Massive SALE Now On

The Mini Sport Huge New Year Sale is now on!

With discounts of upto 25% on all products you cannot afford to miss these bargains.

Browse the Mini Sport website to see the full range of special offers


Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everybody at Mini Sport !

Mini Sport Alloy Handbrake Quadrants now available

Beautifully CNC machined from lightweight alloy and then finished in bright anodised red and finished with the Mini Sport logo laser etched on the lower corner.

Designed and developed in house by Mini Sport.

Pair, fits all minis with dry type rubber suspension


Introductory price only £25.56 +VAT


Buy yours now from the Mini Sport website

Team Mini Sport at 2009 Tour of Mull Rally

Team Minisport.com were again on the Isle of Mull this October for the annual closed public road tarmac rally. This year was the 40th running of the event and featured two special stages along the harbour front and through the town of Tobermory. The remaining 15 stages were held over Friday night, Saturday daytime and into the wee small hours of Sunday before all the crews would get some well earned rest.

Team Minisport.com entered their four BMW Mini Cooper 'S' cars, which featured the Framor Garage supported car of Finzean based Martin Page and Dundee based co-driver Martin Cressey.

The first seven wet and slippery stages saw the teams lead car of Daniel Harper and Chris Campbell storm into 4th place ahead of a number of four wheel drive and World Rally Cars, while the number two car of John Cressey and Stan Quirk were unfortunate to lose their gearbox on stage two.  Meanwhile, Page and Cressey stuck their Cooper 'S' right on its nose over one of Mulls many humpback bridges but made it to main service with a very ill handling car. The Mini Sport mechanics repaired the loose supension and the crew continued free of time penalties.

With only a few hours sleep, Team Minisport.com took to the stages again, this time during daylight on the second leg of the rally. Harper and Campbell maintained their 4th spot over the next 5 stages and set 3rd fastest times on stages 8 and 10.

An overnight change of gearbox saw Cressey and Quirk return to the Trophy Rally, running alongside the main event and they quickly stormed into an early lead, over 3 minutes ahead of the next car.

Page and Cressey were meantime involved in a tight duel with team mates Ian and Gary Dawes, moving ahead of them by 15 seconds at the end of the daylight stages.

The final leg began again in the dark late on Staurday night and took the crews through the remaining five special stages starting with the 22 mile long Tuath/Calgary Stage. Page and Cressey went into the stage on a charge and were intent on making up more places in the dark.

A '4 left over crest' had Page and Cressey in an unplanned sideways slide down the stage for a brief moment but they got away with it. Harper and Campbell, meanwhile continued to show ferociously determined driving, with a 2nd fastest time on Stage 15. The Mini Sport detemination featured throughout the teams crews with Page and Cressey coming out of stage 14 just 10 seconds slower that that of the Dawes' and having to swerve to miss some loose cattle on another stage.

Final service at Craignure saw all four cars through with only routine checks and re-fueling carried out by the mechanics. With the Dawes' having now swapped the lead over Page and Cressey by 26 seconds, a focused and determined drive over the final Hill Road Stage was called for if Page and Cressay were to retake their lead in only one stage.

At the top of the Hill Road itself the weather turned nasty and a downpour of biblical proportions ensued. With visibility down to a matter of feet Page and Cressey plunged down the hairpins and along Glen Aros to the finish line, stopping the clocks 1 minute and 53 seconds faster than the Dawes' and securing the 2nd placed Mini Sport car home.

Harper and Campbell went on to finish 3rd overall with an incredible display of speed and car control and John Cressey and Stan Quirk won the Trophy Rally with Page and Dawes completing the four car finish with 16th and 17th in class respectively.

A fantastic result for Team Minisport.com with the whole team crowding onto the finish ramp to assist Harper and Campbell with the Champagne!

Mini Sport on Mull 2009

Congratulations to the Mini Sport Rally Team on the World Famous Tour of Mull 2009!

3rd - Car 8 - Daniel Harper/Chris Campbell

46th - Car 104 - Martin Page/Martin Cressey

48th - Car 88 - Ian Dawes/Gary Dawes

Trophy Rally - Car 19 - John Cressey/Stan Quirk

Mini Sport at Tour of Mull 2009!

The 40th Anniversary of the Tour of Mull - Mini Sport has had a long association with the Tour of Mull, in fact throughout most of those 40 years, we have either competed or sponsored it, and often both.

This year is no exception with 4 cars competing again in 250bhp Mini Cooper S's


Look out for:

• Daniel Harper (Mini Sport Engineering Director) & Chris Campbell in Car No 8
• John Cressey & Stan Quirk - Car 19
• Ian & Gary Dawes - Car 88
• Martin Page & Martin Cressey - Car 104

Additional late news - due to a shortage of funds, last years winner Paul Mackinnon,  was facing the prospect of not being able to defend his crown, however Mini Sport have stepped and found the additional support needed for him to lead the 40th Tour of Mull rally away in Car No1.


Chris Harper (Mini Sport Sales Director) said
"With the long association that Mini Sport has had with the Tour of Mull, we didn't feel it was right that the 40th Tour of Mull should take place without last years winner and car No1. This is after all the No1 event in the rally calendar, is it not!"



"Additionally, we are pleased to help Paul as he is an outstanding talent and one of Mull's own, and as Mull has always given Mini Sport & the Harper family a very warm welcome with open arms, it is nice to be able to give something back"



Good luck to all the Mini Sport team.



Follow the event live this weekend (9-10 October 2009) at www.2300club.org/results/index.html

Mini 50th Hoodies Now Available!

The latest Mini Sport designed Mini 50th Hooded Tops are now available from the Mini Sport website. Available in Black, Stone or Pink and a range of sizes from Small to XXL.

Mini 50th Black Jack Black Hooded Top only £17.46 inc VAT

Mini 50th Black Jack Stone Hooded Top only £17.46 inc VAT

Mini 50th Black Jack Pink Hooded Top only £17.46 inc VAT

BMW MINI 5mm Wheel Spacer Kit now available!

Hot off the production line at Mini Sport is this superb new Hub Centric alloy wheel spacer kit  complete with black extended wheel bolts.

A superb new product designed and developed by the Mini Sport Rally Team which specifically allows the fitment of 18" JCW and aftermarket wheels over the JCW Brembo big brake and other large caliper conversions.

