Mini Endurance Racing

[andy97]

Anyone fancy racing a mini in a "mini-enduro" race series? I don't mean that the races are just for minis, just that they are 40 minute races for one or two drivers, with a compulsory pit stop. If so have a look at the Classic Sports Car Club's (CSCC) race series as they run races to the above format for "Swinging Sixties" (cars from the 1960s) and "Tin Tops" which would be ideal for Minis to enter. In particular, there are classes for up to 1300cc cars. I am trying to encourage people to enter the up to 1300cc class of "Tin Tops".

Regulations can be found on the CSCC web site here: http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/ and there are not too many of them so most minis currently racing would be eligible I would have thought (as long as they have original type engines and not bike engines or engine transplants from other manufacturers)! The club runs value for money series and believes in maximum enjoyment, minimum hassle. Cars run on List 1B tyres in "Tin Tops" & on Yokohama 60 profile tyres, or Dunlop historic L or M tyres in "Swinging Sixties".

Another advantage of racing with the CSCC is that you'll have the opportunity to race in a 1 hour race at Spa this year and the club also gets invites to race in 500Km races at the Nurburgring

Check out the club web site or PM me if you want more details. The CSCC will be racing at Brands Hatch over the weekend of 9/10 May so come and say hi.

[guru_1071]

andy

any idea of a rough cost per race?

also, whats the carnage like?, my experience of people racing cheap 'tin-tops' is that they dont take into account the value of 1960's cars and will tend to just barge past with scant reguard for panel damage (i occasionly goyt made to race with the lma's, until i worked out it was only a matter of time before my car was written off.

[andy97]

guru_1071 said:

andy

any idea of a rough cost per race?

also, whats the carnage like?, my experience of people racing cheap 'tin-tops' is that they dont take into account the value of 1960's cars and will tend to just barge past with scant reguard for panel damage (i occasionly goyt made to race with the lma's, until i worked out it was only a matter of time before my car was written off.

Club membership is £35; Registration fee is approx £90-95 from memory; entry fees range from £245 for a 30 min practice and 40 min race at places like Anglesey to £285 at Brands and Oulton Park. I think the Spa race is planned to cost approx £450 for the 30 min practice and 1 hour plus 1 minute race. I reckon thats very competitive compared with most other clubs. The CSCC also has a Sports Vs Saloon challenge race at the end of the day and entry for this usually costs £90 for a 15 min practice and a 15/ 20 min race if you have already entered a race previously in the day. Remember that you can also split the costs with a mate if you share the drive in the 2 driver format races. (the 40 min races don't have to be for 2 drivers, but there is a compluslory pit stop in which single drivers still have to get out & get bck in the car.)

I think track behaviour is very good in the CSCC and I have not seen much damage at all. Driving standards are generally very good - incidents do occur but the CoC is very strong and has excluded people from the meeting in the past on the very odd time that there has been a problem. Believe me I wouldn't (and could not afford) to race in a series where BTCC style panel damage was a routine feature. Members are also "invited" to join the club and race with us (sort of) so anyone who causes a problem can have there membership rescinded. Older minis (1960s) would race with the "Swinging Sixties" and they all respect each others heritage & I don't see any "barging" despite the fact that some Yank tanks also take part (see you can recreate the giant killing of the 60s British Saloon Championship!). There are a fair few valuable cars taking part inc Alfas, Jag E Types etc etc.

Newer Minis would probably race in the "Tin Tops" series. Some of the newer guys at the front in Integra/ Civic Type Rs etc are very quick but, again, the CoC briefs everyone before every race about the need for respect & this is a good feature. The slower cars include my Fiat Uno, Alfa Suds, Alfa 33s, Ford Fiestas, MG Maestros etc and these have excellent battles amongst themselves without any major problems at all. It really is good clean enjoyable racing, and I love the longer race, 2 driver format. I should add that my old Alfa 33 was probably am 850 Kg car and had just 115 Bhp and my current Fiat Uno probably weighs the same and has just a slight amount of power more so I reckon that a bunch of up to 1300cc class Minis would not only be able to have their own decent inter-class battles but would also put the cat amongst the pigeons in the bigger classes too.

There has been an up to 1300cc class in Tin Tops always but it has not been that well supported sadly. We have had a Metro in the past & a couple of minis but nothing regular & I am keen to get this class better supported (more people for me to potentially race against!) as I am convinced that a mini would go well even against the guys & girls in the next class up.

The small class of the "Swinging Sixties" series gets Hillman Imps and Davrians in it already, so there is already a basis for competition. "Swinging Sixties" is very, very popular already and we had 9 reserves at Snetterton (The reserves all raced in the later "Future Classis" race, but could have raced with "Tin Tops") and the forthcoming race at Brands has been split in to two 40 minute grids to give everyone a definate race. Hope that helps.

Edited by andy97 on Monday 27th April 16:35