BROOKLANDS MINI DAY

WEYBRIDGE, SURREY, 3 APRIL

A freshly restored pick-up on its first outing in more than three years was a big classic draw at an event where more than 950 Minis went on show.

Raymond Money’s 1980 model, which despite its standard cosmetics is running a 1293cc A-Plus engine and a competition clutch, was chosen as the Best Classic Mini at this one-day gathering, which had a 39% increase in visitors compared to last year.

More than 30 clubs showed off their classics, with highlights including big turnouts from the Elf Hornet Register, Mini Cooper Register and the Southern Mini Club. The event’s 4,616 visitors could not only look at Minis dotted around the museum’s vintage aircraft displays, but also see BMC’s baby in both standard and modified form taking on BMW-era cars in attempts to get up the site’s gruelling Test Hill.

Brooklands director Alan Winn says he’s delighted by what was the biggest turnout for the event in three years. ‘I’m fascinated to see just how much work has gone into some of the Minis that have gone on show this year – it’s a measure of just how much the Mini has gone beyond being cheap transport for the enthusiast and is now a car people are spending real time and money on,’ Alan comments.

‘It’s very reassuring to see that so many people are investing in keeping Minis going and looking good, which means we should have plenty of Mini Days to look forward to here at Brooklands in the future.’ David Simister