85 replies to this topic

[iDemonix]

This is not a Mini, but it's still a Rover. It's Mick & me flat out on a test on our way to winning the Yorkshire Endurance Rally in 2006 in the Rover 214Si. Proof that a 65-year old can still beat the youngsters! That was a 320 mile event over a day and all night with only a couple of hour-long breaks.

If you don't mind me asking, how do you get involved in this kind of thing? I'd love to (in a couple of years) buy a cheap old Peugeot or something and go amateur rallying, but I have no idea how I'd practice or anything?

[rally1380]

Cooperman isn't competing in a rally here.....he's just stolen the car and this is footage from 'cops with cameras'

I reckon joining a local motorclub is the first step....or just get out there and spectate. Plenty of info on the tinterweb too.

[DeanP]

There was a thread a while back with loads of historic Mini photos including pics. of Minis in competition in the early days.
I just found this one of me navigating my great friend Bill Rogers in his 1961 Mini 850 on the Scorpio Rally in, I think, 1962 when I was just 21 and a bit. From memory we finished 3rd overall nout of about 75 cars. Minis were marvellous even back then.

Love the Moggy too.... can't see what year though definitely pre 1954. Looks like mine actually! lol.

[Cooperman]

To get started in rallying join a local motorclub and go out marshalling at first. That way you'll get an idea of what's involved, the types of roads and tracks used and talk to the top crews about preparation. You'll also see how route instructions are presented and the way navigators manage the event for the drivers

Here is my 'S' in action, just a little bit sideways on full power:

[Joe-C]

How often do accidents occur in local rallying?

[Cooperman]

Of course it can happen, but not much on road rallies. On closed-road events it is more likely as the results are based on elapsed time on the tests, so if you drive a little faster than you know how to there is a chance of bending the car. But then, the old adage applies "Don't join if you can't take the joke!"
Motorsport will never be totally safe, but you juust build your rally car to give the best protection in a crash.

Here is one I was in on the 1969 Scottish International when co-driving for Chris Sclater in an ex-works Lotus-Cortina. We went off the edge, about 60 ft down, rolled about 3 times and were not injured (except in the wallet!).

Edited by Cooperman, 16 December 2012 - 08:31 PM.

[Joe-C]

I wasn't even thinking about safety just how risky it would be for the mini. Priorities

[Cooperman]

I have rolled my current 'S' in a forest and it needed a new roof panel. However, I do go out to win so it was flat out motoring and we were winning at the time, not that that was much consolation at the time.
I wouldn't use my daily road car for motorsport, although I did back in the 60's.

[brad-the-bear]

anybody know of bob eaves? church town

[Joe-C]

I have rolled my current 'S' in a forest and it needed a new roof panel. However, I do go out to win so it was flat out motoring and we were winning at the time, not that that was much consolation at the time.
I wouldn't use my daily road car for motorsport, although I did back in the 60's.

I don't think I would use my daily either. Rallying has always interested me even though I know I'd be really slow

Hopefully I'll keep the mini and get another car for daily duties and look into it then.


your pictures of cortinas reminded me of this video:


its a documentary on the ford team in the 1965 circuit of Ireland rally. Anyone you know?

Interesting video either way.

[racingbob]

back in the 90,s at lakeside, Queensland, australia. 64 cooper body
1380, 105 bhp at wheels, road reg as historic so could test it out
when finished working on it

[iDemonix]

Cheers for the input!

Are there tracks in the UK where similar to motocross tracks, you can just turn up (on set days) with your own car and take it round a rally track? If I wanted to get good at motorcycle racing I'd go to track days to start off, is there a similar thing for offroading?

[Cooperman]

anybody know of bob eaves? church town

I used to be a friend of Bob Eaves who had a garage business near Morecambe and who was a very quick Mini International Rally driver. Sadly he has passed away now.

[Cooperman]

I have rolled my current 'S' in a forest and it needed a new roof panel. However, I do go out to win so it was flat out motoring and we were winning at the time, not that that was much consolation at the time.
I wouldn't use my daily road car for motorsport, although I did back in the 60's.

I don't think I would use my daily either. Rallying has always interested me even though I know I'd be really slow

Hopefully I'll keep the mini and get another car for daily duties and look into it then.


your pictures of cortinas reminded me of this video:
its a documentary on the ford team in the 1965 circuit of Ireland rally. Anyone you know?

Interesting video either way.

Thanks for posting this. A lot of my old friends on there, especially Brian Melia. I bought a new Cortina GT around that time and was out with Brian and his wife plus my wife in London. We were going down The Mall towards 'Her Nibs' big house when it seemed to be getting foggy. Funny fog as it smelled like burning wire, which it was and the entire dashboard wiring burnt out. Brian and I managed to fix it so that the car was driveable, doing this almost right outside Buck House at about 12-30 am. If that happened now there would be about half the Met along in case it was a car bomb.
That video is super as it shows Paddy winning in a Cooper 'S' followed by 'Quick Vic' in the GT. It really brings back the 'urgency' which was rallying back then.

[Joe-C]

I have rolled my current 'S' in a forest and it needed a new roof panel. However, I do go out to win so it was flat out motoring and we were winning at the time, not that that was much consolation at the time.
I wouldn't use my daily road car for motorsport, although I did back in the 60's.

I don't think I would use my daily either. Rallying has always interested me even though I know I'd be really slow

Hopefully I'll keep the mini and get another car for daily duties and look into it then.


your pictures of cortinas reminded me of this video:
its a documentary on the ford team in the 1965 circuit of Ireland rally. Anyone you know?

Interesting video either way.

Thanks for posting this. A lot of my old friends on there, especially Brian Melia. I bought a new Cortina GT around that time and was out with Brian and his wife plus my wife in London. We were going down The Mall towards 'Her Nibs' big house when it seemed to be getting foggy. Funny fog as it smelled like burning wire, which it was and the entire dashboard wiring burnt out. Brian and I managed to fix it so that the car was driveable, doing this almost right outside Buck House at about 12-30 am. If that happened now there would be about half the Met along in case it was a car bomb.
That video is super as it shows Paddy winning in a Cooper 'S' followed by 'Quick Vic' in the GT. It really brings back the 'urgency' which was rallying back then.

NO problem, it is a great video, I saw it on the mini cooper register forum it was there because of all the greats shots of paddy winning. I like how they fix stuff just with a hammer

I think you'd probably make the news if you car stopped outside Buckingham palace with smoke pouring out today