Prompted by this story below on the Mk1 Forum I was reminded of US Mini enthusiast Ron Graham and tracked down this latest info on Clive Trickeys race Mini.
Quote - Nick Rogers: "Back in the 1980's a couple of lads came into the shop to tell me that they had found a race mini in a bloke's garage in Sheffield. The reg. was KTR223E. I thought this was a piss-take but went to check out the car. Sure enough it was Clive Trickey's race car still with his armchair driver's seat and sitting on gen Minilites with slicks. There was a set of D1's with wet tyres and a trailer to carry the car and all spares. The owner had won it in a triple C competition some years earlier but was happy to sell it for £400. I said that I would return with the dosh ASAP. On returning he said that he would like CCC to be reminded of the car and so had contacted them. No-one on the magazine knew anything about the car (This was the 80's remember) and due to some crossed wires they ran an ad which said "Wanted: Clive Trickey Mini". I was patiently waiting to buy the car but thanks to the advert, Ron Graham contacted the owner and offered £800. So Ron got the car. When I next saw it (at Beaulieu) it had an A plus engine fitted. When Ron finished his term in the USAF he took the car back to the States.
I have had lots of very nice cars over the years and business has meant I have needed to sell them to pay taxmen, VAT men or simply wages, but I'm sure that if I could have bought KTR, I would still have it."
I also remember Ron Graham when he was involved in the UK Mini scene and stationed over here with the USAF. I wondered if he still had the Clive Trickey Mini over in the USA, (I may still have some photos of it from that Beaulieu show back in the '80's), so did some research below and found:-
Update on the Clive Trickey race Mini today:
Ron Graham says:
May 27, 2014 at 10:10 am
"Looks like this is the event to be at! Wish I could have the Clive Trickey (KTR223E) mini there. I haven’t fired it up in over 12 years. I need to get it out of the back of the garage and do something with it. Doesn’t do them any good just sitting there. Last time I raced it was in 1994 in England. Last autocross was in 1997. I tagged it for the street in 2000. Drove it a few times and then put it away. Best wishes to all that attend this mile stone in Mini history."
Ron Graham says:
May 28, 2014 at 4:39 pm
"I didn’t mention that I bought my first mini (a 62) in 1967 and drove it my senior year of high school. Joined the USAF in 1977 so I could go to England. Was there twice for a total of 10 years. I couldn’t guess how many I’ve owned. Before my first trip to England, I had owned 9 minis. When I retired in 94 I brought 7 minis back with me. The only one I still have is the Trickey Mini."
Jim Houston says:
May 27, 2014 at 11:13 am
In 1973, I was stationed in England (Air Force) and I raced a 998 Mini in Mini Miglia. .. had a great time. Since coming back to the US, I’ve had 4 Classic Minis – the best was my ’64 Cooper ‘S’ with a 1275cc engine (original engine was a 1070cc).. The worst was the last one I had was one that was Vin tagged as a 1975, but was in fact an 1988 – what a pig! They mucked around with the suspension, increased the wheels to 12″ and put smog stuff on it. I tried to retrofit it, but it was just too much work, so I sold it and bought a Corvair (also a fun car, but that’s another story)..
Ron Graham says:
May 27, 2014 at 5:48 pm
You probably raced against my mini. Malcom Quickfall owned and raced it then (orange when he had it). I bought it from him in 1985. I restored it back to the way Trickey had it. I autocrossed here in states from 1986-90. Took it back to UK in 1990(Upper Heyford) raced mini miglia 93 & 94. In 94 miglia went from 998 to 1300cc. I ran 29 races finishing 27, including one race on Belgium Grand Prix circuit.
Ron Graham says:
May 27, 2014 at 6:03 pm
Forgot to mention, the first time Clive Trickey drove the mini I have was 47 years ago today. Also my birthday.
See more at: (scroll down)
The most mighty moving Minis? Mid-Ohio aims for largest all-Mini starting grid :-
http://blog.hemmings...-starting-grid/
"The pride and joy of Ron's collection is the real Clive Trickey Mini. Ron not only owns it, but he's autocrossed it. He's raced it. And he's gathered more information on the car and Clive than you'd believe is possible. And it is all fascinating. There are very few Minis around with this much history, and the man leaning on the car has documented it all !"
http://www.minimania...__MORE_VIRGINIA
Edited by mab01uk, 01 June 2014 - 10:23 AM.
