About the Modified Mini Car Club of South Australia

Who We Are

The Modified Mini Car Club of S.A. was formed in 1973, it was about this time that the unofficial title of "HOTBRICKS" was also coined, to some the name might sound a little corny but it was very cool back in '73. The name must still have some appeal as it was borrowed by some lads who formed "HOTBRICKS N.S.W. in 1995. We believe we are the only Mini club in Australia with a Minis only policy (we also allow Mokes and Mini based Derivatives.)

From its inception the club has had a broad appeal among Mini enthusiasts, catering to all aspects of Mini ownership. Within the club there are people who enjoy participating in motor sport both as drivers and as support crew. Members of Hotbricks have run and won in just about every area of competition from out and out racing in "Sports Sedans" , "Club Cars" And "Historics" to hillclimbing , autocross and Motorkhanas. There are also people who enjoy restoring Minis and who have won National concourse events, there are people who have done both and a great many who have done neither.

Hotbricks has members who just enjoy a Sunday drive or tinkering with their cars to make them that bit better. We have people who just want to know how do you remove that widget and where can I buy one? In fact we have as diverse a group of people as you are ever likely to meet in a car club.

We have very young members and not so young members, we have people who can only just afford a Mini to people who have a few Minis as part of their collections. We also have a variety of social outings ranging from ten pin bowling to kart racing, from beach runs to pub nights.

We are not the Mini Club. The Mini Club of SA is a separate entity. People often ask what is the difference between the two clubs? The most common answer given by either club is that the Mini Club is more of a social and Hotbricks is more of a competition club. While this answer probably captures the feel of each club it does neither justice. the Mini Club has a competition side and Hotbricks certainly has a social side. We think hotbricks takes Minis more seriously without being serious people. Please feel free to try both clubs and then join the one that you feel most comfortable with.

Every year about 30 or so members head to the Mini Nationals held in Hay N.S.W. Hay involves a concourse and a dirt motorkhana, an event that has been won by a Hotbricks member every year for the past seven years, in fact last year Hotbricks won the prestigious team trophy for the 5th time, just the excuse needed on what amounts to a great party weekend. The single common thread that ties all our members together is an interest in the mighty Mini.

If you have an interest in Minis, and we are sure you do, please consider joining Hotbricks, it can be a very worthwhile and rewarding experience. The subscription fee is $55 per year for single members or $65 for recognized couples (husband/wife, father/son etc.) A membership form is available here.

Aims of the Club

To promote Austin / Morris / Leyland / Rover / BMW Mini vehicles of all types from stock 850's to fully modified 'S' types.
To assist members with the modification and restoration of their vehicles and provide a forum whereby technical information and ideas can be exchanged.
To enable members to enter their cars in a varied program of events including trials, rallies and circuit sprints.

Motorsport

Hotbricks has a strong history of motorsport, of course it is not the only thing the club is involved in. Probably only 20% of our members regularly compete, some never do. It is not for everyone but it is worthwhile for everyone who tries it.

The main purpose of motorsport is to improve your driving skills and have fun doing it. This purpose is met every time you participate, regardless of whether you win, loose or draw.

The Modified Mini Car Club of S.A. has a number of excellent drivers among its ranks (one was even offered a drive in a top touring car team), it also has lots of ordinary drivers, and a few somewhere in the middle. Each and every one of those drivers has improved their skill through motorsport.

Some people rise up through the ranks very quickly, some take a bit longer and most will never be a champion. Everyone is slow at first! No one expects the new kid on the block to be competitive in his or her first few outings. So don’t make things hard by expecting it of yourself. The main thing is to enjoy yourself.

The beauty of being a member of this club is the fact that there are a lot of talented drivers who are more than happy to give you guidance if you want it. Don’t worry about whether someone is beating you or not, worry about what you can learn from them.

As a member of the club you are automatically a member of the Confederation of Australian Motorsport or CAMS. CAMS are the body who oversee all motorsport in Australia.

