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

Mini Sport at Bealieau

Mini Sport would like to thank the Mini Cooper Register for organising such a superb day at Beaulieu this year.

The Beaulieu Show is without doubt one of the best shows in the Mini Calendar and is set in a lovely part of the New Forest in Southampton.

The weather was superb all day and the turnout and selection of Minis on display was fantastic.

We are already looking forward to next years event which will, no doubt be even bigger and better!

Diddy Daves Update

MON 8th JUNE 8.00pm

Just got internet access; arrived n.f.land Wed 27th May by ferry 6hrs crossing and was warned not to drive at night by most people on the boat as the moose here are the size of elephants,they put are deer to shame the size of them, the problem is there antlers act as tin openers and will cut the roof of your vehicle.

Port-aux-basques to st johns is a 900km straight drive I will go there some time in the coming week as I promised to call on the Mini guys there but till then i will be going of the main trans canada highway (tch) no1 and calling into some other places such as gros morne nat park west of the island and into twillingate to see the ice burgs have a look on Google Earth (I think ) there is so much to see and made friends wherever i go, the people are just the best.

I landed at St Johns on Friday afternoon and camped in pippa park in the centre of the city, on my journey from the ferry to St Johns i past some guys and girls from the canadian navy they have for the last 14 years run this 900km to raise money for kids. I passed them about 3 times on the tch and made friends with them, i told them i would be in st johns on sat, so they asked me to come to the ship when they finish on sat.

I also hooked up with mini guys and was given the tour of all the best places.......cape spear the most eastley point of North America ( as close to the uk as you can get) cabot tower were the first transatlantic wireless message by Marconi was sent 12 Dec 1901. Also where Alcot and Brown made that first transaltantic air flight in 1919 in 16hrs - so much history here with world war 2 also these guys fought on our side and lost so many.

On sunday I start at zero of the tch and head west and double back on myself for the first time(and only once I hope) I have a call to make at a place called bishops fall its a camp for mentally and physically challenged individuals, I came by this place by going to a lions meeting in twillingate last monday night and was told you must call on this place and see it for your self. I landed here on sunday night and looks like i will be here for a week as i have been adopted by five guys called pioneers' and they like the lions do good work for people,we are building a small unit on site for the people.....all these guys are in there 70/80s and they do it for the love of it and for nothing.......anyway folks that's it for now.....ps lou i should be ok to keep contact this week as they have asked me to stay and help......

lots of love to you all d.d

Exclusive Mini Shopper Bags

Brand new 50th Anniversary Mini Shopper Bags are now available and in stock with a choice of 3 designs from Mini Sport.

You can choose from a Blue, "Swinging London" Shopper with a picture of the Mini in London against Big Ben. There is also a Red, "The Costa Azzurra" Shopper with JBL 495D set in the French Riviera. Finally there is the White, "Monte Carlo or Bust" Shopper, set in Monte Carlo with the Casino as a back drop.

Each is priced at a reasonable £83.20 each (inc VAT) and are available now.

These are a Limited Edition run and are set to sell very quickly. 

50th Anniversary Shopper Bags available to buy here

CNC Machines on the move!

(This is what a 5 tonne machine looks like at head height!)

The Mini Sport CNC Machine Centre is now on the move! 

Don't worry it isn't moving too far, over the road to be exact. The reason for the move is simple, to expand and increase the amount of machining capabilities we have here at Mini Sport in Lancashire, England.

The new CNC Machine Centre is currently being refitted from the ground up giving us a supreme working base which will in turn allow us to expand the range of CNC engineered products offered for sale.

I will keep you all updated over the next few weeks with more pictures of the new CNC centre as it takes shape and comes online and hopefully have some short video clips available too.

Mini Sport at Beaulieu!

The Mini Cooper Register is pleased to be running this annual event, which is now in it's 23rd year.

The annual Beaulieu event has always been one of the significant events on the mini / MINI calendar.

There will be a large display of Coopers from each of the marques, ranging from 1961 Coopers up to the latest New MINI Cooper Works. The registrars of each of the marques will be available at the show to discuss any enquiries you may have.

Mini Sport will of course be in attendance as one of the Official Show Sponsors, feel free to come over for a chat or to browse through the parts on our stand.

MINIWORLD Magazine will be giving out trophies for the best standard and modified car of the day.

The National Mini Cooper Day is renowned for the quality of its concours competition. The Beaulieu Cup being one the most prestigious awards of the day. The standard of the cars is always something to see and be amazed by. National Mini Cooper DayNot forgetting of course, the honorary members of the Mini Cooper Register who normally attend, such as Lady Watson (Christabel Carlisle),Bill Price, Stuart Turner, Paddy Hopkirk just to name a few. 

www.minicooper.org

www.beaulieu.co.uk

Diddy Dave's latest - 2 June

This picture shows "Diddy" Dave and his van at Mini Sport before he set off on his World Adventure - "The Wrong Way Round"

Dave has just updated us with his adventure;

Hi Lou and all my friends back home,
Its my first e-mail since my journey started in Halifax back on the 1st may.....today is Monday 25th may and its 9.30 eastern seaboard time add 4 hours onto that i think,all is great with me am loving it so much so i keep stopping 7days here 4days there and have not got two Newfoundland yet,tomorrow i may get to the boat or i may not......what the heck that takes me there.
 
All started back in Halifax when the van arrived....customs and border guys were great i did not have to pay a bond on the vehicle(smooth talker me) i even got them out of the office in downtown Halifax for a photo,we cant do that(come on i said i wont tell anyone) once clear of Halifax i headed towards New Brunswick and Prince Edward island and along the 12km 8miles CONFEDERATION BRIDGE over the sea,WOW,WOW i spent 7/8 days there working on a house 3days welding about trailer(paying job) i left the island by ferry at woods island to Caribou Nova Scotia,then onto Cape Breton Island and the cape Breton highlands national park,WOW,WOW,WOW,WOW,WOW its a big version of Scotland,no deer but the moose tastes good,very body stops and talks to me and wants to look at my MR BEAN car as they call it,I've been living of lobster and crab (its a tuff live on the road) had about 10 days of rain at the start,the sun has been with me for the last 7days but looks like rain for N.F.LAND,suntan is coming on OK all over.
 
Looking forward to N.F.LAND and a visit to a camp site there that was given to me back in Halifax by CHRIS at the customs place,well what are friends for(its his sister).
 
Will try and keep contact by text.........lost the signal on cape Breton for 5days it may be the same on N.F.LAND but more so when i go to LABRADOR its a lot more north.
 
AM MISSING YOU ALL,no I'm not.....well a little bit..........
 
P.S had the BANJO out......it seems to keep the BEARS AWAY.
 
LOTS OF SLOPPY STUFF TO YOU ALL......till next time........DIDDY,DAVE, DAD,and GRANDAD.