I used to watch this Minor at Gurston Down hillclimb, Nic would drive to the venues, change the wheels and screw on some arch extentions and then pull low 32 seccond runs back in the early 80s, always a crowd puller.
The car does still exist and as far as when I last asked about 2 years ago was still owned by drag racing legend and Showtime Nitro Funny Car Assistant Crew Chief, Bill Sherratt, who bought the car from Nic Mann in the late 80's when it was outlawed in hillclimbing. The Minor was the quickest street legal car in the country for quite a few years and won numerous Street Machine/Kingston Medical Gases Street Racer Championships at York Raceway.
I seem to remember this Minor had a length of railway line in the boot with something like "traction by GWR" written on it? Or am I imagining that...? Anyway, I remember this and the also all conquering Steve Green in his Rover V8 powered mk1 Cortina, as they were never out of the pages of Street Machine magazine. The Minor could do a 11 second quarter mile on street tyres, as opposed to a Lamborghini Countach's 13.5sec. It's still stupidly quick, even by todays standards.
7th May 2013. I 'm pretty sure I just saw this on the A49 heading north towards Shrewsbury. I used to admire it at Shelsley and Prescott. A great bit of kit.
I used to have a poster of this car from Street Machine magazine on my bedroom wall. The best things about it were the simple spec (truck turbo 2nd hand, low compression Rover engine set well back) Unusually considering its drag ability, the cornering and braking were supposed to be excellent too. Simple engineering by someone with a grasp of the principles again. I hope the old car still exists somewhere. Anyone know?
I used to watch this Minor at Gurston Down hillclimb, Nic would drive to the venues, change the wheels and screw on some arch extentions and then pull low 32 seccond runs back in the early 80s, always a crowd puller.
On another possibly interesting point the guy in the other lane is not ALAN, but none other than 2 time FIA Top Fuel Champion ANDY Carter.
I worked with Nick in the 80's at Esso Research Centre. A Brilliant hands on engineer and a great bloke as well.
Legendary car
The car does still exist and as far as when I last asked about 2 years ago was still owned by drag racing legend and Showtime Nitro Funny Car Assistant Crew Chief, Bill Sherratt, who bought the car from Nic Mann in the late 80's when it was outlawed in hillclimbing. The Minor was the quickest street legal car in the country for quite a few years and won numerous Street Machine/Kingston Medical Gases Street Racer Championships at York Raceway.
I recall it had a very short prop shaft! haha!
I seem to remember this Minor had a length of railway line in the boot with something like "traction by GWR" written on it? Or am I imagining that...? Anyway, I remember this and the also all conquering Steve Green in his Rover V8 powered mk1 Cortina, as they were never out of the pages of Street Machine magazine. The Minor could do a 11 second quarter mile on street tyres, as opposed to a Lamborghini Countach's 13.5sec. It's still stupidly quick, even by todays standards.
Yes it did have a piece of railway line with " "traction by GWR" written on it.
Where is this car now , fabulous little car .
I've got a 1982 edition of Hot Car magazine featuring this car.
7th May 2013. I 'm pretty sure I just saw this on the A49 heading north towards Shrewsbury. I used to admire it at Shelsley and Prescott. A great bit of kit.
On his way to Loton park no doubt, seen him compete there
was that harry gration interviewing alan carter?
does anybody know how to do that air vent with the rear wings???
I used to have a poster of this car from Street Machine magazine on my bedroom wall. The best things about it were the simple spec (truck turbo 2nd hand, low compression Rover engine set well back) Unusually considering its drag ability, the cornering and braking were supposed to be excellent too. Simple engineering by someone with a grasp of the principles again. I hope the old car still exists somewhere. Anyone know?
Might not see this it has been 15 years but the car does exist somewhere
performance figures in that day, o,60 in 3,5 seconds, top speed 165, not bad eh?
It would probably be a replica I read a magazine article a while back saying the original car caught fire and was totalled
Jake Pearson no its not, it's still out there, a bit worse for wear!
Guess an atmo Rover 3.5 V8 in a Morrie just ain't fast enough...
MODERATELY SUPPORTIVE LMAO = JEALOUS
@kevrs2 and it beat a Ferrari F40...
Cheap win as I remember.