Mini Cooper Racing History

The BMW-owned MINI is a successor to the hugely popular Mini Cooper produced between 1959 and 2000, but is technically unrelated to the original model. Many Mini Cooper enthusiasts object to the MINI--spelled with all capital letters--being compared to the original because it possesses none of the characteristics.

Mini cooper racing history. Around 50 years ago, the course of history was changed forever. Mini suddenly burst onto the motorsport rally scene, annihilating the much bigger and established competition – much to their shock. Legendary racing car pioneer, John Cooper had taken his hand to the iconic little car and transformed it into a champion. MINI has a long history in motorsports and has always felt right at home on the track. Ever since John Cooper first exploited the racing potential of the classic Mini in the early 1960s, his name has stood for success and performance on the race track with MINI. Learn About Our Heritage. The history of the Mini from 1959 thru 2000 is told any a number of different books by a number of different authors. Understanding the history of the Mini is part of owing a Mini. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to the COVID related issues your order may take longer than usual to arrive. The speed came at a price though – almost double that of a standard Mini Cooper. The roof and tail of the Mini Cooper S were cut off and replaced with fibreglass, which also took around 150kg off the weight of the car. “ With a 1310 cc engine and five-speed gear box, that little car won every sports racing event it was in,” Laurie recalls.

And of course, values continue to rise – show us a contemporary car to which this applies. In short an FIA Appendix Cooper S is an asset to be loved, admired and raced hard! Playmini Historic Motorsport offers a range of services to serious competitors. We currently have two Cooper S race cars in build. It was 1961 when the humble little people-mover fell into the hands of British racing legend John Cooper. A more powerful engine, bigger brakes and a few tuning tweaks later, the Classic Mini Cooper 997 was introduced. And a rally demon was born. Shortly after in 1962, when gender roles were thought to be defined, one woman chose a life of speed. Mar 28, 2019 - Explore Eve Joslin's board "Cooper cars" on Pinterest. See more ideas about Cooper car, Classic mini, Mini cooper. It was 1961 when the humble little people-mover fell into the hands of British racing legend John Cooper. A more powerful engine, bigger brakes and a few tuning tweaks later, the Classic Mini Cooper 997 was introduced. And a rally demon was born. Shortly after in 1962, when gender roles were thought to be defined, one woman chose a life of speed.

Mini Cooper History – The Legend Of John Cooper. Mini cars have had their place in motorsport history. John Cooper was born in 1923 in Surrey. He’s respected as one of the most notable celebrities to participate in international motorsports ever. In 1946, he and his father created the Cooper Car Company. To gain a bit of background, one must look back to the Cooper Car Company, a small garage that specialized in making rear-engined race cars and competed successfully in Formula racing. The Cooper Garage can be given much of the credit for the Mini's success in racing over the decades, as they encouraged the improvements to brakes and engine. The Cooper Car Company is a British car manufacturer founded in December 1947 by Charles Cooper and his son John Cooper.Together with John's boyhood friend, Eric Brandon, they began by building racing cars in Charles's small garage in Surbiton, Surrey, England, in 1946.Through the 1950s and early 1960s they reached motor racing's highest levels as their rear-engined, single-seat cars competed. The John Cooper Works story has its roots in 1946. Charles Cooper and his son John founded the Cooper Car Company and built their first racing cars in Charles' small garage in Surbiton, England. This humble beginning would ultimately change the course of motorsport, and help create a thriving worldwide racing legacy that still exists to this day.

The more powerful Mini Cooper S hit its stride in racing by showing up much bigger cars. The 1963/1964 Monte Carlo rally saw the Cooper, in the hands of Paddy Hopkirk, become a motorsport legend. John Cooper Works Mini Coopers: A Brief History.. At the height of John Cooper’s racing fame, the Mini was born. Chief Designer Alec Issigonis and Cooper had been business partners and friends dating back to the former’s time with British Motor Corporation. During the initial phases of the Mini’s development, Cooper recognized the. Mini Cooper Racing History and Photo Gallery When Alec Issigonis was requested by British Motor Corporation (BMC) in late 1956 to develop an economical but nevertheless fully-fledged small car with four seats, it quickly became clear that this new model would be truly innovative and, indeed, revolutionary in every respect. History of Mini Cooper Racing in the USA This is my working title for what we hope will be a lasting contribution to the people, cars and community that has made the Mini an icon. The Mini Cooper was first produced in 1959 and it did not take long before the first ones reached the shores of the US.

Mini Cooper Racing History; Historic Race Minis; Previous Race Schedules. 2011 Vintage Race Schedule; 2012 Vintage Race Schedule; 2013 Vintage Race Schedule; 1967 Monte Carlo Rallye Winning Mini Cooper Winning the rally gave the car a great deal of credibility and publicity. The 1966 event was the most controversial in the history of the Rally. The Mini Cooper racing cars won both the Constructor’s and Driver’s titles in the World Formula 1 Championship in 1959 and 1960 for the first time in the history of motorsport with the engine. The Mini is a small economy car produced by the English-based British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered an icon of 1960s British popular culture. Its space-saving transverse engine and front-wheel drive layout – allowing 80% of the area of the car's floorpan to be used for passengers and luggage – influenced a generation of car makers. Drawing on four seasons’ history in Europe, the 2008 R56 Mini Challenge race cars feature a 154kW/280Nm John Cooper Works engine, but in their new race guise, boasts a twin-scroll turbocharger rather than a supercharger.

500cc Cooper The Charles Cooper built his first racing car in 1936. This was a special based on an Austin Seven. After serving with the Royal Air Force during the war, Cooper and his son John decided, in 1946, to build a car for the new 500cc racing series. They used a JA Prestwich Industries (JAP) Speedway motorcycle engine.