Terry Milnes' 1966 Austin Mini Cooper S Racecar
Owner: Terry Milnes
City: Caledon, Ontario
Model: 1966 Austin Cooper S
Engine: BMC A-Series 1275cc four cylinder
Prepared by: owner
Mini Cooper S Vintage Racer: Car Number 24
With this article we're pleased to present one of the quickest Mini Coopers in North American
vintage racing. Originally imported to California and used as a street car, this particular
Mini had been set up for vintage racing in the early 1990s by a previous owner. Terry Milnes
of Canada purchased it in 2007, and has been actively campaigning it ever since.
We enjoyed seeing Terry's spectacular performance in VARAC's 31st International Vintage
Festival at Mosport International Raceway on June 20, 2010. Terry lapped that famously
challenging (and fast) 2.458 mile circuit quite quickly at 1:43.311 - an average speed of
85.65mph! In the morning sprint race, Terry finished first in class and third overall of 56
entries. In the afternoon, Terry finished first in class and fourth overall of 33 racecars.
Features and Specifications (when photographed)
| Engine: | BMC A-Series four cylinder engine, built by Seven Enterprises in 2006.
(Nominally 1275cc, but with oversized pistons it displaces 1312cc.
~13.5:1 static compression ratio.)
JE forged flat top pistons.
Pauter forged connecting rods.
Longman GT17 cylinder head, with 1.48" intake and 1.15" exhaust valves.
"Dema" (Dimitri) Elgin camshaft.
Titan roller rockers and tubular push rods.
Weber 45DCOE carburetor on a fabricated manifold.
K&N gauze air filter.
Aldon Automotive distributor with Pertronix (Aldon) Ignitor breakerless module.
Moroso Blue Max 8mm spiral core spark plug wires.
Accusump two quart oil accumulator, manually actuated.
MSD6AL capacitive discharge ignition module with rev limiter (chipped at 8300rpm). |
| Cooling: | Radtech aluminum downflow radiator.
Setrab 13-row aluminum oil cooler. |
| Exhaust: | Maniflow large center bore header. |
| Transmission: | Swiftune SC/CR (straight cut /close ratio) dog-ring gearbox.
Mini Spares SC transfer gears.
Farnborough Engineering Ultra Light flywheel.
KAD QuickStick gear selector.
Tran-X limited slip differential.
CV joints. |
| Front Susp.: | Rubber suspension.
KONI adjustable aluminum-bodied telescoping shock absorbers. |
| Rear Susp.: | Rubber suspension.
Adjustable camber and toe bracket set.
Leda adjustable telescopic shock absorbers.
Fortech Racing tubular, adjustable (five-position) anti-sway bar. |
| Brakes: | (master) Tilton pedal assembly and master cylinders, bias bar, and remote reservoirs. Tilton proportioning valve. (front) Lockheed Cooper S single piston calipers. Goodridge braided stainless hoses. Solid rotors. (rear) Mini Sport Superfin finned aluminum brake drums. |
| Wheels/Tires: | CMW Racing three-piece modular aluminum racing wheels (10x6).
Hoosier T.D. 165/70-10 tires. |
| Electrical: | super lightweight two-wire alternator from a Kubota tractor.
Odyssey PC680 sealed drycell battery (15.4lb). |
| Instruments: | (left to right)
Racetech water temperature gauge (30-110C),
Racetech oil pressure gauge (0-160psi),
AutoMeter Pro-Comp Memory tachometer (0-9000rpm) with programmable shift light (set at 8000rpm). |
| Fuel System: | ATL eight gallon fuel cell.
Facet red top electric fuel pumps.
Earl's fuel filter.
Holley adjustable fuel pressure regulator, with Earl's fuel pressure gauge (0-15psi).
|
| Safety Eqmt: | Willans six-point cam-loc safety harness.
Kirkey aluminum racing seat.
Fire Crusher Halon 1211 centralized fire suppression system.
Longacre curved rear view mirror.
RaceTech quick release steering wheel hub on a Personal suede covered ergonomic steering wheel.
Teamtech Motorsports Equipment window net. |
| Weight: | 1350 pounds, including 25 pounds of ballast to make it race legal. |
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Engine Installation
BMC A-Series 1275cc engine, built by Seven Enterprises. (~13.5:1 compression ratio.)
Longman GT17 cylinder head, with 1.48" intake and 1.15" exhaust valves.
Weber 45DCOE carburetor on a fabricated manifold. K&N oiled gauze filter.
Fabricated aluminum crankcase breather / overflow tank.
Radtech aluminum downflow radiator.
Really tiny two-wire alternator from a Kubota tractor.
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Valve cover modified for vent plumbing.
Set rockers to .012" valve clearance when cold - if you dare!
Aldon Automotive distributor with Pertronix (Aldon) Ignitor breakerless module.
Holley adjustable fuel pressure regulator, with Earl's fuel pressure gauge (0-15psi).
The classic Mini model always came with finned aluminum gearbox cases.
The drain plug has, of course, been drilled and safety wired.
Front Suspension / Etc.
Lockheed Cooper S single piston calipers. Goodridge braided stainless hoses.
Even the earliest Minis came with constant velocity joints. These are an upgraded version.
KONI adjustable aluminum-bodied telescoping shock absorbers.
Rear Suspension
Leda adjustable coilover rear shock absorbers.
Fortech Racing tubular, adjustable (five-position) anti-sway bar.
ATL eight gallon fuel cell.
No muffler on this exhaust system.
Interior
Kirkey aluminum racing seat.
Willans six-point cam-loc safety harness.
Personal suede covered ergonomic steering wheel.
Racetech water temperature gauge (30-110C) and oil pressure gauge (0-160psi), and
AutoMeter Pro-Comp Memory tachometer (0-9000rpm) with programmable shift light (set at 8000rpm).
Steering column installation details.
RaceTech quick release steering wheel hub.
Tilton pedal assembly with dual Tilton master cylinders. Paddy Hopkirk throttle pedal pad.
Remote brake and clutch master cylinder reservoirs. Two Buss six-fuse terminal blocks.
Lightweight carbon fiber dashboard.
KAD QuickStick gear selector. To select reverse, lift the collar that's immediately under the knob.
Note also the Tilton lever-type brake proportioning valve, mounted to the driver's seat base.
Fire Crusher Halon 1211 centralized fire suppression system.
Calgary Vintage Racing Club
Vintage on the Prairies, August 1995
Accusump two quart oil accumulator, manually actuated.
Odyssey PC680 sealed drycell battery (15.4lb).
Teamtech Motorsports Equipment window net.
Exterior
Terry has recently moved from Manitoba to Caledon, Ontario (near Toronto.) The move puts
Terry within striking distance of more racetracks. Look for him at a racetrack near you!
VSCDA: Vintage Sportscar Drivers Association - Corgi - MiniWorld
Pepper Farms Vintage
Terry Milnes (Canada)
Setrab 13-row aluminum oil cooler.
Emergency kill switch.
CMW Racing three-piece modular aluminum racing wheels (10x6) and Hoosier T.D. 165/70-10 tires.
Mini Sport Superfin finned aluminum brake drums.
All photos shown here are from June 2010 when we viewed the car at VARAC's 31st International Vintage Festival
at Mosport International Raceway, near Toronto Ontario. Photos by Curtis Jacobson for BritishRaceCar.com,
copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
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