“I had it for a month and knew absolutely nothing about them. Something was always going wrong. It was in the garage every weekend so I had to sell it in the end. Then when I started working at Bosch I decided that I wanted another one… one that actually worked! So I asked the bank for some money… and it all went from there!”

James’ 1977 Estate was used as the bridal car for his recent wedding. Since meeting James, his wife Jess has become quite the Mini enthusiast herself. “She wanted one of her own, so picked up a shell from the breaker’s yard. It had the usual rot so had to be plated and silled. We rushed to get it on the road for her 22nd, and she’s been driving it for three years. As soon as we finished that one it was onto the next. We just can’t help ourselves. When we’re not in the garage we’re at the rally.”

James learnt everything he knows about Minis from his good friend, Steve Price, but they almost didn’t meet at all. “When I first turned up to the club meet, I nearly drove away without talking to anyone. I took a look in the pub and no one looked particularly Miniish so I left. Steve came chasing after me and brought me back. After about six months the club folded, so we decided to start our own.” The Wyre Forest Mini Club is Steve’s creation but James is second in command and the pair spend every spare minute working on each others’ cars.