Vintage Ice Racing

I spent many winters on the ice as a kid in Thunder Bay, watching my parents and their friends racing around in small cars. My brother and I would strap on our skates and try to get close to the action without getting in trouble. Or we'd whine about the cold, it was pretty much a toss up.

My dad started racing in Windsor in the late 60s and continued racing in Thunder Bay until the early 80s. Originally he raced a black Mini Cooper but went on to develop a racing team with his cousin and focused on engine design/tuning. The team won several races, including the championship in 1982/1983.

Truck and trailer loaded with the racing team.


The detachable fibreglass bonnet makes for quicker pit stops.


My dad adjusts something while my uncle, John sits in the driver's seat. I remember borrowing John's helmet as a teenager (to ride on the back of my boyfriend's Vespa!) and noticing a blood type etched on the back - each driver marked his or her blood type on the back of their helmet, in case of emergency.


At the start line.


And they're off!

Full set of pics here: Ice racing in Thunder Bay

Additional information:
Ice Race Ontario - http://www.casc.on.ca/iceRacing.php
Thunder Bay Autosports Club - http://www.iceracingthunderbay.com/

Restoration Day One - Stab Action

This day is also known as "Stab-my-Mini-repeatedly-with-a-screwdriver" Day.

Full stab-action viewable at the slideshow link provided below...

Slideshow here!

Hogmanay Moving Day!

Since I bought my Mini in October it has been resting peacefully in my garage (we only had to move the recycling bins to fit it in!) where I've been able to spend a few moments with it every day while smoking a cigarette or drinking my tea. But with the new year comes new digs - my father's garage/machine shop where we'll be doing all the work on the car.

My father returned to Canada in November after working in Darfur (I bought the Mini while he was gone and was excited to have him back so he could inspect it - it passed with flying colours) and built a suitable trailer so we could haul the car back to his place.

On Wednesday my brother and dad came by with the shiny new trailer (notice the mini-matching, 10 inch tires and the wheel guards that allow the car doors to open fully.) Unfortunately the Mini didn't start (it's been very cold lately) so my brother and I pushed while our dad steered; and the angle was a bit off so there was a considerable amount of winching - but we managed to get the car on and strapped down. Aside from a little rust removal underneath, all went well and the first step towards restoration was a success!

Photographic evidence submitted below:






(click on pics for larger size)