Minis at Hampton Downs, September 3rd, by Chris McMurray.

Sunday 3rd September saw the MG Car Club running a track day on the Club circuit at Hampton Downs, to which a few Minis had also entered. Scrutineering was the previous day in New Lynn, at the premises of an MG specialist. The themes were single car sprints, dual car sprints, both with overtaking and with no overtaking, and driver training.

Our drivers were:- Kevin Taylor    (1275), Lee Norman (1380), Sarron Bennett (1275), Gary Ashton (Cooper 998), Jim Banks (1310), and Craig Luxmoore (Nissan 1600 shoe-horned into a Clubman).

The MG Club had attracted a few other “outsiders” from the Jaguar Drivers’ Club (X-Types, S-Types, a beautiful replica 1958 D-type, plus a newly restored 1964 Mark 2), and the Austin Healey Club, (a Sprite and a 2.8 litre BJ8).

As you’d expect, the MG entries were all fast: MGB’s (some with the V8 conversion, including the yellow Targa one) and modified Midgets, but also a MGC and a 1946 MGTC (not quite so fast). This was going to be a serious speed day. 

The track is pretty new, and from the front straight goes:- 3R opens, into 4L, into 4R opens, into 6R opens (double apex here), into back straight, into 6R tightens over crest, into front straight. Starters were timed, so that drivers of similar speed could be paired as best possible.

Here was a chance to have a real blast, and test one’s skills. Everyone benefited from this, most of all by learning the limits of one’s car, and the consequences of over-driving.  Many drivers got caught out exiting the front straight hairpin, demonstrated by all the cars which finished up backwards there. The curve entering the front straight also proved trickier than it seemed, with an X-type losing control in spectacular fashion, almost finishing up in the pond.

The Minis acquitted themselves honourably, not without spins, but hitting neither walls nor other cars. The drivers gained some valuable practice in the process. There were a couple of mechanical issues in the paddock, which were solved and saw the drivers back out on the track. But this does highlight the value of preparation for speed events, where the engine and the car are under severe stress.

Times were taken over the 3 laps of a sprint, and varied around the 2min 30 area.

Driver training was offered with Racing Ray Williams as instructor. He is just the nicest guy in New Zealand, but, make no mistake, is an extremely experienced Porsche Cup and Targa New Zealand competitor. He also holds several speed records, so if you want to go faster, see Ray.

Given that the hosting club must make a dollar to continue this event, and given that the event is just south of Auckland, more Mini Club members might like to try this track day for some big time fun. 

Very many thanks to Paul and Andrew Walbran, and the other members of the MG Club, who worked hard to make this a marvellous, exciting track day.

​By Kevin Taylor 
Sunday 3rd September 2017

​The MG Car Club invited some British Marque car clubs to take part in a Track day at Hampton Downs on Fathers Day.

MGCC had hired the Club Circuit at Hampton Downs and to assist with track hire costs they invited the Jaguar, Austin Healy and Mini Car Clubs to join them for the day.

It was a cold damp day when we arrived at Hampton Downs and we made our way to the new Club Circuit, which is part of the new extension to the main Hampton Downs track. There was a large pit area for the 50 odd cars that turned up for the day and that number included 6 members of the Mini Club.

The format for the day was designed to encourage car club members to get their cars out on the track. You could take part in either parade laps, which was basically follow the leader laps following a pace car, or driver training laps where an experienced race driver (Racing Ray Williams amongst others) would be passenger in your car and explain the lines and braking points to be used on the circuit. 

There were also sessions where you could go as fast as you like with no overtaking permitted, or as fast as you like with overtaking- but as the cars were set off at 10 second intervals with fastest car leaving first, very little overtaking happened.

The last category was for Dual sprints where 2 cars started side by side in the pit exit and raced for 4 laps. This was for experienced drivers and required a MSNZ Clubsport licence - Lee was the only Mini to enter this.

There were timed practice runs and these times were used to arrange the start order for your runs.

After drivers briefing the runs were started and each category was sent out in groups of 5 or 6 cars to do 4 laps and then return to the pits. This went on all day and if you had entered several categories (like Lee did) you got to do a good number of laps and work out the fastest way around the circuit.

It was good to see the variety of cars on the track ranging from a beautiful D Type Jag replica to several very fast MGBGT V8s. A former Mini club member and Mini Cooper racer Russell Ness was there in his Mk2 Jag and it was good to see him on the track being chased by Lee in the Mini. I think Russell would have been much faster in his Cooper S.

The day didn't start out too well for Sarron Bennett as his battery failed when he arrived and he had to set off to Huntly to get a new one fitted. I had brake problems in MINTED but was able to fix that with Lee's help and get back on track, and Craig Luxmore was going really quick but was back on the trailer early with a trail of oil dripping from his Nissan engined Clubman.

Lee, Gary Ashton & Jim Banks just kept going all day.

