Now in Maximum Mini Newsletter #64

Minis at the 'Ring (7) - Marcos, Fletcher and the Jem works team

A Landar R6 in the UK

Dennis Adams dies - this were his Mini derivatives

Mini derivatives at Goodwood Members' Meeting

No less than four Mini based sports cars can be seen in action at the Goodwood Members' Meeting this very weekend and how nice to park all four of them next to each other in the paddock! All the best gentlemen! They are, from left to right:

Number 15 - Fletcher GT raced by Jonathan Kent

Number 301 - Deep Sanderson 301 raced by David Keers-Trafford

Number 29 - Ogle SX1000 raced by Paul Auston

Number 7 - Ogle SX1000 raced by Mark Burnett

Fletcher GT, Deep Sanderson 301 and 2 x Ogle SX1000 in the Goodwood paddock

Picture Mark Burnett

Is world's saddest Fletcher GT now really death?

As a babysitter for all things Mini based I receive pictures of cars lost and found every week - keep them coming! One car that has intrigued me from the first time I saw it is a particularly sad looking Fletcher GT. With just four made the Fletcher GT is a real rarity - three of the four have been described here before. 

But this one - number four - was even more of that, having been converted to electric power and three wheels! The first pictures flashed over to here came from Paul Ogle, who'd spotted it in a scrapyard in the Midlands in November 2006. Paul and I tried to set up a rescue but it was to no avail. 

Then I didn't hear from the car until new photographs of it emerged in April 2016. It had moved but was certainly still not being cared for. And from then on more pictures followed every few months or years. And every time it looked worse. The last one I received came in in August 2019, when the car looked to have been replaced once more - to a pile of scrap. I wonder if that spelled the definitive end of this car..?

November 2006. A Fletcher GT is found in a scrapyard in the Midlands

Picture courtesy Mark Butler

November 2006. But unlike the other Fletchers it is converted to 3 wheels and electric power

Picture courtesy Mark Butler

Odd conversion can be seen through where the rear window originally was. Why and by who?

Picture courtesy Mark Butler

April 2016. First appearance after 10 years. That beam didn't do body any good

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

May 2016. Moved over to another place in Wednesbury. Nose section broken off

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

May 2016. Restall seats still there but car is looking sadder then ever before

Picture courtesy Mark Butler

November 2017. Everything can be repaired but this is going to be a mighty challenge

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

November 2017. Broken body gives insight in three-wheel conversion at the back

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

August 2019. Last sight of it, dumped. Is this car now really gone forever..?

Picture Craig Perry

Fletcher GT goes rallying

We now know there have been several MiniJems that were used for auto crossing. But how about a Fletcher GT for rallying? The first of the two images below was kindly sent over by former Fletcher owner Paul Ogle, who's much loved car was sadly joy-ridden and burnt two years ago now (report here). Paul wrote: "Hi Jeroen. As Christmas is well and truly on its way, I thought I'd share a pic with you from the 1970s. This is the other running Fletcher that was the sister car to my car. I believe this was originally the 1967 racing car show car with the distinctly re-fashioned rear. This car later went rallying as apposed to track racing from what I have discovered so far. (more on the car here-JB). Have a great Christmas Jeroen Hope to catch up again at some point soon. Regards Paul."

That's lovely mate, thank you! Meanwhile, I found another shot of the car in the files at the same event. It turns out to be the Castrol National Rally of 1979 with the car being driven by Leigh MacLachlan and Nick Doughty. It would be awesome to learn a bit more.

Fletcher GT goes rallying. Note distinctive rear lights from an Austin Balanza

Picture courtesy Paul Ogle

Same car at the same event. Drivers were Leigh MacLachlan and Nick Doughty

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

50 Years ago today: Derivatives at the 'Ring

On September 4, 1966, the 500kms of the Nurburgring took place at the German circuit of the same name, attracting a string of British teams with Mini based sports cars - all of them brand new at the time. There were Three Mini Jems entered (although I believe just one of them made it to the race); two Mini Marcoses and a Fletcher GT. With start number 14, the Mini Marcos of William Dulles did not finish and the same went for the other Marcos - number 26 - and driven by Roy Johnson. The Fletcher GT with number 15, with John Hendley at the helm also did not make it the the finish line. The Mini Jem, definitely one of the very first cars built, and raced by Jem-instigator Jeremy Delmar-Morgan himself did considerably better. It finished 18th overall, four laps behind the winning car.  

UPDATE 5 September: Richard Porter writes: "The results can be found here. All three Jems started. Ron Parkes completed 6 laps and Mike Walton failed to complete a map. They are recorded as 'DNF' not 'DNS'. JD-M was 2nd in the 1,000 cc Prototype class." Thank you Richard!

