8 replies to this topic

[Cooperman]

Well, I'm back from my holiday in Cornwall and I thought those with an interest in the history of the Mini in competition might find this true story of interest.
It is well-documented that the last International rally won by a 'works' entered Mini was the 1967 Alpine which Paddy Hopkirk won with Ron Crellin. However, a 'works' Mini almost won, and really should have won, one more event in 1968.
The TAP Portuguese International Rally of October 1968 had an entry of 180 cars which included a single 'works' Mini for Paddy and the late Tony Nash. Another BMC contracted driver, the late Tony Fall, had been released by BMC to drive a Lancia Coupe for this one event. I was fortunate to be co-driving a Porsche 911 with the then-well-known British driver Jock Russell.
It was one hell of an event with all sections very tight and the rally was won or lost on the tight night road sections where the time schedules were not possible on many sections. At halfway, in Oporto, Paddy was leading in the Mini from Tony Fall in the Lancia.
It was during the second and last night that the controversy arose. We were running strongly in the Porsche when, on what should have been just a tight, but possible, road section at about 02-00 hours we came to a level crossing which was closed. Paddy was also stopped there and he was running about one minute ahead of us at that time. Eventually a very slow train went across rthe crossing, the barrier went up and we both of us were flat out, and I mean flat-out, to the next time control. We lost a couple of minutes in penalty and Paddy lost one more than us as we arrived at the same time.
At the finish Tony Fall was provisional winner with Paddy only about 2 minutes behind him. Without the train he would have won by at least one minute. We were 7th overall in the 911. Now, Paddy and Tony were very unhappy and wanted to put in an official protest, but Paddy was a bit concerned about protesting as his usual team-mate would have been dropped to 2nd had the protest succeeded. So Paddy came and found me and very quietly asked me to put a protest in, as we were the only other car to have been up. Paddy gave me the protest fee and I submitted the protest which was rejected by the Stewards as the train was a non-scheduled one. Had it been a scheduled service the protest would have been upheld. I did get the protest fee back, but the organisers did point out that the penalty we got had not affected our overall position. Paddy and Tony bought Jock and me dinner with the returned protest fee, but really they should have won and it was a bit unfair really. It would have been the 'works' Minis last ever win, although my old friends Will Sparrow and Nigel Raeburn did win the Welsh International in a Clubman with a full 1275 'S' spec engine in 1970, but that was not a 'works' car.
What a rally though - 180 starters and 18 finishers. Now, that's an attrition rate for you.
I hope you find this of some interest and not too boring.

[maggies_minder]

thats pretty unfortunate, by not sheduled, do you mean it was purposely employed?

but if he'd wanted the win that much im sure he couldve dug his heels in.

[Tommyboy12]

Another fascinating story Peter. I bet the Porsche was an amazing car to drive. Dont know if I could put my trust in something with that much rear end weight though.

Edited by Tommyboy12, 16 July 2011 - 12:46 PM.

[Cooperman]

thats pretty unfortunate, by not sheduled, do you mean it was purposely employed?

but if he'd wanted the win that much im sure he couldve dug his heels in.

The rules say that no allowance can be made for what is outside the organiser's control, what is known as 'Force majeure'. If the train had been a scheduled service the organisers could have checked the timetable and known this could happen. But this was a goods train and not on any train schedule, so no allowance could be made. Paddy couldn't dig his heels in as he had not protested and I couldn't because it had not affected our overall position. I did feel sorry for Paddy and Tony Nash and even Tony Fall said he thought it was unfair really, but, hey, that's rallying. On that event even 2nd was a fantastic result for a Mini and just showed what a great Mini driver Paddy was back then - and a great bloke too.

[fordson]

thank you for shareing these old stories i love them makes me feel like a 7 year old when my grandad would tell me stories of his rallying days.

[Cooperman]

Another fascinating story Peter. I bet the Porsche was an amazing car to drive. Dont know if I could put my trust in something with that much rear end weight though.

Those 911's were great rally cars. On the rally cars a thicker anti-roll bar was fitted to the rear to make them turn-in better. I owned a 2.7 Carrera as a road car for many years and just loved it and I also rallied in a 2.8 Carrera with a guy called Jan Churchill and we got some good results. It was the 911 which finally beat the Minis on the old Monte Carlo Rally, in 1968. It was really at this point, just before the Escort came along, that it was realised that the Mini was being outclassed in international rallying by this next-generation of cars.

[yousmeg]

Interesting story Cooperman - thanks for sharing

[mininuts]

Yes, another interesting story, I love reading these, Cooperman

You should write a book

[blacktulip]

your the kinda guy that a mini club needs