Nev has been competing in motorsports for a number of years, both as a driver and as a navigator. He originally started off sprinting a Honda Prelude but was a persuaded that a mini would be a great 'cheap' motorsports car. The mini was purchased for the grand sum of £85 and Nev was soon out competing in sprints, hillclimbs and production car trails in it.

Nev is also an experienced marshal on stage rallies and has been the assistant stage commander for a number of years on Wallasey MC's Promenade Stages rally.

Below is the background story of Nev's mini adventure.

"During your time reading this please bear in mind, I am in the Computing/Networking trade and had never done anything like this before.

I was competing in sprints in a Honda Prelude 2nd Edition when I got speaking to a Wallasey Motor Club member at their dinner dance, he asked why I didn't do other events such as hillclimbs, autotests and rallies. I said 'it's all about the funds' to which his reply was 'so why don't you get a mini, everything is cheaper!'. So I did my research and low and behold he was right - thanks Keith!

The Prelude was sold on E-bay to a "happy" man from down south, and then an advert was put in the local Loot saying:

The first advert didn't attract anything, but the second one did.

I went to Runcorn to collect the 1000 cc Mayfair Automatic which cost me £85, it had been stood a while but eventually started and we got it home. put it in the garage and started the strip down.

At about the same time I received a phone call from a bloke regarding the advert saying he had a 1000cc engine on a sub frame and would I be interested in it as he had to make room in his garden, of course I said yes. So a trip across the road to a neighbour who had a van, asking if he wouldn't mind collecting it with me . Even though the engine was not far away it took us hours to collect - thanks Graham.

Soon after this in 2003, we found out my wife was pregnant with our fourth child but it would be our first son, we were over the moon - time available to be spent in the garage was now significantly limited.

So far the following had been completed :

Rubbed down, cut out, filled in and a new undercoat paint.

COF top coat "not too good but I've seen worse".

White wheel arches "I know the front are on the wrong way, but I didn't know , like I said at the beginning its all new to me and they don't come with instructions!".

The 1000cc manual sub frame.

1275 engine.

New wiring loom "Thanks for the help installing it Dad",

Roll Cage.

Subaru STI bucket Seats.

3 point Harness.

One & three quarters SU.

K&N cone air filter.

LCB and Stainless steel exhaust.

Clutch pedal.

After 18 months the car was ready for its MOT.

As you can see the car has now progressed to a full hit rally car with most of the above upgraded or changed to meet the MSA regulations - but if I can do it so can you!"