A bit like Triggers broom then...

I thought the bonnet was from a different Mini. Mind you, after binge watching it, I have to say I felt rather punch drunk.

My dad used to race bomber cars in the 70's and he managed to fit an 1800cc (Austin Maxi?) engine into a Mini. I can recall him making 'gentle' adjustments to the engine bay with a sledge hammer so it would fit... He then welded two front wheels together for each front wheel to try and get more grip. He would have approved whole heartedly about Project Binky :)

Rob

Bomber cars were a cheap persons form of racing.  It was popular around Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire in the early 70's. Basically a car that had failed it's MOT but was mechanically sound, stripped down, windows out, petrol tank was a small unit in the centre of the car, roll cage and some sort of restraint harness. Raced around whatever farmer could be persuaded to set a meeting up. My dad used to organise them and we'd get a couple of thousand people on a bank holiday in North Derbyshire. I used to help lace tyres together with metal cable for the corners, the track was literally a field, they'd be a burger bar selling a variety of wholesome food, which so long as it was fired until it was black, was surprisingly good. 

It was very low level, it wasn't as up market as the Stock cars you'd see on speedway ovals such as Sheffield, Coventry, Belle Vue or Long Eaton, and these days you wouldn't be allowed to do it. There were no clubs involved and it certainly wasn't sanctioned by the FIA.

My mum raced and did very well, minis were good as they handled the bumps well, but we'd see anything from the 60's, Morris Minors, Beetles, Austin Maxis, Hillman Imps, and a lot of other British cars whose names escape me now.

I think when you say mount, you mean weld :) I can recall him welding two hubs together and then I think he must have put longer bolts in the wheel hubs. I'd be 10-12 years old so some of the finer details escaped me.

I'd like to think of it as the precursor to Project Binky without the turbocharger, or the 16V engine, or the 4WD, or the new wiring loom, or the electric windows, or the array of coolers, or the windows, or the new suspension, or the new floorpan, of the seats, or the dozens of little brackets, or the skill and nouse of the Bad Obsession Team. Apart from that, it's basically the same project :)

Rob

I don't recall many Marina's, they came later as did the Allegro. I do recall my mother having two of them in the late 70s/80's and they were junk.

I do remember my dad racing with some success, though not sure that the word 'success' is appropriate for being the last car actually capable of moving around the muddy field that was supposed to be race track, with a Hillman Minx. Also this was explicitly NOT a Demolition Derby, that's when the really shipty cars were brought out. I had to look Hillman Minx up on Wikipedia and think he had one like this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillman_Minx#/media/File:Hillman_Minx_Series_V.jpg. Not sure what it would be worth now, but I was looking for an early mini to restore for when my eldest turns 17 in 3.5 years time, and found that the prices have shot through the roof. Its cheaper to get her a cheap Fiat 500 or AX rather than an old decent mini. I know which is safer.

Might be an interesting race, will Project Binky be ready before my daughter hit's 17 and can drive.

Rob

 

 

My current build project is making my own CNC machine. Almost finished and ready to start cutting this weekend.

My skills are more IT related than engineering, though I have a great imagination.

Will not be picking up a Minx (not seen one in decades) and the chances of a decent mini dropping in my lap is zero. However I live in North Yorkshire and Landrovers are pretty common. Restoring one of those and dropping in a bigger engine might be an option.

A friend had a turbo'ed X 1/9. That was some 18 years ago and it must have been 10 years old then. I tried to dig around for pics but couldn't find it.

Rob