Kit includes;

* 2 x 5mm black annodised aluminium hub centric wheels spacers - laser etched with Mini Sport logo and these are Made in the UK at our base in Padiham, UK.

* 8 x 33mm black M14 wheel bolts with 1.25 thread pitch (std length is 27mm) 17mm Hex bolt head and 60 degree taper.

This kit has been developed as a matched kit which extends the track by 5mm but also gives the safety of 5mm extended wheels bolts.

Each wheel bolt is manufactured and strength tested in Germany to TUV standards and made from 10.9 rolled steel.

This kit will fit all R55/R56/R57 MINIs from 2007 on.

Each kit will fit one pair of axles, eg front. 

5mm wheel spacer and M14 33mm bolt kit available from Mini Sport

Diddy Dave Leaving Vancouver & on to Russia!

VANCOUVER FRI 18th SEP.

 

Hi All,
Homer  Alaska is behind me, its 4pm and have got away heading for Anchorage 3hours plus drive……on my journey I can decide were I want to stop and how far I go in any one day…….I am set up for that with the vehicle, today is Saturday so a beer in town would be good and I could bump into some friends there.  The drive is easy and I make the city for 7.30ish and camp again in the R/V park in the centre….set up my tent to clip on the back of the van and make up my bed……I don’t have a watch I don’t need one and I don’t miss one…I have the time, its on my cell phone should it be wanted.  There again I have gone through so many time zones up to 9hrs in Alaska to the UK you sometimes get fooled anyway, its later than I think as darkness is on me,  I’d almost forgotten about that stuff and walk the short distance to the pub and just stay for the one before heading back. I find I don’t stay to long in places of population, I have I think been like that most of my life and living on the ISLE OF MULL is good for me, whenever I go back there it is the best place to be……..I do try to plan when to go to a populated place just to top up (my need to get out of there gene) it works for me.

 

Sunday and I am up early into the laundry room to get my smalls done and to make usage of the wi-fi to catch up on friends……there’s one there from Rick Higgs of the Vancouver Mini Club…..Rick’s been great and was the first to make contact with me when I put some e-mails out to CANADA MINI CLUBS before leaving the UK……and if I recall his e-mail basically said if I get down to him, the club would like to meet up, they have things planned they would like me to join in with………so if I get to him for the 12th then we would as they say in Canada (be good to go)……and with that in the back of my mind I set of for the the Canadian  border which I will get to tomorrow.

 

The drive now is a lot easier and a real joy as the countryside is going through its transition to autumn……this is the part of the world, you should be in at this time of the year…….the same should be said when I started on the Atlantic side of this trip……out of spring into summer, but this is the Pacific side and there is much change to the countryside, the colours are out of this world……..take…..green, yellow, brown and red, hen take all the shades of each colour…….you then add the blue sky the white clouds, the odd black mountain that shades the sun also throw in the odd glacier……..I could go on…….like the many rivers, it was so good to be alive and all day I had to put up with this.  That night I stopped just outside TOK and for some reason was feeling a bit under the weather…….bed came early that night.  Today unbeknown to me was a  Labour Day holiday in both Canada and U S A, great I had the road to myself and I felt a lot better after cooking breakfast on my MATTY stove (it’s a Coleman petrol one) so named after a friend I get to see usually when he takes time out to come and service our TOUR OF MULL car rally, he does a lot of work for M-SPORT the FORD backed WORLD rally TEAM…..he is a whizz for them on his laptop……as the drivers don’t drive them anymore the laptop man does,…..anyway dishes washed and tent packed up I head out for the border that’s 90miles down the road.  I pass the U S Border post and travel a further 20 miles to the Canadian Border post thinking who owns this bit in the middle and should I put an offer in for it……..trust me it’s quiet and as I pull up to the box I can see that there is no barrier down…should I make a run for it….do they leave it down on purpose to test you…… I hope I have all the paperwork and all the answers to the questions that I get asked……you  have to enter your brain into a different node when you get to a border……good afternoon sir……now they like sinple answers back, but if you take a chance and slip two in then you could gain some high ground……Vancouver…..and onto Russia……this way if I am a terrorsist then I am leaving the country…….any guns…….only a flare gun (that you would use if you had a hole in your boat at sea) it was given to me by Bill de Crefft back in Homer….it’s a handy thing to have and is legal…….any beer……tobacco….no mam……what’s in the alluminium box…my tools………ok have a good day and off I go noticing that I had left my camcorder on…must play it back and see what it sounds like.

 

I must have covered a few miles today, sorry kilometres in Canada as I filled up twice today….I have had 700KMs on a good day out of the gas tank on the main highway,…. but I can not give spot on figures guys, as the Odometer has not worked since stopping at13,000KMs……talking of…that reminds me.

 

Back in Homer at the airfield hanger do you remember me telling you about my check over of the vehicle and sorting out the inboard drive pods, cleaning and adusting the brakes etc., also refitting the front shockers after  taking them off 25,000miles ago……… having taken all that time to figure out why they kept breaking the top bolt off….well I don’t wish to name, names and I won’t but let me say that I had a couple of  young apprentices helping out on some of the build (bless them, they were just trying to help).        One of them, the younger of the two, offered to fit the front upper shock mounting brackets that are held on with four short bolts, this he did….the items are competition ones so these were welded  in place (we do this on our rally cars) what the stupid tall, spotty faced young brainless, thumb in his mouth clown forgot to check was that they are handed…….thus fitting them on the wrong sides upside down…….but not to worry I have removed the two items and rebolted them back on and refitted the shocks………..I of course will be talking to the main culprit and he will be supplying my BEER needs for the rest of my life, no matter where in the world that I maybe.

