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While I was tidying my Dad's office out, I found this pic of my first Mini tucked away in the back of a drawer. I reckon it must have been taken in about 1982 - 3 when it still had it's mildly tuned 998 engine fitted.



Not long after this it received it's first 1070 "S" engine & I was thoroughly hooked on Minis.

And here's another one from the same source,

My Dad's final single seater hillclimb project. . . Mini - Ha Ha, for obvious reasons.



One of the most "unique looking Mini based racers of all time, it was surprisingly quick in its day.

M

That must have been quite a moment finding them - what memories

Your Dad's single seater is quite something looks as if it was a bit light at the back!

Good lord - that's ace! Are those mini radius arms at the back? and a standard front subframe?

I suspect Jeroen is currently wiping dribble out his keyboard

A sad job to do, but at least it seems to be providing a few happy memories

Al

happy memories for you mark I hope, do I remember you put some pics of your dads special on the last forum ??? am certain I have seen that car before, what an ace pic to have of the old fellah though

cool Mark, what was the hoop over the engine on the hillclimber?

Bottom hose at a guess.

I don't envy you at all Mark, when I had to clear out my Mothers flat it felt like I was intruding on her personal things, a most uncomfortable feeling, I wish you well and hope you find more treasures.

I wish you the very best in your task.

I like your Dad's hillclimber, looking at the top front shocker mount, its very difficult to tuck it out of the way anywhere to look tidy, I'm having a similar problem with my long term 3 wheeler build, current set up shown in photo although it may still change.

That Hoop is a very rare Bob Soper rampipe. Awesome bit of kit / kits. I found a nos set once, wish I hadn't of sold them now.

Thanks for the kind comments folks.

It is basically a Mini with minimal bodywork, a front subframe with a Shorrock blown 1100 in the front (that's what the pipe is, it is the connection from the blower to the inlet manifold), the blower was mounted low down at the front & Mini radius arms at the back. It ran on methanol entering through a single 2" SU with a 1/4" jet & double float chambers! As it ran so cold it didn't need a radiator. Needless to say it was all made in my Dads garage and was used around 67 - 68.

A couple of other images of my Dad's Hillclimbers.

First his "Cooper Vincent" basically a Cooper 500 with a bigger engine grafted into it.



& second his most good looking Hillclimber an ex FJ Tojiero Ford



That's about all the reminiscences for today.

M

Pandora wrote:Good lord - that's ace! Are those mini radius arms at the back? and a standard front subframe?

I suspect Jeroen is currently wiping dribble out his keyboard

A sad job to do, but at least it seems to be providing a few happy memories

Al

You guys got me dribbling here all right!
That single seater looks to be just the piece of engineering I like most. Built on a shoestring with some good old ingenuity, dangerous as hell and good for tons of fun.
I reckon it got scrapped soon after the '68 season Mark?

I think you are probably right Jeroen. I know it was sold in one piece, but what happened to it after that is any ones guess.

M

Great pictures nice to capture special moments in time, so you can share & enjoy them


Jens Christian

mk1 wrote:
& second his most good looking Hillclimber an ex FJ Tojiero Ford



M

Now, that's a rare old thing! One of only 2 or 3 built, I think. There was some tie in / cross over with the Britania, a sort of Gordon Keeble / Peerlesss GT built in small numbers. I think Tojeiro designed the Junior for them too, but then wasn't paid?

The full story is in Graham Gauld's book 'Toj', which I shall now go and dig out and waste an evening.........

Al

Bugger!

So that's the one he should have kept

M

yup (about 30000 times)

No seatbelts, or perhaps just a lap belt?

Pete

They didn't use seat belts in those days, they where all proper men with massive balls.

If you had a seat belt on, how would you dramatically jump for freedom immediately before the impact