102015_0003.jpg
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Roger Dowding
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by Roger Dowding »

John McKechnie wrote:Rodger- I left Papakura Rodders and joined the Triumph Sports Car club 4 months later for club gymkanas.
Hot Rod magazine had a fantastic action pic of Marwood blasting off the line in his Camaro- anyone got it and want to post it>


Not at Wiri but here is that Camaro at Pukekohe GP meeting a bit earlier that year.
Pukekohe Jan 1971 GP #2, Dennisd Marwood Camaro pic#1, v2, CCI18102015 (2).jpg


and Croydon Thompson's F100 - as has been mentioned in threads.

Ford F100 early 1971 Croydon Thompson #2, Riverhead Grasstrack v3, CCI18102015 (2) (584x669).jpg


neither a Mini nor an Imp but as Spgeti said, " sure these things had Mini or Imp parts ..." somewhere, wiper blades perhaps ?
John McKechnie
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by John McKechnie »

Probably the drive shaft judging from the way it broke at the Drags at Wiri
khyndart in CA
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by khyndart in CA »

How to repair a Mini exhaust system when you are in a hurry !
The Austin Cooper 1275 S, of Paddy Hopkirk and co-driver Ron Crellin, being worked on during the 1967 Acropolis Rally in Greece.
Paddy did not need to worry as they went on to win this event. Even though the engine had worn out bearings, it just made it to the finish line in first place. Perhaps this repair work drained the oil away and when the engine was restarted the bearings were damaged.(Ok I am rambling )
British Motor Industry Heritage Trust photo.

Rally Mini repairs.jpg




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Graeme Farr
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by Graeme Farr »

ERC wrote:Does anyone have a photograph of the ex-works 4WD Mini that still resides in NZ? I know who owns it, but I have never seen a pic of it. I might have to lean on him to see if I can see the car some time...


There are two Austin Ant 4wd prototypes and a factory Moke 4wd in NZ. And the two ex Heatway Special Tuning Clubmans - and there was an ex-works rally Mini in Dunedin many moons ago. Do you mean one of these?
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by rf84 »

The Heatway Hyslop/Langley Clubman is in Hawkes Bay-it was on display at the end of the Targa in Havelock North last Friday.
There was a rumour years ago that the 4WD Moke was on Stewart Island.
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ERC
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by ERC »

As far as I am aware, no, not an Ant or a Moke, but a 4WD Mini saloon.
John McKechnie
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by John McKechnie »

#366-Just seen in NZ Hot Rod mag Nov 1971-
Ex-Croydon Thompson F100 pickup , new motor bored to 292 $1700 o.n.o.
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by SPman »

Min‌isprint Tauranga Feb 1968 r.jpg


Took this pic many years ago - at Bay Park or environes I think. Anyone know who, how, etc?
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by Grant Ellwood »

Kevin Clark?
Milan Fistonic
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Re: Minis and Imps

Post by Milan Fistonic »

Mini 7s on the Club Circuit trying to decide what is the correct line.

Mini 7s CC.JPG
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