 

So back to the plot…..as I say I am heading south and I am in the Yukon the road is clear of traffic for most of this holiday……..but you are never alone, trust me somewhere in hiding is a large animal in one shape or another…….car killing animals big or small things that come out from nowhere and in a in a flash you are history, concentration is a must…….well here goes, first you focus on the road what type of road is it?  Lets say its paved, if it is then you tend to push on and up goes your speed thus giving a greater impact if the beast walks, runs or falls onto the road…….when it appears do I hit it and avoid weaving and rolling down an endless embankment or just pray the beast goes into reverse but by then you have made your move…..so now you get the picture.  So with two of your many eyes you look at the road,….your right eye looks ahead your left eye looks over the bonnet….yet both feeding back to the control centre the road conditions.  Don’t forget this is a paved road, all sorts get thrown at you……some times its pot holes that will wipe out your suspension (as I now), then there is the launch pad, the one that puts you into orbit.  This one you train your right eye to watch for…..the tell tale trick is to look at the verge and see if the edge is flat or it has dropped away……..so how about the dirt road, well the same applies but build into that the size of the stones,….is it dry or wet, then add the dust the stones from a vehicle that you may be following or the oncoming traffic…..let me tell you, if you are doing say, as I was at the time, 100km an hour down hill, with drops both sides when a big truck came round the corner doing the same speed on a dirt road and you’re both travelling in the centre of the road (its safer if you do, more time to make a decision) with a half mile dust trail behind you it’s frightening for a while, but having said that most days I ask myself were is the rest of the people, you can have days that you only see a couple of vehicles.

 

I am now out of the Yukon and into British Columba all the time the landscape is changing and the weather was getting hotter.  On this part of the drive it was to me to have the greatest amount of changes to the landscape….simply one minute, it was as I had said before colour, mountains and trees….now it was dry like cowboy country but with pastures then desert and dry barren mountains, followed by narrow gorges with deep rivers and lots of Canadian Pacific Rail long, long trains, the  landslides that come with the area,……the traffic was getting more and could feel that city feeling (the fast lane) city’s are not top of my list to get to……….but I am getting excited to be getting near to the finish of my first leg…30,000 miles is quite a lot in 5months….I would be meeting Rick Higgs and the guys from the Vancouver Mini Club, who I will be staying with for a while.  Also they are having a run up to Whistler with a stop over and I am to join them with my vehicle.  I have been to Whistler in a former life before and look forward to going back.  l have to say the thought of getting back to see my grandchildren and to hook up with my daughter Louise is good ….. She, I think, is more excited than me…..why…..well the two of us get together for the 2009 TOUR OF MULL CAR RALLY.  It’s forty years this October since the first one, so it’s a bit special since I was there for the first, I packed it in a couple of years ago and left Louise to keep up the family name…….then just as I was about to leave on my journey JIM from R.A.C.E Motorsport……(not a bad apprentice) his business is building all forms of Mini.  He’s been there and done it all……… said to me…..well Diddy if I were to put together this 1275GT Clubman and make it a Historic build, would you drive it on the 40th?…….Jim no matter were I am in the world, I would love to come back and drive it…so the seed was sown and this car is ready.  It’s 40 years old to the month of October, but the best bit is Louise is to navigate for me.  She is a good navigator and can handle her own rally Mini when she drives it and is navigated by another girl and has done that for a few years…..they have the best of time together amongst the guys on the rally that lasts for 3days and 2nights.

 

So I am on my last day of driving and its not long before I get on the final highway into Vancouver or Pitt Meadows which is 25 miles due East of Vancouver.
So as most of you know if I have a plan, which I don’t, the next big move is to Russia.  I might just put that on hold…and I am awaiting some input back to me that I have put out and will make the decision on what route I will take over the winter back in the U K.
Well these blogs have got longer……maybe I have got a hidden talent and I do have lots to share with you all……l have kept a log for each day so maybe I can  put together some more stuff.

 

Any way I am about to sign of for this part of the trip and of course met  SO, SO many people on this trip to date and do want to thank you all…….on this journey across CANADA and ALASKA.  As  I have said to a few of you on the way…you guys could teach the world a thing or two…….not the government but you guys as people….there is something that is special with you,….don’t let the world change you…….so I will, if you don’t mind mention a few manes……starting back in Halifax with Chris Reid at the Border/Customs Agency……Peter & Anne Freeman that looked after me and drove me round to sort things out in Halifax………..Mike & Sharon & all my friends on P.E.I….be back…….to Gerard, Dave and there Mum Theresa up by Meat Cove, Cape Breton……..to so many people on the ROCK ….Newfoundland, there were so many including all the LIONS guys, the cellphone pioneers at the Lion Max Simms camp and to Paul Malone and his mini in St Johns……….to that very nice Trooper that told me about the BEAR that was busey in Churchill Falls were I was camping…..to the 10 girls that fed me food and beer on their ‘hen night‘……..to Jack, Karen and Lisa in Lab City……….then there was Kieth, Deb and Cathrine of the Mainly Minis Montreal (an Oasis in the desert)…………to so many more I met as I drove across that I will e-mail back home ………to Robert  Rogers who I met in Inuvik and  he did a drawing on the rear of the van of a polar bear….fantastic…also to the Ice Road Truckers getting ready for the next filming……then there was Alaska…so many great people…….again to the Lions Club and the whole of the Village of Anderson/Clear…for that great WEEK and the Blue Grass Festival we all worked at, and to Mary Jane great, great time………and to Homer it’s the end of the road west…Russia would come next if there was a road,…….there is so many names to thank here…..but have to limit it…..Bill and Barbara De Crefft, Bill is 77 and should be 40...a fab guy…we have unfinished work to do……..and I just can not and will not leave out Mike McCann….he has Irish in him should I say more,..he is  lots of things, float plane pilot, writer of just the best short stores, so funny and most of them true……..and finally to Vancouver and Rick & Elaine Higgs, Larry Sutton for storing the mini over the winter and to all the Vancouver Mini Club people……to you ALL and with a TEAR in my eye I say THANK YOU.
Dave Thomas…..Diddy Dave……Diddy……or the Polar Bear…how ever you remember me.

Mini Sport at Stanford Hall National Mini Show this weekend!

Mini Sport are the Official Show Sponsors at this weekends National Mini Show at Stanford Hall.

If you have never been to our show before, we think you will find it a lovely place to spend a late summers day, the whole atmosphere is one of welcome and friendliness.

As well as the attractive hall, the lawns and show area, although wide reaching, make you feel quite at home in the surroundings. Stanford Hall itself is open to visitors on the day. 

Concours - big prize on offer this year to celebrate Mini 50! £1000 for Overall Car of the Day.

For full show information see miniownersclub.co.uk

Diddy Dave to the end of the road

where is that.......Homer, Alaska guys.....what a place......

anyway up date for you from leaving the blue grass festival and heading for anchorage....the drive is easy now but i still take a few days to get to anchorage stopping of at Mt Mckinley, I stayed in Anchorage over the weekend to see what a large town is like and also to meet up with some people i'd met at blue grass and to have a few drinks and eat a real site down meal with a table cloth.

