14 replies to this topic

[Martin]

I built this car in 68(or 69) to compete in the stock car class on the big commercial tracks.

There was some epic David and Goliath battles. While the big stock cars were waging there tails this little Mini scooted by. It got many wins. 

The restoration was done a few years ago and I cannot believe I almost through the body in the trash it was so beat up.

I kept looking for a replacement body, but could not find this model. It is a Mini Sprint. Notice the chopped top, fat flares and rectangular headlights.

I found out later there was a small company, Steward & Ardern that was modifying 1/1 Minis, and this is a Lancer  1/24 model of that car.

It still has many scars inflicted while battling out of its weight class but I mange to piece it back together and is now one of my favorite childhood race cars. The hand lettering was done back in the day, as was the hand,brush painted body. Good old Humbrol enamels, metallic blue, my racing color.

Remember I was around 14 or 15 at the time, a kid with a Weller and some squared paper and an eye on American trends. The chassis is as raced and was only cleaned, with no repairs needed.

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[Lou E]

Very cool!!

[Bill from NH]

Very nice Martin ! This car looks like it was just built yesterday. 

[Pablo]

I love Minis. Bad to the Bone SANO!     

[Bugeye]

Very rad! Well done.

[Larry Horner]

Lovely car and an angle winder to boot ... nicely done Martin. I personally love Minis so much I've owned two (but sadly, not an original).

[Phil Smith]

That's incredibly nice work, especially for a 14-15 year old!

[Martin]

Thanks guys, I actually had dreams of building this body and car in full scale, even bought an original mini and had an extra shell given to me by Joe Huffaker.  But it never happened, so I sold it all for cash. Stick to 1/24 it takes up way less room.

 

Notice the single rail design that goes all the way across the axle tubes. Love the strength of this design. I used this feature in other chassis too. As I remember It took many attempts to get it right.

[Martin]

Phil, I still find it amazing what we were doing at that age, a special time pre motorcycles and pre girls. Total focus on building the fastest and best looking slot cars.

I have all of my race cars. One trip back home my son found a wooden box under a work bench with all the failures and do overs and chassis that never made the cut.

[Martin]

I had to dig deep, but I re-found the old wooden box with rejects and scrap in it. A trip down memory lane for me

Please let me know if anybody is interested?

[Bill from NH]

I would like to see what you have hidden away in your box of rejects. Some on here may have suggestions on how to make some of them runners. I lost a few chassis pf my own along the way during house moves, but I wasn't in the habit of disassembling something so I could reuse parts for a new build.

[Martin]

Thanks for the interest Bill, this is what we unearthed at the house I grew up in.

 

 

[Pablo]

     

[Bill from NH]

Martin, I see several small pieces of wire & rod I wouldn't keep, but I'd hang onto the partial center sections & the Dynamic pieces. You could build a couple right-side gear chassis, if they were needed, That far right center section at the bottom looks unusual & interesting. Do you recall if it ever had pans on it? Is this collection all your builds or does some of it have some sentimental value to you? If the later, keep it all.

[Martin]

The center section at the lower right was never finished, so no it never had pans. It fits a 26D of some kind.

 

The center section at the left,fits a 16D and was never finished either, not sure why.

It maybe that this chassis superseded it. My best chassis, which I have shown before.

Notice my hand full of builds had the frame wires running full length across the axle tube, front and rear.

Sure is strong. It is tricky to do, and you can see a couple of rejects in the box that were saved, just in case.

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