Project Binky

They've got the paint reveal, post-paint prep, installation of the wiring, rear subframe, front subframe and engine, suspension tweaking, interior fitting and engine tuning to go. If it doesn't go to 40 episodes I'd be surprised! Even with people as experienced as they are there will be a few issues they need to sort out as the final build progresses.

In a perverse way I don't want the series to end!

"****ting stick adaptor, run up on the lathe"
🤣🤣🤣

I can't wait for the paint reveal - I'm going for a really muted finish, maybe a traditional mini colour, so that they can 'go under the radar'.

We love it. Every time we watch an episode my OH says "if we ever win the lottery, they're building me a car."

Then they dropped the bomb of the “Safety Turbo” a few episodes ago. Can’t remember which one though but it did cause a stir for a while.

GTX3582R

We love it. Every time we watch an episode my OH says “if we ever win the lottery, they’re building me a car.”

order it now, buy the time it's ready you'd have won the lottery 😉

I confess, I'm finding it more and more boring. I can't not watch though!

neilnevill
Member

I confess, I’m finding it more and more boring. I can’t not watch though

So sad.. but this is why 99% of projects fail, ppl get bored of the little details. Personally I love it & cant wait for the next episode whether it’s Binky or escargot (who else would just swap out engines & running gear in a truck)

Then there's the MG...

Plenty of life left in Binky: paint, assembly, interior, suspension setup, rolling road tuning, track testing, road testing, MOT/SVA testing, further modifications...

Having rebuilt many cars i find it anything but boring as i realise how easy it is to throw a bunch of stuff at a car and declare it finished but to do a renovation and rebuild properly, ie - to a high standard does take an extraordinary amount of time so i'm more than happy to watch a 30 min video on making a bracket/doing wiring etc.

Having rebuilt many cars i find it anything but boring as i realise how easy it is to throw a bunch of stuff at a car and declare it finished but to do a renovation and rebuild properly, ie – to a high standard does take an extraordinary amount of time so i’m more than happy to watch a 30 min video on making a bracket/doing wiring etc.

This, but with motorcycles for me. It's the little brackety doofers that end up being the time-consuming PITA that make or break a project.

The wait goes on but meanwhile...

" New series "Bargain Racement" will start on Saturday 19th September at 19:00 BST on YouTube. All patrons will receive it on Friday night. This time, the car is already finished and we've filmed most of the episodes.
*We don't know when the next episode of Binky or Escargot will be, we're working on it.* "

I was soooo hoping for more Binky.

I get the impression the paint shop has let them down / got a backlog.

It's not Binky, but it'll do for now!

My wife had an Aygo, great little car. Would love a shot in 'race' one. Really enjoyed that video.

Blimey....about 3yrs worth of Binky progress in one Aygo episode!
I suppose it would be, as it seems to be a kit of bits.

I'd expect those lads to knock that car out in a weekend! Seeing as the whole idea behind the series is minimum cost, ie minimum prep required, and the cars are all the same it should easily be possible for a keen amateur to sort a car out in a week. Hell, you could probably smash your car up one race weekend and have a fresh one built for the next if you were able to work a few hours every evening.

reluctantjumper
Full Member

I’d expect those lads to knock that car out in a weekend! Seeing as the whole idea behind the series is minimum cost, ie minimum prep required, and the cars are all the same it should easily be possible for a keen amateur to sort a car out in a week.

Yah, but then there's some folks that go phew, a restrictive race class, I'll save tons of time and effort. And then there's some folks that go full nascar and invest tons of extra time and effort to make sure they build the best car they can within the rules.

Waaay to quick getting 3 episodes done. Looking forward to watching it later.

Glad to see the virus hasn't made its way to Croft pitlane then!

about 4 gear changes a lap 😀

It's, erm...

Finished? :O

What the? A BOM car gets finished?

Want a shot! Loved driving about town in my wife's Aygo (not so much on the motorway), reminds me of my Fiat Cinquecento Sporting.

Really fancy getting a basic small sporty (feeling fast rather than actually being fast) car, something like the Twingo Sport or Fiat 500 twin-air.

Really fancy getting a basic small sporty (feeling fast rather than actually being fast) car, something like the Twingo Sport or Fiat 500 twin-air.

I owned several classic minis back in the day, still the most fun on 4 wheels. 😀

Always wanted a mini but think I've left it a bit late now.

didnthurt
Full Member

Really fancy getting a basic small sporty (feeling fast rather than actually being fast) car, something like the Twingo Sport or Fiat 500 twin-air.