The drive down to Homer can be done in about 4hrs but I would take about 4 days to get there by turning of the main highway and calling into places like Girdwood and then the Keni Peninsula......and places like Hope, Soldotna and Anchor Point before Homer. Those are four places to date that I will I hope one day go back to......

Homer has gone to the top of the list....   just by a short lead.....  I know I will be back as I have unfinished work to do........

so what happened here, not long after I arrived the local paper tracked me down.....  can we do an article on your trip.....  "I don't do that type of stuff" I said, I have been asked a few times on my journey but have said no.......but this time it felt ok so i said yes and as it turned out it was a nice short article........trouble was it made me headline news in Homer,so as I drove round people would wave.......the lady at the gas station would come out and serve me and I got invites all over.....

Not only that while i was getting interviewed at the book shop a guy stopped when he saw the mini.....his name was Bill de Creeft and he has a collection of cars, Jags and others plus a 1962 997cc Austin Cooper...   and the deal turned out to me stripping the mini and he will get the shell sorted and I will be back to put it together in the future, Bill is 77 and is a Bush Pilot, he has a float plane and took me up over the glaciers here....but that's only the start of so many good things to happen here in Homer......

I went on to meet Mike Mccann also a flyer and a writer of two fantastic books that I am bringing back with me.... I had so many laughter tears in my eyes, when I took to reading them, we have become great friends.....  Mike is half Irish and he gets to Ireland once or twice a year and he is hoping to fly over to my home on mull and land on are grass airstrip some time........

Talking of flying I have been so lucky and have been up and over so many mountains, lakes and glaciers......and have had chance to fly one of the planes myself its so hard to leave here......but i know I can and will be back,  one last thing for the guys back home, the time bandit is in port before she sets of for the bearing sea again......and bill is friends with the captain so i got a tie shirt that i get to keep for myself, signed.

well folks i head for Vancouver and will be there for the 12th Sep as Rick Higgs and the Vancouver Mini Club are expecting me for a bit of a get together....so I will only have a small report next time from Vancouver and will be back in the uk for the 2nd Oct...........and back on Mull Scotland for the 40th year of the 3 day and 2 night tour of mull car rally......

Jim from r.a.c.e has put together his 40year old Mini Clubman for me to drive and my daughter to navigate on this very special year of the rally.......i cant wait for that first stage and that 5 4 3 2 1  go........fantastic....should be dead easy after this tour of duty......time to sign of folks...have lots of thoughts about you all.......diddy dave

Russ Swift pays a flying visit!

What a fantastic British Mini Day last Sunday at Uttoxeter and big thanks to the by British Mini Club for making it happen! 

The weather held up and all in all was a great show with great people!

Russ Swift also made a flying visit to the Mini Sport stand for a couple of parts just before his stunt action driving display.

We are already preparing for the next big show this weekend at Stanford Hall, see you all there :-)

This Weeks Special Offers

We have a great selection of mini parts on special offer at the moment.

Feel free to browse our Special Offer Section on the website for details of all the products on offer and the huge savings to be had!

Here is a brief list of some of the products you can find on offer;

• Genuine Mini Carpet mats - now £42.55 save £14.85
• Genuine Mini Mudflaps - now £26.11 save £13.47
• Inner Pot Joint - now £18.40 save £7.47
• Suspension Top Arms - now £37.95 save £19.55
• Alloy Door Handle Set - now £27.37 save £11.73

Plus many more.....

Visit the Mini Sport Special Offer Section for full product listings and savings

Where is Diddy Dave?

Where is Dave?

Well we don't exactly know either, we haven't heard from him for a while but we stumbled upon some pictures from a Montreal minis website, enjoy....

Original link www.mainlyminismontreal.com

Mini Sport at British Mini Day 6 Sep 09

Mini Sport are proud to be the Official Show Sponsors of the British Mini Day at Uttoxeter Racecourse on 6th September 2009.

Brought to you by the British Mini Club, an all new Experience of Mini Show.. British Mini Show at Uttoxeter Racecourse 6th September 2009. Just £7 per person on the day and under 12's get in for free.. Plus one free raffle ticket for the driver of every single Mini/MINI

The British Mini Clubs fanatastic new Mini Show at Uttoxeter Racecourse on September 6th is getting ever closer. With the finals of the Premier Class concours. An amazing raffle Mini, Trade stands, and Now Russ Swift!!! This is one show not to miss.

For full details see www.britishminiclub.co.uk 

Mini Cooper S 3.5" Steel Wheels

Genuine specification 3.5" Mini Cooper S Steel Wheels are now available from Mini Sport!

When the Mini Cooper S first came off the production line, they were fitted with 3.5J x 10" wheels as standard, the 4.5J x 10" wheels were a factory fitted option.

Mini Sport have now painstakingly reproduced the 3.5J x 10" to original specifications, perfecting the characteristics even down to the unique Old English White colour.
These wheels are NOT cheap copies, they are exact replicas of the original design and would be perfect for any restoration project.

The Cooper S 3.5" steel wheels are available in Silver or Old English White on the minisport website

• Silver - 3.5" Mini Cooper S Steel Wheel 
• Old English White - 3.5" Mini Cooper S Steel Wheel 

MINI Yokohama Track Day Tyres

Yokohama Advan A048 and Yokohama A006T Track Day and Competition Tyres are now available to buy on www.minisport.com/bmw-mini

We offer a good range of sizes for your BMW MINI and all available within a few days;

• 205/55 R16 - Yokohama Advan A048 Competition Tyre - Medium
• 205/55 R16 - Yokohama Advan A048 Competition Tyre - Medium Hard
• 215/45 R17 - Yokohama Advan A048 Competition Tyre
• 210/625 R17 - Yokohama Advan A006T Competition Tyre

Please feel free to get in touch if you have any specific requirements and we will do our best to help and advise.

Mini Sport relaunch BMW MINI website!

www.minisport.com/bmw-mini/

Mini Sport are proud to relaunch the complete range of BMW MINI parts and accessories on their all new website. With over 1200 new parts and accessories listed from Genuine MINI parts to performance aftermarket parts and servicing parts, they are all available to buy online and over the phone. All products have pictures and full descriptions making it even easier to buy online.

