Quote:
Originally Posted by mab01UK
Ginger Marshall's Mini Clubman Estate leads off the line (Imp engine on a Mini gearbox), this is 1976 it is a Forward Trust up to 1000cc Special Saloon race, the 850cc Imp was on pole but didnt win."
Ginger's brother was the mechanic. They had had 5 special blocks cast which included the block itself and the adaptor to fit the Mini box
http://www.startline.org.uk/slol21/terrapin2.htm |
Marshall & Fraser Racing Team
1960's:-
1965 – Mk VI Kart to Minis
Winter 1964-65 – Mk VI Kart more innovation came in the space frame chassis with unique road holding flexibility built into the design. This kart was sold to fund other activities.
At about this time the team was joined by Ginger's brother-in-law Brian Davies who provided expertise in both aerodynamics and electronics from the aviation industry.
1964 into 1965 – David and Ian co-write a book 'BMC Minis; Maintenance Tuning and Modification’ based on the team's experience of maintaining and tuning their own road cars.
A second book, 'BMC 1100s: Maintenance Tuning and Modification’, is produced late in 1965. Following the success of the books and experience gained on their road cars, the team investigates racing an 850 Mini under the fairly relaxed regulations of the Special Saloon class of races.
1966– Mini tuning and racing begins
1966– an old 850 Mini is purchased (which happens to be British Motor Corporation Surf Blue. This results in it becoming the team colour). This was lightened by fitting aluminium doors, bonnet and boot lid. The engine was mildly tuned and the team's saloon car racing was underway. By taxing and insuring it, the team could experiment and fine-tune the engine and test it on the road.
September 1966 – the Mini is entered into races at Silverstone.
1967– the team enters races at Oulton Park, Brands Hatch, Mallory Park and Silverstone with little success but gaining much driver and team experience.
1968 – the team races at Brands Hatch, Mallory Park, Thruxton, Croft, Cadwell Park, Silverstone and Oulton Park with best results being a couple of second places and a third.
1969– First Championship Win
Winter 1968-69 – a Mini bodyshell was lightened by replacing all of the steel panels of bodywork with aluminium sheet glued and riveted into place. This was fitted with the M&F-tuned 850cc engine and the team pursued a heavy season of racing achieving 13 first places, 3 seconds and one DNF. This resulted in the 850cc class win for the BARC Osram-GEC Special Saloon Championship.
More here:-
http://marshallfraserracing.blogspot.com/p/11960.html
1st 850 Mini
Lightweight Mini 850
1970's:-
1970-1974 – David and Ginger Marshall leave their previous employments to set up the Marshall & Fraser garage business in Aylesbury with Ian Fraser as a sleeping partner.
1975 – the team develops a hybrid lightweight Special Saloon Mini using a Mini Clubman Estate shape plus a 970 Mini Cooper S engine. The unusual use of the estate car body raises comments at first but these soon change to admiration as team wins the Astley Trophy race at Snetterton in September followed by three second places during the season.
1976 – the team competes in 14 Special Saloon races sponsored by Hitachi, Esso and Forward Trust with seven wins and seven second places to their credit and, as a result, win the 1000cc Forward Trust Championship.
Winter 1976-77 – facing increased competition from Hillman Imp engined cars, the team modifies a Hillman Imp cylinder block and head to fit onto a Mini transmission case. A unique crankshaft is manufactured by Gordon Allen.
From September 1977, and entering only five races that year, the team ends with one second place and several non-finishes as the modifications to the engine prove too fragile.
1978 – Fragility combatted; third Championship Win
To combat these weaknesses, the team produce their own cylinder block. This modification proves so reliable that in 1978, while competing in the BRSCC Hitachi Special Saloon Championship plus a few other club races, the team achieves ten pole positions, nine wins, two seconds and two thirds with just one DNF and wins the Hitachi Championship.
Notable amongst the nine lap records achieved in 1978 was at Snetterton where Ginger knocked 2 seconds off the record, lapping at 92.6mph (149kph).
1979-1981 – Radical Reliant
In order to stay ahead of the competition, the team next develops a car based on the lightweight, fibreglass construction of a Reliant Kitten Estate which has the same dimensions as the Mini Estate but a more raked windscreen.
More here:-
http://marshallfraserracing.blogspot.com/p/1970s.html
Mini Estate chassis
Body under construction
Mini Countryman