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Looking for some Morris racing history

Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 1:53 pm
by mikec4193
Hi Morris Minor Aficionados

I have been an oval track guy for 60 years now (USA born and raised here)...when I was a kid they ran a class of four cylinder race cars...mostly not USA cars (for some reason the USA likes big old boats) but VW's and old school Mini Coopers and occasionally you would see a SAAB or a Volvo..

So fast forward to current day...I see you folks racing on the oval tracks older Mini Coopers with very stout push bumpers and full roll cages...

What I don't see are Morris Minors...did you guys back in the day race the ovals tracks with a Morris??

I would love to see pictures...

Thanks in advance.

MikeC

Re: Looking for some Morris racing history

Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 3:21 pm
by Steve Phillips
The only UK car I can think of would have been George Demetriou of Minor mania (mill hill garage london)

He raced a red Minor in the 80s and 90s often at arena Essex, George retired many years ago and I believe went back to his home county, Greece or Cyprus I believe, Nic ran the business until a couple of years ago but he has now sold up and the garage "I believe" doesn't have anything to do with minors now,

I don't know what happened to the race car or their 6 wheel pickup come to that,

A lot of the products George used for racing were marketed to their customers for road or track use I believe,

Possibly some pictures and information online if you do some digging,

Steve

Re: Looking for some Morris racing history

Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 3:48 pm
by philthehill
Mike
I do not run a oval circuit car but I do own a full race Morris Minor which has been used in speed hill climbs (think Pikes Peak on tarmac) and sprints (think drag racing) since the late 1960s.
I have incorporated several of Minor Mania upgraded and modified parts into my Minor over the years.
Below is a photo of my Minor in action at Gurston Down speed hill clime in the early 2000s
img079.jpg
img079.jpg (1.07 MiB) Viewed 3493 times
Here is a link to my Minor in action at Brighton Speed trials is 2002.
My Minor appears at the start line and does a run at around 55 min of the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOUGrIxSV9s
Phil

Re: Looking for some Morris racing history

Posted: Thu May 15, 2025 5:13 pm
by moggiethouable
Mike,
try get a copy of the book, Morris Minor, the worlds supreme small car by Paul Skilleter.
There is a section of 18 pages on competition Minors that will be of interest.
https://www.awesomebooks.com/book/97808 ... nt=TS10-49
Good luck.