409 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

Edited by mab01uk, 04 March 2011 - 11:45 PM.

[rick.spi]

The BMW archive has some brilliant classic mini racing photos, well worth a look.

[mab01uk]

The BMW archive has some brilliant classic mini racing photos, well worth a look.

Thanks, where can I find it?

[mab01uk]

1972 Crystal Palace London (for those that have not seen these in the Mini videos section)
Note 'Mo Mendhams' famous odd looking ultra-lightweight aluminium paneled race Mini!! (No. 179)


Part 2.......more Mini's, Mk1 Escorts, Imps, an A40 and watch out for Richard Longman.



Mini Special Saloons 1971 to 1974


Mostly 60's race Mini's, look out for John Cooper & Alec Issigonis.....

Edited by mab01uk, 19 April 2012 - 05:49 PM.

[jmini22]

looking at all those crashes makes you thing its good we use roll cages these days :S

[surfblue63]

As I have seen most o fthose before I thought I'd post a few shots of old racing Minis as they appear today.

Oulton Park Gold Cup









Goodwood 2009





Goodwood 2010





Rally of the Tests 2010





Roger Albert Clark Rally 2010

[mininuts]

This is a great thread, love the pictures. Here's some of my favourites including my all time favourite racing team, British Vita.

[red_mini_MMM]

These pics are great!

[Cooperman]

[quote name='mab01uk' date='Mar 4 2011, 11:52 PM' post='2070587']
1972 Crystal Palace London (for those that have not seen these in the Mini videos section)
Note 'Mo Mendhams' famous odd looking ultra-lightweight aluminium paneled race Mini!! (No. 179)

heL84f5limE

Very interested to see my old friend Mo Mendham mentioned.
He and I were students together and before he went racing he did a bit of rallying and I navigated him on several occassions. He was a qualified engineer with a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering and was an absolutely brilliant Mini engineer as well as a superbly talented Mini race driver.
His cars went so well because he used his aeronautical engineering skills. He would not even have seat belts until they became mandated, saying that they were too heavy. He didn't like wheel arch extensions as they added drag.
In addition, Mo was a great bloke (probably still is) and was always fantastic fun to be with.
I lost touch with him and would love to know what he's doing now as he would be about 70 (the same as me!).

[mab01uk]

Very interested to see my old friend Mo Mendham mentioned.
He and I were students together and before he went racing he did a bit of rallying and I navigated him on several occassions. He was a qualified engineer with a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering and was an absolutely brilliant Mini engineer as well as a superbly talented Mini race driver.
His cars went so well because he used his aeronautical engineering skills. He would not even have seat belts until they became mandated, saying that they were too heavy. He didn't like wheel arch extensions as they added drag.
In addition, Mo was a great bloke (probably still is) and was always fantastic fun to be with.
I lost touch with him and would love to know what he's doing now as he would be about 70 (the same as me!).

Great to hear from someone who remembers Mo Mendham and his ultra lightweight Mini, I never met him personally but spent many happy hours at circuits like Brands Hatch watching him in the free formula Mini special saloons in that Mini in the 1970's. Might be worth asking after him on the ten-tenths Motorsport forum as many of the old special saloon race drivers from the 1970's post on there. (Some great photos of 1960/70's race Mini's on there too).
http://www.ten-tenth...display.php?f=3

Mo Mendham is mentioned in the Mini Racing story book as running his tuning business from the garage behind his parents pub in Watford and fellow Mini racer Paul Butler goes on to describe a pre-race overtaking incident between himself towing his race Mini with Mo's Mk2 Jag towing his Mini up the M1 to Mallory Park before they both became rather unstable at 70mph!

[Cooperman]

Very interested to see my old friend Mo Mendham mentioned.
He and I were students together and before he went racing he did a bit of rallying and I navigated him on several occassions. He was a qualified engineer with a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering and was an absolutely brilliant Mini engineer as well as a superbly talented Mini race driver.
His cars went so well because he used his aeronautical engineering skills. He would not even have seat belts until they became mandated, saying that they were too heavy. He didn't like wheel arch extensions as they added drag.
In addition, Mo was a great bloke (probably still is) and was always fantastic fun to be with.
I lost touch with him and would love to know what he's doing now as he would be about 70 (the same as me!).

Great to hear from someone who remembers Mo Mendham and his ultra lightweight Mini, I never met him personally but spent many happy hours at circuits like Brands Hatch watching him in the free formula Mini special saloons in that Mini in the 1970's. Might be worth asking after him on the ten-tenths Motorsport forum as many of the old special saloon race drivers from the 1970's post on there. (Some great photos of 1960/70's race Mini's on there too).
http://www.ten-tenth...display.php?f=3

Mo Mendham is mentioned in the Mini Racing story book as running his tuning business from the garage behind his parents pub in Watford and fellow Mini racer Paul Butler goes on to describe a pre-race overtaking incident between himself towing his race Mini with Mo's Mk2 Jag towing his Mini up the M1 to Mallory Park before they both became rather unstable at 70mph!

The pub was the Nascot Arms and I spent many happy hours there working with Mo on his Minis and drinking in the bar.
He and I, with another ace Mini driver Bill Rogers were all student apprentices together at de Havilland Aircraft, Hatfield from 1958. Before getting into Minis, Mo raced a very light TVR in which he had a big accident at Mallory. He said that after sitting in the wreckage with bits of fibreglass sticking up his 'jacksy', he thought a steel-bodied car might be better.
I could tell so many stories about Mo, but most would not be suitable for printing. Suffice to say that when young, we enjoyed life to the full - and then some!
I did ask my other great friend Barrie 'Whizzo' Williams if he knew where Mo is these days but he, too, has lost contact with him and I thought Barrie knew everyone!

Edited by Cooperman, 07 March 2011 - 08:33 PM.

[thebullet]

Mallory park last year, Andy Harrison's Mini before coming together with a Cortina.



I am currently in the process of uploading loads of photos of my grandad, like I say, I will be back to add them.

[thebullet]

Infact, here is 3 of him racing in the 70's at silverstone







More to come...

[mab01uk]

Lots of great pictures posted and memories, keep them coming!

My brothers 850cc Free Formula Special Saloon Mini at Silverstone in 1972, wheels are 6x10 Mambas.


Brands Hatch also in 1972

Edited by mab01uk, 08 March 2011 - 12:31 AM.

[fordson]

that little clubby in the second clip is crazy