14 replies to this topic

[CMXCVIII]

I chanced to catch the "Northern Ireland Plastics Expert Autotest"  on TV this morning, broadcast as part of the "Paddy Hopkirk Gala Special" on Motors TV,

 

Boy! Autotest Minis a lot more specialised than I remember from the 1970s when we used to do Sunday morning autotests after a Saturday night road rally! The Mini specials are ultra lightweight with "full race" front ends, lowered so much that the sump is virtually dragging along the ground! But the driving skill of those top guys is phenomonal!

 

So does anyone here autotest? I'm faintly interested in going along to a windswept car park one morning to watch, though it would have to be within commuting distance from London! 

 

By the way, the rest of the show wasn't up to much if it's repeated on TV! There's film of a Hopkirk Charity Gala Dinner which included the auctioning off a Neil Shawcross art-painted Mini that didn't appeal to me at all ... the sort of art installation that I personally would be tempted to bid on and then have it resprayed to standard in an act of valid artistic criticism!

 

 

[grumpy dad]

Hi

have a look at this

 

http://www.historicr...uk/hughesrally/

[GraemeC]

I do a bit, but nowhere near your end of the country!
There is a BTRDA championship, that could have venues/rounds down south.

[rally1380]

Fantastic grass routes form of motorsport that can be done in your every day car.....although the 'specials' are interesting.  This is a perfect example where a mini owner could drive to an event, have a days motorsport, then drive home (allowing for break downs  ) and all for not alot of money.  You could share a car with a mate too - taking turns and sharing the fun. Autosolo's are a slight variant to autotests too which are worth checking out.

 

Would urge you to go along and have a look. Check out local motorclubs as most will run an autotest, and there are the championships like the BTRDA one mentioned above.

 

Great fun that doesn't cost the earth - what all motorsport should be about rather than the big budget stuff.

[CMXCVIII]

Brilliant guys!

 

The next round of the BTRDA Championship is at Milton Keynes on the same day as the Hughes Rally - June 1st! And the Hughes historic event features a couple of people I know ... wonder which to watch? 

 

I was amused that the Hughes runs from Ashford United Football Club with a "couple of [special] tests on smooth grass"!! Did they know what was going to happen to their pitch? 

 

But then, looking at Blackpalfrey Motor Club's website, hasn't grassroots motorsport changed? They boasted that their last 12 car rally had a full entry, FFS! Once upon a time, lots of Friday night 12 car rallies would meet another 12 car rally coming the other way! And that last event was won by the unforgettably named Wug Utting who used to compete in much bigger events!

 

Fantastic grass routes form of motorsport that can be done in your every day car.....although the 'specials' are interesting.  This is a perfect example where a mini owner could drive to an event, have a days motorsport, then drive home (allowing for break downs) and all for not alot of money.  You could share a car with a mate too - taking turns and sharing the fun.

 

The last Autotest I did, forty years ago at Bristol's Filton aerodrome, I shared a mate's Lotus Elan S3. But it was alright 'because I let him share the Ford Escort 1100L mk1 that I was driving that week! For some reason, neither featured in the results because neither was particularly suitable!

 

Then again, I recall there was a member of Tavern Motor Club who used to autotest in his Hillman Minx convertible automatic!! He traded up to a Triumph Stag automatic which he autotested with equal enthusiasm but no more speed!

[Cooperman]

I used to rally with a guy named Alec Lobb. Alec was very quick on tarmac & gravel, but he couldn't do autotests.

So when there was an autotest he used to make me drive the Cortina GT and I used to get reasonable results as I did autotests in my 998 Cooper.

All great fun too.

[minispaniard]

Reversing is not my cup of tea so I only do Autosolos, which are 'forward only' tests. As said above and excellent grassroot form of motor sport,

 

This year I'll be doing the ones that are part of the Anglian Autosolo Challenge. First round was at Debden three weeks ago and I finished 3rd in class A1, cars under 1400cc, behind a 106 and a lovely Fiat 126. 2nd round is next Sunday also at Debden.

 

Here's some footage from A1 class winner:

[GraemeC]

A quick/short demo run me and a mate did a couple of years back:
http://m.youtube.com...h?v=bcM6x4vLz7A

(Sorry - don't know how to embed it!)

Edited by GraemeC, 12 May 2014 - 07:59 PM.

[Marky Tizz]

If anyone finds something fairly London-ish give me a shout! Been missing it badly since I moved from the Isle of Wight.

[minispaniard]

If anyone finds something fairly London-ish give me a shout! Been missing it badly since I moved from the Isle of Wight.

 

autotest or autosolo?

[Furyblade_Lee]

If anyone finds something fairly London-ish give me a shout! Been missing it badly since I moved from the Isle of Wight.

We do grass Autotests at Brands Hatch various Thursday evenings with the Sevenoaks Motor Club, and various Tuesday evenings in Edenbridge Kent ( 30 mins south of Croydon or 20 mins from jct 6 M25 ) with Tunbridge Wells Motor Club. Both are super friendly and grass roots, with beginners and 14 year olds to take part. but the good guys are very good, however they will gladly give you advice . There were 3 minis including mine last time

[minispaniard]

You can subscribe to receive the 'What's On - Go Motorsport London and South East' guide, if you do you get this every couple of months with all MSA sanctioned events.

 

May and June guide here http://chelmsfordmc....tMayandJune.pdf

 

 Dear all,

 

The May and June What’s On guide for London and the South East, covering MSA sanctioned events within the area, is now available and can be accessed by clicking here.

 

The next edition will be published in the middle of June to cover events in July and August, so please send me information on any events you may be running in this period. Please feel free to share the guide amongst club members, on your websites, in your club magazines, print copies for any events you may be attending or simply share it amongst anyone you think may be interested! If anybody would like to be added to the circulation list, they can be added by visiting this page.

Care has been taken regarding the accuracy of the information attached but please check the organising clubs’ websites before attending. For any queries relating specifically to an event, please contact the organising club.

 

If you have any questions regarding Go Motorsport, please feel free to get in touch with me.

 

Best wishes,

 

Suze

[minispaniard]

I'm thinking that, perhaps, something similar to my last post could be made a sticky on this section...

[Marky Tizz]

Thanks all! I actually never got round to competing, as the car still technically belonged to my dad back then. This is what I used to watch: http://iowcc.co.uk/

Hoping to find something similar to watch/get involved in up here. I'm in SW London.

[minispaniard]

Best advice is to get in touch with your local motor club. the MSA website should have a list for your area...I'm lucky to be in the Chelmsford MC catching area, one of the most active clubs.