The explosion in the UK for racing Minis at grass roots level ,usually the first competition car for so many led to a National 850cc Championship for 1966. Bob Fox was the inaugural Champion and retained it for 1967 on his career path to the British Saloon Championship. A troublesome season in 1970 led Bob to focus on top line special saloon racing with modified Minis. In 1972 he did the incredible double of being the class winner in both the national BARC ( Forward Trust ) and BRSCC ( Hepolite ) Championships. Normally racers chose to persue one or the other such is the committment needed but Bob pulled off both in his Wesley Engineering Mini Clubman. The BRSCC
( MCD ) class title being retained in 1973.
Today Bob is very much a legend for grass roots Mini racing ,had the National Championship named after him as long ago as 1968 and is still guest of honour at awards for todays Mini racing generation.
Bob Fox won the inaugural National 850cc Mini Championship ,known as the Mini Se7enFormula in 1966 and retained his title in 1967 beating the tire-squeeling hoards as the Mini explosion took off and became a regular sight at every UK circuit. 12 wins were recorded in 1967. Autosport reflected 'before his unfortunate Mallory Park crash Bob Fox had already assured himself of the Mini Se7en Championship'. It was a nasty crash too after a front wheel collapsed coming into Gerards ,Bob hit the bank and was partially impaled by the steering column.
For 1968 TEAC ( Thames Estuary Auto Club ) expanded the Mini7 Championship to 3 classes such was the demand. Bob made it three 850cc titles ,with fellow rising Mini stars Terry Harmer winning the 1000cc and Geoff Wood the 1300cc titles. This was ahead of the national expansion to 1000cc ( known as Mini Miglia ) in 1970.
Below - Read about the Mini Se7en seasons and Bob's Championship wins in these Mini 7 Racing Archive publications available from www.mini7.co.uk for £6 per copy plus postage.
DATE | CIRCUIT | RACE | RESULT |
SEP 22nd | SILVERSTONE | MGCC saloon race | outside top 5 ( 1st in class ) |
1968 saw Bob step out into open special saloon races for the first time. Still using the 850cc unit Autosport described 'Bob Fox's very fast Mini' at Silverstone in one of his 10 class wins that season where he also took the TEAC Mini 7 850 class.
For 1969 a new 1293cc car and a challenge in the top BRSCC Redex championship in particular pitted Bob with the cream of special saloon racing. Gerry Marshall ,Martin Birrane ,George Whitehead and in his 1300 class the likes of Harry Ratcliffe
( Vita ) ,Rob Mason ,Richard Longman
( Downton ) and Pete Hawthorne. Some of the Minis were now able to hit 110 bhp.
6 class wins were acheived along the season.
DATE # | CIRCUIT | RACE | RESULT |
MAR 19th | MALLORY PARK | BRSCC REDEX R1 | DNF handling |
MAR 22nd | OULTON PARK | BRSCC-NW saloon race | DNF collision |
JUL 13th | MALLORY PARK | BRSCC REDEX | 6th overall ( 4th in class ) |
SEP 20th | OULTON PARK | BRSCC REDEX | outside top 3 ( 2nd in class ) |
OCT 12th 151 | MALLORY PARK | London MC saloon race | 6th overall ( 5th in class ) |
The step up to the Group 2 British Saloon Championship was a tough season for Bob with only 2 finishes from 8 races. It was a mixture of bad luck ,poor grip and non of the Minis could live with the Broadspeed Escort 1.3 of John Fitzpatrick. 4 Club races id bring 4 finishes however. The car was advertised from September and the season cut short.
DATE # | CIRCUIT | RACE | RESULT |
MAR 22nd 139 | BRANDS HATCH | BRIT SALOON CHAMP R1 | DNF clutch |
MAR 27th | SNETTERTON | BRIT SALOON CHAMP R2 | DNQ |
MAR 30th 37 | THRUXTON | BRIT SALOON CHAMP R3 | 16th overall ( 5th in class ) |
APR 18th | OULTON PARK | Lancs + Chesh Saloon race | 2nd overall ( 1st in class ) |
APR 26th 21 | SILVERSTONE | BRIT SALOON CHAMP R4 | 12th overall ( 3rd in class ) |
MAY 17th 31 | CADWELL PARK | BRSCC-NW TROY TIRES R5 | 9th ( 4th in class ) lost E pipe |
MAY 25th | CRYSTAL PALACE | BRIT SALOON CHAMP R5 | DNF accident |
JUN 6th 33 | SILVERSTONE | BRIT SALOON CHAMP R6 | DNS engine on warm up lap |
JUL 12th | MALLORY PARK | Coventry + Warw Saloon race | 3rd overall ( 3rd in class ) |
JUL 18th 31 | BRANDS HATCH | BRIT SALOON CHAMP R9 | DNS |
AUG 9th | MALLORY PARK | BRSCC-M Saloon race | outside top 4 ( 2nd in class ) |
AUG 22nd 172 | OULTON PARK | BRIT SALOON CHAMP R10 | DNF |
Bob returned from Group 2 back to special saloons and focused on the 1300cc class of the BRSCC Hepolite Glacer Championship , one of the big 2 national series. After 3 rounds he actually led outright until Les Nash in the 1000cc class romped away. Despite 14 class podiums Bob had to settle for class runner-up ( third outright ) to rival Geoff Wood in the British Vita Mini.
