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Can I race a Van
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7497		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  Chris [ Tue May 24, 2005 1:12 am ]
Post subject:  Can I race a Van
The header says it all, can I cicuit race a van?
Author:  drmini in aust [ Tue May 24, 2005 6:59 am ]
Post subject: 
Well.. I remember a few years ago they raced Volvo wagons in the 2L British touring car championship, `coz the sedan had the aerodynamics of a Mini! :shock:
Dunno what class a Minivan would fit though.
Author:  simon k [ Tue May 24, 2005 8:42 am ]
Post subject: 
absolutely you can - they're lighter than a sedan to boot ;)

vans were relatively common in club level rallying in the '60s, there have been a couple of write-ups in MiniWorld over the years - for the most part they were weekend warriors, being delivery vans etc. during the week...

the problem with vans in racing is that they flex a LOT in the back - mine has cracked (and been repaired) all the way around the rear wheel arches where they meet the floor. I made a bracing bar that goes between the shocker mounts and the floor, and it holds it very steady, before I did that, I could stand on the back with the doors open, and bounce the car up and down and watch the wheel arches flex :shock: a decent rollcage would be the go, and add extra bracing to the shocker mounts

I passed a Cooper S in my van at Wakefield in Feb, and there was a V8 falcon that couldn't get away from me :lol: :lol: :lol: :twisted:
Author:  WhoDat [ Tue May 24, 2005 11:58 am ]
Post subject: 
Apart from the flex issue, a little known fact is the longer wheel base of the van gives you an unfair advantage in the handling stakes as well :wink:

Have Fun
Dat
Author:  mickmini [ Tue May 24, 2005 1:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
drmini in aust wrote:
Well.. I remember a few years ago they raced Volvo wagons in the 2L British touring car championship, `coz the sedan had the aerodynamics of a Mini! :shock:
Dunno what class a Minivan would fit though.


A guy around the corner from my parents has an old volvo 244 wagon that he races. improved production class i think. and there used to be a mazda 808/rx3 wagon in the same class and it was a winner.

do it, do it, go on, you know you want to :D
Author:  cush [ Tue May 24, 2005 1:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
drmini in aust wrote:
Dunno what class a Minivan would fit though.


Nc = Novelty Cars

:)


the vans are good for rallying also....i've heard
Author:  9YaTaH [ Tue May 24, 2005 1:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Historics
Chris, I don't recall seeing a van race in the period...but that done mean a thing with my memory.

You could certainly set something up to race in Brian Waldrens all Mini series at WP though....give him a call...there are contact details in Motorsport folder.
Author:  Chris [ Wed May 25, 2005 12:37 am ]
Post subject: 
WhoDat wrote:
Apart from the flex issue, a little known fact is the longer wheel base of the van gives you an unfair advantage in the handling stakes as well :wink:

Have Fun
Dat


I had a ride in Bob Holdens van in a Mini Monte and he told me the same thing. As for flexing I will totally seam weld it and that will sort out that problem. should only take a roll of wire to seam weld a mini. The young bloke wants to move up from karts and do a bit of club racing and I have a spare shell now. Personally I daon't think it is a move upwards at all just a lot of bloody hard yakka.
Author:  drmini in aust [ Wed May 25, 2005 7:04 am ]
Post subject: 
Problem with vans is there is little torsional rigidity due to the huge rear door opening. I'd build a 1/2 cage or something in there, braced off the shock towers.. :wink:
Author:  Chris [ Fri May 27, 2005 11:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
drmini in aust wrote:
Problem with vans is there is little torsional rigidity due to the huge rear door opening. I'd build a 1/2 cage or something in there, braced off the shock towers.. :wink:


A lot can be achieved by seam welding the turret to the side panels if it is accessible. people under estimate how rigid this makes a car. I will just weld the back doors shut and that will fix it.
Author:  gafmo [ Sat May 28, 2005 12:24 am ]
Post subject: 
drmini in aust wrote:
Problem with vans is there is little torsional rigidity due to the huge rear door opening. I'd build a 1/2 cage or something in there, braced off the shock towers.. :wink:

I have a Cage I want you to look at :wink:
Author:  TheMiniMan [ Sat May 28, 2005 4:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yeah!!!!!!!!!,,,Go the Van!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...Awsome race car!!!!!!!!!!!,,,way better handling than the sedan with the extra 4" of wheel base,,,super dooper neutral in the corners & exceptionally predictable.

I raced my van in club level racing nearly all my life up till a few years ago where i stepped backwards & down wards into the sedans :-)

I also raced a van in speedway for about 8 years & whooped arse all over the place up here in Qld :-)

the vans rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Image

Image

Image

This last one was after a big party at my place,,,don`t ask me how i ended up sleeping there ??? #$@*&^%$

:-)

I still hold the current 0->1600cc track record at Echo Valley Hill Climb in my road van :-)

Born & bred in a mini van i am :-)
Author:  cush [ Mon May 30, 2005 11:07 am ]
Post subject: 
TheMiniMan wrote:
Image


that's quite the concourse winner there :)
Author:  min13k [ Mon May 30, 2005 2:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
yay passengers who cannot get away and there muffled screams
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
makka
Author:  Mini Mad [ Tue May 31, 2005 6:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
In stock trim a van is also 70kg's heavier than the sedan... :wink:
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