The official programme of the 500 Km Race at the Nurburgring in 1966

Picture Jeroen Booij archive 

 But I have this one, too. The unofficial one perhaps? Also note Fletcher GT on the cover

Picture Jeroen Booij archive 

Beautiful picture. Click to see it bigger. Can you see the Mini Marcos/Mini Jem/Fletcher GT?

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

And I have one from the other side of the pit street, too. Taken seconds earlier at the start

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Agan, some seconds later, this one is taken. The Fletcher is in the far right corner. 

Dulles' Marcos can just be seen, too

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Delmar-Morgan about to pass a duo of Mini Coopers… 50 years ago today

Picture Veit Arenz

And the same Mini Jem in the famous Karusel curve. The car finished 18th overall

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Jeremy Delmar-Morgan must have liked it so much he turned it into an advertisement!

Picture Jeroen Booij archive 

Same bend, different car. This is the Mini Marcos driven by William Dulles

Picture courtesy Mini Marcos Owners Club

Not in the Karusel, but least as good: The Fletcher GT with the ruins of the Nürburg in the back

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

John Handley was of course well known in racing circles. Unfortunately he did not finish the Fletcher

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Remembering Kirsty the Flogle

Wearing chassis number FO 1 8 66 - for Fletcher Ogle number 1, August 1966 - it's 50 years ago that the Fletcher GT debuted. Speedboat manufacturer Norman Fletcher had acquired the Ogle SX1000 project and turned that into the Fletcher GT, which was first seen at Castle Combe when entered in the Hagley 100 race on the 20th August 1966. It used an ageing 1100cc engine at the time and a John Aley rollcage was fitted. The car was entered by Gilbert Baird and driven by John Handley and managed to win its class despite an aging 1100 engine.

More on the car's history here. We all know what happened to it more recently when in ownership of Paul Ogle, who'd lovingly named it Kirsty the Flogle (if you do not know what happened, click here, but be warned), so it's good to remember the car now that it would have celebrated its 50th birthday.

First of the Fletchers in the Castle Combe paddock, where it debuted in August 1966

Picture courtesy Paul Ogle 

Driven by former Broadspeed driver John Handley, it finished first in class

Picture courtesy Paul Ogle 

This picture, dating back to the 1980s, came to the light only recently. Note lack of grille

Picture courtesy Paul Ogle 

This is what it looked like when Paul had the car. Unfortunately it is no longer with us

Picture courtesy Paul Ogle

Unique Fletcher GT: stolen and burnt

Prepare yourselves for some awful news. Maximum Mini enthusiast from the first hour, Paul Ogle, sent me a message today about the car that's been his pride and joy for all the years that I know him: the Fletcher GT. Paul had it for some 10 years, during which time he found out much of its checkered history and restored it, too. More on its history here. I am very sorry to hear the Fletcher now no longer is with us. This is what Paul wrote:

"Hi Jeroen. Thanks for putting up the details regarding next years Blyton Park Action Day. It really is a fantastic event that's developing there and I am glad I was able to attend the first two previous years. Seeing this has however reminded me of the sad loss that I have to share with you. I havent felt able to put this picture up so far as I've been very ill and couldn't face sharing bad news. Devestatingly 'Kirsty', as she was known will not be able to attend next year's Blyton meeting as she has been stolen and found burnt out. They say a picture paints a thousand words. The world clearly still has many complete twats in it."
I feel with you Paul and I'm sure I'm not alone.

The Fletcher GT at Castle Combe during the 'Hagley 100' in August 1966

Picture courtesy Paul Ogle

Paul with the Fletcher GT in happier times. This was back in February 2007

Picture Jeroen Booij

While this is all that's left of the car - known as 'Kirsty' - now. Paul is devastated

Picture courtesy Paul Ogle

Derivatives display produces new Unipower info

Two weeks ago - while I was enjoying a holiday in France - Pete Flanagan and friends organized a Mini based sportscar display during the Shelsley Walsh hill climb event. And Pete came home thrilled. He wrote: "Just a quick note to say what a great time we had at Shelsley at the weekend. We had Paul's Fletcher Ogle racer, (which has local history!), Goff's Mini Jem, my Unipower and we also picked up a lovely Marcos on the day. The weather stayed fine after all and the cars attracted lots of attention from a very knowedgable crowd. Being in the Midlands, steeped in motoring and sporting history, I suspected we'd get some good feedback which certainly came to fruition!"