The late season saw the car fitted with both a Clubman front end and more importantly a wicked Lotus Twin-Cam 1300cc conversion by Paul Ivey ready for a big challenge for 1972.
DATE # | CIRCUIT | RACE | RESULT |
MAR 14th | MALLORY PARK | HEPOLITE R1 | outside top 5 ( 1st in class ) |
MAR 28th | SNETTERTON | HEPOLITE R2 | raced |
APR 12th | BRANDS HATCH | HEPOLITE R3 | 3rd overall ( 1st in class ) |
APR 24th 52 | OULTON PARK | HEPOLITE R4 | DNF - out of fuel |
MAY 2nd | SNETTERTON | HEPOLITE R5 | raced |
MAY 16th 103 | MALLORY PARK | HEPOLITE R6 | 3rd overall ( 3rd in class ) |
MAY 31st | CASTLE COMBE | HEPOLITE R7 | 3rd overall ( 2nd in class ) |
JUN 12th | OULTON PARK | HEPOLITE R8 | 2nd overall ( 2nd in class ) |
JUN 12th | OULTON PARK | Hepolite support race | 1st overall ( 1st in class ) |
JUN 20th | BRANDS HATCH | HEPOLITE R9 | 4th overall ( 1st in class ) |
JUL 3rd 58 | OULTON PARK | HEPOLITE R10 | 2nd overall ( 2nd in class ) |
JUL 4th 51 | MALLORY PARK | HEPOLITE R11 | 3rd overall ( 2nd in class ) |
JUL 18th 118 | CADWELL PARK | BARC OSRAM | 2nd overall ( 2nd in class ) |
AUG 7th | CRYSTAL PALACE | BRSCC Daily Express Trophy | 7th overall ( 4th in class ) |
AUG 15th | BRANDS HATCH | HEPOLITE R13 | 4th overall ( 3rd in class ) |
AUG 29th 149 | MALLORY PARK | HEPOLITE R14 | DNS ? |
SEP 11th 90 | CRYSTAL PALACE | BARC OSRAM | DNF |
SEP 12th 104 | CADWELL PARK | BRSCC-N Northern R9 | DNF - 9 laps |
SEP 18th 76 | OULTON PARK | BARC-NW Williams Trophy | DNF |
OCT 2nd 113 | OULTON PARK | HEPOLITE R15 | 5th overall ( 2nd in class ) |
OCT 10th 72 | MALLORY PARK | HEPOLITE R16 | 4th overall ( 2nd in class ) |
OCT 16th 197 | OULTON PARK | HEPOLITE R17 | 3rd overall ( 3rd in class ) |
OCT 24th | MALLORY PARK | HEPOLITE R18 | 3rd overall ( 3rd in class ) |
NOV 7th | MALLORY PARK | BRSCC-M saloon race | raced |
DEC 26th | BRANDS HATCH | BRSCC Hepolite Trophy | 2nd overall ( 2nd in class ) |
Bob's finest season winning his class 16 times in the green and orange Twin-Cam Clubman taking the 1300cc class in BOTH the big national series. The BARC Forward Trust class was won 21 points to Longman and Shaw's 16 ,taking 4th overall.
Autosport reporting'The Paul Ivey twin-cam in Bob Fox's Mini is clearly now potent and reliable and this Midlands combination comfotably won the 1300 class'. At Mallory the class lap record of 39.4 was equalled in July.
