Clubman Estate Project
Turbo Mini Forums

I have just bought myself a Clubman Estate at a very resonable price.

It needs some welding but I should be able to get that sorted easy enough.

I am going to make it as light as possible so sell the original front doors, rear doors and windows and go for fibreglass and polycarbonate.

I may also put a fibreglass front end on it as this will require some work.

I am looking at taking up hill-climbing and have decided to stick with a mini for this due to knowing how to work on them... when I do crash I can repair it all myself.

I am unsure whether to get it MOT'd but will probably just trailer it to events and have it as a toy.

My aim is to keep it as cheap as possible so doing all the work myself and all parts to be sourced as cheaply as possible.

I won't be staying A series purely because I know I can get more power for cheaper and am really considering putting the engine in the back and making it rear wheel drive, any ideas on this for engine etc?

All comments appreciated and I have started nothing yet so I would appreciated any constructive advice as to issues I may have a things I may want to consider.

Thanks

Jon

Interesting project, but before you get started it's worth considering the following points.

1) if you want to run in a road class you will need an MOT.
2) Using an engine other than an A-series willmean that you can only run in sports Libra. If you have no MOT then your car will need to meet al the required safety regs, which will not be cheap.
3) If you are putting the engine in the back you need to realy have a copy of the MSA yearbook (Blue Book) so you know how to make it elligable.

If is by no means impossible to build such a car, look at allan McDs new motor. But if you want to make sure it's allowd to run you need to make sure it meats the safety regs.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

Hi,

Thanks for the response.

At the moment I am just throwing ideas around. I have a copy on the Blue Book which I am reading and have been studying some of the sections.

It is coming across that putting a rear engine will be tricky which may be swaying me towards keeping the engine in the front but using something different, for example motorbike or such like.

To keep costs down I could run a different engine but still have an MOT..... this would then avoid the strict guidelines although because the car was never originally built with a bike engine what class would that put me in?

Thanks

Jon

If you change the engine you will be in Sports Libra, it's a catch all for odd ball cars.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

If you want to be competative as well 1275 turbo will no be its all about 1400cc class and 1000cc turbos eg wil and ben with the tt2-7p it all depends on what you want if its for fun go for what ever personally

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis

The competitve side I think is not so much at the moment but I know as soon as I get into it I will want to become more and more so.

I thought a discussion on here would be a good idea before I start any work, I know a mini probably isnt the best choice I could make but because I know how to work on them already and they are nice and small to store etc.

Thanks for the replies.

Jon

Minis/Metros are actually still very competative in the upto 1400 cc class.

For example, off the top of my head I know that the class records at Olivers Mount, Harewood, Prescott and Gurston are held by A-series powered minis or Metros.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

That is suprising considering all the japanese type rockets you can get now.

It is very interesting though...
I know there is a road going class which means you can not strip too much weight out etc, but it there a road going class where you can do the doors, windows, interior etc?

Would this be the modified production class?

Thanks

Jon

jonb:
The plan for my mini has been to enter the under 1400cc road going series for hill climbs.
For circa £600 (for the parts) i've made a 110bhp 998 a-series which has a lot of top end pull. I'd say that's cheap and from what i've heard will at least put me in the right ball-park with regards to being competitive. Which is all I want... Just fancy a go to see if it's something i want to invest more time and money in.
I'll be starting next season once i've started my new job.
Plus i've been using the car as my daily and is fantastic fun to drive.

1275 N/A Sprite, 998 T2 Turbo Mayfair
1275 EFi Turbo

Fantastic fun... That mini is bloody quick for only 110hp pulls and pulls and pulls, have you sorted something out to stop the turbo stalling yet?

I havent seen a hill climb in person yet but i have seen a few cars, 1.4 16v 106, a nissan micra, some saxos but they dont seem that competative, the 106 has 138hp compare that to the wil and bens which is like 150+ i belive a series engines still make alot of power

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis

1275 N/A Sprite, 998 T2 Turbo Mayfair
1275 EFi Turbo

Mayoturbo has a charade on new mini wheels looks really smart, he managed a 14.9 or. 15 sec quater mile in it

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis

There is plenty of scope for other cars to be competitive in the class, but considering that a the A series can produce 180+ and a full race mini weighs only 500ish kg then they are hard to beat. All really modern superminis are just to big and heave. There are some really well developed 106, 205s, Novas etc out there, but the up to 1400 is not that popular.

Now when Eric puts his Clan engine in the back of the Imp he is building some of the class records are going to fall. That is if he can beat Wil and me.....

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

Hi,

I think sticking with the a series is a must the, but howcome if it is road legal they won't let you run it with a different engine if still under 1400cc?

Not neccesarily a motorbike engine as I know these are classed differently?

Thanks

Jon

just the rules of the competition mate

1275 N/A Sprite, 998 T2 Turbo Mayfair
1275 EFi Turbo

As above it is the rules. The engine block must be externally identifable as the original type fitted to the car. Or words to that effect.

As already stated if you change the engine you are into sports libra class. Where you will need a full roll cage, 6 point harness and other safety equipment. If you go over 2000cc then I think you even need an A license. Have a read through section S (http://www.msauk.org/uploadedfiles/msa_forms/bluebooks/11/321-332%20Sprints,%20etc.pdf) Look at sections 10, 11, 12 & 13. 11.5.1 is the engine section.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

You can run over 2000cc in sports Libra on a B licence if it is in road trim. i.e. road tyres, MOT.............

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph