402 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

I have scanned more photos of the MG Gnat from Wally Hall's long out of print book "How to Start Motor Racing" below:













Old copies of this book can often be found on ebay or Amazon.

[drewsargent1980]

[

[surfblue63]

Just put a thread on the Forum with some pictures of the Pre-1966 Tourings Cars race from Oulton Park

http://www.theminifo...x...=184691&hl=


You'll find more like this posted there

[BigWig]

Hi guys, sorry for this first post, but I was wondering if you could help. I have an early Mini 7 car that competed from around '67 before progressing onto Free Formula 850. It was raced by Maurice Watts, then Paul Butler bought a part share in the car. It was then sold to Geoff Poulter and nicknamed 'The Cockney Rebel'. I have made contact with Maurice a few years ago, Geoff as well. But if anyone has any pictures/videos of it then it would be most appreciated. It was the first DJ Bond Racing backed car and then it went over to Instant Garage Services later on.

Maurice used to knock around with Mo as well, at the pub some of you mention. The history of the car has only just come about so we are trying to gather as much info/pictures/videos. Maurice has kindly supplied what he has, but there must be more....

Early days in Mini 7...



Progressing onto FF850...



Early to mid 70s when it became the Cockney Rebel with Geoff Poulter:

Edited by BigWig, 01 June 2011 - 11:13 AM.

[89mini-boy]

isnt that the same sort of alfa which the iatalians had as a cop car chasing the minis in the italian job ??

[89mini-boy]

Hi guys, sorry for this first post, but I was wondering if you could help. I have an early Mini 7 car that competed from around '67 before progressing onto Free Formula 850. It was raced by Maurice Watts, then Paul Butler bought a part share in the car. It was then sold to Geoff Poulter and nicknamed 'The Cockney Rebel'. I have made contact with Maurice a few years ago, Geoff as well. But if anyone has any pictures/videos of it then it would be most appreciated. It was the first DJ Bond Racing backed car and then it went over to Instant Garage Services later on.

Maurice used to knock around with Mo as well, at the pub some of you mention. The history of the car has only just come about so we are trying to gather as much info/pictures/videos. Maurice has kindly supplied what he has, but there must be more....

Early days in Mini 7...



Progressing onto FF850...



Early to mid 70s when it became the Cockney Rebel with Geoff Poulter:

I LOVE THE Cockney Rebel I read all your articles in mini mag and cant get away from them i love the fact your dad raced him also lovely mini and cant believe the way you found it. Good luck with your search sorry i cant help but am new to the racing scene and starting to learn some bits aand bobs now.

[mab01uk]

Hi guys, sorry for this first post, but I was wondering if you could help. I have an early Mini 7 car that competed from around '67 before progressing onto Free Formula 850. It was raced by Maurice Watts, then Paul Butler bought a part share in the car. It was then sold to Geoff Poulter and nicknamed 'The Cockney Rebel'. I have made contact with Maurice a few years ago, Geoff as well. But if anyone has any pictures/videos of it then it would be most appreciated. It was the first DJ Bond Racing backed car and then it went over to Instant Garage Services later on.

Maurice used to knock around with Mo as well, at the pub some of you mention. The history of the car has only just come about so we are trying to gather as much info/pictures/videos. Maurice has kindly supplied what he has, but there must be more....

I was watching 'The Cockney Rebel' at the Crystal Palace race meeting over this bank holiday weekend.

 

Back racing at the annual Crystal Palace Sprint meeting in 2012:

Have you made contact with Paul Butler? My late brother used to work with him at Dawnier Motors a BMC/BL garage in Ewell, Surrey and also raced Free Formula Mini's with him in the 1970's. My brother also bought a Mk1 Cortina Estate as race tow car from DJ Bond Racing which was signwritten and painted in their colours of metallic blue and white. Paul Butler went on to run Barwell Motors in Chessington and race in single seaters. Barwell Motorsport was set up in the 1960s as Barwell Automotive Ltd by Paul Butler and Richard Lemmer. Paul Butler raced an ex-Alan Jones Brabham BT28 in F3 and Formula Alantic in the 1970s.
http://www.barwellmo.../read.asp?ID=66

There is a video here of Paul Butler crashing his Automex Mini at Crystal Palace in 1972:
http://www.theminifo...howtopic=180582

Edited by mab01uk, 23 February 2014 - 11:36 PM.

[BigWig]

89MiniBoy - thanks, I'm glad the car and the reports are up your street.

