Mini

Attack of the Flying Purple People Eaters—Twin Tiny Terrors from Texas!

Steve Natale
Photo: Harold Pace
Photo: Harold Pace
Just in case anyone hadn’t heard the famous Sheb Wooley song, one car carried a license plate that spelled it out.
Photo: Harold Pace
The Minis raced in the SCCA’s Texas Region, which had its own popular Drivers Club for those competing in the 1960s.
Photo: Harold Pace

Everyone who experienced the 1960s has fond memories of the glory years of sedan racing. The burnt-orange Mustangs, dark blue Camaros, flame-red Cougars and red-white-and-blue Javelins of the Trans-Am are brilliantly etched on our mind’s eye, but how many recall the glowing lavender Minis? These two Austin Mini Cooper S racing cars, based in Fort Worth, Texas, dominated the SCCA C Sedan class for the first three years of its existence, competed in the Trans-Am and even went endurance racing!

The SCCA, previously enamored of “proper” sports cars (with a few formula cars thrown in for amusement), caught the sedan bug big time in 1966. Starting in 1964, the arrival of the first wave of hot sedans with sporting pretensions had caused race promoters across America to promote standalone races for these newcomers, based on their wide appeal among new car buyers. The SCCA was watching, and decided to get in on the fun! The SCCA not only laid out regs for four member-level sedan classes, but added the Trans-Am pro series as well.

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