12 replies to this topic

[ozz1]

Can't seem to find an answer looking through regs - I'm planning on hill climbing/sprinting an aluminium panelled (pop riveted) mk1 mini, the panelling is part of its history as an early rally cross car. The bins and rear seats have also been removed, what are the rules regarding this sort of chassis modification? What sort of class could it be run in? Any help greatly appreciated

Pictures:

http://www.theminifo...p-with-history/

[fastcarl]

Irrespective of the cars history, if the body is modified as you suggest you will end up in sports libra unless these modifications are outside of the cars wheel hub centre line .

 

 

 

 

carl

[nicklouse]

You don't say if it will be road registered or not. That is to say wanting to run in a road going class.

[fastcarl]

It matters not  whether road or mod prod,   modified unitary   construction within   hub centres and it sports libre

 

 

carl

Edited by fastcarl, 11 October 2014 - 04:46 PM.

[keefr22]

It matters not  whether road or mod prod,   modified unitary   construction within   hub centres and it sports libre 
 
carl

Hmm, don't think so in this case. From the Blue Book, section S for mod prod;

12.5.2. The doors, engine, bonnet/cover, luggage compartment cover, boot lid/rear deck or bodywork not forming part of the unitary construction may be changed for ones of different material. Wheel arch extensions are free.

Is the roof 'part of the unitary construction'? I wouldn't have thought so seeing as you can run cars with full size Webasto type sunroofs in hillclimbs/sprints? I know the regs for one discipline don't carry over to another, but as rally cars can have their sunroofs replaced by 'a non-shattering solid rigid material other than glass' then you might be able to argue the aluminium roof is a panel replacing a sunroof. A friendly local scrute would probably be able to help you out with whether that would be acceptable. We've removed the bins & rear seat from ours & it's logbooked for mod prod.

If it were spaceframed then it is definitely libre, but I don't see anything (apart possibly from the roof) that is a change to the unitary construction?

Edited by keefr22, 11 October 2014 - 08:22 PM.

[nicklouse]

As above, you really have to read the blue book as there are a whole pile of exceptions and variations.

I think you will have issues with the rear quarters being done. The doors ok. The roof might be talked around as it could be filling up the hole left by a webasto.

What I would do it put on a trailer and take it to a meet and get them to have a look over after they have done for the day.

Or book a meeting with one on a weekend. And have your blue book with you so you can see what parts they are referring to and make notes.

Edited by nicklouse, 11 October 2014 - 10:18 PM.

[keefr22]

I think you will have issues with the rest quarters being done.

Ah, missed those - didn't enlarge the thumbnails... But again, are they part of the unitary constuction? Guess it goes back to the argument as to whether a Mini shell actually is a monocoque...

Edited by keefr22, 11 October 2014 - 10:05 PM.

[fastcarl]

You will  have a job arguing the roof and rear quarters are not part of the unitary construction  seeing as they are the largest panels on the shell.lol,

 

not a chance of running  mod prod,

 

 

carl

[keefr22]

I'd seek the advice of a scrutineer to be honest, & see if he'll log book it as mod prod...panels are not necessarily stressed members of a unitary construction shell.

Edited by keefr22, 12 October 2014 - 02:21 PM.

[fastcarl]

Keef,  you don't seem to understand, it doesn't matter if he replaced the panel with lead or jelly,   he has altered the unitary     so therefore  would   not be allowed to run mod prod,   no scrutineer will log book the car  mod  prod,

 

 

carl

[keefr22]

I understand perfectly. I have competed in mod prod against a 1275 GT with a webasto sunroof - that had removed 75% + of the roof & replaced it with fabric, & another mod prod car (running in road legal modprod) with a fibreglass roof. I've seen a Mk1 Escort with fibreglass front wings running in road production - replacement of front wings with different material is not mentioned as permissible in the blue book, certainly in road classes! I know the Blue Book states that if something is not mentioned as not permissible that it doesn't mean it is - but the reverse is also true, it doesn't mean it isn't!

There is also no definition of what is a Mini's unitary construction in the Blue Book. Or that I can find anywhere else...!!

At the end of the day the only person who will or will not log book the car is an MSA scrutineer, we can argue till the cows come home! 

Edited by keefr22, 12 October 2014 - 03:04 PM.

[fwdracer]

Carl - is this why all the Minis are having the front wings sliced just above the wheel and a sort of semi removable front end fitted? Wondered what that was all about.

[ace01]

Probably your best bet is to look at the DEWS website.  Most of the guys in the championship compete in minis and they are extremely varied.  One is a Honda powered MK1, others are modified to varying degrees.  The DEWS championship has it's own class structure, so almost anything goes.

 

www.dewsc.org.uk