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.

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"

Welcome to the forum Gary  

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.

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

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