1100cc MINI ROADSTER1

1: ACQUIRED BODYSHELL OF OLD CLASSIC ROUND-NOSED 1975 AUSTIN MINI IN 1999. HAD ROOF CUT OFF, BODY CUT IN TWO AND FLOOR PANELS CUT OUT IN THE SAME AMOUNT AS THE WIDTH OF THE DOORS WHICH HAD TO GO. ALL THE PIECES WERE MATCHED UP AND TIG-WELDED IN PLACE. THE FLOOR SILLS AND FIRE-WALL HAD REINFORCING ADDED FOR TORSIONAL STIFFNESS. PROJECT WAS FINALISED IN 2000 TO COMMEMORATE THE MINI's 41st ANNIVERSARY, ROADWORTHIED AND READY FOR SHOW AT THE BELLVILLE VELODROME MOTOR SHOW (BELOW).

IN 2001, THE UK's RACING LEGEND AND STUNT-DRIVER IN STEVE McQUEEN'S CLASSIC 1968 MOVIE 'LE MANS' - IN WHICH HE CRASHED IN OPENING SCENE AND SUBSEQUENTLY LOST HIS FOOT - SIR DAVID PIPER AND RACING COLLEAGUE, GRAHAM BRYANT, WHO BOTH COMPETES IN THE ANNUAL TOURING HISTORICAL CAR RACING SERIES HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA, SAW THE MINI-MINI ROADSTER PARKED IN THE PITS AT KILLARNEY RACETRACK. THEY PROMPTLY NEGOTIATED A MEETING FOR AFTER THE RACE DAY AND BOUGHT THE MINI ROADSTER1 TO BE USED AS A PACECAR IN THE UK RACES. SADLY, THE MINI ROADSTER1, SAFELY BLANKETED AND CRATED IN A CONTAINER, LEFT SOUTH AFRICAN SHORES FOR THE UK AFTER ALL THE RELEVANT EXPORT PAPERWORK WERE FINALISED (BELOW).
2: SPECS: STANDARD 1100cc AUSTIN MINI MOTOR. 45 SIDE-DRAUGHT WEBER DCOE CARBURETTOR FITTED WITH K&N AIR FILTER. BOSCH BLUE COIL. CENTRAL OIL PICK-UP IN GEARBOX. QUICKSHIFT GEARSHIFT. LIGHTWEIGHT SUPERLITE 13X7 MAGNESIUM RACING RIMS FROM AUSTRALIA. YOKOHAMA a008 175/13/45 TYRES. EXTRA SMALL ITALIAN LEATHER MOMO RACING STEERING WHEEL. VDO GUAGES. HAND-STITCHED BMW LEATHER CUSTOM-MADE SEATS. FIRE EXTINGUISER. LEXAN MINI WINDSCREEN. ALL-BLACK CUSTOM ELECTRICAL WIRING. DAVE INGLE DESIGNED CARB LINKAGES. LASER-CUT CUSTOM MADE STAINLESS STEEL DASH INLAID WITH WOOD EDGING. POLISHED BRASS RADIATOR AND EXPANSION TANK. GERMAN HüCO FUEL PUMP. ALUMINIUM FLOORBOARDS.
CAPE ARGUS NEWSPAPER CUTTING SHOWING DAVID PIPER (WHITE CAMARO EXTREME RIGHT) AND DAVID BRYANT (RED AND GOLD COBRA RUNNING THIRD ON LEFT) DURING THE HISTORICAL CAR RACING SERIES HELD AT KILLARNEY RACETRACK. THIS WAS THE DAY THE MINI ROADSTER1 WAS EYEBALLED BY THE ABOVE TWO AND BOUGHT TO BE USED AS A PACECAR IN THE UK RACES.
DIGITAL MOCK-UP I MADE OF MINI ROADSTER1 AS IT WOULD APPEAR ON THE UK RACING CIRCUIT WITH
(GRAHAM) BRYANT RACING LOGO AND COLOURS - SIMILAR TO HIS RACING COBRA.
AT LAST! OLIVER BRYANT, SON OF GRAHAM, KINDLY E-MAILED ME THIS PHOTO OF THE MINI ROADSTER1 IN ITS NEW LIVERY. I AM TOTALLY ECSTATIC THAT THE LITTLE ONE IS BEING PROPERLY CARED FOR BY A GREAT CAR FAMILY!