Mab01, strange that you were at Palace. I have tried Barwell but apparently he left 20 years ago, so I have just missed him... but I am going to call back to try and get his contact details next week.

Paul used to mechanic for Maurice on the car before buying a part share. I have seen that clip from Palace, Royrpg certainly has some great footage! The Rebel used to be in the blue you mention, it's possible to see it beneath the red paintwork today. It's also a small world that your brother was also in Free Formula circles, especially with the DJ Bond Mk1 'Tina tow car. What happened to your brother's Mini?

[Mattlav]

some really good action shots here! love the mini jump one!

[mab01uk]

Mab01, strange that you were at Palace. I have tried Barwell but apparently he left 20 years ago, so I have just missed him... but I am going to call back to try and get his contact details next week.

Paul used to mechanic for Maurice on the car before buying a part share. I have seen that clip from Palace, Royrpg certainly has some great footage! The Rebel used to be in the blue you mention, it's possible to see it beneath the red paintwork today. It's also a small world that your brother was also in Free Formula circles, especially with the DJ Bond Mk1 'Tina tow car. What happened to your brother's Mini?

My older brother Ray's free formula 850 Mini bodyshell was scrapped around 1974 due to accident damage and the parts where possible were rebuilt into a new Mini 7 which Mike Standring now of Wood & Pickett later bought off us and raced.
Pictures in FF-850 days here:
http://www.theminifo...x...t&p=2073411

My younger brother Steve became mechanic for M7 racer and ace head tuner Chris Tyrell and became a Mini 7 champion himself in 1997 before going on to race Miglias.

Do you know of Simon Ridge another 1970's Mini racer? - (997 Automex-Mini), he knew Paul Butler well and he also worked for DJ Bond for a while and knew my late brother, we made contact with him recently....he may be able to help as he has loads of photos, etc from that era.

Here is a Special Saloon race programme entry listing from Sep 1970 with him listed driving the 'Automex' Mini, I found on the '10 Tenths Motorsport' forum:
http://www.ten-tenth...d...2642&page=5

19/09/70 - Oulton Park
James Turner - 1860 Escort
John Fitzpatrick - 1601 Escort
Tony Algieri - 1598 Escort
Gerry Hind - 1293 Mini Cooper S
Tony Dealey - 1293 Mini Cooper S
Colin Thomas - 1293 Mini Cooper S
Mike Kearon - 1293 Mini Cooper S
Geoff Wood 1293 Vita-Mini
Jenny Williams - 998 Mini Cooper S
John Smith - 999 Mini Cooper S
John Chappell - 999 Mini Cooper S
Richard Wilyman - 999 Mini
Barrie Swan - 997 Escort
Brain Healey - 997 Mini Clubman
Simon Ridge - 997 Automex-Mini

Edited by mab01uk, 01 June 2011 - 06:23 PM.

[Gr4h4m]

Some great shots and colour schemes

[mingy]

I remember watching these races on BBC,s granstand on a saturday afternoon and i sat enthralled as a young boy.
Somebody should put them on a series of DVD,s as they are fantastic entertainment.

[BigWig]

They are great period shots of your brother's Mini. The Rebel has a Chris Tyrrell head, the valves are the size of dinner plates - it would be great to have contact details for Simon Ridge. His name doesn't ring any bells but I'm sure it will with my father, who raced against the Rebel in period in another FF850 Mini. Which is the yellow Mk1 pictured on page 1 of this thread.

[mab01uk]

They are great period shots of your brother's Mini. The Rebel has a Chris Tyrrell head, the valves are the size of dinner plates - it would be great to have contact details for Simon Ridge. His name doesn't ring any bells but I'm sure it will with my father, who raced against the Rebel in period in another FF850 Mini. Which is the yellow Mk1 pictured on page 1 of this thread.

Will get Simon's contact details for you..........Chris Tyrrell was a great racer and turned out superb A-series heads from his small workshop in Leatherhead, he also did one for my road Mini in the 1980's but now regret selling it with the car in 1984 and sadly Chris died about 10 years ago.

[kev289]

Hi BigWig , i am Maurice's son last i heard of Paul Butler he had a travel buisness/agent in ashstead surrey. I have recently been in touch with terry harmer who also raced under dj bomd;s banner with a cooper S. He has sent me some pictures of his cars from around the era of my dads car & 70's .I have also made contact with john bond ,dave bonds son . Dave died a couple of years ago but john has somewhere in his loft a scrap book full of pictures & press cuttings of all the the cars sponsored by dj bond racing in the 60/70's.I will post some pics when he sends them to me .