wolfies mini in miniworld
Turbo Mini Forums

just got home and my copy of miniworld was at home waiting for me, wolfies mini is on the front cover.. just about to read the feature.

Edited by adam1330 on 31st May, 2007.

““A turbo: exhaust gasses go into the turbocharger and spin it, witchcraft happens and you go faster.”” - Jeremy Clarkson

Ah didn't think it was till next month!!

I'll have to go get me a copy. :)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

Anyone got a scanner? On 12hr nights at work would love to read this.

Congrats wolfie, will look out for a copy and have a gander.

-MINI CLUBMAN 1380 TURBO-

Tom i tried to photo it with no joy, i will type up the article if u want ? shouldnt take me long ?

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LEGENDS
MikeRace, Mini13

If you've time buddy? Don't go out of your way..

Whats the most exciting car you've ever seen in action ? For me its not one but three Mini Miglias surging over the brow into paddock hill bend brands - side by side, still hard on the power and playing chicken with the braking point. That was in the late Eighties and the drivers were Richard Wager, Peter Allen and Danny Allpress. Beyond that enduring image, there is the ford cosworth RS500S which was raced in the same era in the BTCC, and the turbo charged Formula 1 cars in which Senna and Prost battled so mightily. The excitement provided by these guys was routed in turbocharged technology.

Nowadays the turbo assists in developing diesel and petrol engines for everyday road cars. Back then it was a tool for increasing power considerably, and the best drivers were those who could live with the brutal, fire breathing animal that resulted.
Big-turbo minis have been around for a long time, most memorably, Matt Woods example topped 200bhp and riding in his car remains my most scary experience in a passenger seat !. So when Miniworld lined me up with Neil Platten's car, I read the spec and made it an immediate mental note not to accept a ride; I was determined to drive it instead !

Neil's story is an inspiring tale of success in face of adversity. He first acquired this Mini in 1994, but it became interesting in 2001 when he started rebuilding it into a brand new Rover Competition sports pack shell. He's a man of many cars (and even more minis), claiming ownership of 100 minis, four campers, four track cars, about 30 company cars, and a handful of Vans in a 16 year driving career - perhaps only Jeremy Clarkson could top that ! This meant that Neil knew exactly what he wanted from this mini, and he's seen it through against the highest odds.

Initially the car featured a mild turbocharged 1293 (WTF MILD !!!!! Richie)
but the beast under the bonnet now is a different indeed unique, animal. Its 1355cc, achieved from a +40 rebore and stroked crank. In order to accomodate some serious turbo boost, the compression ratio has been dropped to 8.3:1. That takes some doing if you are going to keep the pistons somewhere near the top of the block, which is essential for big power, There's a hybrid T3 turbo and a custom PACE intercooler. Those basic stats point to serious power, but it's not an engine spec i've come accross before, and making it work required patience, investment and turbo experience. This would not be like putting together a 100bhp 1380.

Between the start and finish of this project, Neil has sold the car and bought it back untouched two years later. He then had a serious motorcycle accident, which put him in a wheel chair for three months and meant he had to use crutches for nine months after that. He had only just recovered from the accident when he was diagnosed with cancer. He subsequently had surgery but picked up an infection while in hospital. Through all this, the mini, "and masturbation" kept his mind focus'd.

I would say that he's put is heart and soul into his car, but he is far from being over-zealous in his enthusiasm: "I dont wank much.......or clean and polish it all the time. As far as i/m concerned, its functional not pretty"

So with the small talk out of the way, we got down to the real business of driving. He took the passenger seat and i got behind the controls

Proper seats and harnesses seemed appropriate, and the oversized tacho summed up exactly what this car was about.

Now here's the clever bit: I started it up and drove off - easy as that. In the residential setting, it was a mild-mannered machine that could be driven normally. Only when opened up did things really start to happen !