DATE # | CIRCUIT | RACE | RESULT |
JAN 16th | BRANDS HATCH | Rochester MC Jubilee Trophy | DNF - black flagged |
MAR 5th | BRANDS HATCH | HEPOLITE R1 | DNF - Clutch |
MAR 12th 66 | MALLORY PARK | FORWARD TRUST R1 | 5th overall ( 1st in class ) |
MAR 18th 99 | OULTON PARK | HEPOLITE R2 | 3rd overall ( 1st in class ) |
MAR 19th 295 | SILVERSTONE | HEPOLITE R3 | 5th overall ( 1st in class ) |
MAR 26th | SILVERSTONE | BRDC TRIPLEX R1 | 2nd overall ( 2nd in class ) |
APR 1st 106 | CASTLE COMBE | HEPOLITE R4 | 3rd overall ( 1st in class ) |
APR 3rd 146 | MALLORY PARK | HEPOLITE R5 | DNS - blown piston |
MAY 7th 80 | CROFT | FORWARD TRUST R3 | 2nd overall ( 1st in class ) |
MAY 13th 80 | OULTON PARK | HEPOLITE R7 | 1st overall ( 1st in class ) |
MAY 29th | OULTON PARK | FORWARD TRUST R4 | DNF - Cam |
JUL 1st 125 | AINTREE | BROOKHIRE 1300cc race | 1st overall ( 1st in class ) |
JUL 2nd | SILVERSTONE | FORWARD TRUST R7 | 5th overall ( 1st in class ) |
JUL 9th | MALLORY PARK | BRSCC-M saloon race | 1st overall ( 1st in class ) |
JUL 16th | CADWELL PARK | FORWARD TRUST R8 | raced |
JUL 22nd 46 | OULTON PARK | HEPOLITE R13 | 2nd overall ( 1st in class ) |
JUL 30th | THRUXTON | FORWARD TRUST R9 | 3rd overall ( 1st in class ) |
Still using the twin-cam engine Bob retained the BRSCC class title in 1973 known as the MCD championship as it was between Hepolite and Simoniz sponsorship deals that season. 6 class wins were recorded during the season.
DATE # | CIRCUIT | RACE | RESULT |
APR 7th | OULTON PARK | ESSO UNIFLO | 2nd overall ( 1st in class ) |
( 1st in class ) | |||
( 1st in class ) | |||
( 1st in class ) | |||
( 1st in class ) | |||
( 1st in class ) |
results to be added
Bob's 1974 season was a little late starting and engine failure at Brands in May meant he didnt really get going until June. Thereafter mostly concentartiong on the 20-round BRSCC Simoniz Championship with half the season gone he finished a creditable 3rd in the 1300 class with 3 class wins and two 2nds. Finishing behind the Motospeed Mini pair of Paul and Greg Taft. Car described as green/orange with Wesley 1293cc engine.
1975 seems to be his winding down season for special saloons.
Photo : Mallory Park the great leveller...here Fox ( 9 ) and Heaney ( 10 ) mix it with 2 big bangers round the hairpin on a non-championship race on May 27th. Tony Rosen ( Mustang ) and Malcolm Stevens' newly aquired Falcon provide the heavy metal . The Minis dead-heated at the flag for 6th.
DATE # | CIRCUIT | RACE | RESULT |
MAY 5th 43 | BRANDS HATCH | SIMONIZ R5 | DNF - engine |
MAY 27th 9 | MALLORY PARK | BRSCC saloon race | 7th overall ( 3rd in class ) |
JUN 8th 123 | AINTREE | Aintree CC - BROOK HIRE | DNF - fan belt |
JUN 23rd 68 | MALLORY PARK | SIMONIZ R10 | 8th overall ( 2nd in class ) |
JUN 30th 194 | BRANDS HATCH | SIMONIZ R11 | DNF - 13 laps |
JUL 14th 94 | MALLORY PARK | NSCC ( BRDC ) ESSO UNIFLO | 7th overall ( 3rd in class ) |
JUL 27th 237 | OULTON PARK | SIMONIZ R12 | 4th overall ( 1st in class ) |
JUL 28th 67 | MALLORY PARK | SIMONIZ R13 | DNF - 7 laps |
AUG 10th | OULTON PARK | BRDC ESSO UNIFLO | 2nd overall ( 2nd in class ) |
AUG 11th 2 | MALLORY PARK | SIMONIZ R14 | DNS ? |
AUG 26th | SNETTERTON | SIMONIZ R15 | raced |
SEP 8th 137 | SILVERSTONE | SIMONIZ R16 | 7th overall ( 1st in class ) |
SEP 29th 23 | MALLORY PARK | SIMONIZ R18 | 3rd overall ( 1st in class ) |
OCT 5th 26 | SILVERSTONE | BRDC ESSO UNIFLO | DNF - misfire 8 laps |
OCT 26th 118 | OULTON PARK | SIMONIZ R20 | 5th overall ( 2nd in class ) |
DATE # | CIRCUIT | RACE | RESULT |
MAR 8th 26 | OULTON PARK | SIMONIZ R1 | 6th overall ( 1st in class ) |
JUN 29th | SILVERSTONE | MCC Gold Cup race | 6th overall ( 6th in class ) |
JUL 2nd | OULTON PARK | BRDC ESSO UNIFLO | outside top 5 ( 3rd in class ) |
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