Mini Mad
Posted 17 May 2017 - 09:34 AM
Just announced on their Facebook page - SRR will no longer service/ repair/ MOT Classic Minis.
Personally, I'm gutted. I really liked my experience there and was looking forward to a lasting relationship with Kevin Fullbrook. It's a shame that they've become a 100% German Mini racing operation and discarded the car that gave them their start.
Begs the question, how many equally well reputed Classic Mini garages are there?
On The Road
Posted 17 May 2017 - 04:09 PM
Mini Mad
Posted 17 May 2017 - 09:09 PM
I don't think that is true they have just done mine and they have lots of classic minis in being worked on.
Wants a custom member title
Posted 17 May 2017 - 09:17 PM
I don't think that is true they have just done mine and they have lots of classic minis in being worked on.
Guest_minidizzy_*
Posted 18 May 2017 - 12:00 AM
That's a great pity but The Mini Motorsports Centre just along the coast at Shoreham-by-Sea has been doing excellent work on my Minis and MINI. Tony Franks there had been John Cooper's workshop foreman since before the reintroduction of the Mini Cooper in 1990 right up to the closure of John Cooper Garages in 2006.
Moved Into The Garage
Posted 18 May 2017 - 07:22 AM
Anyone know what the reasons behind it are?
Passed Test
Posted 18 May 2017 - 11:08 AM
On behalf of Kevin at Sussex Road and Race (and written with his agreement) can I contribute to this debate:
In dealing with the opening post, Kevin was employed by John Cooper Garages to develop the BMW Mini R53, of course as a trained mechanic he has a considerable knowledge of classic minis and whilst at Coopers he worked on clssics as well. When Cooper's closed Kevin set up SRR and at the start he would work on all makes in order to get the business off the ground, a business that was founded with the prime aim of doing motorsport.
SRR have for a number of years combined working on classic and modern minis, but it has become more and more difficult to provide the service they would like, on classics. As an example, many classics are failing MOTs due to rust, and SRR is not a bodyshop - local bodyshops have long waiting lists and SRR have been forced to either carry out bodywork repairs themselves or store MOT failures for months until bodyshops can do the work. SRR have space issues and have had to turn away this work recently. Then there is the quality issue: parts for classics seem to be made to a lesser standard these days and SRR are having to make parts that should fit, fit; or they are failing soon after fitting and SRR are having to do a job twice. A third issue is that classic minis are by their very nature getting old and when one job is done something separate fails soon after and the customer returns the car to SRR linking these unconnected events in their own mind (understandable in many ways), this involves SRR in carrying out extra, unpaid, work.
To sum things up, the real cost of working on classic minis has reached a level where SRR cannot continue to subsidise their owners, and at the same time SRR feels that charging the full cost would be more than most would be willing to pay.
Yes, SRR are heavily involved in modern minis, they are running four race cars this season; SRR also has a significant following from owners of these road cars and is having to make difficult decisions, caused by its own success, as to the future of the business.
Given these factors, and as a classic mini owner myself (two classics and one modern, to be fully honest), I can understand Kevin's predicament and why he has come to this conclusion.
I'm sad about SRR's decision, and I know Kevin is too, but he has a mortgage to pay like the rest of us!
Moved Into The Garage
Posted 18 May 2017 - 11:44 AM
Thanks for posting the reasons, as a long time owner of classic Minis and more recently modern MINIs, I can fully understand the problem and the need for a business to specialise in one or the other.
Mini Mad
Posted 18 May 2017 - 11:50 AM
With all due respect, painting all Classic Mini owners with a broad brush is hardly the best way forward. I have zero rust on my Mini, and passed MOT with flying colors. I'm also willing to pay what is asked towards Kevin's mortgage for the excellent service that provided.
Could you explain how the above would apply to me?
Up Into Fourth
Posted 18 May 2017 - 02:15 PM
Super Mini Mad
Posted 18 May 2017 - 02:36 PM
Classic Mini's do increasingly need a good bodyshop as a priority, mechanical work is secondary in many cases.
They are rapidly appreciating in value, so owners will be more willing to pay decent money for the work to be done.
but if you're not setup for body work then it's sensible to focus on what you do want to specialise in.
Camshaft & Stage Two Head
Posted 19 May 2017 - 10:28 AM
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