Welcome to FrankenMini Racing

The following is a blog by Paul Monaghan aka paulmon to highlight work in preparing a 1967 tube frame Mini Countryman (aka Estate) for SOLO2 competition in Ontario, Canada. Look here for more information on the car, you can check out my upcoming event list and don't forget the Photo Gallery. For additional information contact me.

Picked up a gauge to replace the leaking Longacre junk. Since it was the gauge itself leaking it was about all I could do. I went ahead and ordered the mechanical Autometer Ultra-Lite silver faced 2-1/16" gauge, should have bought this the first time around. I'll replace the others slowly if/when they fail.

Paint, going with a revised colour scheme, which I guess means I need a new illustration logo for the site. Going with new MINI Chili Red on the roof, aka MINI paint code 831 and keeping the flat black on the body. I'm considering a set of viper stripes across the car in alternating black/red/black. My brother in law is working on some mock-ups for me. I'll be heading over to BBR aka Breadbox Racing on Wedneday to sand and primer the roof. Also going to do the second coat of the roll cage as I did miss a few spots. With any luck, and weather willing, I might actually drive the car on Wednesday. Stopped by CSC Racing for the CASC-OR open house. Picked up some racing shoes and gloves. FrankenMini has VERY close pedals and vibrates like hell, hence the gloves.

Word is the oil leak is the actual oil pressure gauge itself and not just the fitting. Argh! I'm going to order a Autometer Ultra-Lite gauge to replace it, something I should have done from the start. Headed over the Push it to the Limit autocross open house today to register for the season. That's now out of the way. Taking Wednesday off to do more work on the car. If I'm lucky we'll start it and drive it. Getting close!

Ok, so I didn't get to drive it today, we did get it to run. He sounds strong, loud enough to get the guys from the neighbouring company to come over and take a look. (He's the guy with the hardhat in the video). Video of the engine running can be found here. The engine wouldn't idle, we suspect the timing is off. Problem is we couldn't turn the distributor because it was interfering with the carb. This is because we removed the carb spacer to make room for the intake (yes things are THIS tight). No worries will pick up the stock 1/4 spacer and we should be in business. Also have a small oil leak which seems to be coming from the gauges, those damn Longacre gagues! With all luck we should have our first drive in a few days. I managed to get the roll cage sanded and painted. It needs another coat (I missed a few places) but at least it is done. So a slight delay, but we're making progress. The steering wheel was finally welded in its final position. The wheel turns pretty good, not too hard, might get that 3.14 ratio after all.

I created a new gallery to better track the latest pictures. Newest pictures can be found in the "newest pictures" gallery.

Update: Added video to You Tube so I could embed it here:

Word today was that the engine has been started and the alignment is partially done. I'm going to be stopping off at Pro Racing Fuels and picking up their Mark 2 110 Octane unleaded (oxygenated) race fuel. Trying to free a day off work next week to get out to Hamilton and paint the roll cage and install the roll cage padding.

Just received an email from Paul at Breadbox Racing, he managed to get the oil pickup tube to fit and the oil pan is back on. This bodes well for a start attempt this Saturday. As for a couple of other updates. I've ordered another can of Zero Rust from Zero Rust Canada. This will be to paint the roll cage. I'll be ordering some red roll cage padding from Bicknell Racing, since the harness is red, I figured red roll cage padding would work better, plus the inside of the car needs some colour. I've also roped my brother in-law into doing some mock-up paint/sponsor schemes in PhotoShop, he's a wizard at that stuff while I have trouble drawing a stick man.

I hope the next update will be Saturday evening with a video of the car actually running, and if all is well, driving.