Born Again Cars - Founded by Rob Russell
Rob Russell is a qualified mechanical engineer with a keen interest in cars that spans both his professional and personal life.
He holds a full time position as a System Engineer working at Ford Motor Company where he is part of a team designing the next generation of highly efficient engines.
His interest in Engineering and Cars stems from an early age. The flame was lit by his father, who was a keen amateur Rally Driver, so he was introduced to the world of Motorsport long before he could drive himself. Initially marshalling and helping to prepare his Fathers cars then once he had a license he took up the sport himself. His first car was a 1275GT Mini Clubman, which he used as daily transport as well as on various Road Rallies, it was here that his love affair with Mini's began.
At this time he also held a part time job working for Rod Cattini Motorsport. They professionally prepared Mazda 323's for Rallying and during his time with the firm they took John Weatherly to victory in 1990 British Gravel Rally Championship. This position also grounded his workshop skills, as along with the motorsport preparation he also serviced and repaired customer road cars.
In 1992 Rob started a Mechanical Engineering Degree course at Brunel University. During these years he and his father campaigned his 2nd car, another 1275GT Mini Clubman but this time a fully rally prepared version.
He holds a full time position as a System Engineer working at Ford Motor Company where he is part of a team designing the next generation of highly efficient engines.
His interest in Engineering and Cars stems from an early age. The flame was lit by his father, who was a keen amateur Rally Driver, so he was introduced to the world of Motorsport long before he could drive himself. Initially marshalling and helping to prepare his Fathers cars then once he had a license he took up the sport himself. His first car was a 1275GT Mini Clubman, which he used as daily transport as well as on various Road Rallies, it was here that his love affair with Mini's began.
At this time he also held a part time job working for Rod Cattini Motorsport. They professionally prepared Mazda 323's for Rallying and during his time with the firm they took John Weatherly to victory in 1990 British Gravel Rally Championship. This position also grounded his workshop skills, as along with the motorsport preparation he also serviced and repaired customer road cars.
In 1992 Rob started a Mechanical Engineering Degree course at Brunel University. During these years he and his father campaigned his 2nd car, another 1275GT Mini Clubman but this time a fully rally prepared version.
 Rob and Father Pete in the Colway Tyres Rally Championship |
After graduating in 1995 and starting work at Ford, Rob's rallying went up a gear, he moved into the Nissan Micra Challenge, where over the following three years he was again initially partnered by his father, and later by his Girlfriend Tracy (who is now his Wife).
In 1999 they moved from the 1300cc Micra into the highly competitive Peugeot 106 Cup, taking an event podium finish and 5th overall in the 1999 championship. All the time he was developing his car preparation skills, by running, preparing and occasionally repairing, the cars himself at the families home garage in Essex. A brief spell in a Peugeot 206 rally car in 2002 was followed by a change of motorsport dicipline when Rob took up racing. Challenging for the Caterham Graduates title in 2003 and 2004. |
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A young family and heavy work commitments slowed the motorsport activities for a couple of years, but not the extra-curricular activity working on cars. In 2005 and 2006 Rob took on various damaged car projects, finding the skills and equipment he had available made it easy to complete both mechanical and cosmetic repairs to a variety of vehicles.
This work continued through 2007, but in parallel he also went back to rallying with a very successful season in the 205 Challenge. Using an old 1988 Peugeot 205 XS, the work to turn a 175,000 mile road car into a rally car was more restoration than preparation. The result however was very satisfying, when Rob with a good friend, but novice, navigator (Lee Baverstock) won the Championship Title. With the 'restoration' experience of running the 205 Rob decided his next project would be a move back to his roots and a chance to put all the knowledge and experience he had to good use. This was the 1975 Mini Pick Up project featured on this sight. It proved to be a most satisfying and rewarding experience and one he hopes to repeat a number of times, hence the creation of "Born Again Cars" and the rest as they say is history! |
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