We have also introduced new ranges of products from a huge variety of manufacturers, to give you an idea;

• Team Dynamics Alloy Wheels for MINI
• Yokohama Performance Tyres
• K&N Performance Air Filters
• Genuine MINI Parts
• Mini Sport S/E Lighting
• Eibach Wheel Spacers, Lowering Springs and Anti Roll Bar Kits
• PlayMini Exhausts
• Superchips Tuning

We have also created a page giving you some background to MINI and what MINI R Numbers mean, making it easier to decode some of these specialist terms and phrases.

Happy browsing :-)

WOW - IMM/Mini 50 - what a weekend!

What a fantastic weekend we all had at the IMM/Mini 50!

With the downpours on Wednesday and Thursday it wasn't looking too promising for the weather, but it had a change of heart and by Friday morning was nice and sunny. Fortunately the weather held up all weekend and everybody enjoyed a fantastic show with fantastic people.

Mini Sport want to thank the Birmingham Mini Owners Club (especially Mike Price) for putting on such a great event and making sure everything that was supposed to happen actually happened. Also we want to thank everybody who attended the event because without you we wouldn't have an event!

We are currently working on a full photo album of the IMM/Mini 50 which will be uploaded soon for you all to see how good it was!

We are already looking forward to the IMM 2010 at Bavaria, Germany!

Diddy Dave Update from Coldfoot, Alaska

Sorry to you all on taking so long to get a report out were ever you are in the world..........its one hell of a big place out here and you have to drive at least a full day to make any sort of contact with people or property, let alone cellphone or e-mail, its been over two weeks since i had a signal for anything.

My last report was from Chicken just over the border into Alaska i stayed there an extra night as it was a RV/CAMPSITE and a good one that i liked, nothing there but a few people panning for gold and four wooden cowboy type buildings in a line that looks like DODGE CITY....l,a cafe type place 2,a small stores 3/4 saloons, with lots of gold mining equipment and one of the biggest old gold dredgers in the world(try and google it guys).

Next day i was back in the saddle and the big big push to to Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay a long way up the trail and into the Arctic Circle again, its as high as you can go as you drop into the Arctic Ocean after that, i drove all day and passed Fairbanks (big base for US army....close to Russia) I would return there in about 8/9 days time.......today i had my first all day drive on a paved road it was to be my last for some time as i am about to hit the dirt again as i go true north for a while, my plan was to make it to Coldfoot an old work camp from the time they built the Alaskan pipe line (you follow big chucks of it as you travel)

Coldfoot is now a truck stop for truckers, mini drivers and idiots, named Coldfoot after a trapper went north to Deadhorse but returned before he got there. before i got to Coldfoot i will cross the Arctic Circle,but as i turn of the dirt road into the Arctic circle parking spot while not focusing i dropped into a huge pot hole and BANG the ball joint on the n/s front (old driver side) cone lets go....... so with a party of people around me i set about to empty the van and fit a new joint to the end of the ADJUSTA RIDES now set at there highest as my rubber suspension units are now weak and the tyres are about one and a half inches from the bodywork.....its not the hardest of jobs to do once you get the plastic cup out of the top arm, i take that arm of to do the job and replace it all back together and reset the ride height,all this can take up to three hours with all the repacking on the van......the crowd of onlookers had well gone by then....

All this made it late getting into Coldfoot but you cant relate time here as it is light 24hrs a day,the truck drivers are a great bunch of guys and always have time for me and talk, also this part of the journey is a UP and back DOWN trip so i get to meet or see them a couple of times.........i sleep till about 8ish and have a shower before 10bucks buys me a truckers big meal.....and all you can eat,so its close to 10.30 before i am on the road again and head for the Brookes Range of mountains and a climb of 2400ft seeing only the odd truck or motor cycle... and as i get close to the mountains on a clear day like today i can see there is a big white cloud that is hanging half way up the mountain with the top showing.......i turn my cam corder on as me and my trustee van start are half hour climb to the top, i record the climb up to and through the cloud and then my decent to the flat tundra the other side and the BIG change in the temperature.....this is ARCTIC weather without the snow.......

There is only a small window in the year when there is no snow....i know things are changing as the engine/carb are telling me things and i still have about 200km to go.....ye ...ha.. so onward and up we go, i have to get to the Arctic Ocean at all cost and we make it to Prudhoe Bay,thinking its about five only to find out its 9pm..... its that sun again fooling me.

So what about Prudhoe......well all you have here is oil men and what they need as they say(TO GET THE JOB DONE)its a BIG boys toys place and i was to spend some time here looking at as many things as they would let me......try first then ask, if i can.....the place is one big camp that has been trucked in by road...its like living on the moon, almost all of the time i camp but tonight i will stay in a HOTEL its not really a hotel they are PODS put together to form a hotel but it IS a hotel when you get inside.....so out of the wind and cold into reception......can i have a bed for the night not asking the price first....let me look SIR.....whoops this is going to cost i fear......yes sir we have.....that will be 170dollars SIR....there he goes again (DON'T CALL ME THAT)for that you get your evening meal,your breakfast and your take out meal in a big US style bag (let me tell you i did three trips to the food parcel shelve before leaving) yes sir all you can eat for that price......i'll take it.....so i headed to my room it had all you wanted other than something extra to keep you warm at night if you get my drift....i took a shower for an hour before going to the dinning room and a steak that filled one plate and another plate was for all the other stuff......followed by desert,the size of a shoe box and a chat with some of the workers that had seen my MR BEAN car.....its thumbs up wherever i go with the MINI.

I returned to my room and sent a few texts back home to tell friends i had made it to the Arctic ocean,sleep for me did not happen to quickly as its midnight plus and the sun is still shinning, and will be in the morning when i wake up.....i have to say as i was laying in my bed it was nice to get some texts back from friends......back home  it was about 8.00am in the UK.....just as i was about to drop off the phone rang (oil company has its own satellite up there to keep an eye on things down on the floor thus the phone signal that i have not had for weeks)it was TUGS a friend for many years(he is about 20 odd years younger than me and still growing up) HE...HE........got your text had to phone and say well done....thank you i said....don't stay on to long it will cost you....he is a great friend.........i sleep and take my breakfast before doing one more visit to the food counter and another meal to take out with me,all my clothes are clean and i take a last look round the arctic buildings and workshops before setting of south at about 1pm and the Brooks Mountains. 

