PitPit && PaddockPaddock Official Newsletter of the Mini Seven Racing Club 2020 2020 2020:2020: IssueIssue 22 www.mini7.co.uk Mini Miglia: DUNLOPDUNLOP MINIMINI CHALLENGECHALLENGE 50 years young supported by MINI SPARES ALLALL ININ GOODGOOD TIMETIME HOPESHOPES HIGHHIGH FORFOR RETURNRETURN TOTO RACINGRACING ININ VIRUSVIRUS--HITHIT LANDMARKLANDMARK MINIMINI SEASONSEASON Mini Se7en: Time machine CLASS OF 2020 ● Se7en: Senior service ● Miglia: Power points ● S-Class: Stepping stones ● Libre: Open for business *Coronavirus latest!* Club news More Calendar options cars for Runners & riders MiniMini From the Archives LibreLibre A to Z of drivers Croft in days gone by Mini S-Class: Biggest grids expected 1 Pit & Paddock 2020: Issue 2 SPONSORS WORTH THE WAIT ISSUE #2 eing stuck indoors and part to deal with, and the best we unable to go where one can do for now is to collectively CONTENTS would normally choose to support each other as best we B 3 Intro / Contacts has certainly focused the mind on can. Every day we are seeing our Title sponsor of the Mini Se7en & Mini Miglia Challenge - all cars run not taking things for granted. For worlds shrinking to the medium of 4 Preview on regulation Dunlop racing tyres example, a trip to Silverstone in face-to-face communication via March had perhaps become one laptops and mobile phones, even Croft *Postponed* www.dunloptyres.com of those ‘maybes’ for spectating for top-level news reporting such National Rds 1 + 2 as opposed to Brands or Combe is the need for social distancing. 7 2020 Calendar later in the year which would Hats off then to Stephen Colbran usually be earmarked as ‘definite’. and Leon Oli Window for collec- 8 News *Coronavirus latest!* p12 However, in the current ongoing tively putting together the recent COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ which may online ‘Quiz Nights’ via the Club’s 14 Chairman’s Chat carry on for longer than we envis- facebook page, which have helped age, the chance to go to any keep a sense of involvement in 16 Feature sporting venue would be an abso- this season for members and Mini A to Z of Drivers... lute treat, and the lack of live racing fans while race cars remain sporting coverage even on TV has static in garages. Both put aside 19 Statistics only made that void feel even their own personal commitments 2019 Points Standings Title co-sponsor of the Mini Se7en & Mini Miglia Challenge - a leading bigger than it would normally. to spend time in their own However, the temporary cessa- ‘isolated’ workshops to offer an 21 About the M7RC Mini aftermarket specialist tion of motor racing and indeed entertaining mix of racing and 22 From the Archives www.minispares.com any sporting or social pastime general Mini-related questions, all Croft: pales into significance when it answerable with some reference comes to the personal sacrifices to Club/Mini history. Now that’s a 20 Years Ago - 2000 many people are having to make good way to fill 45 Years Ago - 1975 in this time of trouble, and it be- your time until 29 Roll of Honour comes even less important as the racing resumes, The Champions number of lives lost to this merci- and it won’t less pandemic grows each day. It matter at which 31 Know Your Rivals Sponsor of the ‘Spax Spectaculer’ is perhaps the uncertainty of all circuit either... Names & Numbers Improver Awards - for most places our futures that is the hardest RW made up by a Mini Se7en driver in the race from their grid position www.spaxperformance.com CONTACTS EDITOR TREASURER Richard Williamson Jeffrey Parish Sponsor of the Fastest Lap awards e: [email protected] e: [email protected] www.pipercams.co.uk REPORTERS DRIVERS REPS Roy Sisley, contributors invited... Mark Sims (Miglia) 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) Sponsor of the Race Trophy awards e: [email protected] WEBSITE / SOCIAL MEDIA Phil Harvey (Libre) www.curleyuk.com Stephen Colbran e: [email protected] 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] The views expressed in this news- Mike Jackson Julian Affleck letter are those of the contribu- e: [email protected] e: [email protected] tors and are not necessarily the MEMBERSHIP CLUB SAFEGUARDING OFFICER same as those of the Editor, the Amanda Proctor Committee or of the Mini Seven Barry Payne Racing Club as a whole ● e: [email protected] e: [email protected] Cover photos: M7RC Archive (M Magee + M Jackson) + Magee (M Archive M7RC photos: Cover 3 Pit & Paddock 2020: