Legro's car thread - Racing Mini and another thing with the letters IIMN on the bonnet

[Legro]

This story begins in Christmas 2004, it was the day when six years old me got my first racing kart. I loved it. And I kept on driving karts.

In 2013 I and my dad decided to make a car for Mini-1000 Cup(one spec race-class for classic Minis in Finland). The idea was that I would drive my first race in 2014-season.

Well when first race of this season came that car looked like this:

(sorry for bad pic)

So we bought one:

First race went quite well I was 15th out of 24. Here is pic from there:

Second race was missed because I was in France at the time.

Then disaster, in practice of third race I lost control of the car and crashed in tire wall:

(sorry)

Don't worry it's fixed now.

24.8.2014 the Mini looks like this:

Edit: latest update

 

[mister dog]

Nice 👍
I was demonstrating GRID AS to my dad this week, racing the classic Mini and he said they were notorious for crushing people's legs back in the day during accidents. Not that i want to scare you though

How does the racing version compare to the virtual one in GAS?
Anyway good luck with your racing career i'm a bit jealous here.

 

[Davis]

This is the best thread in the world.

 

[Zyla]

Subscribed.

 

[Legro]

Thanks guys.

How does the racing version compare to the virtual one in GAS?

Well it's bit slower because Mini Miglias have 1300cc engines, you can also push much harder to corners in GAS.

 

[coop500]

Great start to the thread can't go wrong with a racing mini. The one you were building looked great

 

[Legro]

We are still building it, but the engine is in UK right now.

 

[Cano]

Oh damn this thread. Awesome.

 

[Legro]

Bad news. Turned out that the Mini has been crashed and fixed poorly at least once before I had my accident. It can still be fixed but this means a lot more work.

 

[Zyla]

Yikes. That's a mess. I wish you good luck with the rebuild. 👍

 

[Team THRT Drift]

So you guys have two Mini's, correct?

When I see your first one, I see the potential for a badass Mini.

One like this:

AWD Mini by Minitec

​

Love both cars nevertheless. Good luck with the build and the rebuild.

 

[Legro]

So you guys have two Mini's, correct?

No five, but three of those are more like dad's projects.

When I see your first one, I see the potential for a badass Mini.

One like this:

AWD Mini by Minitec

​

Love both cars nevertheless. Good luck with the build and the rebuild.

The first one is built for racing alone that won't chance, but from another body... maybe.

 

[Legro]

Today was time for front subframe replacement. The job could be done by taking the engine of from the subframe or taking it of with the engine and taking the engine off later. The latter one is better option in this case as it wasn't certain that it would work.

The old front subframe and 1031cc engine.

Here is the result. With new front subframe and body panels in testing. The bonnet is only test part probably won't be part of finished car.

I'm very happy to say that the front subframe replacement worked and the car is equally long on both sides.

 

[Zyla]

It's so cool how simple these Minis are. Same reason I love Beetles.

 

[Team THRT Drift]

There's this Mini I drive past everyday. I wanted to get it but it's an automatic and the owber doesn't pick up his phone.

Nice to see the build coming along well 👍

 

[Legro]

Front Suspension is now back where it should be.

After the engine gets in later this week, the Mini goes to paint shop.

 

[Legro]

For the first time in a month the Mini is on wheels.

New grille and wheel arches.

And I was wrong, the engine will go in after the Mini comes from paint shop, because we have to get it there tomorrow instead of Friday.

 

[Zyla]

So awesome.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

Looking great. Have you considered extending the roll bar into the engine bay compartment to prevent as much damage from happening if you ever hit a tire wall again? Even something as simple as 1 bar per side entering the engine bay compartment and to the sub frame would take a lot of impact and prevent the same damage over again.

Like these two pics. You could even make it so it could be removable with bolts.

 

[Legro]

Looking great. Have you considered extending the roll bar into the engine bay compartment to prevent as much damage from happening if you ever hit a tire wall again? Even something as simple as 1 bar per side entering the engine bay compartment and to the sub frame would take a lot of impact and prevent the same damage over again.

I'm not sure if that's banned in the series or not. I have to check that.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

I'm not sure if that's banned in the series or not. I have to check that.

Oh okay I know some series do have restrictions but it would add an insane amount of strength to your car to prevent it from folding in again. It would also be fairly easy if you are handy with a welder and have access to a tube bender. I added a couple pics to my recent post for a visual reference.

 

[Legro]

Oh okay I know some series do have restrictions but it would add an insane amount of strength to your car to prevent it from folding in again. It would also be fairly easy if you are handy with a welder and have access to a tube bender. I added a couple pics to my recent post for a visual reference.

To be honest I have never used a welding machine, but I might get someone who have to do it.

 

[Aquarelle]

To be honest I have never used a welder, but I might get someone who have to do it.

Learn.

No, seriously. If you want to get into doing this stuff you /need/ to learn custom fabrication - it will save you so much time, money and hassle in the long run.

 

[Legro]

Learn.

No, seriously. If you want to get into doing this stuff you /need/ to learn custom fabrication - it will save you so much time, money and hassle in the long run.

I know that and I will learn how to do it. Welding just didn't feel necessary when all I drove was Karts.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

Basic welding can be learned within 5-10 minutes. If you have any friends or family with a welder, have them sit with you for a few minutes and show you the basics. Pretty much everything on YOUR car can be welded with a simple flux core welder since most of the metal on that car is thin. Including the thickness of your roll bars.

 

[Legro]

It's back with paint.

New windscreen.

With bumper, grille and right front light.

Here's a nice pic.

All it needs now is engine, transmission and left front light.

 

[Zyla]

 

[Legro]

@CAMAROBOY69 I have read the series rules and doing extended roll bar that way is not allowed. Anyway I'm not sure if they would have fitted there as radiator goes to same place as the pipe would in that pic you posted.

 

[coop500]

This isn't a flip/removable front is it?
Normally if you've removed the inner wings like it seems you've done you'd add a stiffening bar as mentioned by camaroboy69. Not sure what the rules are in your race series.

 

[Legro]

Yesterday engine was added. coop500 already mentioned flip front, this one has one so front body panels can be removed easily.

Engine being lowered to its place.

This isn't a flip/removable front is it?
Normally if you've removed the inner wings like it seems you've done you'd add a stiffening bar as mentioned by camaroboy69. Not sure what the rules are in your race series.

Series rules say that all additional body stiffening (expect roll cage for safety reasons) have to go along car's original body lines.