Although this wasn't a race meeting times were recorded, I can't vouch for the accuracy of the official timing but I noted the following down from the MG website :

Lee Norman - Minibitz 1275 - 2m 21.7s (4 laps from standing start)
Craig Luxmore -  Clubman racecar Nissan 1600 - 2m 22s
KevT - MINTED 1100 - 2m 26.5s
Gary Ashton - Mini Cooper 998 - 2m 27.1s
Jim Banks - Clubman GT 1430 8 port - 2m 36s
Sarron Bennett - Mini Cooper 1275 - 2m 43.9s

A great day was had by all and I'm told that MGCC have booked the track for next year on the weekend after Fathers Day.

By Kevin Taylor

What a nice Father’s Day celebration!  10 beautifully presented Minis lined up at Motions Road for the 8.30 a.m. Parade of Cars into MOTAT.

This year we had pride of place at the entrance and plenty of room.
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A fine array of cars with Sportspacs well represented and several perfect Concourse cars.

We shared the show with American Muscle, Jaguars, Mustangs, Ferraris, Austins and a very popular Tesla presence.

A very well attended day with very good interest in the Minis.  The rain held off and we all rugged up in the cold southerly.

Richard Atkins
92 Mini 

by Zak Gould.

The Vintage car club invited Auckland Minis to join their Daffodil Rally, leaving Caffeine and Classics and ending up in Warkworth, with all proceeds going to The Cancer Society.

The invitation was also open to all at Caffeine and Classics, so there was a mixture of all sorts.

We left on time with Richard Underwood leading, then Aidan Robson , with me in tow - earlier on a few more minis from the club had already left.

Unfortunately just leaving Smales Farm, I heard an unimpressive noise coming from my right front wheel (stone guard rubbing on disk).  To Aidan's despair this was totally unacceptable due to the fact it was louder than his exhaust and that was not on!  (It must have been loud). After several finger gestures at the lights it was suggested that I pull over and fix it (which of course I didn't)! Luckily a few kms later along Beach Road, it fixed itself!  Yes! ... (note: a very rare thing within a Mini’s nature) ... and yes I still haven't attended to it yet :/) 

Following up the East Coast Bays it was like the two minis up front were warming their tyres up for a track day race, raring to go at the drop of a flag. Unfortunately not, as not too far up front was a wee vintage yellow car going the same pace as a horse and cart! Lucky for everyone he had to pull over for an overheating issue a little further on.  Nothing unusual the owner informed us, so it we continued on our way.

The roads were better through Albany and heading towards Waitoki, so the gas pedal went down. 

Soon I could hear a noise from behind - within seconds an Aston Martin came past making me look like I was going backwards! Buggar! ...but hell it sounded great! Mustangs followed but not the same effect.  It didn't take long until Richard and Aidan got passed by the same monsters.

After we had found our pecking order off we went again, with some nice twisty roads while the weather held at bay.  We then met up with everyone at the Warkworth Wharf for a chin wag and a bite to eat .

All in all, a good day and a great cause.

The rally made $1940 for the Cancer Society

​By Tony Maulder

On 30th April 16 Minis turned up at a wet Caffeine and Classics show at Smales Farm. At 11.15, 13 of these Minis left on our follow the leader drive to Riverhead, just as the weather cleared up. Among our group was a new Cooper S JCW, an orange MK I Mini van, a few more orange Minis (including Kerry’s new purchase), a replica works rally Cooper, a pork pie decked out Mini, and a few Rover Coopers, all following Tony’s BMW Cooper S.


The Minis ended up a bit split up on the way up the Northern Motorway to the BP service centre at Dairy Flat. All the Minis gathered here, with some taking on some petrol. (Thirsty work ahead eh?).

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When we left the service centre to go up the motorway further to the Wainui motorway exit, the rain had moved on and the roads were dry. Just past the Wainui School we turned left on to Whitehills Road for a quick run along a good Mini road. At the end of this we stopped at the Dairy Flat Bakery for the Mini “travellers” to get pies.

We went on from here to the top of the Albany Hill to see Alan Sutton’s Mini creations. Vehicles made with a few Mini body parts, Trucks, wide Mini Ute and a long nosed V6 Mini. The Muries’ convertible felt at home here!  Onwards the Mini convoy went to the very twisty Ridge Road to have a photo shoot in a little cul-de-sac, which was unfortunately filled by a logging truck. But the stop was good for yet another natter.

More lock to lock twisty road and we came out of Ridge road for a short drive to the old historic Riverhead Tavern. We were going to have a car show on their grass lawn but the wet weather overnight stopped that and the hotel staff parked us on the sealed carpark right outside the front door. Ray, enjoying himself so much driving the rally car, he said his goodbyes and carried on driving.

So after a 70km drive taking about an hour and a half, with stops on the way, we were ready for a feed.

Inside tables were set up in the sun for the 16 of us hungry folks, and our lovely meals were served very quickly. Sitting in the sun left to right in the photo- the Murie’s, Aidan, Grant, Brian, (JCW owner), the Crowleys, M Shute, Zac, Pork pie Andrew, Sarron, Kerry, Steve, and Tony’s empty seat.
We talked and ate while live music played in the background. Fed, watered and entertained, we dispersed at about 2pm.