With the drive across the Tundra,one thing i forgot to tell you they have a busy airport here as BP have two 747 and Chevron have one 747 plane flying in and out with Alaska Airways also bringing in people .........the motorbike and cycle guys only do a one-way drive on this road........so i get under way and am about half an hour south of Deadhorse and i pass two pushbike guys.....toot and wave only to drive 10miles more on the Dalton highway before i here a BANG from the front......yes another ball joint has gone,so i unpack and set about the repair only to have the cycle guys stop,say hello and wash there pushbikes in one of the many Tundra lakes.....we talk a little and they head out again, I finish the repair and repast them.....over the mountain i go and after a couple of hours the engine/carb return to near perfect....again it is late when i get back to Coldfoot and sleep for the night.

Next day i am still heading south to Fairbanks but it will be a few days before i get there......i an to break another cone joint today, on this road......it don't like me....its not going to get me.....i am for the real first time concerned as i have used both my two spare joints,but i check my spares list and have a spare ADJUSTA RIDE kit.....does it have joints in i ask my self.....yes it has......thank GOD....this was a rear one, this time..a lot easy to do,but i am getting good at it anyway.....cant wait to get of this road and when i do late at night i stop on the paved part and give my van a big hug and thank her.....

I drive for about one hour and stop for the next two days in a quarry i stopped at on my way up, just to relax and top up my suntan.....so two days latter i drive into Fairbanks and spend the next two hours power washing and cleaning the van as it had gone from RED/WHITE to brown........i was in need of an RV/CAMPSITE to shower,do laundry etc so the first i see i will stop at i tell my self,i leave Fairbanks which did not impress me,i drive south this is the road that will take me to Anchorage, i hit on a campsite three hours down the road,and as i turn in there is a sign that said BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL but that's on friday,sat and sunday but this monday so as i turn onto the site i see a LIONS sign and guys setting things up.....i offer to help and stay for 8days from start to finish (i had just a FAB time)made many friends and as i left this small town called Anderson a huge forest fire was only FIVE miles away from this very small town.........it has been so dry in Alaska this year fires are burning all over,so i say goodbye and head for Anchorage were at last i get a signal on my phone to text back to the UK.......i spend a few days there before heading towards Homer......and maybe Dutch Harbour........and the Deadly Catch guys......we will see........hope this LOG makes up for the lack of contact.......next big city is Vancouver and that's at least a month away........take care and start saving your money to travel across to CANADA AND ALASKA...........I'M COMING BACK.........Dave.

Diddy Dave in Chicken, Alaska

Saturday 18th july 4pm approx.....in a Alaska at a place called Chicken.

Just a short update, I left Inuvik on Thursday and started to head back down the Dempster Highway its about 900km to the T Junction at the bottom. I drove half way to Eagle Plains that day and the rest on Friday to mile 0 at Klondik junction.

A stopover on Friday night....... the plan if I have a plan was to stop in Dawson City for a few days as there is a music festival on the go. After spending half a day I decided to move on...... my reason.... well think of the old cowboy films and Dodge City... well it’s still a bit like that with a touch of the modern world...... so I drove out of town and hit that dust trail again this time i was going to check the border out and see if the Americarmoes would let me in ........ there would not be a problem, but till your in your not in, mind you I was going in on the dirt road and not the main south to north road....... 

I arrived at the border and filled in a form..... I even got them to stamp my scottish passport for me...... o they don't like photos taken.......nearly locked me up for that one..... I jumped in the van and hit the dirt again....... this road is called the the Highway in the Sky....... it sure is and at about 3pm local I decided to park my saddle at a small place called Chicken....... tell you what guys the beer is cheaper and more meaty than i've had to date.... 

ok friends time to sign of and to say thanks to one and all of you I have meet on my travels...you are part of the dream and I thank you......

will try and keep you all up to date.........Diddy Dave

Genuine Mini Mats now available!

Brand new genuine Mini floor mats are now available from Mini Sport!

These are available in black with the Mini wings logo on the right hand mat and come complete with mat fixings on the front right hand mat. They also come complete with an anti-slip backing.

These have been unavailable for many years and have only just become available again.

We have these in stock now, but hurry they will be popular!

They are available to buy later today on the Mini Sport website and will be introduced at an introductory price of £47.42 plus VAT (£54.53 inc VAT).

Genuine Rover Mini Floor Mats

Mini 50th T-Shirts now available!

Mini Sport are proud to launch their latest Mini 50th Anniversary T Shirts.

The white T shirts are available to ship now and are in stock, the black are due in the next few days.

There a 4 designs in total and all are strictly Limited Edition

They are priced at a very reasonable £9.99 (inc VAT) each and available in Mens/Ladies and a choice of sizes.

These will sell very quickly, so if you want yours, please buy now to avoid disappointment!

These are available on the Mini Sport website

Mini Sport design the Official IMM 2009 T Shirt

The Mini Sport Advertising Department are proud to have designed the Official IMM 2009 T-Shirt.

5000 t-shirts are being printed and given away free with every IMM ticket sold in the goodie bag given at sign in at the event.

I'm sure you will all agree, it is a fantastic design and one which we are very proud to have been involved in.

We are looking forward to seeing everybody wearing their T Shirt over the IMM weekend 7-9 August 2009, Birmingham UK.

Diddy Dave - Heading for the Arctic

Follow Diddy Dave's progress on Google Maps

Update on things after leaving Jasper and starting at mile zero of the Alaskan Highway that starts at Dawson Creek, the road is paved to Fort Nelson and onto Watson Lake on the way I camped at a place called liard hot springs and yes I tested the water there it was fantastic even with those damn mozzies about.

After a good sleep I headed for Watson Creek, this place I believe has the biggest collection of signs in the world I then set about driving along the Robert Campbell Highway this was the start of the gravel that I would be on for the next 10 days and all that dust again..... believe me it gets in everywhere.... my new sleeping bag is full of it and my clothes don't last long they to are black........

The weather is good to great most days and seeing I am talking to friends I know, I will let you all in to a little secret and as there are few people on the road I usually don't bother to wear any clothes any way as its to hot and the aircon is not working at this moment as the roof vent is blocked with bugs plus its cheaper to have a shower or jump in the lake.

