There is no doubt about it: the Mini was, and still is, a force to be reckoned with in motorsport. One event that made it famous was the Monte Carlo Rally, and none more so than in 1967, when our own Paddy Hopkirk took the chequered flag in a works Mini. While I always knew that works cars were well and truly modified versions of the original standard cars, it was not until I read this book, Anatomy of the Works Minis, that I realised the work that went into taking a production car and turning it into a works rally weapon. This is not a workshop manual, or indeed a guide on how to build a Mini rally or racing car, but a step-by-step description of how the motorsport wing of BMC carried out the task.
Anatomy of the Works Minis is written by “one of their own”, Brian Moylan, who worked in the BMC competition department at Abingdon for 22 years, and in the book he works through the job sheet for the full build of a works Mini. The transformation starts with a standard Mini being delivered to the BMC competitions department in Abingdon from the Austin factory at Longbridge. The car was then handed over to a fitter with a ten-page job sheet listing every change that had to be made to the car. One such job sheet, for a car taking part in the German Rally, is printed in the book and makes very interesting reading.
Over the twelve chapters Brian explains many of the changes, and the reasons for the actual changes, as well as a funny story or two thrown in along the way. While obviously many of the changes, especially to the engine, were to gain competitiveness, so many of them were done to increase reliability – simple things like adding skids in certain underfloor areas to deflect stones and rocks, to a foot-button for the navigator to operate the horn. Ferodo made a special brake lining to help with brake fade – once the lining had faded once it would not do so again – so part of a fitter’s job was to bring the Mini out for a good fast spin to bring it to the point of brake fade, so that it wouldn’t be experienced in competition. Another job of the fitter was to put up 300 test miles on the car in his own time, outside of work hours, and to do this they were allowed to bring the car home with them and do as they pleased once the 300 miles were clocked up. The 96 pages are full of some great period photos of the builds too, including some of the famous drivers with the cars such as Paddy Hopkirk and Tony Fall. Review by Tom Heavey
You don’t have to own a Mini, or even have a specific interest in the Mini, to enjoy this book as it’s great reading for any car enthusiast, and I have to say that I truly enjoyed it. The book is published by Veloce Books, and can be purchased for €25.99 (including delivery) from the online bookstore on our website at www.irishvintagescene.ie or by calling us on 091 388805.