Licences

To compete in any form of motorsport you need a CAMS licence. Most of the things mentioned in this booklet require what is known as a Level 2 licence, application forms for level 2 licences are available from the Treasurer. The form asks for details such as name and address etc. and also contains a medical declaration. This declaration asks general health questions and also the name and address of your Doctor. Many people need a little time to complete this form, so it pays to apply well in advance of the first event you plan to compete in. If you have any problems with the forms the Treasurer will be able to assist you.

The cost of a level 2 licence is $66(Adult) / $26(Junior) and they are valid for one year.

Motorkhanas

Motorkhanas are one of the most popular choices of people beginning in motorsport. There are a number of reasons for this, firstly they are cheap to enter, usually about $15-$20, you only need a level 2 CAMS licence to enter and a standard road car can be competitive. You don’t even need a road licence junior drivers as young as 12 can enter. Motorkhanas are relatively safe and are not too hard on your car.

Motorkhanas are a very relaxed and friendly form of competition.

Motorkhanas are a test of acceleration, braking and manoeuvrability. A series of flags are laid out in a particular pattern, known as a test. There are dozens of standard tests, which are the ones that are usually used. The object is to move through the flags in the correct direction as quickly as possible.

To actually complete a test is relatively easy, to do so quickly is another thing. A great deal of skill is required to do well, although motorkhanas are an "Entry Level" event the top drivers have had years of practice. If you do well at motorkhanas you will probably do well in all forms of motorsport. This is because the skills you learn at a motorkhana are the skills you need for all driving.

Penalties, in the form of extra time are added if you make a mistake. The worst penalty is applied for going in the wrong direction. Going the wrong way (or W.D.) is the most common mistake of the newcomer, especially if they are trying to go too fast, however even experienced competitors have a lapse of concentration leading to a W.D. occasionally. The tests can be confusing, while most look simple from the sidelines, things are very different once you have spun around a few flags. Penalties are also applied for hitting flags and failing to stop in the garages etc. The garages are made from the same flags as the rest of the tests, (not steel in case you were worried).

The average motorkhana test is only a few hundred metres long. Most tests take between 15 and 45 seconds to complete. In order to drive quickly through a test you need to have good car placement and judgement and often need to perform handbrake turns. The ability to stop your car quickly and in a straight line is essential as is the ability to accelerate quickly, however lots of power is not the answer, without good throttle control power is a disadvantage. It is unlikely that you will ever get out of first gear, except of course when you are required to reverse.

The majority of motorkhanas are held on bitumen surfaces, mostly shopping centre carparks, Tea Tree Plaza is a popular venue. There are occasionally motorkhanas on the dirt, the most notable being the Mini Club Nationals at Hay in N.S.W. This is one of the most hotly contested motorkhanas around with about 70 competitors. If you do well, say finish in the top ten, at Hay you can consider yourself a driver.

Minis and Mokes are well suited to motorkhanas and are usually the fastest production vehicles. There are four classes for two wheel drive production vehicles, determined by wheelbase. Minis are in Class A, things like MGs are in class B. Class C is for cars the size of Datsun 1600s, and class D is for larger cars such as Commodores and Falcons. There is a class for 4 wheel drive vehicles, such as the WRX and classes for front wheel drive and rear wheel drive specials. Specials are purpose built vehicles and are often Mini based. A typical FWD special may have a Mini front subframe and a tubular steel chassis with a narrow beam axle rear end. Specials usually use very sticky slick tyres, this grip combined with a high power to weight ratio make a vehicle that is incredibly quick and exciting to watch.

To even things up a little here in South Australia we run a system called the "Driver’s Performance Index" or DPI. The way it works is your particular time for a test is compared to the record for that test within your class. Let’s say you took 20 seconds to complete a test and the record was 19 seconds. 19 divided by 20 equals .95 multiply that by 100 to get a percentage gives you 95%. This is pretty good, anything over 90% is very respectable. Now let’s say somebody in a special takes 18 seconds to complete the test but the record in his class is 16 seconds his DPI % is about 88.9% therefore you have beaten him or her, although they actually completed the test in less time than you.

