The performance MINI scene is a rich and varied place to be a part of, with lots of colourful characters doing their own thing. This iconic British brand still inspires incredible loyalty and brings together lots of like-minded people to clubs, meets and Facebook groups.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a stock daily, a stunning show car or a full-on racer; there’s always respect from fellow MINI fans. However, people do tend to stick to their chosen thing. For example, if you’re into buffing the life out of your car and presenting it in Show and Shine competitions, you won’t be taking it on track. Similarly, if you spend every spare moment thrashing your car to within an inch of its life on a circuit, chances are you don’t spend the rest of your free time polishing it furiously; horses for courses and all that.
But, there’s always an exception to the rule and Morgan Gray, owner of this stunning JCW, is proof. You see, not only is it one of the finest looking and impeccably maintained examples, it also gets driven hard on track, which has prompted more than the odd raised eyebrow.
“It’s gets a good reaction,” says Morgan, “people say, ‘glad to see you using it for the purpose intended’ – some modify the brakes, suspension and engine, then don’t use them hard, which seems a waste,” he confirms. While some may baulk at the idea of chucking their pristine, modified MINI around a circuit, we say good on you for enjoying it.
And Morgan is no stranger to track days. “I’ve been to Spa, Silverstone, Goodwood and Castle Combe – the car’s great fun to drive.” he laughs. He’s also taken it on long road trips, to the south of France including Monaco, racking up a lot of miles and even more smiles along the way.
So, what made our 23-year old lift engineer choose a MINI?
Denne historien er fra Nov - Dec 2019-utgaven av Performance Mini.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra Nov - Dec 2019-utgaven av Performance Mini.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
What Goes Round Comes Round
Thought lambo doors have had their day? Wrong – vince wong’s highly detailed build is here to show that eyecatching mods are timeless. And this build’s about far more than a set of fancy doors…
The Full Works
After cutting his teeth on a Mini Roadster, morgan gray managed to get his dream car – a fully loaded, Jen 3 John Cooper works, and he uses it properly, too…
How To…De-Chrome A Mini
De-chroming is a quick, easy, and very effective way to improve a modern mini’s looks and appearance. Here’s what’s involved…
Purple Haze
THE SPIRIT OF THE SIXTIES IS STRONG IN THIS BLACK EYE PURPLE R53 – AND YET AT THE SAME TIME, IT’S A THOROUGHLY MODERN BUILD, HIDING HILARIOUS PERFORMANCE BENEATH ITS SPANGLY DISCO PAINTWORK…
Driven: Mini Cooper S 60 Years Edition
MINI HAS A REPUTATION FOR MAKING SPECIAL BIRTHDAY EDITIONS, SO MARTYN HAS BEEN DRIVING THE LATEST TO FIND OUT IF THE COOPER S 60 YEARS EDITION IS A WORTHY CONTENDER…
Cruel Sport
UNFORTUNATE MISTAKES HAVE SHOWN ALEX JUST HOW FINE THE MARGINS ARE IN THE PRO CLASS, AND JUST HOW CRUEL MOTORSPORT CAN BE AT TIMES…
Purple Passion
Steve Davidson dreamed of owning a Cooper S since school and we reckon his BMW-wheeled R53 has been worth the wait.
Family Business
MINIs have been a part of Antonio Sapata’s whole life, leading him to build this R53 with unique custom touches as a tribute to his uncle.
Mini Variant Buyers Guide
The boom in second generation MINIs gave clues as to how BMW planned to develop the brand; here’s more about these MINI variants and why they’re still worth a look
Mini One D ClubMan
First came the Cooper, Cooper D, Cooper S and Cooper SD and ALL4 Clubmans. But we’ve just spent some time with the one that MINI told us wouldn’t be built – the entry-level One D.