Autosport
Mini engine races from lockdown to Brands Hatch During the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, Gary Surman of West Midlands precision engineering sub-contractors A&M EDM, acted on a longstanding ambition to improve the performance the A-series Classic Mini engine block.
Gary was convinced that advances in engine technology could improve the racing performance of original engine. A&M designed and manufactured a road race version block machined from solid aluminium weighing only 20.5kg compared to the original 32kg, boosted by five functioning main bearings rather than three. Gary and A&M’s Managing Director, Mark Wingfield created a sperate company, Ascaso
Engineering to develop the engine. Mark Wingfield supported Gary’s ambition, believing a proprietary product would assist the precision engineering subcontractor’s long term growth. The block is machined on a Hurco VMX42Ui 5-axis VMC cutting at high feed rates up to 10m per minute. The crankshaft is produced from a solid billet using PowerMill and the swivelling B-axis of a Hurco VMX60SRTi VMC
Machinery & Manufacturing 60
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