The Mini Mag. ..... Volume No.3 No.4.... 2001
  April 2001

Volume 3 Index. | Article Index.
ALCHEMY.
A look at the many variations of the Mini and the people who helped make the car “A Legend”.

Flying Lightweight.

Our column this month reviews the LMS Mini and Lakis Manticas, who in the late 60s had a successful reign at the top of the sports racing closed category.

Lakis Manticas was a Greek-born migrant who left his homeland with his family when he was three years old, spending a short time in Cyprus prior to moving to Australia. Lakis was a keen motorsport fan and gained a great deal of engineering knowledge without formal training. A car of his, originally prepared for club events, was destroyed by fire. This led to the purchase of a Cooper S in 1965 for series production racing. The new car was used as a street car for almost a year before it saw duty as a racing car: it didn’t take long for Manticas to become a competitive driver in his class. Following his success at the pointy end of the field he was taken on as a British Leyland factory driver.



Most racing drivers are remembered for driving a particular car if they impress the crowds by spectacular driving or superior performance. Manticas filled the bill on both counts driving his LMS Mini.

Sometimes fate determines people’s futures and this was the case with Lakis Manticas and his Mini. During a night race meeting in December 1967 his car was destroyed in a spectacular crash, and a decision was made to rebuild the car for the sports racing closed class.

The damage from the rollover required roof work, which presented the opportunity to remove it and replace it with a Mini Monaco top, fabricated from the Buckle Motors original moulds. This restyle, which became known as the LMS (Lightweight Mini Special), provided a more aerodynamic shape as well as a lighter shell. The usual methods of saving weight were used: fibreglass bonnet, boot lid and doors with leather hinges, and a leather strap to hold them shut! The trim was discarded and the passenger seat became only a fabric-covered frame. Originally the wet suspension was used, but connected front to front and rear to rear. Some variations were tried in an attempt to improve the handling, with sway bars discarded when they didn’t offer an advantage. As times improved development dictated that the hydrolastic suspension be changed in favour of the dry type. As we have pointed out in previous articles, the rules for this class had not required roll bars, and this car was raced for some time without one. Safety was not a high priority at the time, although the bars were eventually fitted.

Steel wheels were also used. A race was lost to the Mustang of Pete Geoghegan when a wheel broke, which led to the use of Minilites. The engine was the A-series enlarged to 1370ccs, running 13.5 compression. Later, the engine was reduced to 1310 by sleeving, and although it had reduced power, it benefited from the advanced development and was still just as competitive.

Motorsport and Mini fans had the pleasure of seeing the car at Lakeside where it was very quick, but mechanical failure prevented it from showing its true potential even though it did win races in Queensland.

The LMS was considered to be the fastest Mini based car in Australia at the time, an immense achievement bearing in mind that the Foley cars had once held that distinction.

The Buckle Monacos are now extremely rare. It is a pity that more weren’t built, as this car gave them the exposure that was lacking initially. Although some popular Mini racers have passed on, Lakis is still around and we hold him in high regard for his achievements in continuing the Mini legend with the LMS.