| 2 yrs in the Scottish Mini Cooper Championship By John Cleland Having spent 35 yrs in Motorsport,the last 15 of which were paid for by someone else,it was a bit of a culture shock to find myself paying yet again for motorsport. This came about through my youngest son Jamie wanting to “follow in his fathers footsteps” and go circuit racing. We looked around and found the best Championship available in Scotland was going to be the Mini Cooper Championship and as it turned out,also one of the most competitive in the UK. So we first bought a prepared car which turned out to be the ex Andrew Smith Ecurie Ecosse Mini and set about fitting the latest Leda suspension and a general tidy up before the season started. During our first year in 2005 we visited 5 race tracks and 2 hillclimbs giving a total of 16 events,including the trip to Kirkiston in Northern Ireland where the hospitality is second to none and the travel and testing is heavily subsidised. In 2006 we visited 6 race tracks and did 17 races,due to the double races at each round and a two driver long distance race at Knockhill. Before the start ot 2006 we had a control damper and spring produced by Leda and this added a wee bit more money,but cured all the dubious dampers that were running during 2005 and gave a much more even “playing field” to the extent that by mid season any one of 6 or 7 drivers could win a race. We painted our car away from the dodgey colour that Hugh McCaig painted it when he owned it and this added about £900 to the running costs. The two seasons have been invaluable in teaching Jamie about close and competitive racing,something he could not have learned in any other formula available in Scotland today.This knowledge and experience gained ,has allowed us to step up for 2007 into the TOCA package using a new Renault Clio and a championship which will be very reminisant of the Minis for close and competitive racing. Most of the spares required can be sourced through Ebay and you have the benefit of racing a current model car still available to buy brand new today,not some relic from the past. The cost of getting through 2 years of Mini racing is outlined below,but has not turned out to be anywhere near as expensive as most of the alternatives and a lot more fun !!! Initial cost of car - Secret !! Entries/testing - £5115 Paint/Damage - £875 36 Tyres - £2904 (used tyres are sold to Hot Hatch guys for £50 each) Suspension repairs - £225 (after new suspension bought to conform to 2006 regs) Brakes /Drive shafts - £750 Incidentals - £750(mouldings/radiator cowls/front bumpers) Fuel - £600(includes tow car and race car) Accomodation - £500 Drink/Food - Secret Total - £11719 = £5860 per annum or £112 per week or £355 per race. Cost to buy this car today with enough spare wheels/tyres/body panels and other spares to complete another season would be £9950. 2009 Championship will be cheaper to compete in due to not having so many away races,thus saving on lots of fuel/accommodation and testing costs. With more home races in 2009 there is a good possibility of all the 24 cars available in Scotland today reappearing and creating yet another fantastic championship. |
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