Next stopover was in a place called Ross River I am now in the Yukon and would soon be on the Dempster Highway so i spent half a day sorting things out on the van.

The drive pods on the gear box do play a little bit on my mind but with some positive ways they will be fine, so it would seen that the araldite on one boot is working on one side the other with cling film seen to be doing its job but decided to repack that one and replace the cling film before refitting the full sump guard and checking all four corners.

Before heading for the start of the dempster and the 900kms drive to Inuvik (ice road truckers country) its a dead end when i get there so i have to come back down if all works out I hope to be in Dawson City for the weekend of the 18/19th for a music festival.

But before that I will cross into the Arctic on the 14th were i will celebrate my birthday in proper billy connelly style... the proof will be on the DVD.....

I then will be in another provence this it will be the Northwest Territory....... I am still 8 hours behind you all back home, but go back to 7hrs while in the n w t...... then it goes back to 8 when i get to Alaska......so guys i will sign of for now.

Just a final note....... cell phone does not exist here and will not for some time to come, my only chance is e-mail and that is also sometime a problem...... there is nothing up here but dust, Bison, Moose, Caribou, Lynx, Puma, black Bear, wild dogs and that's another story about them....

it's about 10pm on monday night as i sit in a small bar and steal their internet to let you all know that i am fine, I am so lucky to be here it is one hell of a place to be.... you cant describe it, you have to sample it...it blows you away...

that's it guys, Diddy

Follow Diddy Dave's progress on Google Maps

Glamis Transport Extravaganza Weekend

Wow! What a superb weekend!

Mini Sport would like to thank the event organisers and more importantly the huge turnout of Mini friends and supporters.

We hope you like the above picture which we feel sums up the weekend and we are already looking forward to next years event!

Mini Sport 2009 Catalogue - FREE DOWNLOAD

The latest and greatest edition of the Mini Sport Parts and Accessories Catalogue is now available to download on the Mini Sport website.

Or you can download the pdf catalogue here

The Mini Sport Catalogue can also be purchased online, but please note that the printed copy will be available from 7 August 2009.

The image quality has been reduced to get the pdf down from 43mb to a reasonable 15.2mb download size, so don't be put off if the images look a little low quality!

The price list to accompany the 2009 Catalogue will be available as a download either today or tomorrow.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we have had putting it together for you...

the Mini Sport Advertising Team

Mini Sport 2009 Catalogue Cover

The Mini Sport advertising department have only just finalised the latest 2009 Parts and Accessories Catalogue and are proud to show you all a sneak preview of the front cover.  

The catalogue is now in print and will be launched at the IMM/Mini 50 weekend on 7-9 August 2009.

For those of you who can't wait for the printed version, a compressed pdf download will be available later today on the Free Download area of the Mini Sport website

Diddy Daves Update

Tue 7th June 6pm

Keith and Deb are great mini fans.....Debs is nuts about them....she told me to say hello to Chris back at Mini Sport....she even gave me a free-phone no to ring to contact them should i need any help.....all this came about from Paul Malone in St Johns in Newfoundland to whom I am grateful.

So I am now back on the road and good to go.... and go it is. It took me four and a half days to get through Ontario doing six to seven hundred km a day to get into the next Provence of Manitoba then Saskatchewan. That only took two days in each an easy one before Alberta. All of these provences are flat as glass but as I got close to Calgary I could start to see the Rockies. 

I stopped off in Calgary at the stampede before heading south to almost the USA and to a place called Trail before turning north into the real Rockies and Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. I took time out to visit the Icefields in the National Park, while I was there I replaced a rear wheel bearing and headed north and to the Alaskan Highway...........

I have worked out that I have done approximately 19000km to date that is just a guess as the odometer failed at 13000..........is that a good omen i hope it is....

so folks that’s it for now......

Diddy Dave

Mini Sport at Glamis Castle, Scotland this weekend

The 35th Scottish Transport Extravaganza, Glamis, United Kingdom

11-12 July 2009

Proudly supported by Mini Sport

The Strathmore Vintage Vehicle Society's Scottish Transport Extravaganza is held in the spectacular landscaped grounds of Glamis Castle. Over 800 vintage cars and other vehicles are on display along with many more attractions.

Numerous stalls, a craft tent, marching pipe bands and a children's area make for an all-round family day out, especially for motor enthusiasts. The sales area is huge, with many toy dealers, art, craft, jumble and antiques stands.

Glamis Castle was the childhood home of the Queen Mother and parts of the building date back to the 11th century; Glamis Castle's Duncan's Hall is the legendary setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth.

The Scottish Vintage Vehicle Federation was established in November 1973 with the aims of publishing an events programme each year and maintaining a register of competitors. The architect of the SVVF was Tom Sked of Aberdeen and appropriately he was elected its first Chairman. 

www.svvc.co.uk

Mini Sport at Gaydon Mini Festival - 4-5 July

The annual weekend celebration of all things Mini in association with Mini Sport and MiniWorld Magazine takes place this year on the 4 & 5 July 2009.

Hundreds of Minis!
All Mini owners are very welcome to display their car, even if you aren't part of a club you can still participate. Simply purchase your admission in advance at a discounted rate (deadline for advance bookings is Monday 29 June 4pm), or turn up on the day. All Minis that arrive on the day will receive VIP parking at the show.

Win Win Win...
Any Mini on display at the show will automatically be considered for the Mini of the Year award which is being judged on the Saturday and prize awarded on the Sunday.

If you are feeling creative then why not enter the Dress up your Mini competition? All you need to do is turn your Mini into something weird and wonderful! To enter email
events@heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

The event will be jam packed with Mini activities, highlights include:

• Mini Owner Club displays - click here for booking form
• Music by Ross and the Wrongens & Krisis
• Mini trade village
• Dalek Invasion including Audience with a Dalek
• Mini World's Mini of the Year competition
• Dress up your Mini
• Russ Swift precision driving
• Limited Edition Heritage Run
• Sell your Mini corner
  
  ...........and much more!

For more details visit the Gaydon Mini website

Fastest Mini in the World race 2009

The BARC is hosting a special Mini 50 weekend of track fun at Lydden Hill circuit in Kent on 27-28 June 2009.

The weekend will include five dedicated Mini races, plus Mini displays, parade laps and a free Saturday evening barbeque.

There are two classes that can be entered each with four sub classes, ensuring every type of Mini is catered for whether it is a historic racer, or space-framed Mini.

