Top 5 World Records Set by Minis
The MINI is a unique car with an equally unique community surrounding it. Love it or hate it, it’s popularity continues to hold a strong following. Since its inception over 60 years ago, there have been plenty of world records set with this tiny vehicle. These are the top five.
1. Clowning Around
MINIs are, well, miniature. That leaves less space inside the cabin than most other vehicles. Of course, this didn’t stop a group of gymnasts known as Dani and the Mini Skirts from cramming 28 people inside of one. The record was set in 2014 and shows that the concept of a clown car isn’t outside of reality.
2. Speed Demon
Nearly every car has a Nürburgring lap record, but the MINI holds a unique one. Chinese stunt driver Han Yue completed a Green Hell lap, one of the most torturous, in over 45 minutes. The really impressive part is that he did it on two wheels, driving side wheelie style the entire time. You probably shouldn’t try the same, but there are Folsom car accident lawyers for just that sort of thing.
3. Parallel Madness
Being so miniature, MINIs happen to be one of the easiest cars to parallel park. As you might imagine, fans have taken that to the extreme by trying to squeeze into the tightest spaces available. In 2015, stunt driver Alastair Moffat set a new world record for cramming a classic Mini Cooper into a spot only 34cm larger than the car.
4. Need for Speed
The Mini Cooper S was a beast on the track, but it’s top speed wasn’t the fastest around. That is, until a team from New Zealand changed the game at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Their Project 64 introduced a turbocharged 970cc engine, complete with DOHC cylinder heads, into a 1964 Cooper S. They broke the under 1000cc record in 2012 with an average speed of 267km/h.
5. The Convoy
Guinness keeps records for just about everything, including longest lines of cars by type. Yes, it’s a thing. In the 2009 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, a record was set for most MINIs in a convoy. They gathered 1450 of these cars, making their way from Cystal Palace to London for the Brighton Mini Run.
What’s Next?
These are just the top five records set by MINIs of all shapes and sizes. There are other records for different models of people cramming themselves inside, top speeds on various tracks, and others that are equally as bizarre. It’s surprising there isn’t a record for most cars with a Union Jack painted on them by now.
One thing is for sure, the MINI enjoys a fervent community that’s hellbent on pushing the boundaries of this highly unique car. You can expect more record setting to take place in the years to come, because the MINI isn’t going anywhere for a long time. Keep your eyes peeled for more outstanding skills and strange goals set by this miniature automobile.