Once I get my donor legacy out of the lockup, I'm thinking I might get something cheap to fill the space- didn't plan to but I'm liking having a whole separate sekrit man cave. And if I do, it'll totally be a sub-£1k Ford Puma 1.7. I've never had a small car, I went motorbike-bike hauler- supersonic bike hauler, these vids have given me the itch.

Watching that has made me itch for a small underpowered car to thrash, like I had in my youth. The best was a 949cc Citroen AX I had as a stop-gap car during uni, it was bought from a place called Dan's Bangers in the Valleys to give you an idea of it's quality! You could basically drive it flat-out everywhere and never get a speeding ticket. I once had some guy come up to me in the pub demanding to know what mods I'd done to it as he couldn't keep up with me on the local road that was used as a racetrack (A4077 between Gilwern and Crickhowell) in his Saxo VTR. His face was a proper picture when I said it was completely stock apart from some wider tyres - 165/70R13 instead of the 145/70R13's it came with. I'm no driving god but he was terrible at keeping momentum up through the corners so his power advantage couldn't make up the difference on the short straights!

Always wanted a mini but think I’ve left it a bit late now.

I had one as my first car and stupidly sold it after storing it for 5 years after the engine gave up. Was an '84 with a genuine 33k on it (was my aunt's car from new so we had every receipt for it since then) and was completely rust-free. I thought I could buy another in a few years but then the scrappage scheme happened and prices rocketed. I'm trying desperately to keep as much of my redundancy package back as I can so I can buy another one but the prices are rising fast still so I doubt I'll be able to get one. It's my biggest regret in life selling that car as my parent's scrimped and saved to get it me for my 17th birthday.

I started to read up on mini modding a few years ago and was aghast at the amount of companies that specialised in making high quality (and high cost) components for a mini. One company even made a custom subframe where you could straight bolt in a superbike engine. Once I started to price up the build is want, the high cost put me off.

I just want a standard 998 A-Series with Revolite wheels, a decent paint job and a solid interior. 2 years ago suitable cars were available for £2k so the total cost would be about £3.5k all-in. Now you're looking at £3-4k for a base car!

didnthurt
Full Member

One company even made a custom subframe where you could straight bolt in a superbike engine.

"One company" 🙂 I can think of at least 2 that do it for the OG 1300 Busa engine, a couple that do it for various R1s, a Fireblade one (literally only because car people like saying the word "Fireblade", not because it makes any sense)... It's brilliantly demented. There used to be a totally road legal,standard looking car running around Yorkshire looking like your granny might own it, with a 600bhp holeshot racing turbo busa in it, apparently it was quicker 0-60 in reverse because it was the only way it could grip.

And of course, there's always putting BMW motorbike heads onto your original Mini engine... Or drop in that S2000 motor you've got lying around.

(me, I always wanted to put my old 2.2 mondeo disel engine into a Focus mk1, but that's only because I move in mysterious ways. But I gather I could take this here Subaru H6 and stab it into a Fiat 500, or of course there's always that classic VW bus option...

Z cars were the original ones to do the rear mounted bike engine in a mini, engine swaps have been part of the scene for years - of course there was the a series 1300cc+ turbo nutter minis, but also the honda VTEC engine minis, rear or front mounted bike engine.

Z cars even did a twin R1 engine RWD mini, and a turbo hayabusa 1300cc engine one, had a DVD featuring that, they were mental.

This was mine, 1997 R reg 1.3 MPi Cooper sportspack, with gold 13" minilite wheels.
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All very bonkers. I'd be happy with a modern small petrol turbo engine in one.

In that case sir, may I suggest the following?

I've been watching the 'Bargain Racement' series so far and I'm now oddly into the idea of a C1/107/Aygo as a runabout for me...

Dunno about racing one, but it does look like an ideal race series for recession struck Britain...

Here you go I've saved you from that Dancing program you were about to watch

Ahh, the old grey area of regulations 😀

I’ve been watching the ‘Bargain Racement’ series so far and I’m now oddly into the idea of a C1/107/Aygo as a runabout for me…

I have an Aygo as a work car...

Worst turning circle for the size of any vehicle I've ever driven 😂

Project Binky
scruffywelder

I have an Aygo as a work car…

Worst turning circle for the size of any vehicle I’ve ever driven 😂

Why does it need a turning circle, do you not just pick it up and turn it around that way?

