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I see Julius Thurgood is launching an 'All A-Series' race at Donnington on 7th Nov

I think it's aprecursor to a full series to run alongside the A35 races. Open to ALL A-series cars, from BMC products, Specialist manufacturers and one-offs

Must update the Ebay listing!

Al

I'm amazed this hasn't been done sooner. I wonder what the age limit is?

Don't know, but it'd be a bit odd if someone rocked up on the grid in a Metro Turbo



Al

it's pre '66

Al

Good idea but why limit it to pre 66 like every bloody other championship - never the less its going to be interesting to watch all the A's bashing it out

PD

That's a great idea, though yes pre '66 yet again! It'd be great to see some Mini derivatives out there, they were raced a lot in the 60's but we never see them race in the UK! Want to sell me the Hornet back Mark???

Why not 72 ? It would make it accessible for more people and include more variants

Always very wary of any idea Julius comes up with....all done with the best intentions of course, such as cost, mainly. But.....practicality has never been a strong point, especially concerning brakes and tyres. Still, I will happily support and compete in anything he comes up, if it looks safe, practical and competitive.
FJ v HTC anyone??

I'm guessing that they want everyone on a controlled CR65 tyre which the post 66 cars probably won't be happy to run on.

Agh! Just seen the entry fee for a 30 minute race...... Ouch!

Red Mist wrote:I'm guessing that they want everyone on a controlled CR65 tyre which the post 66 cars probably won't be happy to run on.

And 10" wheels and five port. Tis a shame late 60s stuff never gets a run outside of HSCC (completely impartial view of course!) . I did go and see an HRDC pre 63 race at Oulton and really liked the event and standard of cars racing. No early Minis though of course of either 850 or 997 variety which is a shame!

I wonder if it's finally a race we might see some Lotus sevens racing in?

Given that they were the backbone of club racing in the UK in the '60s, I can't understand why they seem to have anywhere to run, or else folk don't want to bring them out.

I'd like to see Pandora racing the Mink.

Al

Pete wrote:

Red Mist wrote:I'm guessing that they want everyone on a controlled CR65 tyre which the post 66 cars probably won't be happy to run on.

And 10" wheels and five port. Tis a shame late 60s stuff never gets a run outside of HSCC (completely impartial view of course!) . I did go and see an HRDC pre 63 race at Oulton and really liked the event and standard of cars racing. No early Minis though of course of either 850 or 997 variety which is a shame!

The problem with those two cars are.....
1. 3.5" wheels and CR65s would not remain attached to each other for very long, unless run at stupidly high pressures
2. brakes - twin leading shoe or 7" discs?. No thanks!
3. No 22G940 (or similar) heads allowed - which is fair enough but unfortunately other non-A series cars could legally blow us into the weeds .
I was really keen to compete a modified (i.e. de-tuned with 997cc) 1275 S car in his pre-63 category a few years ago, but he would not budge on the brakes or the tyres, so I walked away.
The problem with a Mini is, is that as soon as you present one with which to race, you automatically declare your own personal competitiveness level (e.g bloody high!).
If in 2009, I had gone into Standard Vanguards, by now I would be a fully paid up member of the Goodwood Revival Set!

YMJ wrote: The problem with a Mini is, is that as soon as you present one with which to race, you automatically declare your own personal competitiveness level (e.g bloody high!).
If in 2009, I had gone into Standard Vanguards, by now I would be a fully paid up member of the Goodwood Revival Set!

I did sit and think about this but presume as I don't have FIA papers I wouldn't get a run and, as you say its quite more like real money

Just entered for the weekend at Sillystone, so see you then. Speak for yourself - I just like to give myself a chance to race with someone rather than tour around on my own. Looks like we will be 6 Minis

Lets see if I can get mugged again.....

Timothy.....!
To whom are you referring??

We should have a good race if Jono clears off into the distance. Andy'll be there too so it should be lots of fun if......(delete where not applicable)...exhaust stays together/fuel unions do not come loose inexplicably/coil doesn't pack up/gearstick retaining bolts do not come loose, again, inexplicably/head doesn't decide to become porous all of a sudden.....

From Maximum Mini website...

HRDC racing welcomes Mini variants

In the ever increasing popularity of Mini based cars, the UK's Historic Racing Drivers Club (HRDC) has now decided to broaden its accessibility to all pre-1966 sports-, GT- and touring cars using the A-series engine. That's great news for Mini derivatives owners wanting to race their cars. The first race will take place at Donington on 7 november this year.

HRDC Race Director Julius Thurgood states in a press release: "I have been working on this for some time now. The ubiquitous BMC 'A-Series' powerplant has been with us in motorsport for decades and has spawned so many interesting variants. However, most categories seem to run in separate classes and categories. But why should they? Why not bring all the pre-'66 BMC 'A-Series' powered cars to race together under one format? I am sure that it will provide spectacular racing and will be of great interest to both competitors and spectators alike."

I asked him why the race is not made eligible for pre-'70 or pre-'72 cars as this would make it accessible for many more variants. Julius said: "The reason for the '66 cut-off is that this is the natural date cut-off between 'historic' and 'post-historic' in the racing community. Generally the rules are tighter pre-'66 and this gives a more equal field. Later specification would then mean different tyres, wilder engines and different suspension set-ups."

And has he already had an interest from owners of Mini variants wanting to enter their cars? He said: "The entry for this race was only opened this week. We will have to wait and see what the response/which cars get entered. We know of a couple of Ogles, a DART, 2 x Deep Sandersons and Rae Davis' Jem. It will take time to coax these rarer cars out but we will do our best to do so!"

Early Unipower GT also complies with pre '66 if he's going by the date of last race at the original Goodwood (which I think is the case?), there's got to be a few Marcos about, Fletchers, Ogles etc. Will a Cox GTM scrape in? The Aurora BMC would be a definate (Marc!!) if this idea continues next year. Minisprint?

Bloody expensive half an hour though!

Is anyone going to this at the weekend?

Thought I might drop down to see whats going on.

M

Sorry Mark. The rugby season (proper*) has started. Old Wanktonians ExB's first game this weekend.

* the ground is now soft enough for old gits to fall on.

Old Wanktonians ExB's first game this weekend.

Sounds like fun

Can't make this as it's the NEC next week, weather's looking dire for weekend though!