13 replies to this topic

[Tahiti Joe]

Hello there!

Have been wanting too do my BARS test for a long time now. After my girlfriend booked me a days tuition going sideways in a Ford Puma as a surprise for me birthday that sealed it for me! Last week my MSA go rallying pack arrived and im currently in the process of booking the BARS test! Wahoo, its finally happening!

Anyway, i was wondering whether anyone competes in stage rallying using a Mini. If so what rallies/classes do you compete in? Also any pictures/specifications of there car always nice too look at! Would love too compete in a Mini but was wondering just how competitive they can be in anything other than historic rallying?

Thanks, Joe!

[Cooperman]

They are really only competitive in Historic rallying these days, and then only in pre-1968 class.
On modern stage rallies a Mini will simply be 'blown away' by cars like the Pug 106 Rallye, Corsa, MG-ZR, etc.
The thing is it's just as expensive to use a Mini as a more modern car, but with no chance of success.
Sorry to be negative, but then the Mini is a 53-year old design after all and was a fantastic rally car in its day.

[minisi35]

Im currently building my one to go stage rallying, i do road rallying but want to step up to single venue events

[twrminisport]

THis is all true.
Also what you have to remember is if you build any car to win at something i.e. rallying. Then it will never be a good track car aswell.

The whole specifications are different. Same with any vehicle.
You can have one that does both well but you won't win. Or 1 car which will win rallies and do bad in races.

Jesus

[minisi35]

http://www.theminifo...howtopic=150425

The only car ive seen that was competative in the stages was a guy with a vtec engine car, think his name was rob hall. Theres also an irish guy call Lloyd Hutchinson
have a look at this link above

[Tahiti Joe]

Cheers for the replies!
Seen Lloyd Hutchinson's Mini, what a machine that is! But then isnt it pushing close too 200bhp? Should be pretty quick considering a lot of rally escorts produce around that mark!

twrminisport: The car would be built only for use in stage rallys, so it not being any good as a track car doesnt really bother me!
Hmmm, a vtec powered rally car isnt something id really considered though... What sort of power output would need too be aimed for? I was thinking at least 150bhp?

Was at the Tempest rally this weekend, there was a clubman there that finished mid 30's out of a 60ish car field. Apart from it being white and either green/blue i dont know any more about it though!

Maybe its just my love for Mini's that makes it hard for me too see why a well tuned and race prepared mini cant compete with the current crop of clio's, c2's, fiesta's and whatever else may be out there....! I know theyre never gonna be a JWRC spec car, but surely you could build a competitive one? Couldnt you?

[mini93]

bought my mini from someone who did stage rallies in it... did 1 event myself, spent thousands running upto the event for all my overalls licences,entry fee etc and had to retire because th engine mullered itself. i still believe minis just arent good enough for stage rallying when u look at what other cars you could run for cheaper.
next project (ill eventualy get round to after my current mini projects) is to turn my 1600 pug 106 into a rally car

[mini93]

a vtec powered rally car isnt something id really considered though... What sort of power output would need too be aimed for? I was thinking at least 150bhp?

wouldnt even consider it, with all the fun killers out there at the MSA, engine transplants wont be legal for much longer

[Cooperman]

bought my mini from someone who did stage rallies in it... did 1 event myself, spent thousands running upto the event for all my overalls licences,entry fee etc and had to retire because th engine mullered itself. i still believe minis just arent good enough for stage rallying when u look at what other cars you could run for cheaper.
next project (ill eventualy get round to after my current mini projects) is to turn my 1600 pug 106 into a rally car

Absolutely right there. I sold my Endurance Rally 1991 Cooper and prepared a Rover 214Si. It is just so much quicker, much more reliable, has better suspension on it's GAZ struts and over reqally rough roads it's superb.

[mini93]

Never sold/going to sell the ex-rally car now tho...just because its "my" car...plus its nice not having to worry about regulations at times so going a bit ott with the spending

[Tahiti Joe]

Mini93: I hear what your saying about the engine transplants, as tempting and appealing as it is too transplant something else in, i know a fair few people reverting there escorts back to standardish fitment engines because of being frowned upon by the MSA. Darn killjoys!

So general consensus is its not worth it? What lets them down so much then? Lack of power? Handling? Smoothness over the rough stuff?

Cheers for the replies guys!

[mini93]

the robustness of other cars compaired to mini's, the power of them. more modern cars have bigger wheels that can cope with more choppy ground. Even tarmac stages there will be sections of patchy gravel not to mention cattle grids, massive kerbs. bigger wheels, and more useful and adjustable suspension will just allow you to be more competative and the main thing, be easier to drive and when your just starting out you dont really want the stress of a difficult car to drive, dont want mistakes to happen.

Theres still a big following for pug 205's in rallying, my boss has 1 and we have several customers who rally them too. 1 customer got 2nd in his class in this years REIS msa championship in his 1900 205 Gti

[mab01uk]

Cheers for the replies!
Seen Lloyd Hutchinson's Mini, what a machine that is! But then isnt it pushing close too 200bhp? Should be pretty quick considering a lot of rally escorts produce around that mark!

This also looks a very quick rally Mini.........Mike Doody

[mab01uk]

Lloyd Hutchinson in his 1440cc Mini