I would recommend motorkhanas to everyone, whether they are your number one choice of competition or merely a stepping stone to other things.

Autocross (khanacross)

Autocross sometimes known as Autokhana or Khanacross is a form of competition that is similar to motorkhanas in some respects. It is one car at a time against the clock. There are no straights longer than 150 metres, there are penalties for hitting flags and it is an entry level event. However during a Motorkhana you never get out of first gear, while at an Autocross you may see fourth on occasions.

Autocross events are usually held on unsealed surfaces either dirt or grass. The courses can be laid out with marker flags in a paddock or the event can be held on track.

In South Australia there are two tracks that are generally used for Autocross. The first, Lanac Park is near Willunga the track is 800metres long with heavily banked curves and long straights that have garages halfway along to keep the speeds down a bit, however it is still fast and exciting . The track is fairly rough especially for a car with 10inch wheels.

The other major track is at Birdwood. This track is shorter and much smoother, you may get flat out in second gear but not usually any faster. Birdwood probably requires more skill than Lanac Park and is better suited to Minis.

Autocross is good fun and not overly hard on cars apart from the roughness of Lanac Park. Entry fees are usually less than $20 and only a level 2 license is required.

Circuit sprints

Circuit sprints are held on racetracks but they are not races. In SA Mallala is the only circuit in regular use.

The idea of a circuit sprint is lap the track as quickly as possible. There will be other cars on the track at the same time but you are admitted to the track at intervals that prevent you getting in each other’s way.

Supersprints are very similar to circuit sprints, the main differences being that cars of similar lap times are grouped together and started in pairs. This is the closest you will get to racing without actually racing. Passing is allowed, but desperate outbraking manoeuvres and mid corner overtaking is not. It does provide you with the opportunity to follow a slightly quicker car and perhaps get an insight into why they are quicker. Supersprints also have the provision for you to lap on your own if you like.

The usual format of sprints, is a practice session where average lap times are established followed by official runs. Official runs consist of a three quarter lap warm up followed by 3-4 laps at full speed.

Hillclimbs

Hillclimbs are one of the most exiting ways to spend 45 seconds in a car you will ever come across. The idea of a hillclimb is to get to the top as quickly as possible.

There is only one full time hillclimb track in S.A. It is located just outside Angaston in the Barossa Valley, 88 kilometres from Adelaide. It is known as "Collingrove" and is owned and run by the Sporting Car Club of S.A.

The track itself is bitumen, 686 metres long and only 3-4 metres wide. The start line is on a slight incline, which leads to short, steep straight. As you crest this first part of the hill you enter a blind left-hander followed by a longer slightly downhill straight, you then rise into a steeply banked right hand corner known as the wall. The exit of the wall leads into an undulating more or less straight section before a heavily banked left. There are a series of very tight esses and then a short straight across the finish line.

The hillclimb is a very challenging experience, although you are allowed a practice session it is not like doing lap after lap around Mallala. To drive quickly at Collingrove requires the ability to be on the pace right from the start (just like a motorkhana) and a fair amount of courage. Like all motorsport it is not dangerous if you are sensible, but you can make mistakes if you drive on the limit.

Minis are well suited to Collingrove by virtue of their small size and good handling. The hill tends to be a bit of an equaliser, cars that are quite different in performance in other settings tend to have closer times at Collingrove. A well driven Cooper "S" may do a run in the low 40s while a full blown Mini sports sedan on slicks will only do a 35. The outright record is 29.81seconds.

Hillclimbs can be reasonably hard on cars, but of course you determine the sort of punishment your car receives.

The usual cost to enter a hillclimb is about $50 and you can compete at all levels up to championships on a level 2 licence. Hotbricks members get between 2 and 4 opportunities to enter hillclimbs each year.

Racing

There are two major types of circuit racing available to Minis, one for cars on slick tyres and one for cars running road tyres.

