John Colgate's Timewarp 1967 Group II Downton Cooper S

[Pete]

It's great when you do find someone significant like that from your car's past, especially if they're interested to talk about it. Well done Johnny!

[Johnny]

Hi All,
I wanted to do a little update on a couple of things.

I got the Mini back together in Late June. Finally put a 16 hour Saturday in it just in time for Mini Meet East in Maryland.
We also had a great time with the events related to the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.

http://pittsburghvintagegrandprix.com/

So far everything is running fine and no more blue smoke.

Here is a picture from the British Car Day at the PVGP in July.



Here is idea of what the track looks like. I think we are one of the few places left over here who use public streets for a vintage race.



As for another topic.
Some of the other questions I had for Mr. Cundell included thoughts about what engine related work was done in London.

I was curious about the H4 carbs I have for the car. They have many of the modifications done to them as David Vizard discusses were done by Downton in the 60’s in his book Tuning BL’s a-Series Engine.
Mr.Cundell said that engine builder Mike Pigneguy did the work on the carbs. I asked about if the H4’s would have had Ram pipes or air filters. He said there would be no rampipes or filters fitted to a race engine. The filter side of the H4’s are very well sculpted as if they have built in Ram pipes. It seems like they did not have chokes either.

Here is a picture of my H4’s, I figure the choke levers, which look to be MGB , were added after the cars retirement from racing. The float chambers are the correct 30 degree items. They are mounted on the original Downton inlet manifold, which would have came with the original head.




As for when I asked about the general appearance and colour of the engine Mr. Cundell said.
“The engine colour would have been green as per the factory colour. Daniel Richmond was adamant that all modified engines looked as near original as possible ! “

I wanted to include one of the letters about the building of the replacement engine in June of 1968.
In this example, the bottom half was built in London while the head was sent over, I would imagine, from the main Downton facility.




Mr. Cundell very kindly offered me a couple nicely framed articles from from his personal collection. There are two different Autocar Magazine articles one from 1962 and one from 1964. They are a little large but he did a great job packing them up for a safe trip over.








One last thing that is too good not to share. The third owner sent me a picture of himself with the car from the second half of the 1970’s. I don’t think you would want to mess with this guys Mini. I am so grateful that he did such a great job of preserving the car through his 25 years of ownership. Another thing he said was that he took the car to the dragstrip one time and ran a 16.7 second ¼ mile.

[JC T ONE]

Nice how the whole story comes together

[Pete]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L-aVbCyTLs

[atm92484]

Great looking car Johnny and its awesome that you were able to track down the history.

Hi All,
Here is a picture from the British Car Day at the PVGP in July.
.......
Here is idea of what the track looks like. I think we are one of the few places left over here who use public streets for a vintage race.

Definitely a great event. I was racing the red #79 Sprite. Unfortunately I didn't get up to the car show - really wanted to see some Minis in person. Maybe next year.

[Johnny]

Great looking car Johnny and its awesome that you were able to track down the history.

Hi All,
Here is a picture from the British Car Day at the PVGP in July.
.......
Here is idea of what the track looks like. I think we are one of the few places left over here who use public streets for a vintage race.

Definitely a great event. I was racing the red #79 Sprite. Unfortunately I didn't get up to the car show - really wanted to see some Minis in person. Maybe next year.

Thank you for the kind words.
I happened to run into a lot of luck when doing my digging.

Also, Thank you for your participation in the PVGP, it takes a lot of effort on your part.
It is such a big event it is hard to see everything, especially for the racers.
I'll be looking out for your Sprite next year.

Nice to see another Pittsburgher on the forum.

[Johnny]

It's been a while for an update, so I figure I would give a small one.
I finally got around to painting my 5 1/2" Minilites and mounting the old Dunlop CR 70 race tires.
This is an example of what not to do: Mount 50 year old tires on 49 year old Magnesium wheels, but it sure looks neat.

I also finally installed the Maniflow/Downton side pipe. It went on easily after I had to modify the inlet to fit the collector off the LCB.
It's not as loud as I was expecting, but I have not road tested it yet.

