13 replies to this topic

[Cooperman]

I thought I would share this photo of my Mini on the Welsh Retro Rally a few years ago on its way to 1st overall for the second year running. Navigator is my son Mick and the car is very sideways in Crychan Forest near Brecon.

 

 

 

[Tamworthbay]

You should do a book with all your pics in mate.

[rally1380]

You should do a book with all your pics in mate.

 

He is in a few books though!!!

[Tamworthbay]

You should do a book with all your pics in mate.

 
He is in a few books though!!!

Having had the pleasure of Coopermans company (o er missus) I think he should do a book about his racing history. He has so many brilliant stories I am sure it would sell well.

[rally1380]

 

 

You should do a book with all your pics in mate.

 
He is in a few books though!!!

Having had the pleasure of Coopermans company (o er missus) I think he should do a book about his racing history. He has so many brilliant stories I am sure it would sell well.

 

 

Racing....Yawn...Rallying....now we're talking!!

[Tamworthbay]

You should do a book with all your pics in mate.

 
He is in a few books though!!!

Having had the pleasure of Coopermans company (o er missus) I think he should do a book about his racing history. He has so many brilliant stories I am sure it would sell well.

 
Racing....Yawn...Rallying....now we're talking!!

Same difference

[rally1380]

 

 

 

 

You should do a book with all your pics in mate.

 
He is in a few books though!!!

Having had the pleasure of Coopermans company (o er missus) I think he should do a book about his racing history. He has so many brilliant stories I am sure it would sell well.

 
Racing....Yawn...Rallying....now we're talking!!

Same difference

 

 

Suppose so...but i do agree, a book from Mr. V would certainly go down very well......any chance getting it written and printed in 3 weeks so i can get him to sign it?

 

At last years Tour of Cheshire, Cooperman and Barrie Williams did a very entertaining and funny talk at the dinner/prize giving in the evening.....those stories need to be written down as it would make a cracking read. 

[Tamworthbay]

I totally agree, I think tearing him away from the gliders and minis to sit at a computer might take some doing though!

[Cooperman]

It seems as though Barrie and I have got to entertain you again this year. Must generate some new material.

 

Two guys, Peter Robinson & Mick Briant, have done books about those of us who were involved in the Motoring News series and those books do bring out the intensity of those events which, in one night, had more competitive motoring than the current 'Rally GB' has. Mick Brian did a full chapter on one of my drivers, Kevin Videan, and our exploits in the 'works' Datsun 240z, probably the most exciting and extrovert car I ever rallied in.

 

I'll post some more Mini photos if you wish, but the one at the top of this thread is good because it shows the Mini well sideways, really on the limit on a loose surface in a forest with full power being applied to balance it. You can tell the power is full on as the front is high and there is a touch of opposite lock to keep it from going into understeer, The key is to put the car into the corner on oversteer under braking then really keep hard on the power to 'keep the front in front'. That is probably about 5800 rpm in 3rd with a shift into top from about 6500 in 3rd a little way down the road. Great fun!

 

I can't tell you satisfying it is to do well in a classic car which you have built yourself and with your son navigating. On that event our winning margin after about 300 miles was 19 minutes, and Minis came 1st & second that year.

 

Gliding is great, but nothing beats the challenge of that sort of on-the-limit driving for mile after mile all night in Wales. However, at over 70-years old I felt that I couldn't really stay competitive and couldn't really accept beginning to drop down the finishing order with folks saying that 'he's a guy who did well when he was younger, but now he's finished 12th or something'.

 

Still, I spent today working on my vintage sailplane to get it ready for the forthcoming soaring season and I can still keep in touch with rallying. On the 28th of this month I have a lunch with my old buddies at 'Race-Retro', then marshal on the T of C on the 1st March, again in great company.

[RossKnight]

Cracking picture, very sideways indeed!

 

Speaking of gliding, have you ever been to Lasham airfield? It's very local to me and there's always gliders going up!

[Cooperman]

I've never flown from Lasham, although it is the largest gliding centre in the country.

I fly at what was RAF Upwood, near Huntingdon in Cambs. Often when on the final approach I think of the heros in Lancasters who flew the same approach when returning from raids over Germany. It is a privilege to fly from such a historical airfield. I do get 'persuaded' to take some of my younger fellow members for a quick trip around the peri track in the 'S' after we have finished flying sometimes.

 

Here is a photo of my son's 970 Cooper 'S' which he has let me drive to a class win on the East Anglian Classic. It did seem slow compared to my 1293 'S' though. Actually it was a 998 Cooper into which we fitted my 970 'S' engine which had 84 bhp at 6800 rpm. Very narrow power band meant that a low FDR was needed, 4.1:1, but it revved to around 8000 with no problems. It had a 286 cam, SC CR gearbox, twin HS4's, special distributor. With all the criticism of Falken tyres on here, you might note that it is running 10" Falkens!

Edited by Cooperman, 10 February 2014 - 04:41 PM.

[Kaj]

Great photo of committed driving Cooperman, love it. I never had the pleasure of spectating on any of the Motoring News events but I used to look forward to picking up my Motoring News every Wed morning which had great coverage of rallying. Ah the good old days are so sadly missed.

 

Our local car club which is now long gone used to run a West of Scotland Navigational event which would be approx 100 miles. You were absolutely knackered after doing one of these events but they were fantastic to compete in. I miss it dearly, although the roads are so poor now I don't think they would be such enjoyment.

Edited by Kaj, 01 March 2014 - 10:13 PM.

[mini 100]

I thought I would share this photo of my Mini on the Welsh Retro Rally a few years ago on its way to 1st overall for the second year running. Navigator is my son Mick and the car is very sideways in Crychan Forest near Brecon.

 

 

 

still got the car

[Cooperman]

Oh yes, I would never sell it and my 19-year old Grandson, who has been working on it with me, now loves driving it. He took it to a charity event at Santa Pod a few weeks ago and it drew a lot of interest. He also took it to work and took his boss out for a ride as he used to be a Mini owner. I wish I could have driven a 110 bhp Mini when I was 19!

But Grandson has just bought a 1971 MGB-GT for full restoration to 'mint' condition, so I'll build a 125-ish bhp engine and we'll restore everything - body, brakes, suspension, interior and drive line. It'll be a better road car than a Mini for longer journeys and he and I are talking about doing a 'road trip' in Europe when it's finished, probably to visit my son who lives in the French Alps with my other grandkids.

 

Here is a non-Mini rally photo of my son and me on the Yorkshire Endurance Rally in 2006 in our Rover 214Si on our way to 1st overall - a very pleasing result as there was a lot of serious opposition. Buy I was only 65 back then!

 

Edited by Cooperman, 02 March 2014 - 07:14 PM.