Yah, but then there’s some folks that go phew, a restrictive race class, I’ll save tons of time and effort. And then there’s some folks that go full nascar and invest tons of extra time and effort to make sure they build the best car they can within the rules.

oh dear! A 'not-anti-roll bar' 😂😂😂😂

Is it just me or is Nik starting to look a lot like Albert Steptoe now

TBH I thought he looked quite ill when they were at the circuit.
Perhaps the black cowboy hat didn't help?

Just finished that.  It was such a good watch

Still don't fully understand what happened though :).  Might just have to watch it again

Edit: and with a bit of reading it makes sense

on the second safety car he wouldn't be allowed to overtake the other 2 cars if he followed them into the pits so he floored it for a lap pitted a lap latter then floored it to the back of the pack. I presume for the other 2 cars either never hit the out lap full gas or were stuck behind slower cars they were unable to overtake under the safety car

Yeah, due to being so much slower than the other class of cars racing in the same race, he could do laps under the safety car at racing speed and not get a penalty for speeding under the safety car.

Also the timing was perfect, SC came out as the pit window opened, which meant everyone bar them jumped into the pits (as you'd do in any normal race...) giving him a completely traffic free lap. He then caught the SC queue right at the pit lane, so lost zero time on the in lap.

On the outlap, he did 3 laps at full racing speed (whilst all the others were sat going at SC pace), then in unbelievable timing, the SC came in and the race restarted as he caught the queue.

So, he basically did no laps at all under SC pace, vs the rest of the field who did.

Either massive luck or well calculated tactics... 😀

Even he admits in the video it was massive luck, but then that's part of racing and it's not like they were midfield or lower by pure pace. Many a race has been won on the swing of a bit of luck and a safety car! The skill was in realising he could go flat out and not break the SC lap times. Next year when they have their own standalone race that won't be possible.

Loved the bit where the BRSCC bloke said he loved them and hated them in equal measure, that's a sign you're one of the good guys.

If you like Project Binky I can recommend MasterMilo's project to restore one of Saddam Hussein's T69 tanks that's been sitting outside a UK base for almost 20 years. They are a couple of crazy Dutchmen so you'll need subtitles. Its amazing what they've done in a couple of years considering what a mess the vehicle was in and its just the two of them. The tank is now running and they're just about to install the turret- once they get a licence for the gun!

BTW did you know Russian tank shock absorber fluid is made from 10 parts glycerin and 1 part alcohol and was a popular tipple with Russian tank crew?

If you like Project Binky I can recommend MasterMilo’s project to restore one of Saddam Hussein’s T69 tanks that’s been sitting outside a UK base for almost 20 years

+1
I wish they'd get someone to do English subs on all there videos, but yes this project is unreal, when you see the state of the tank beforehand (rusted through valve covers!), you won't believe they can get it going.. but they have!

reluctantjumper
Full Member

Even he admits in the video it was massive luck, but then that’s part of racing and it’s not like they were midfield or lower by pure pace.

Also, you've got to realise the opportunity- so many lucky breaks just get ignored or missed. Here you had a shovel of luck but a lot of top quality racecraft.

(kind of like how everyone remembers Sam Hill's run in Champery, but most people forget that Matti Lehikoinen actually won, because he stopped halfway down his qualifying run and so he got to do his race run in the dry.)

To realise in the heat of the moment that it was better to stay out, that's classy 🙂

Would have loved to have seen the look on the guy in 2nd place's face (the one's celebrating as they drove into the pits) when they were told:

"well done, 2nd place"

"No, we're 1st place"

"errr, no. 1st place was 1 lap ahead of you..."

"what the...."

😀

Nice race tutorial
Richard did a cracing job

I’ve really enjoyed watching this series. Now finish off Binky!!! Please.

Really enjoyed that, I've missed not seeing the entry-level championships fighting like mad whenever I go to a race meeting.

One more episode left too!

What's the betting they're giving the car to the Mission Motorsport guys in the next episode?

It's hugely enjoyable viewing.  I really have little interest in motorsport normally but it's great watching and the races have been exciting

What's with the contact? (Genuine question).

Certainly in the second incident, it looked like the other guy was being a dick, but not sure about the first one. What's the 'etiquette' (for a non motorsport fan)?

What’s with the contact? (Genuine question)

In short, a bit of "rubbing" will get you an interview with the CofC to have a chat with the other driver to sort things out, depending on outcome there might be some penalties but most are apologies and a handshake. Mostly it's to be expected when you have such close racing. Fighting for the same bit of road, with amateur drivers in cars that are as close as they can be in terms of performance is going to lead to people wanting to be on the same piece of tarmac.

