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Flatwater Newsletter Archive
1998 to 2002

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HMN "A" and "M" sections listed several "Mini" parts suppliers. I ordered catalogs from two: Mini Mania (California) and Mini City LTD. (New York). The Mini Mania monthly flier had a page headed "Friends of Mini Mania." It lists 14 sources for parts, service and advice to include Huffaker Racing, Fortech, and Speedwell Engineering. I know from racing experience that Comptune of Ohio (Dave Tabor) builds one heck of an engine. "The Real Thing" book lists many parts sources in England. I'll check these if needs arise. I found general sources on the Internet but they mostly contained club information and some had not been updated for over a year. Mini Mania has an active web site. Tipler's book lists five Mini clubs/originations in the USA. I sent letters to all five requesting a copy of their most recent publication and information on joining. The SCCA-GT5 racers' group puts out a monthly newsletter. As about a third of the 150 members are associated with Mini racing, I sent my $10 for a one-year subscription. My thought was, these guys must surely have accumulated an abundance of parts as they like to remove most original suspension components from their race cars.

Also, there must be a lot of technical expertise to help solve any problems I might encounter!

My next challenge was to construct a cradle/rotary device to place the car body on so I could get the Mini off the trailer! I had seen cradles used at Orion engineering (Jack Beck) in Papillion, NE in the restoration and car fabrication processes. They seem an ideal way to move the body around with both the front and rear suspension removed. The cradle would make ;rust repair and working on and replacing the front suspension a much simpler task! Using Jack's basic design and ideas from HMN I bought two motor stands ($80), 1.5² and 1.25² square tubing ($100), and four swivel wheels ($56). Twenty-five hours later (that included numerous hours of chop saw and welding time), the cradle was ready for the big test!

I sat on the middle brace and timidly lifted my feet off the ground. The cats did run for cover, but I'm still here to write so all must have ended well.

Luckily, no one was around at that moment to test the rotational aspects. Now all I need is five brave souls to help me relocate the body from the sled/skid to the cradle. Oh well! Where are your kids when you really need them?

Final note: The significant other has never seen the Fortech of Huffaker Minis in Competition at an SCCA national race. A lack of appreciation for a Mini Cooper can be understood from someone without the proper life experiences.

CONGRATULATIONS JOHN, ANY ONE WANT AN MGBGT?

John Ulrich just bought a shiny new 1969 MGBGT. It is BRG with a black interior, and will soon be getting a Rover V8 to finish it off. (It has something to do with snot nosed kids in Civics and Neons with lead feet. This means his Œ71 GT is now for sale. It is a good car mechanically, except for the brakes needing bleeding, but is in need of a bit of work on the rockers. $1000 to a club member, $1500 to all others.

George Butterfield

For those of you in the Midwest area I'm sorry to be passing on the news of George Butterfield's death. George died on the 4th of Oct. and I know he will be missed by all the KCMGCC members.