Suddenly there was an outside influence at work - and it's a reckless one at that ! The turbo spins up and power is delivered in a surge of raw excitement and adrenaline. Having nailed it in second gear and allowed for the expected turbo lag, the car surges and the instincts, if not the tacho, call for another gear. This is where it gets interesting beacause as the power comes in, there is inevitable torque steer - the car pulling to the right partly due to the driveshafts being unequal lengths. Coming abruptly off the gas stops the torque steer, but the steering input you've used to correct it now steers the car to the left. So instincts again call for a steering tweak to the right, but in goes third gear and another bootful of gas takes it further to the right. Its asking for another gear: cue more zig-zagging up the road ! It would be very easy to dismiss the big turbo machine as wholly unstable, but then then man is designed to master machine - witness those images of the RS500 and the Maclaern F1 cars.

Years before, i'd sat beside Matt Woods as he demonstrated his car and his own prowess while he felt comfortable with it, I was simply trying to work out which barrier we were going to smash into ! I had never felt confident in a big turbo Mini since.

Sure enough, the Platten turbo was having noticeable effect on the steering, but i was much more aware of Neil's anxiety in the seat beside me. He hadn't ridden in his own car before and ever since the bike accident, he had been a nervous passenger.

In an effort to drive his car without casuing him further health problems, i began to find a way to work with the machine, not against it, Blending the throttle in and out, rather than burying and jumping off it, served to smooth out the torque steer. Anticipation was the key: knowing what to expect and being ready for it. I was starting to really enjoy the machine; it reminded me of racing in the wet on slicks.

Neil was looking rough, Drained of colour and distinctly quiet, he wouldnt hear of stopping. His prescence taught me a great deal about getting the best from the car, and when i eventually climbed out again, it was with almost as much reluctance as when i'd got in it originally !!

This mini opened my eyes to the whole turbo thing. there's a violence about it all that's off-putting, but that only makes mastering it more rewarding. Of course, this car does its stuff best in competition, and Neil will no doubt be found competing on the drag strips. He's already covered a quater mile from a standing start in 15.1 seconds - and he's sure there's more to come. The car will be at some of this year's mini shows, so you could see it static......But its much better to see it on the move !!!

STAND BY FOR THE MONEY SHOT PEOPLE......................






Richie

Edited by Richie on 31st May, 2007.

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TRADER HALL OF FAME
BENROSS...MINIMARK..WOLFIE (comic genius).....CARL....MARTPAUL.......AXEL
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LEGENDS
MikeRace, Mini13

hahaha nice editing there!

Ill have to make a trip to the library, sorry i mean smiths

Will have to buy this tomorrow - Nice work neil - not many other minis deserve a cover as much imho.

Will be good to see some minis of interest in the magazine! like Nic says i will have to go the libabry also

Shall grab a copy myself.

finally !!!!!! done

______________________________________________________
TRADER HALL OF FAME
BENROSS...MINIMARK..WOLFIE (comic genius).....CARL....MARTPAUL.......AXEL
______________________________________________________
TRADERS OF SHAME
1 user....pm me 4 details

LEGENDS
MikeRace, Mini13

congrats niel !

Medusa + injection = too much torque for the dyno ..https://youtu.be/qg5o0_tJxYM

Well done Sir!

Best 1/4 mile 13.2 seconds @116 mph
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on a carb?
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on Injection?

http://www.mattwoodsphotography.com

Well done Neil.

LOL at Richie's editing

Hi,
I love a happy ending :)
Top job Neil.
Cheers,
Gavin :)

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My Mini build diary

Well done! will get a copy tomorrow.

excellent :) well done neil!

superb! neil

loads more to come

Nice smile well done buddy

Great stuff

BTW - I took my buddy VTEC Pete out for a spin this weekend, and even though I am running her in, he gave it a name, the "Brocket"...cause I'm a brocket maaannn, nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah....

Build thread - http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=7483

Katy Mini Owners Club Thread - http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=505552

Let's make sure you embarrass at least one VTEC MINI today !

https://www.facebook.com/groups/17557298589...096464253807802

Nice one mate! Best feature ive seen in ages, makes such a nice change to vtecs w/ massive wheels....

Oh wait theres another one but with a pulsar lump in this issue, at least youre on the cover!!!

Edited by richminiturbo. on 1st Jun, 2007.

Neil, if i pop round with the digi camera can i take some photos, then ill print richies comments. Then hey presto ive saved a few quid :)

well done mate

Excellent!

In the 13's at last!.. Just

ha ha i think Jon will be impressed with my pikie shirt

good stuff mate!