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MINIPOWER was formed in 1999 by Paul Carman and James Robinson.
Both have between them over 25 years experience on the MINI scene.
Paul was the manager of AVONBAR between 1987 - 1991, where he worked alongside other well known future MINI specialists(Ian ‘OZ’ Osborne who now operates OAP and has had incredible success in the MINI MIGLIA & MINI 7 championships and Stuart Gurr who formed V-MAX RACING, renowned for their cylinder heads and turbo conversions) He left AVONBAR to form the FREEWAY MOTORSPORT Partnership, who became a leading tuning Company in the early nineties.
FREEWAY MOTORSPORT were renowned for their engine tuning and had several of their cars winning various championships, both at home and abroad, the most famous of these being the championship winning BRSCC MODIFIED SALOON MINI driven by MARC LE MAITRE between 1992 - 1994, the CARS & CAR CONVERSIONS MINICROSS car driven by NIGEL GRIMWOOD, ‘Fleagle’ the MINIWORLD MINICROSS car driven by RICHARD MARCROFT and three times MINICROSS champion, PAUL ‘SPIKE’ OAKLEY. RICHARD WILLIAMSON was another MINIWORLD journalist, (before going to AUTO EXPRESS ) who had some preparation on his MINI 7 racer carried out at FREEWAY MOTORSPORT.
Between FREEWAY MOTORSPORT, MARC LE MAITRE, NIGEL GRIMWOOD and RICHARD MARCROFT there have been several editorial features in MINIWORLD, CARS & CAR CONVERSIONS & FAST CAR magazines. In 1994, at the MINI 35 celebrations held at Silverstone, the FREEWAY MOTORSPORT/MARC LE MAITRE MINI, won the coveted title of ‘FASTEST MINI IN THE WORLD’ for a steel bodyshell, coming just third overall to two spaceframe 16V Mini’s!!
This car is now retired and is currently on loan to MINISPEED(2000)Ltd in Byfleet, Surrey, the successor to the Company that Paul founded in 1996 - MINISPEED(UK)Ltd. Success still followed him at MINISPEED(UK) where Paul turned his attention to suspension tuning.
Paul felt there were plenty of Companies selling handling & suspension parts but no-one to fit them and set them up correctly. After looking at several options a ‘SUPERTRACKER’ four wheel optical alignment system was purchased and the Company since has sorted out hundreds of MINI suspension problems, not just for individuals but other MINI specialists.
MINIWORLD magazine also had three cars specially built for a competition they ran in 1998.
By 1999 MINISPEED(UK)Ltd had turned in to a large, respected Company in MINI circles, and was now employing nine staff. Due to differences with other Directors, who joined the Company in 1997, Paul decided to sell his remaining share of the Company and scale down to a smaller, more specialised Company.
James Robinson has worked with Paul since 1993. FREEWAY MOTORSPORT were looking for a gearbox specialist and with his knowledge of MINI transmissions he soon got the job! He also ran the stores at MINISPEED(UK) and has good parts knowledge. James was also responsible for the care & preparation of the MINICROSS car driven by CCC’s magazine NIGEL GRIMWOOD.
James has worked together with Paul for over six years now, and feeling that the future was uncertain at MINISPEED(UK)Ltd without Paul at the helm, he decided to leave and become involved at MINIPOWER.