PatW

My brother bought his first Mini from the Oxford factory in 1963 through a local dealer (he saved the delivery charge by spending £2 on a bus fare to the plant). But when he got it home he took the wheels off and the backs were rusty. After a few days he found it jumped out of second gear. On speaking to a friend at the local dealership, using the chassis number, they found it was a 1961 model which had the habit of jumping out of gear, so they changed the car for a new one. But further to that there was a guy just outside town who had started tuning the first Coopers and set a up racing team with his brother. What cars they were, they tuned cars for other teams as well, in all engine sizes 997, 999 and 1275 and later bored out to 1293cc. With Silverstone only 20 miles away we were up there on a regular basis watching the Mini's waging war against Ford Anglia 105E's, NSU 1000, later Mk 1 Ford Escorts (broadspeed team) and the big Jaguar's and American Ford Falcons etc. What great days they were.

Thanks guys! I hope you all had an interesting Christmas. My wife of 45 years next month (Aka Father Christmas) bought me the new Lego VW Camper, so I might do a build on the workbench thread!... And my two sons, one home from his work on oil rigs in Canada, bought me a Revel Porsche Carrera and a Fujimi GC110 Nissan Skyline GT-X (both 1972 versions) so I shall be busy again for a while.............. I don't think they are police car material though! Happy New Year to you all.

Thanks Slusher. Yes it's the worldwide smart answer to police force austerity the SMART CAR. I'm now awaiting orders from across the globe! Included with the build will be a part full can of petrol for the odd sniff to keep it going!

And now here are those pics................................ and in the cabinet!

I bought this kit about 12 months ago. I thought of what to do with it over a long period and came up with this............ Well that's the first few pics and now some more.....................

Wayne, many thanks for sharing your pics.

Hey cruz, thanks for sharing these super pics. It's nice to see what's going on in the model car shows over the pond in the US of A.

Did anyone get any photo's?

These are pictures taken during my time as an Airtraffic Control marshal at Silverstone circuit, it includes cars and planes..... http://s149.photobuc...assic Festival/ http://s149.photobuc...ing since 1968/ http://s149.photobuc...tone 1991-1992/ http://s149.photobuc...m/Le Mans 1999/ Enjoy

Well I've bought stuff from Dennis. He's always helpful although very far away! I must look at the site before we loose it altogether. All the best Dennis in your new venture whatever it may be!

When is this? There's no date only opening times. If it's this weekend is anyone taking a camera?

That is just superb! Is the windscreen surround painted or BMF chrome?

Very smart! Well done.

Great pics, it's good to see what's going on on the USA model show scene!

I changed the kit , by noticing that the wheels and tyres were only 15inch size that were too small. I scoured the web and found a new set of 17 inch BBS and I lowered the front a shade.

Well brizio, I have to admit that I used the wheels from a new Beetle and put 18inch custom rims in the box waiting to build it!.

Superb build! I remember these at Silverstone in their era but moreso now as they are popular in both open and closed versions in classic sports car racing at most circuits including Le Mans.

Hey Brizio for one whose had 5 real beetles this is just awesome, now all we need is baked beans and a few fries! I've got the coffee but I shall have to wash the coffee mugs up first! I built this about two years ago.

Thanks a lot guys. richcrabman I'm in Buckingham 12 miles from Milton Keynes, 17 miles from Aylesbury, 20 miles from Oxford and 18 miles from Banbury...........but more importantly 5 miles from Silverstone!!

Thanks guys!

I can't seem to get more than one picture on at a time!

I've looked out one of my older kits to build. I remember these when I went to Donington Park race circuit one a year when DTM (German Touring Cars) when they visited the UK once a year.

and here they are............ I shall be putting the Calsonic Skyline GTR on a separate thread.

and here they are.................... and a few more with one of it's stablemates under the Calsonic banner..