| A MINI LIKE NO OTHER. OUR MINIS. |
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ClubMINI, MINI, and myself at the hill climbs My wife Anita, the MINI & I joined ClubMINI in March 2005 and have enjoyed many club activities over the last 3 years. My first relationship was with a December 2004 all red COOPER S. It was love at first sight! She sure was a hot, beautiful and fast lady. She was red with red hair. I was 53 years young and she was really young. I have always been interested in motor sport but never had the confidence to pursue it beyond being an enthusiastic spectator. Just by chance I had been bragging about how hot and sexy my MINI was with an acquaintance when he raised the prospect of MINI and I running in the hill climbs held at Canberra. What hill climbs and where? I asked. I have lived in Canberra for 38 years and had never known of a hill climb facility or competitions. Even if I had known I probably would have believed that it was only for the courageous and rich, I didn’t qualify for either. We (MINI and I) enthusiastically contacted the Southern District Motorsport Association (SDMA ) here in Canberra. They gave me all the info we needed to join up and have a good time on the track. All we needed to do was to join the club, fill in an entry form for the next meeting, buy a suitable helmet, and fit a 1kg fire extinguisher inside and a 10cm blue triangle on her body to indicate where the battery was. Cost; Club membership $80 / year CAMS license $120 / year Helmet $70 /once only Fire extinguisher $35 / once only Fixing bracket $15 / once only Entry fee $70 / for the day We turned up at the track on meeting day. The club had our membership ID ready for us and a form to complete for a CAMS license (level 2 speed or 2S ). Anyone over 14 years is eligible. The track is a sealed and winding 1 kilometer. We have 5 or 6 runs at each meeting. Next was scuteneering for safety and to ensure she was original. We compete in Type 1 / 2 Class 2001cc- 3000cc. Type 1 / 2 is no modifications except exhaust and suspension and the Class is based on engine size. We are Class 2001cc -3000cc because of the supercharger. This means all our competitors are up 3000cc or 3Ltr. Next is a drivers briefing and then get ready to start in the starting order. With about 50 cars, most of the time is spent watching others go around the track. Finally our turn to line up on the starting grid. MINI was ready (give it to me big fella she said) and me; my hands sweating, my knees knocking and I was hyperventilating. Green lights “GO”. She went about 2 mtrs and said I’m not going anywhere? Ohh! Better turn off her traction control. Now we are going better, smoking tires everywhere as we took on the track with Augusto. Without track shoes and limited slip diff MINI kept lifting her front inside leg. The rest is history. The results; Track record for my class was 52.42 seconds. In MINI Cooper S 100% standard August 2006 58.77 seconds Place? September 2006 55.69 2nd I fell in love with a red MINI JCW with blond hair and my red head and I parted company. Canterbury MINI made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. “Thank you.” MINI Cooper S JCW 100% standard December 2006 54.21 1st April 2007 53.45 1st May 2007 (2 laps) 92.96 1st club record for 2 laps September 2007 53.46 1st September 2007 53.16 1st October 2007 52.60 1st .18 off club record. March 2008 51.45 1st new club record March 2008 50.63 1st new club record April 2008 51.19 1st raining May 2008 50.74 1st We have a sub 50 seconds in my sights This year we have a sponsor “KENNARDS HIRE”. And on the track the most common comment we get is “that MINI fly’s” I have made a few modifications to the suspension since January this year and it is paying off. I have found it difficult to find advice on the setup for the MINI and have developed my own with the help of a few friends. I have never had so much fun with my pants on and would recommend it to any enthusiast I am always happy to have a chat about my MINI so please don’t hesitate to contact me. Ross Kelly. .
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