And then there was LITTLE RED BOOSTER 2

A strange choice, you might think, for inclusion in Mini Tech News but, surprisingly the GTM has more Mini parts on it than the Elf!  (because the Elf is nearly all space frame). A GTM is, of course, a kit car designed to accept Mini parts which, because it is mid-engined, uses two Mini front subframes; one for the steering and one for the engine!

Although designated a ‘Mid’ engine, the engine sits further back than the middle, - just in front of the rear wheels in fact, so it’s more of a  medium-rear.
Phil’s GTM is a modified sports car which is allowed in the modified production classes in Hillclimbs and Sprints.  The competition here varies between Westfields, Davrians, Ginettas etc. to steel-shelled Minis, Imps and Fiestas.

When Phil ordered the car from GTM Cars Ltd, he received a steel chassis and roll cage, glass fibre body, doors, bonnet, boot lid, bumpers, rear screen and various brackets and mounting pieces, door hinges etc.
All the parts were very well made, and actually fitted together as they should have.  The company were also very friendly and helpful – a rare bonus.
Phil had the unstressed body made thinner to save weight, and then surprised us all by painting the whole thing in Red.  Perhaps he wanted to remind a certain person that he was still around … (neep neep!).

The windows are all in 4mm Perspex and the lights have been removed.  Inside is more sparse than the Elf, with one Kevlar race seat, full harness, 12” leather steering wheel, specially ordered from Mini Spares, a tacho, water temp, oil pressure and boost gauges.
The one gallon fuel tank is mounted up front with a fuel injection pump.  Also in the front is an alloy radiator and fan.
Suspension details are very similar to the Elf with new rubber cones.  Hilos, Spax gas shocks, rose-jointed tie rods and bottom arms, and rose-jointed anti-roll bars.

The braking system is 8 ½” disc brakes back and front with two master cylinders worked on a balance bar arrangement, which is easily adjustable.
Brake lines are all Aeroquip and there is no handbrake.  The ignition system, coil etc. are all mounted inside the car on the rear bulkhead for convenience.
Wheels and tyres are 8” on the front and 9” on the rear with Avon slicks.

Because of the new classes, the engine had to be smaller than the Elf to keep the car competitive, so it now runs on a 984cc unit similar to the old one, but using a short throw crank with longer con rods.  The Power comes out at around 150bhp at the flywheel depending on boost, and is fed through the same dog box and LSD arrangement as the Elf;  but with Hardy Spicer output shafts and very large drive shafts with 1750 Allegro CV joints.
Whereas the Elf would spend most of its time wheelspinning into oblivion, the GTM simply digs in and goes.  Like shit off a shovel.  So, although the GTM is less powerful than the Elf, it makes up for it with lightness and superior traction.

This has resulted in the GTM bettering the Elf's times in all but two of the hillclimbing venues last season.
It just goes to show that brute force and ignorance doesn’t win every time.  It’s just more fun that way.
Especially through the water hazard on the 15th.

 

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Importation rules regarding vehicles are very specific: Only those over 25 years in age may be brought in to the USA without compilance to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).