Fighting for the same bit of road

I can understand that the rules get blurred in the heat of battle, but in the case of the 2nd incident, say, where the other guy was inside RB going into the corner, but not yet level with him: Should RB have stayed wide to avoid contact, or should the other guy have let up to avoid contact?

Probs should’ve just backed off, but remember these are amateurs, the red must comes down and its all “ no quarter given” stuff..

Unless it’s really stupid driving like trying to punt off an opponent on purpose, or very obviously trying to turn in on someone, most scrapes are really just “racing incidents” as damage to a car is something most sensible folk are trying to avoid, and don’t forget; the Marshalls get to report stuff to the CofC as well, and they’ve seen everything, so won’t let drivers get away with anything genuinely dangerous

The fact that they both had 2 coming togethers in the same race, it was probably just an "Oi, calm it down a bit and don't be an idiot" type talk.

It's not the BTCC 😁

Richard has his offside mirror taken off by the same chap earlier on which is why he didn't see him.

What’s with the contact? (Genuine question).

Certainly in the second incident, it looked like the other guy was being a dick, but not sure about the first one. What’s the ‘etiquette’ (for a non motorsport fan)?

Some of my friends used to race, same sort of thing, lots of very keen amateur in cars they built themselves, rather than wannabe Racers going up the ranks, trying to get into Pro racing etc.

I went to endless races before I got a bit bored of the early starts, and windy race track car parks waiting to see my mates race.

There wasn't really much "Etiquette" really, there's loads of rules, endless, but it was more about personality, in one series 1 of the guys who raced was in his 80s, ALWAYS last, ALWAYS at least 10 seconds a lap slower than everyone else, but people loved him, so he got loads of room etc, the rest of the field seemed only a few notches above banger racing and swapped paint every race. Mostly ended up as friends though.

In another when they started it was all very 'grass roots' mostly old hot hatches from the 80s, you had to have a full interior (bar a racing seat for driver) and you had to drive to and from the races. It meant no one spent a fortune on some highly strung race engine that needed a rebuild every other week and they tended not to go for dodgy gaps because they had to drive home in it. It was good at picking up newbies who sometimes got fed up of with the strict rules and progressed onto racier series.
Eventually the old guy who ran it, got pissed off or pushed out and it all went a bit mental. One infamous guy bought the most inappropriate for racing Alfa Romeo saloon for it, it was way too big, way too heavy and way too FWD for the above. He spent a fortune on having all sorts of carbon panels made for it to try to lighten it, and they got very upset when cars came together. All very chaotic, guys would arrive in Ferrari's, ex-Super Saloon racers, rally prepped Escort Cosworths retrospectively modded for track use, but the core of the field were like this series, cheap hatchbacks turned cheap race cars, okay they were much faster than the Aygo, but compared to the front runners MILES off. What happens when people in 100k Racing Cars compete against much slower £5k home-made racing cars? Arguments mostly, and occasionally expensive crashes and very occasionally offers to sort it out in the car park.

It's unfortunate that the other Car ended up on it's roof, but that's racing. As BR said, he didn't have a mirror and with winged seat and helmet you don't have much, if any peripheral vision. They both seemed pretty chill about it, IME even the nicest people are complete dicks when they're Racing.

Oh my god, they finished a project!! Enjoyed that little series.

Now, back to Binky and Escargot!

What’s the betting they’re giving the car to the Mission Motorsport guys in the next episode?

Called it.

That was Class.

Well done Bad Obsession.

BOM Boys update

"December 2020 Update: Everything sucks. We might have been able to finish episode 33 before Christmas if we'd have been happy to end the video in a haphazard and frankly slapdash way and we decided we weren't prepared to do that. Being screwed over by a supplier, and the government with their ever changing restrictions and Nik's pursuit of his ultimate goal has meant progress hasn't been as swift as we'd hoped. There is a Howie Did It video coming up later next week which will detail one of the jobs we weren't looking forward to but has ended up being pretty damn cool. We'll be back in the new year with the paint reveal. It is painted. The paint job isn't finished as you'll see in the video, but if the effort being put into it pays off, it should be pretty special. Cheers!"

https://twitter.com/badobsessionmsp/status/1351950154048401411

ohhh

If it is indeed the final colour it's a bold choice.

Mr Bean Green!!

Nah, that's a wind up. #PrayForBinky

[img] [/img]

It's so beautiful

Looking forward to this so much.

That's got to be a primer/treatment/blatant piss take.

Please, it would be brilliant if it was finished off with a mild steel hasp and staple on the drivers door, with mismatched self tappers 🙂