"We met some very interesting folk who had owned cars like these from new in the 60's with some great tales to tell, especially a chap who'd been to Perivale to order a Unipower GT in 1968 and ended up going for a spin around Middlesex at break neck speed in Piers Forester's GT40! The Unipower that he bought was a 1275 S model, metallic blue, with Minilites, registered 'SJB 402G', does anyone remember it or know of it's whereabouts? He confirmed that the cars were built up completely, road tested and then partially dismantled for delivery (to get round the purchase tax). He was happy to sit in my car , being the first time he'd done so since the early 70's. Also heard some other great stories from pals of Forester, ex Downton staff members, and also a tale of a Landar R6 being restored locally! Could it be the Tim Dyke car? Safe to say that I'll be back at Shelsley as usual next year, doing it all again!"

That sounds like a good day indeed! I have checked out any history of a Unipower registered SJB 402G but couldn't find a thing on it, other than that it was a Berkshire issued number, dating back to 1968. Meanwhile, the owner dug out some old pictures of the car during his ownership looking very much like the real thing. He wrote: "The wheels in the photo are the standard ones but I changed them to Minilites when I bent one on a curb whilst taking a roundabout too quickly. I was stopped by the police for speeding many times but usually got away with a caution, but one time when going to Thruxton I was stopped when following a queue of cars after along stretch of duel carriageway. The policeman said he had been trying to keep up with me for 5 miles. His motor bike did 120mph flat out and I was still pulling away. He put me down for doing 90 as he said I was driving very well!"
Ha! Love those stories. Now let's see who knows more about it...

Great foursome at Shelsley Walsh. Left to right: Marcos, Jem, Unipower and Fletcher

Picture courtesy Pete Flanagan

As we've seen before here, Goff Allen's MiniJem is indeed a gem, fresh from restoration

Picture courtesy Pete Flanagan

While Paul Ogle's Fletcher GT is another regular enthusiast at Maximum Mini events!

Picture courtesy Pete Flanagan

You guys also know Pete's Unipower GT: stunning in every sense and with packs of history

Picture courtesy Pete Flanagan

But how about this then? A previously unknown Unipower registered SJB 402G

Picture courtesy Peter Knowles

Never mind the Ferrari, look behind! This Unipower was a 1968 car. Where is it now?

Picture courtesy Peter Knowles

Looking back at Blyton Park 2015 (2)

Over to more Mini based cars, seen at Blyton Park during the Maximum Mini / Mk1 Performance Action Day of last weekend (click here for part 1). I agree with Ogle-owner Guy Loveridge who said: "Really great gathering, which the weather did NOT spoil!". TiCi owner Ian Mitcheson wrote to me: "Blyton Park seems to have established itself very quickly" and I can only confirm that. Let's make the 2016 version even better.

Goff Allen's stunning Mini Jem Mk2 came over fresh from its restoration

Picture Jeroen Booij

Back in 1968 Goff bought another Mini Jem from Robin Statham, he shows the original invoice here

Picture Jeroen Booij

He paid 225 pounds for the shell at the time and swiftly built it up from an old Mini. The car was registered XWW 98G and Goff wonders what happened to it after he sold it in 1971. 

Picture Jeroen Booij

Surprise! Colin Baines brought over his Broadspeed GT replica. The car was built in a record time prior to the show, using an original wrecked car from Japan as a template. 

Picture courtesy Stuart Watson

Other then the original, Colin, who owned a Broadspeed GT in the late 1980s, has decided his new car will have a full fiberglass body. And except for the doors, that's just what it is!

Picture Jeroen Booij

You will know that Neville Trickett has relaunched the MiniSprint for some years now and this is a stunning example of one such recently built cars

Picture Jeroen Booij

The primrose yellow suits the car particularly well and is great with the blue/grey interior, I think. But then open the bonnet and you find a seven-port cylinder head...

Picture Jeroen Booij

And what's better then one Trickett MiniSprint? Another two of course!

Organizer Mark Forster's blue car on the left 

Picture Jeroen Booij

While this one is owned by journalist Keith Mainland, here with his lovely wife Angélica,

 who is a veteran on the Carrera Panamericana road race

Picture Jeroen Booij

Ed Darwinkel's beautiful Midas Gold was driven all the way from Rotterdam 

- via Calais-Dover - a 500 mile trip

Picture Jeroen Booij

What would the Blyton Park event be without father and son Wilkins? This is Nick in the Biota Mk2...

Picture courtesy Stuart Watson

...And that's Derek in the ex-Cars and Car Conversions Cox GTM, of course driven on the track

Picture courtesy Stuart Watson

Another car that was seen on the race track was Paul Ogle's Fletcher GT - 49 years after it was raced for the last time at the Nurburgring - see here

Picture Jeroen Booij

Parting shot - a GTM Coupe, which gave its owner a huge smile on the 

Blyton Park track - that's what it was all about!

Picture Jeroen Booij