PitPit && PaddockPaddock Official Newsletter of the Mini Seven Racing Club 2020 2020 2020:2020: IssueIssue 11 www.mini7.co.uk DUNLOPDUNLOP MINIMINI CHALLENGECHALLENGE Mini Se7en: Ever present supported by MINI SPARES STOPSTOP PRESSPRESS !! Coronavirus halts all UK motorsport When will ?? LetLet thethe funfun begin--beginpackedpacked MiniMini racingracing It’sIt’s allall gogo forfor thethe 55th55th seasonseason ofof actionaction Mini S-Class: Grids on the up Mini Miglia: Powered up Brands 0-Plate Report ● Se7en: Smith sweeps up ● Miglia: Peacock’s prize ● S-Class: O’Brien on top ● Libre: Harvey’s haul Preview of Silverstone 2020 Winter Challenge opener Latest news Technical updates Awards evening From the Archives Seasonal Silverstone Mini Libre: Invitation class set to expand 1 Pit & Paddock 2020: Issue 1 SPONSORS HORSES FOR COURSES ISSUE #1 n times of trouble and strife the might of F1 and its associated there are those that carry on ‘riches’ have been able to prevent CONTENTS regardless come what may, the cancellation of the Australian I 3 Intro / Contacts and there are some who are GP, or indeed assure race fans Title sponsor of the Mini Se7en & prone to giving up at the slightest that the remaining fixtures in the 4 Preview: Silverstone Mini Miglia Challenge - all cars run bit of hardship. As I write, the 2020 season will even occur. on regulation Dunlop racing tyres planet is in a state of limbo as Therefore, based on a spiral-down 0-Plate Winter Challenge COVID-19, or Coronavirus, gradu- logic, what does this mean for Rds 1 + 2 + 3 www.dunloptyres.com ally undermines the way we live club racing and the M7RC calen- 7 2020 Calendar and go about our business, so to dar? Well, early feedback from speak. With the World Health Motorsport UK suggested that 8 News Organisation (WHO) having rated wholesale cancellation of club * Coronavirus latest! * p14 the current global outbreak a events would be less likely, per- pandemic, ‘merchants of doom’ haps because spectator numbers 16 Annual Awards are no doubt lining up to remind will not be anywhere near those us all of our mortality, and stu- of a packed international event 20 Report: Brands Hatch dents of theology will quote the like a Grand Prix, and thus the The 0-Plate Trophy 2019 impending arrival of The Four percentages of the virus being Horsemen of the Apocalypse transmitted are lower. And to be 23 Statistics: whom, if you don’t know, are realistic, there should be copious 2019 Points Standings Title co-sponsor of the Mini Se7en named Death, Famine, War and standing room at a Winter club- Pestilence (or Conquest). Actually, bie! However, as from Tuesday 17 25 About the M7RC & Mini Miglia Challenge - a leading Mini aftermarket specialist they sound like a naff heavy metal March, all motorsport in the UK 26 From the Archives band - personally, John, Paul, has been suspended until at least www.minispares.com George and Ringo, collectively the end of April, which might Silverstone Winters: known as The Beatles, would be seem bleak. But, 20 Years Ago - 2000 more appealing as an historic life will carry on, 40 Years Ago - 1980 4-piece resurrection! Seriously and it only though, the threat of Coronavirus needs two hors- 32 Roll of Honour: The Champions has already begun to have a major es to make a effect on sporting events, and in race... 35 Know Your Rivals the world of motorsport not even RW Sponsor of the ‘Spax Spectaculer’ Improver Awards - for most places made up by a Mini Se7en driver in the race from their grid position CONTACTS www.spaxperformance.com EDITOR TREASURER Richard Williamson Jeffrey Parish e: [email protected] e: [email protected] Sponsor of the Fastest Lap awards REPORTERS DRIVERS REPS Roy Sisley, contributors invited... Mark Sims (Miglia) www.pipercams.co.uk PHOTOS e: [email protected] Matt Barrington (mbracephotography.co.uk) Darren Thomas (Se7en) e: [email protected] e: [email protected] Pete Waller, Kathryn Robinson Ben Butler (S-Class) e: [email protected] WEBSITE / SOCIAL MEDIA Phil Harvey (Libre) Sponsor of the Race Trophy awards Stephen Colbran e: [email protected] www.curleyuk.com e: [email protected] TECHNICAL SUB-COMMITTEE REPS CHAIRMAN Phil Harvey Nick Cooke e: [email protected] e: [email protected] Mark Wanstall COMMERCIAL MANAGER e: [email protected] Colin Peacock TECHNICAL SCRUTINEERS e: [email protected] Steve Wood COMPETITION MANAGER / MERCHANDISE e: [email protected] Mike Jackson Julian Affleck e: [email protected] e: [email protected] MEMBERSHIP CLUB SAFEGUARDING OFFICER Barry Payne Amanda Proctor e: [email protected] e: [email protected] 3 Pit & Paddock 2020: Issue 1 PREVIEW:PREVIEW: Silverstone...Silverstone... ...PREVIEW:...PREVIEW: SilverstoneSilverstone 