402 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

1972 Crystal Palace London
Note 'Mo Mendhams' famous odd looking ultra-lightweight aluminium paneled race Mini!! (No. 179)

 

 

Video - Brands Hatch 17-9-1972  8-)
Amongst the clips are the Brands-based Kent Messenger 1000 , the series John Homewood won in 1972 , the first of his 4 consucutive titles in his Imp. The BRSCC Hepolite Glacer` Special Saloon race features the Toleman Ford Escort 3.0 of Colin Hawker and the unique Gordon Keeble / Sunbeam Rapier V8 of Martin Kent chasing 2 very rapid Minis. The 1000cc class race features the white `Swish Curtains` Anglia of Gerry Taylor , Peter Baldwin`s yellow Mini , Jeff Ward`s white Imp and again Mo Mendham`s Mini on 3 wheels. Modsport action at the end.
http://www.specialsa...-70s/4584561300

[Cooperman]

You will note that Mo didn't use seat belts (they weren't mandatory in those days). He said they just added unnecessary weight!

I might have mentioned that Mo has a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, which is where his obsession with light weight came from. He & I were students together and before racing he did a lot of rallying and I had the pleasure of navigating for him on many occasions. He was always great fun to be around.

[mab01uk]

'Cooperman' many thanks for all your extra background info and great stories about Mo Mendham back in the day.......there is another thread below about Mo running on the Ten-Tenths Motorsport forum that you might also find interesting:-

http://tentenths.com...ad.php?t=131336

 

Quotes below from Ten-Tenths thread:-
"I remember seeing him have an enormous crash at Brands, is it true he never wore a seat belt until they were made compulsory ?"
Gordon Streeter

731 HOP
"Pretty certain that he ran this Mini in British saloon car championship in the "Bevan/ Mcgovern" era. Picture taken at Brands Hatch, car ended up in the bank at South Bank going on to GP loop. Number Plate was "famous" as it featured on a Mini used by Patrick McGoohan in the TV series "Danger Man"
Oneofapair

"The photos are from 1972. IIRC Mo intended to do the full BSCC that year but changed his mind after the Brands crash. He was very, very quick throughout his racing career."
Glyn Parham

 

Can anyone confirm 731 HOP and the Brands crash above......?

 

Journalist Sue Schofield tracks down the car used by John Drake in the 'Danger Man' series.
http://danger-man.co.uk/mini.asp

Edited by mab01uk, 13 February 2015 - 12:26 PM.

[Cooperman]

Thanks for that. But still no-one seems to have any idea what happened to Mo after he stopped racing. Pity really.

[mab01uk]

Update:
I have just zoomed in on the 731 HOP race Mini photo to check for Mo's name and then noticed the small rectangular yellow sticker on the RH side of the bonnet with a distinctive large 'M' just visible at each end of the logo. Some time ago I bought a tatty '68 Mini which had been 'Mendham' tuned and being a bit of an 'anorak' took a photo of the sticker on the crumbling bootlid. I knew it would come in useful one day as I guess the photo below confirms that the 731 HOP racer in the photo above was a Mendham car. 

 

 

'Mendham converted' Watford, Herts - original sticker on 1968 Mini bootlid.

Edited by mab01uk, 13 February 2015 - 08:11 PM.

[mab01uk]

 

 

http://www.mini7.co....ub_Magazine.pdf

Edited by mab01uk, 13 February 2015 - 08:22 PM.

[mab01uk]

Ford (Swish) Anglia driver Gerry Taylor said - "Mo and I were competitors. Rarely did we speak, and had a famous "coming together" at Mallory Park. Having said that. He is/was a formidable opponent."


 

Here is Gerry’s own account of the incident. 

“Picture number five is me at Shaws Hairpin Mallory Park, approaching the corner at full chat, going "thru the box" to select first for the pull out toward the Devils Elbow, when blimey mate! a subtle touch up the back from Mo Mendham's mini, and its Goodnight Vienna! That was on Easter Sunday, we rebuilt overnight and put her on Pole at Silverstone on the following morning, Easter Monday!

Most people would take a week of work after a crash like this – racing driver are made of sterner stuff!

http://www.racing70s...gliataylor2.htm

[mab01uk]

Jumbo Mini Puzzle (spotted on Autosport forum)


Assembled


Forum Quotes:
"DJ Bond Racing Mini on pole in that Brands pic. Probably Terry Harmer? 1968-ish?"
"It shows a Mini racing grid on what must be Brands Hatch, early 70’s? The box carries not a single mention of the subject, let alone how this English club scene picture ended up in a Dutch produced (Jumbo) jigsaw puzzle."
http://forums.autosp...zzle-nostalgia/

 

Mk1 Forum thread:-

http://www.mk1-forum...php?f=5&p=60823

[mab01uk]

 

Also on DVD:-
Dice With Spice : Mini Cooper - Crystal Palace 1969
It's 1969 and the Mini is at the height of its power. Watch racing legend Gordon Spice drive his Britax/Downton works Cooper S to victory around the Crystal Palace Circuit in a hugely competitive round of that year's British National Saloon Car Championship. Murray Walker is on fine form as commentator and there are several other famous names in among the other drivers. Superb archive footage and fantastically close race.
http://motorbooks.co...p?bookid=104069

 

 

You might also enjoy this saloon car race from Crystal Palace 1971 now uploaded in improved definition

Edited by mab01uk, 04 March 2015 - 07:10 PM.

[mab01uk]

[mab01uk]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos: billycooper (Mk1 Forum)

Edited by mab01uk, 06 April 2015 - 10:58 PM.

[mab01uk]

 

 

[mab01uk]

I remember this Mini-Imp well and recently discovered this thread with some photos on the Ten Tenths Forum:-
http://tentenths.com...ad.php?t=122899

Monty Guildford's Mini racer fitted with an Imp engine, he finished it in 1973 after an 18 month build.
The engine was built and tuned by George Bevan but the gear box was designed by Monty and built by Peter Wise of Goodland engineering of Tonbridge Kent. The crank was a one off.

Edited by mab01uk, 07 April 2015 - 06:07 AM.

[mab01uk]

Brands Hatch, Kent. Six hour saloon car race 1962.


Brands Hatch Saloon Car Racing 1964

[megamini_jb]

Awesome thread