- Mini 7 Racing Club
-
Mini 7 Racing Club 
Category Touring cars Country or region 
United KingdomInaugural season 1966 Drivers 33 (Se7en), 24 (Miglia) (2011) Last Drivers' champion Se7en - 
Paul Spark
Miglia -
Endaf OwensOfficial website mini7.co.uk/ 
Current seasonBoasting huge grids of race cars, and an excellent club membership, the Mini 7 Racing Club is always a favourite for race commentators and spectators a like.
The race cars offer excellent performance for money, challenging many of today’s more modern car formulas on overall pace. The Mini 7’s and Miglias are guaranteed to give you a large amount of overtaking, due to equally matched machinery but mainly to the rather un-aerodynamic body that always gives the car behind a straight line advantage.
Off the track, the Club has a very friendly atmosphere with willingness to help new members become acquainted with the “tricks of the trade” and where to get the best advice.
Most drivers and supporters do stay at the circuit at the weekend races giving an ideal opportunity to discuss the racing. The cars are ideal for the engineering enthusiast as although the rules do strictly stipulate what can be modified on the car, they are specified so that development of the car can be achieved within a tight budget.
If you are interested in starting racing, the best advice is to come to a race and chat, then buy yourself an already built car as this is by far the most economic route. [1]
Contents
History
The UK's longest running one-make motor racing championship was introduced in 1966 as Formula Mini 7 restricted tuning 850 engines, control tyres, designed for low-budget racers starting out. It was the brainwave of the Mini Se7en Club (then a social/racing society, mainly for the Mini) and the 750 Motor club (the pioneers of low-cost motorsport). In 1970, Formula Mini 7 became just Mini Se7en when Mini Miglias were introduced 1000cc, twin choke, less restricted tuning, wide slick tyres, and primarily for Mini Se7eners wishing to progress or for the generally more experienced saloon racer. Then in 1976, both were renamed Mini 850 and Mini 1000, as British Leyland, in conjunction with the now re-structured Mini Se7en Racing Club, came up with a third, more high-profile series for Mini 1275GT's; this lasted five seasons before being superseded by Metros but that's another story…
The basic Mini Se7en format remained unchanged for nigh on 25 years before an increase in engine size to 1000cc in the 1991. What with the 850 engine ceasing production in the early '80s, replacement parts became harder to source and the fact that engines were incredibly highly stressed, the adoption of the more durable, milder tuned 1000 made sense. In line with the prevailing green issue there was a switch to unleaded fuel too, and to differentiate the two formulae once more, the sister Miglia series made the jump to 1300 power in 1994.
One final interesting statistic is the drivers: well over 1150 names appear on the rollcall over 30-odd years; that relates to around 35 new drivers per season… What other single-make race series' can claim this strong support over such a long period. [2]
Past Champions
2006 Mini Miglia champion Bill Sollis
Year Mini Se7en Mini Miglia 1966 Bob Fox 1967 Bob Fox 1968 Mick Osborne 1969 Paul Gaymer 1970 Len Brammer Mick Osborne 1971 Graham Wenham Len Brammer 1972 Reg Armstrong Mick Osborne 1973 Mick Moss Phil Spurling 1974 Chris Tyrell Russell Dell 1975 Graham Wenham Alan Curnow 1976 Graham Wenham Mike Curnow 1977 Martin Goodall Paul Gaymer 1978 Steve Hall Phil Spurling 1979 Patrick Watts Phil Spurling 1980 Jonathan Lewis Roland Nix 1981 Gary Hall Chris Hampshire 1982 Gerald Dale Chris Lewis 1983 Chris Gould Chris Lewis 1984 Chris Gould Miek Fry 1985 Russell Grady Mike Fry 1986 Chris Tyrell Russell Grady 1987 Chris Tyrell Russell Grady 1988 Malcolm Joyce Russell Grady 1989 Steve Cooper Myk Cable 1990 Bill Sollis Owen Hall 1991 Bill Sollis Myk Cable 1992 Mike Jackson Myk Cable 1993 Tina Cooper Ian Gunn 1994 Ian Curley Chris Lewis 1995 Mike Jackson Chris Lewis 1996 Phil Manser Stewart Drake 1997 Steve Bell Bill Sollis 1998 Matt Hayman Ian Curley 1999 Dave Braggins Ian Curley 2000 Dave Braggins Peter Baldwin 2001 Tim Sims Peter Baldwin 2002 Tim Sims Chris Lewis 2003 Tim Sims Peter Baldwin 2004 James Hall Peter Baldwin 2005 Paul Thompson Peter Baldwin 2006 Andrew Deviny Bill Sollis 2007 Max Hunter Andy Hack 2008 Paul Thompson Andy Hack 2009 Kane Astin Andy Hack 2010 Paul Spark Paul Thompson 2011 Paul Spark Endaf Owens The Cars
Mini Miglia
Mini MigliaEngine 1293cc A Series with modifications BHP 130 0-60 mph 4.5 seconds Top Speed 125 mph Min Weight 660 kg Transmission 4 speed - ratios are free; Fixed final drive ratio of 3.9:1 Tyres Dunlop 160/490x10 slicks or wets Wheels 10" diameter with max 7" rims Fuel Commercial pump fuel: UL or super UL Mini Se7en
Mini Se7ensEngine 998cc A Series with modifications BHP 115 0-60 mph 6.6 seconds Top Speed 110 mph Min Weight 650 kg Transmission 4 speed - ratios and final drive are free Tyres Dunlop 500Lx10 CR70 or CR65 treaded Wheels 5J x 10 STR 1082 (100+) or MA1050 (Minilite) Fuel Commercial pump fuel: UL or super UL Mini Se7en S Class
Mini Se7en S Class (barely undistinguishable from the standard Se7ens)Engine Std 1275cc A Series: strictly limited modifications BHP 103 0-60 mph 7.5 seconds Top Speed 103 mph Min Weight 680 kg Transmission Standard production 4 speed Tyres Dunlop 500Lx10 CR70 or CR65 treaded Wheels 5J x 10 STR 1082 (100+) or MA1050 (Minilite) Fuel Commercial pump fuel: UL or super UL References
- ^ "About Us". Mini 7 Racing Club. http://www.mini7.co.uk/about.asp. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ "About Us: History". Mini 7 Racing Club. http://www.mini7.co.uk/history09.asp. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ "About Us: Honours". Mini 7 Racing Club. http://www.mini7.co.uk/honours09.asp. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ "The Cars: Mini Miglia". Mini 7 Racing Club. http://www.mini7.co.uk/migliacar.asp. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ "The Cars: Mini Se7en". Mini 7 Racing Club. http://www.mini7.co.uk/se7encar.asp. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ "The Cars: Mini Se7en S Class". Mini 7 Racing Club. http://www.mini7.co.uk/se7encars.asp. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
External links
Categories:- Touring car racing series
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