The fastest competitors from each class will be put forward for Sunday's Fastest Mini in the World race which will see the winner take home a very respectable achievement.

Richard Casey will be running his Mini Sport/M.A.D. sponsored 300bhp turbo BMW MINI Cooper S  in a hope to win the challenge!

For an entry form visit the website at www.barc.net/regional_centres/south_east/regulations.php

For further info or details about tickets, contact Rob Morris on 07771 902456.

minisport.com has PageRank 5!

WOW! What an achievement, www.minisport.com has just received a Page Rank of 5 by Google this morning...

After over 2 years of design, development, building and testing our current ecommerce website we have achieved a superb milestone this morning, with a Google Page Rank of 5.

Google page rank is Googles own numeric way of representing how important a website is on the world wide web. The higher the number, the more important and each website is given a number out of  10.

It is very very hard to get a good page rank, as an example ebay.co.uk has a Page Rank of 7, bbc.co.uk has a Page Rank of 9, even google.co.uk only has a Page Rank of 8!

Google Page Rank is explained in detail on WikiPedia for any of you that are interested.

We are now working hard to achieve our next milestone, a Google Page Rank of 6!

Diddy Dave in Cartwright, Canada

SAT 20TH JUNE 8.00PM APPROX

Hi all

Am all at sea as I e-mail you all, am sitting in the lounge of Sir Robert Bond having a beer, I have just set sail from Cartwright in Labrador on a 12hr passage to Happy Valley-Goose Bay as we have run out of road..... I have already had a sample of things to come when it comes to dirt roads.......have clocked up about 900km(600mls) straight run on gravel, as of this moment some of these gravel roads are better than the trans canadian highway having already bust two top shocker bolts on the front on the tarmac roads....... I think i've sorted that problem out otherwise the Mr Bean van is doing ok and have cloaked up about 7500km to date, my biggest problem is dust from the gravel roads its got into everywhere........when I open the rear door about 2 kilos of dust falls out and you can see it being sucked in through what was the drivers door (the mini was built that way to let the water out,but i don't care as i am having a great drive, these have to be the best rally stages in the world, they are endless and so wide you just switch the autopilot on and use one hand to drive, I came of the Island of Newfoundland by ferry to Labrador about 5 days ago and was escorted by two big rigs all day to my destination for the night, we kept about a mile apart and you could judge your speed by how much dust you made we ran at about 80km hour you should be doing 70km........anyway were were pasted by another big rig with two trailer doing 100plus.......what a sight as it wiped me out in the dust and into the future as past on bye, you could see it or the dust for the next 6km.

Two days later I did the last 260km and only saw one vehicle on that day..........can't what for the Yukon and Alaska part of the journey.

I am now starting to travel west proper and in about two weeks time I should hit the flat land were they tell me that you can see your dog running for three days...... I can also make up some time as it is very difficult to leave this eastern or atlantic side as they call it, the people have to be the most friendly and helpful in the world.

Once I get to goose bay most of the road is gravel for the next 1500km and I keep hearing stores about the road, I don't have any contact by now that has well gone........ I am told they like you to hire a satellite phone and hand it in at the end of the road.....we will see..... I will also try keeping in touch by e-mail it should get better once I get into middle canada.......... I  don't mind you sending me e-mails.....if you get the chance,

Regards to you all, Diddy

Mini Sport Design IMM 2009 Carrier

The Mini Sport Advertising Department are proud to have had the opportunity to design the Official Carrier Bag for the IMM/Mini 50.

This is currently being printed onto an environmentally friendly Biothene biodegradeable plastic which degrades naturally with sunlight over only 18 months.

Keep your eyes peeled for our Special Edition Mini 50th Birthday range of T Shirts which are due to be launched in the next 3-4 weeks. These have all been uniquely designed and we hope to see you all wearing yours on the special weekend at Cofton Park, Birmingham 7/8/9 August 2009.

Mini Cooper Mk1 - FOR SALE

FOR SALE - Mini Cooper Mk1 - 1966

Mini Cooper MK1 1966 (Island Blue). Historic rally car originally built by Bill Richards. 1380cc engine close ratio box 2 pin diff, adjustable suspension, Gaz adj shocks. adjustable bottom arms, competition tie bars, sump guard, 4 pot brakes, maniflow exhaust system. Safety devices cage, Cobra seats, Luke harnesses.

This Mini has only competed in the last two years and has had top 5 results and class wins and won last years championship, it is on fantastic order with a build cost of £18,000. Mini sport have run the car and it’s done 3 events since engine, gear box and diff were all renewed.

Price: £7995.00 ono

Please call Ian on 07765513412 / 015395 36316 / 015395 38913 for more details

Jim Clark Rally Vid

JIM CLARK RALLY 2009 - MINISPORT BMW MINI COOPER S - HARPER / CAMPBELL - CRESSEY / QUIRK

Jack Neal Rally Vid 4

Jack Neal Memorial Rally 09 - Page / Easton - Minisport / Framor garage BMW MINI Cooper S 1

Jack Neal Rally Vid 3

Jack Neal Memorial Rally 09 - Page / Easton - Minisport / Framor garage BMW MINI Cooper S 2

Jack Neal Rally Vid 2

Jack Neal Memorial Rally 09 - Cressey / Constantine - Minisport BMW MINI Cooper S 2

Jack Neal Rally Vid 1

Jack Neal Memorial Rally 09 - Cressey / Constantine - Minisport BMW MINI Cooper S 1

Jim Clark Rally Vid - SS7 Fogo

JIM CLARK 09 - SS7 FOGO - MINISPORT.COM BMW MINI COOPER S - HARPER / CAMPBELL

Jim Clark Rally Vid - SS5 Edrom

JIM CLARK 09 - SS5 EDROM - MINISPORT.COM BMW MINI COOPER S - HARPER / CAMPBELL

Mini Sport visits Stone Henge

Mini Sport pays a flying visit to the pre-historic monument of Stone Henge.

Stonehenge is probably the most important prehistoric monument in the
whole of Britain and has attracted visitors from earliest times. It stands as a timeless monument to the people who built it.

The stonehenge that we see today is the final stage that was completed about 3500 years ago, but first let us look back 5000 years. 

For more information on this fascinating landmark take a look at www.stonehenge.co.uk