Hi All,

I just joined as I'm looking to start out manufacture of pannels for BMW first Gen Mini's.

I have a 2002 Cooper S (supercharged) that I am looking to do some panels for as I am building it to go racing, currently looking at making boot, bumper/bonnet (as a one piece with the bonnet), a-panels, doors, rear quarter panels, fenders/arches, air ducts, splitter, diffuser, dash, roof and boot floor. I'm also toying with the idea of making moulds using my windows as bucks and then custom fabricating polycarbonate windows.

The majority of stuff I make will be out of neccesity and if I get the technique nailed I am looking at releasing parts for sale to other Mini enthusiasts.

I've been considering this for a long time and am excited about starting but also anxious about getting it wrong, failing, wasting money due to ill preparation. I hope to be starting small projects to get started soon and then upscalling production fully from February next year.

Regards
Gary "Whitebits"

I''m building a race car!
I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade..and try to find somebody whose life''s given them vodka and have a party - Ron White
Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting - Steve McQueen

Hi Gary, welcome to the mad house
Plenty of us on here have done car panels etc so ask questions if you need to, or search some of the project threads. Mistakes can get costly very quickly  in this game

Warren

Carbon Copies Ltd

Thanks Warren I've seen quite a few posts you've made and many others, looks like this is the right place to get started.

Welcome to the forum Gary  

A word of warning, composites are addictive. Very soon you will find yourself wanting to make everything out of carbon  Welcome to the "dark side"

Sounds like a lot of work!  Before you embark on some costly and labour intensive fabrications I'd be checking the rule book for your target race series to see if this sort of thing is allowed.  I'd also try nudging the organisers to see if its likely to be outlawed in the near future. 

Will your car be spaceframed?  The reason I ask is because if you want to start swapping out the 1/4's and the roof you may upset the structural integrity of the shell.

My regs are free on bodywork as per blue book so as long as it is no longer than 100cm out front to back and max width of the wing mirrors I can pretty much go to town on her!

I'm not allowed a space frame but will have a 10 point frame attached to the shell at the turrets, 4 on the floor, the last four are split stich attachments 2 at the screen pillars via swaged plate and 2 at the b pillars again via swaged plate, essentially the cage and the car become one and all the sheet metal can be replaced.

The crush zone needs to be intact, not because of rules neccessarily, but to enable support of the seating and lower frame, this also ensures the strength of the car via length and width remains in tact.

A lot fo this has been learn as you go, I know so much more than I did 3 months ago before I took my National B and swatted up on the MSA regs. My race series ahve also confirmed that 2015 will remain the same, no minimum weight limit!

I''m building a race car!
I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade..and try to find somebody whose life''s given them vodka and have a party - Ron White
Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting - Steve McQueen

Sounds like the perfect candidate for loosing a few pounds then!  Keep us posted with how you get on, I always like seeing peoples work.