Cooperman's Rally Mini
Discussion
Thanks again to Peter for giving me the details on his superb rally Cooper for my website...
Details at
www.minispecial.com/features/index.asp
Anyone else wanting to put specs on the site, just let me know...
Details at
www.minispecial.com/features/index.asp
Anyone else wanting to put specs on the site, just let me know...
This is my Historic Rally Mini.
There is a proposed new class of rallying for next year - Enduro Rallying. It seems as though it will be for standard production saloon cars with a maximum capacity of 1400 cc and that the engines and transmissions must be absolutely standard.
The format for trhe events will be off-road speed tests at up to 40 mph average, prime sections on private roads, including loose surfaces again at up to 40 mph averages and night road navigational sections at 30 mph nominal average.
Now, I am thinking that a well prepared mainstream Mini Cooper of about 1990 or 1991 would be in with a chance here. That model had a 1.75" SU, no cat, an 'A'-Plus block, etc., and with selective assembly and components to optimum tolerances it should be possible to get around 80 bhp and a weight of c.705 kg. Thus about 113 bhp/tonne. It would probably struggle against cars like the Peugeot 106 Rallye with 105 bhp and c.765 kg, but what fun it would be to blow some of those newer cars away! I am going to write a full spec sheet for an 'Enduro' Mini as soon as the vehicle regs become firm. If anyone else wants to join in this lower cost form of proper rallying let me know and I'll discuss specifications with you.
There is a proposed new class of rallying for next year - Enduro Rallying. It seems as though it will be for standard production saloon cars with a maximum capacity of 1400 cc and that the engines and transmissions must be absolutely standard.
The format for trhe events will be off-road speed tests at up to 40 mph average, prime sections on private roads, including loose surfaces again at up to 40 mph averages and night road navigational sections at 30 mph nominal average.
Now, I am thinking that a well prepared mainstream Mini Cooper of about 1990 or 1991 would be in with a chance here. That model had a 1.75" SU, no cat, an 'A'-Plus block, etc., and with selective assembly and components to optimum tolerances it should be possible to get around 80 bhp and a weight of c.705 kg. Thus about 113 bhp/tonne. It would probably struggle against cars like the Peugeot 106 Rallye with 105 bhp and c.765 kg, but what fun it would be to blow some of those newer cars away! I am going to write a full spec sheet for an 'Enduro' Mini as soon as the vehicle regs become firm. If anyone else wants to join in this lower cost form of proper rallying let me know and I'll discuss specifications with you.
Enjoyed reading about your car and your suspension set up guide Cooperman. Up here in north east England/southern Scotland, there are a number of events under the name of Classic Rallies.IF, i ever get this old Clubman started (G/F's mothers and a bit rusty (see previous threads)(thats car rusty not her mother, although I don't know for sure) thought about setting it up for those type of events which are predominantly autotest type "stages" and cheap to enter. Was going to go back to Hillclimbs but getting told they are becoming more and more expensive. These events allow newer cars in too under the guise of Interesting Vehicles so your 90/91 Cooper would probably alloed entry.
Hi Sagalout,
Yes, those Classic rallies are generally good fun and combine some excellent tests, which can be more like mini-special stages than traditional autotests, with road navigation sections at very strict averages. I particularly like the events which have both of the above plus a traditional night road section of, perhaps, 150 miles. This is a good test of car and both crew members. The next major event 'oop-North' will be the Morecambe Car Club 'Illuminations Rally' in October. It runs all day on the last Saturday in October and then all night, finishing at breakfast time back in Morecambe. It's a right good thrash and highly recommended. Any cars produced before 1975 can enter and I'll be there in my historic Cooper 'S' in the pre-1968 Class.
Yes, those Classic rallies are generally good fun and combine some excellent tests, which can be more like mini-special stages than traditional autotests, with road navigation sections at very strict averages. I particularly like the events which have both of the above plus a traditional night road section of, perhaps, 150 miles. This is a good test of car and both crew members. The next major event 'oop-North' will be the Morecambe Car Club 'Illuminations Rally' in October. It runs all day on the last Saturday in October and then all night, finishing at breakfast time back in Morecambe. It's a right good thrash and highly recommended. Any cars produced before 1975 can enter and I'll be there in my historic Cooper 'S' in the pre-1968 Class.
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