00--PlatePlate WinterWinter ChallengeChallenge RdsRds 1+2+31+2+3 2121--2222 March...March... ......00--PlatePlate WinterWinter ChallengeChallenge RdsRds 1+2+31+2+3 2121--2222 MarchMarch Miglia POSTPONEDPOSTPONED !! Lap Record Tony Le May Time: 1:08.137 Ave speed: 86.60 mph THE MUCH ANTICIPATED 2020 MINI SEVEN RACING CLUB SEASON Set: 7 April-mile 2007 KICKS OFF ON THE SILVERSTONE ‘CLUB’ CIRCUIT WITH A BUSY 3- 1.639 National circuit ROUND OPENER FOR THE ‘0-PLATE’ WINTER CHALLENGE, A 6-RACE SERIES WHICH CONCLUDES IN NOVEMBER AT BRANDS HATCH... Miglia Winter title winner is Jonathan alternative to Miglia, and has seen WINTER MIGLIA Lewis, 21 years ago in 1999! Kane increasing entries as drivers opt for n a year which sees the 1.3-litre Astin, Rupert Deeth and Sam Sum- traditional 5-port examples ranging Miglias marking their 50th Anni- merhayes should be strong contend- from 1293cc upwards, or going for I versary, a competitive line-up is ers too, while in between developing more ‘exotic’ 16-valve heads or 7- promised for the re-titled Winter high-tech electronic systems for and 8-port variations. With its own Challenge, which now incorporates Grand Prix teams, Gordon Pocock has scoring structure, top prize is the ST the coveted ‘0-Plate’ award across all been racing in the formula on and off Trophy, originally donated to the six of the scheduled rounds that for the best part of four decades ● M7RC by BMC’s Special Tuning de- bookend the 15-round National Chal- partment back in the late 1960s. Phil lenge. Heading the entry is 2019 Harvey has won the past two Nation- Miglia Winter champion, Colin Pea- WINTER LIBRE al titles and also the inaugural Winter cock in his Bill Sollis-run car and num- oing into its fourth season, trophy in 2019. Confirmed entries bered #0 after triumphing at Brands the semi-invitational ‘Free include Dan Lewis who will be hoping last November, while another former G Formula’ offers an A-Series to expand on his brief class debut at Thruxton last season, and former Se7en Winter titleist Andrew Deviny (2000) who, having won the opening round at the corresponding meeting here last season, is converting his normally 1-litre machine for the weekend ● Mini Libre Lap Record PREVIOUS WINNERS: Phil Harvey National Circuit Time: 1:09.647 2019 Colin Peacock / Joe Thompson Ave speed: 84.79 mph 2013 Peter Baldwin x2 Set: 30 March 2019 2007 Andy Hack 1.639-mile National circuit 2005 Sarah Munns 2004 Peter Baldwin x2 / PREVIOUS CLASS WINNERS: Max Hunter National Circuit 2003 Bill Sollis / Martin Wager 2019 Phil Harvey / - Photos: M7RC Archive (M Barrington) Archive M7RC Photos: 2001 Rob Cullum / Kelly Rogers 2019 Phil Harvey / - 4 Pit & Paddock 2020: Issue 1 ...PREVIEW:...PREVIEW: SilverstoneSilverstone ......00--PlatePlate WinterWinter ChallengeChallenge RdsRds 1+2+31+2+3 2121--2222 MarchMarch …FOUR CLASSES WILL DO BATTLE AROUND THE CLASSIC NATIONAL LAYOUT, FEATURING THE LEGENDARY COPSE CORNER, MAGGOTS CURVE, THE SWITCHBACK BECKETTS, THE DECEPTIVELY QUICK CLUB STRAIGHT AND THE CHALLENGING BROOKLANDS-LUFFIELD SECTION Se7en Lap Record POSTPONED ! POSTPONED Andrew! Deviny Time: 1:14.398 Ave speed: 79.30 mph Set: 22 March 2003 1.639-mile National circuit law and renowned A-Series expert, WINTER SE7EN WINTER S-CLASS Paul Inch. In what is an encouragingly mong the 1-litre Se7ens irst introduced in 2006, the strong entry, Jonnie Kent, Stuart which have been going four budget-tuning feeder category Gilby and Mark Chappell all have a A years longer than the Miglias, F to Mini Se7en enters its second couple of seasons under their belts in at #1 former BTCC racer Jeff Smith year as a fully stand-alone class grid- the class, while Matthew Ayres will be out to defend his Winter ded behind the main Se7en pack. makes his racing debut. A further crown in addition to the National With 2018 & 2019 Champion Scott incentive for young hopefuls looking title he claimed last season too, but Kendall moving up to Miglias, Connor to get on the motor racing ladder is will have the likes of double National O’Brien must start as favourite hav- the Graham Hill Memorial Trophy, re champ’ Max Hunter and proven race ing won the Winter S-Class title last -introduced in 2018 after a gap of winner Darren Thomas to contend season, while Greg Daw is a former over three decades, and now re- with. Others lining up looking to Mighty Mini champion who has ac- warding the leading Under-17 driver racking up some decent points be- quired the successful Kendall car, in the category ● fore the November leg include last tuned incidentally by his father-in- season’s Novice standout, Glen Woodbridge, lady racer Jo Polley (Jeff Smith’s other half), Arnold Duncan in the ‘works’ KAD-tuned car,