11 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

On the 1967 Flowers Rally Paddy Hopkirk's gearbox went on 'LBL 590E' several miles from the finish of the rally but luckily he was able to coast downhill all the way to the end. He got a final shove from behind by the BMC Vanden Plas Princess R service barge in a tunnel close to the finish and popped out the other end like a cork from a bottle. He free wheeled to the finish line shortly after with the engine running and feigned sudden gearbox failure when he tried to drive off, finishing 2nd overall !

 

The photo below shows Tony Fall towing Hopkirk's stranded Mini away at the finish.

 

 

Thanks to Pete - Mk1 Forum:

http://mk1-forum.net...tart=210#p83235

Edited by mab01uk, 25 January 2015 - 11:07 AM.

[Cooperman]

Good old Paddy.

[mab01uk]

 

Mike & Tony 1968 Monte Photo Album

The rally Mini photo above is one of ex-works co-driver Mike Wood's amazing collection of colour slides here:-

https://www.flickr.c...57603676677630/

[Cooperman]

Tony was a really great bloke. He lived near me and we were out drinking only 4 weeks before he passed away in Africa. Mike Wood is still going strong and I saw him last October at a dinner. He is still full of fun and laughter, despite the trauma of losing his son who passed away recently.

He will be at Race-Retro next month, which is a great exhibition to go to. It's at Stoneley, near Coventry.

[Cooperman]

A few of those cars would have needed new body-shells. Oh dear, they will all have been 'ringers' then  .

[mr cooke]

fantastic pics

[Hopkirk]

Cooperman-were the used body shells scrapped each time? or repaired reworked/sold on for clubman use etc.

[Cooperman]

From memory, and it's a long time ago, a scrapped body-shell which had been in a big crash was simply destroyed as it would not have been suitable for repair nor economical when Mk.1 shells were still being produced in large volumes. The Comps dep't would just have got a new one.

All sorts of different things happened to old rally cars which were past their sell-by date. The drivers and co-drivers bought some and I did a few events in an ex-works 1275 'S', 18 CRX, which started life as a 997, was then fitted with a full-on 1275 engine and bits, and subsequently sold to Paul Easter who sold it to a guy named Peter Barker in 1966.

I guess the purists will say it was not a genuine 1275 'S', but it was entered in a lot of international events as a 1275 'S', so make of it what you will.

The Comps. Dep't used to use whatever number plate/engine size/engine spec. suited the events being entered. They simply changed the engine, engine number plate, registered number plate and VIN number to suit, so the ex-works cars as almost never what they seem to be.

I'm sure if a private owner who was being successful in his own right needed a shell, a 2nd hand one might have been 'found' for him either officially or as a result of a 'cash back-hander' to someone who worked in the Comps. Dep't., but say no more about this as it's only conjecture (if you like  ).

[mikep12]

From memory, and it's a long time ago, a scrapped body-shell which had been in a big crash was simply destroyed as it would not have been suitable for repair nor economical when Mk.1 shells were still being produced in large volumes. The Comps dep't would just have got a new one.
All sorts of different things happened to old rally cars which were past their sell-by date. The drivers and co-drivers bought some and I did a few events in an ex-works 1275 'S', 18 CRX, which started life as a 997, was then fitted with a full-on 1275 engine and bits, and subsequently sold to Paul Easter who sold it to a guy named Peter Barker in 1966.
I guess the purists will say it was not a genuine 1275 'S', but it was entered in a lot of international events as a 1275 'S', so make of it what you will.
The Comps. Dep't used to use whatever number plate/engine size/engine spec. suited the events being entered. They simply changed the engine, engine number plate, registered number plate and VIN number to suit, so the ex-works cars as almost never what they seem to be.
I'm sure if a private owner who was being successful in his own right needed a shell, a 2nd hand one might have been 'found' for him either officially or as a result of a 'cash back-hander' to someone who worked in the Comps. Dep't., but say no more about this as it's only conjecture (if you like  ).

Not just conjecture I am afraid. I used to professionally restore minis in the 80&90's. Sent many coopers and woodies to the lands in the east and to the great srapyard in the sky.
Met a bloke local to me who was into metros and did some work for him. One day he asked if I had any use for a hot metro as he had a line to some 'at the right price'. Turns out he had access to works cars namely some brand new 6R4's. I could have one for £5000, hmm a bit too cheap so I declined but was tempted by the full body kit for £100 cash. Sat on the kit for a while as not much later was a fuss as Leyland were missing a few Metros! Turns out they were slow selling the homologation cars so some at the works were helping them out!!!!
Few Years later got good money for the kit.

[Cooperman]

A few people went in the nick over the 6R4 project.

 

All sorts of things went on at ARG in those days. I knew a few of those involved from the '60's and '70's rallying scene.

 

There was a 'dodgy' Cooper 'S' which was well known in UK rallying and one night the Old Bill turned up at the owners to take it for detailed inspection. However, the owner was out of the country, so they just took the car and left a receipt. The owner's wife phoned his brother, a very well known international rally driver (now sadly deceased) and told him what had happened. He went very quietly in the middle of the night to the police station and 'spirited' the car away. Then he dumped it in a gravel pit about 50 miles away. The next day he went, 'on his brother's behalf', to retrieve some personal stuff from the car and the Old Bill were most embarrassed to have to tell him that it appeared the car had been stolen from them whilst in their keeping. The Police had to buy another Cooper 'S' for the owner as there was no evidence that it was stolen and they had issued a receipt for it.

 

There are other similar stories I could tell from that era. That is why I am always sceptical about so-called 'ex-works' cars and their history in competition.

[Austin Powered]

On the 1967 Flowers Rally Paddy Hopkirk's gearbox went on 'LBL 590E' several miles from the finish of the rally but luckily he was able to coast downhill all the way to the end. He got a final shove from behind by the BMC Vanden Plas Princess R service barge in a tunnel close to the finish and popped out the other end like a cork from a bottle. He free wheeled to the finish line shortly after with the engine running and feigned sudden gearbox failure when he tried to drive off, finishing 2nd overall !

 

The photo below shows Tony Fall towing Hopkirk's stranded Mini away at the finish.

 

 

 

 

I recognise those words from the Mk1 Performance forum, you need to stop nicking my material Martin!

 

Mike Wood will be treating those taking part in the mk1 Performance track weekend at Blyton Park (May 2nd) to his colourful works Mini slide show (example above). Looking forward to it!

 

 

Pete

 

Edited by Austin Powered, 25 January 2015 - 12:08 AM.

[mab01uk]

 

I recognise those words from the Mk1 Performance forum, you need to stop nicking my material Martin!

Pete

 

You should be flattered Pete..............I often feel some of your great words and pics need to reach a wider audience but I will try to remember to include a link or a credit to your original material next time!

 

Thanks to Pete - Mk1 Forum:

http://mk1-forum.net...tart=210#p83235

Edited by mab01uk, 25 January 2015 - 11:09 AM.