Issue 2 PREVIEW:PREVIEW: CROFT...CROFT... ...PREVIEW:...PREVIEW: CROFTCROFT NATIONALNATIONAL ROUNDSROUNDS 1+21+2 2525--2626 APRIL...APRIL... ...NATIONAL...NATIONAL ROUNDSROUNDS 1+21+2 2525--2626 APRILAPRIL POSTPONED ! Miglia POSTPONED ! Lap Record Joe Thompson Time: 1:33.326 Ave speed: 81.97 mph NOW UNDER THE ORGANISATION OF THE DARLINGTON & DISTRICT Set: 14 April-mile 2019 MOTOR CLUB, AS IN 2019 THE NATIONAL CHALLENGE OPENS UP AT 2.125 full circuit THE NORTH YORKSHIRE VENUE, ROUNDS 1 AND 2 IN THE SCHED- ULED 15-ROUND CALENDAR... the Club way back in the mid-1970s third, while 2015 champion Kane NATIONAL MIGLIA and was originally won by the late Astin has come close to securing his NATIONAL LIBRE he top-tier performance Mini British driver for winning the 1957 second since then. Colin Peacock’s eigning title holder, Phil Har- racing formula enters a land- Venezuelan GP - back then a World 2019 Winter title could give him the vey may have hinted at retire- T mark 50th Anniversary season Championship sportscar race - along- impetus to go one title higher, and R ment from racing in 2019 but with a queue of drivers eager to add side Phil Hill in a Ferrari. will at least head the entry with the his name was still one of the first their name to the rollcall of champi- Aaron Smith is all set for a second #0 he earned for also wrapping up down for 2020. He will no doubt be ons. The award that they are all after season carrying the #1 on his familiar the 0-Plate at Brands last November, persevering with 5-port motion, and - and which some have already had Triple-AAA car, no doubt finished in while other former class champions it has served him well, but the 16- the honour of claiming - is a decent pink. Rupert Deeth has also won the registered for 2020 include Endaf valve challengers may finally have piece of silverware too, The Peter title twice and will be keen to add a Owens, Jonathan Lewis and Martin their day if they can find reliability, Collins Trophy. This was donated to Wager. Similarly, there are several and Steve Baker, Ian Fraser, Justin other Miglia race winners on the list, Cooper and Peter Franks have all including Sam Summerhayes, Joe been out in front. However, last Thomoson, Dave Drew, Tony Le May year’s runner-up, Rob Davis also used and Niven Burge, while Scott Kendall 5-port power so it will be interesting makes the step up in power after two to see the permutations, and don’t seasons as S-Class Champion and, rule out 2017 winner Peter Crewes’ before that, a series winner in 1.3i 7-port example either ● Minis too ● Mini Libre PREVIOUS WINNERS: Lap Record 2019 L Deegan / A Smith 2014 R Deeth / D Wheeler Josh Evans 2012 P Baldwin / K Astin Time: 1:35.465 2011 E Owens x2 Ave speed: 80.13 mph 2009 C Peacock / A Hack Set: 14 April 2019 2008 P Thompson 2.125-mile full circuit 2006 J Hall 2003 B Sollis 2002 C Lewis PREVIOUS CLASS WINNERS: Photos: M7RC Archive (M Barrington) Archive M7RC Photos: Photos: M7RC Archive (M Barrington) Archive M7RC Photos: 2000 P Baldwin 2019 R Davis x2 4 Pit & Paddock 2020: Issue 2 ...PREVIEW:...PREVIEW: CROFTCROFT ...NATIONAL...NATIONAL ROUNDSROUNDS 1+21+2 2525--2626 APRILAPRIL ...BUT AT THE TIME OF WRITING, THE GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS PAN- DEMIC HAS PUT ALL MOTORSPORT ON HOLD, SO IT IS VERY LIKELY EITHER THE DATE OR THE VENUE FOR ANY OPENING DOUBLE- HEADER WILL CHANGE IN DUE COURSE... POSTPONED ! Se7en POSTPONED ! Lap Record Leon Wightman Time: 1:43.056 Ave speed: 74.23 mph Set: 14 April 2019 2.125-mile full circuit and repeat that feat the following the list of proven winners has Darren to Se7ens has arguably opened up a NATIONAL SE7EN season - such as Deviny, Spark, Sims, Thomas, Andrew Deviny, Dom Burg- little, although last season’s runner- espite his debilitating crash a Braggins, Sollis, Tyrrell, Gould, Wen- er and Spencer Wanstall, alongiside up Connor O’Brien will no doubt few seasons ago in top level ham, Fox - or at least keep at it for potential podium regulars including have his sights set on taking over his D tin tops, Jeff Smith came into several seasons to notch up an argu- reigning Novice champ’ Glen Wood- teammate’s mantle. However, there the 1-litre class in 2019 on a mission ably harder second title, such as Max bridge and Leon Oli Window ● is clearly a growing strength-in- to prove that his BTCC credentials Hunter, Paul Thompson, Mike Jack- depth among the chasing pack, and counted for something and that he son.