40 Years Young and Still Going Strong

When a person gets to 40, there is usually a lot of reflection on what you’ve done with your life so far and lots of thoughts about where you are heading.   Well this weekend we have a 40th birthday to celebrate.  It’s not a driver or marshal, it’s one the UK’s favourite racing institutions – The Mini 7 Racing Club.

The classic Mini has long been a favourite of the people of these fair shores and a competition Mini attracts fans no matter where it races.  At Brands Hatch in July 1966 the  850cc powered Mini’s lined up for the first ever Formula Mini 7 race.  Over the last 40 years other formulae have come and gone, while the Se7en’s would evolve but remain true to their humble begins, providing what every motorsport fan wants – close, action packed racing. 

Such was the popularity of the new formula a second tier was added in 1970.  Propelled by the 1000cc A Series power plant, the new Mini Miglia series was born.  Further changes came in 1991, with spare parts for the 850cc engines becoming scarce, the Mini Se7en’s adopted the 1000cc engine and in 1994 the Miglia’s adopted the 1300cc engine.

For 40 years Mini Se7en’s and Mini Miglia’s have provided competitors with cost effective, value for money racing, but over the years costs have crept up. Returning to its roots, the M7RC introduced the S Class, a strictly controlled class of Se7en or Miglia that allows competitors the opportunity to join the grid, but with lower costs.

This weekend at Brands Hatch, champions from the past 40 years of Mini racing will gather on the grid, while on the track the competitors will race for the newly introduced ‘O’ Plate, which the winning drivers can keep and use on their cars for the next 12 months.

That race in July 1966 certainly started something special.  The Mini Se7en’s are justifiably proud of being known as the UK’s longest running single make race series and they are going from strength to strength. 

Make a date in your diary for the Golden Anniversary in July 2016!