Senior Minis - My Racing Career On Hold?

Well hey there guys!

This is the first blog I have ever put up on this site, basically my intention of this first blog is to explain to people what work is needed to be done on my stock car (as many people are asking me the question).

First off, for all those that don't know me, I'm Dan, I'm 17 and live in Cumbria, United Kingdom.

Since I was 11 I have been participating in stock car racing. I started off in ministox which are kids between ages of 10 and 16 and have now moved up into the Senior Mini class which is, as it says, for seniors (17+ years).

So, three races into the season and I found myself nicely at the top of the leader board by 20 points and this was great seen as my car is made on a very limited budget (shell cost about £150 and the engine £150) a lot of time and effort was also spent in preparing this car, which, as my father has a full time job and we live on a cul-de-sac is pretty hard to do.

Anyways, away from the jibbering. The last meeting at Warton was on the 4th May. I turned up after our 2 and a half our journey down ready to go racing. My racing day was cut extremely short as I got launched into the steel wall by a fellow racer.

So, after I got pushed off the track and pulled into the pits it was clear straight away just how hard I had hit the wall and how much damage the car had suffered. The front of the car was ripped completely off, both the front and rear sub frames have been badly twisted and the damage to the engine is yet unknown. This made our tempers fly for quite a while as we knew that we just don't have the sort of money, time or space available to fix this damage meaning ultimately my racing career could in fact be over as easily as that.

However, this is where there may just be some light at the end of the tunnel for me. My girls dad is an agricultural engineer and has contacts all over and has very kindly offered to rebuild the front of the mini with box-section that he can easily get hold of from Moss Bay Metals. This therefore means that engine permitting, my mini might be back out for action sooner rather than later!

So, this post is designed to keep those who are interested in how my "rebuild" is going informed! Tomorrow I am taking the day off school in order to take the engine out so we can get rebuilding the front A.S.A.P.

Just before I leave I just want to let you all know that there are no hard feelings at all between me and Mick, we have shook hands, he has apologized and offered to help me out if needed (that's real racing spirit) which is more than I can say for some people in the past! I also would like to thank all those who have shown concern for my own well-being these last couple of days, my phone has been fairly busy! Makes me feel 'special' haha. I am fine in myself, my back is pretty bruised and very stiff and my neck is swelt, but what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger! And in the end, it's character building!

Thanks for reading,
Dan Hurst
#492