Could well have been Chad's first car. Though maybe not that very car.
Have ridden in a few mini's in my time, very close to the ground, bouncy, although that could have just been knackered suspension, and I wouldn't want to be involved in an accident in one, but used to love watching racing mini's (and other makes of that era) do rallycross at Lydden Hill on TV's Grandstand/World of Sport when I was younger. : )