The slick tyre class is known as "Sports Sedans" . Sports Sedans are heavily modified cars where there is a great deal of latitude as far as modifications go. They are lightweight cars which have no interiors, may have aluminium or fibreglass panels. Brake and suspension modifications are more or less free. Engines are also highly modified. Sports Sedans are the quickest Minis around and lap Mallala in around 1 minute 18 seconds. Sadly, Sports Sedan racing is on the decline and there are not many races these days.

There are two separate classes for Minis running on road tyres. The first is Historic racing known as Group N or Appendix J. Group Nb is for cars built before 1965 and group Nc is for cars built before 1972. Group N cars are basically bound by the touring car rules of the era. They must look like the cars of the day and run interiors. Suspension, brakes and tyres are restricted. Engine modifications are limited to what was available in the period. This does not limit Minis too much and cars in this class develop over 100 horsepower. Historic Minis have lapped as quickly as 1 minute 25 sec. Minis do reasonably well in Historic racing, which is not surprising because they were competitive in the era these classes represent.

The other treaded tyre class is known as "Club Cars". The rules of Club Cars are similar but a bit looser than those for historics. Less of the interior trim need be retained, larger wheels, tyres and brakes are permitted and engines may have more modifications, or even be replaced. Minis far reasonably well in the under 1600cc class the fastest car lapping around the 1:23 mark.

Due to relatively small fields Historics and Club Cars often race together. Many of today’s Club Cars were once Historic Cars.

Every so often, usually once a year, there is a Super Mini race weekend held at Mallala. Super Minis are basically Sports Sedans and several cars come here from interstate to compete at Mallala which is very much a Mini circuit. There are often mixed Mini races on these weekends where all the different types of cars race together.

If you are contemplating racing a Mini talk to people in the club who can tell you what is happening in each class and what if any cars are for sale.

Racing a Mini requires at least a level 3 license. Building a racing car and competing in it ALWAYS costs more than you think. There are quite a few experienced racers in the club who would be happy to advise you on all aspects of circuit racing.

Drag Racing

From time to time members of the club Drag Race at "Street Meets". This is reasonable fun every so often and it is interesting to see what time your car actually runs. The fastest time I have seen in recent years was 14.00 seconds flat from Neil Turner’s Sports Sedan.

Rallying

No-one in the club is presently involved in rallying in the true sense, though a few were many years ago. One member even has the remnants of an ex-works rally car. In fact I don’t think there are any Minis left in rallying these days.

Sadly Minis are no longer competitive, at least at the top level, rallying being dominated by 300 horsepower all wheel drive cars such as Subaru Imprezza WRXs. However Minis do still compete in International Rallies in the lower classes and may make the grade in local club level rallies.

We do however have a few members involved in Classic Rallying. These events are usually held mostly on bitumen and are for cars built prior to 1970. We have had members compete in the Grand Prix Rally, Classic Perth, Classic Tasmania and Targa Tasmania, but strangely no-one has done Classic Adelaide yet.

Minis are quite competitive in classic rallying. Classic rallies vary considerably in their stature and level of competitiveness. I believe you can enter Classic Adelaide on a level 2 license whereas Targa Tasmania requires a level 4 International License.

The club does run events that some people call rallies but are in fact " Observation Trials" or "Navigation Runs" These events test your powers of observation and/or ability to navigate but are run on open public roads at the speed limit and generally do not require a competition license.

Social activities

All car club activities are also social functions, the meetings are a good opportunity to socialize, pub nights are a great one. Even motorsport has a major social component.

However we do have activities that are more purely social. The social secretary organizes functions based on requests from the members. We usually have a social function every month or so.

The sort of things we do are ten pin bowling, kart racing, slot-car racing, and movie nights. We also have promotional runs or cruises from time to time.

Due to having a common interest many people form firm friendships within the club. We have a fairly broad mix of ages and occupations. We have more male members than females the club is probably not the place to pick up women. Having said that, I actually met my wife through a club member, and I ‘m not the only one this sort of thing has happened to.