H modifieds

Full Circle: Powers and the Hotshot

October 27, 2020 By pete

Dale Powers in his Crosley, circa 1954. Dale Powers photo

By Eric Davison
With a sidebar on the Bandini Crosley

COVID 19 has raised hell with most lives and relationships. Too much togetherness has caused some serious family breaches. Just about every activity that you can name has been affected. Hang around at your favorite tavern? No! A round of golf with your pals? No, unless you each have a private cart. So much for the fellowship that has drawn so many to the game. Maybe trout fishing in a river in Montana is OK but fishing is a lonely sport to begin with. Football games, baseball games, basketball; they all seem a bit weird without screaming fans.

It seems that us car guys have been spared. Those of us who enjoy hands-on experiences with machines propelled by fossil fuels can still participate. Got a great car. Get in it and go. Or, go to the garage and polish it. Or, just sit there and admire it.

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Don Racine and the Aardvark

October 2, 2018 By pete

A Conversation with Don Racine: The story of his H-Modified Class Aardvark

By Peter Darnall
Photos courtesy Don Racine Collection

From the Archives, October 2016

Don Racine has been involved with sports car racing for many years. He has developed an affinity for small-bore front engine/front wheel drive machinery and is an acknowledged master of the Mini Cooper’s unique handling characteristics. Don founded Mini Mania in 1974. The firm, which is now located in California’s picturesque Gold Country, has grown to become the largest United States based supplier of parts for the Classic Mini.

Recently I had the opportunity to meet with Don at Mini Mania headquarters. The subject or our discussion was not the ubiquitous Mini, but his amazing Aardvark.

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Don Racine and the Aardvark

November 29, 2016 By pete

A Conversation with Don Racine: The story of his H-Modified Class Aardvark

By Peter Darnall
Photos courtesy Don Racine Collection

Don Racine has been involved with sports car racing for many years. He has developed an affinity for small-bore front engine/front wheel drive machinery and is an acknowledged master of the Mini Cooper’s unique handling characteristics. Don founded Mini Mania in 1974. The firm, which is now located in the California’s picturesque Gold Country, has grown to become the largest United States based supplier of parts for the Classic Mini.

Recently I had the opportunity to meet with Don at Mini Mania headquarters. The subject or our discussion was not the ubiquitous Mini, but his amazing Aardvark.

We present this video at the beginning of this article, because you won’t believe how fast the Aardvark is, and you’ll want to know more about Don’s vintage racer after you see the Aardvark in action as it eats Porsches, Jags and Gullwings at Laguna Seca.

The Aardvark is a feisty little sports racer based on the French Panhard Junior sports car. If you were expecting a sleek, Italianesque creation, you would have been disappointed. [Read more…] about Don Racine and the Aardvark