I'm quite pleased with the overall look and really do not have anymore to do on the general appearance of the car.
I guess I will need to move onto getting the old H4's sorted, and work at getting the proper induction sound.
Then work on the Anti Roll Bar.

[mk1coopers]

I've said it before, but I've just got to say it again, great car with a great history

[UHR850]

SUPER !!

Kees.

[mk1]

Absolutely superb!

[rich@minispares.com]

It's not as loud as I was expecting, but I have not road tested it yet.

wait until you have road tested it john.....




mine literally was loud enough to split the atom

[Pete]

Can't remember now John but did you ever get in contact with Richard Miles? I did contact the family last year who still run the family garage to discuss speaking to Richard but didn't get any further sadly, happens sometimes. I do think it's worth another go, these guys aren't getting any younger and it'd be a shame if the chance was missed. Downton London also did my Unipower's first engine so it'd be interesrting to speak to him.

[atm92484]

I saw your car in Shadyside this year. It looked really sharp.

[Johnny]

Thank you for the feedback guys.

I'm trying to get the finishing touches done since I plan to show the car at Hershey in October.
Hershey is a massive old car flea market and show put on by the AACA or Antique Automobile Club of America.
It is considered the worlds largest old car flea market, over 9000 vendors, mostly pre-war related.

For the show they have a class for unrestored race cars. I have spent a bit of effort to get through the certification and documentation process to qualify for the class. The race car classes are usually filled with old dirt track, Indy, Drag cars, and some sports cars. They also have a simple race car demonstration run in the stadium I have never seen a Mini displayed, so should be fun.

Can't remember now John but did you ever get in contact with Richard Miles? I did contact the family last year who still run the family garage to discuss speaking to Richard but didn't get any further sadly, happens sometimes. I do think it's worth another go, these guys aren't getting any younger and it'd be a shame if the chance was missed. Downton London also did my Unipower's first engine so it'd be interesrting to speak to him.

Pete, unfortunately, I was never able to make a connection to Richard Miles. It would be a very interesting discussion.
Keith Cundell is an absolute treasure though, he really knew what was going on there. He even had recollections of Andrew Hedges involvement with the Colgate car, so I figure he would know about the Unipower activities.

I saw your car in Shadyside this year. It looked really sharp.

Sorry I missed you this year. The Purple Minis put on one heck of a show both race weekends.
I hope to put up some PVGP pics in the Historic Motorsport section soon.


One other thing I keep forgetting to ask.

In the 2nd half of 1967, Minilite Wheels asked for and received pictures of the Colgate car through the guys at Downton London.
I know Minilite made hundreds? of ads with various race cars. I do not know if they ever made one with the Colgate car or not, but I'm asking if anyone happens to spot one I would be delighted to get a copy. Just a little something to put in the back of your minds.

Thanks so much.

[atm92484]

Yeah those Minis were darn quick. I couldn't keep up with them either weekend. I was happy with a 2:10 at PIRC but I think they were a full 2 seconds faster per lap.

[Johnny]

Hi all,
I was off to Hershey PA the other week for the big Fall Meet. I took the Mini along and figured I would put up some pictures.
To participate in the race car show, besides going through a documentation process, you must demonstrate that your car functions, so they have a demonstration the day before the show in the old Hershey Stadium. In this stadium they actually raced cars here starting in the late 1930's.

I enlisted the help of a Vintage Mini racer friend Bob to handle the driving duties, he had the proper attire, and expressed an interest in doing such a thing.

We had a great time and hopefully raised a little Mini awareness along the way.







Here a couple video links you can dig around in to see the not so exciting action.

Mini arrives around the 6:22 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7A3KXJOmgY


And at the 6:20 on this Hemmings Motor News video, its linked to Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/HemmingsNews/v ... 339176381/

[Ronnie]

Keep the wheels turning John.

[JC T ONE]

Nice video,s and good sound



Jens Christian

[mk1]

Great to see this lovely car is still doing what it was made to do!

[Flygirl]

Great to see this spectacular Mini being driven! John you are truly an ambassador for the Mini, and kudos for bringing the car out. Hopefully we'll get to see each other in 2017.