14 replies to this topic

[mister bridger]

Just heard on social media. Sad news, but a life well lived.

[Ethel]

That took me by surprise, not in a good way either. RIP

[Bobbins]

[minifreek1]

Oh no...!!!

 

Very sad news

 

RIP Paddy

[PoolGuy]

A great shame, I've had the pleasure of working for him occasionally, a thoroughly nice chap with some great anecdotes. RIP Paddy :-( 

[greenwheels]

One of the guys who made my teenage years exciting with his exploits.

[DeadSquare]

Damn;  he owes me a pint.

[MiniFanGraham]

RIP Paddy, A true legend in a mini
https://www.pistonhe...1933-2022/45980

 

[Richard_]

Sad news. One of the greats.

[terry tibbs]

A legend of his time, a sad loss. RIP Paddy.

[MiniMadRacer]

Met him once, I wasnt anywhere near his class or charm, I usually ran out of race track around the same time I ran out of talent...I wasnt from his era, but loved the two or three mins or so I had talking to him RIP... what a man

[mab01uk]

Sad news, Paddy Hopkirk RIP...a legend in his own lifetime!

What were Paddy’s thoughts when he first saw a Mini?
“I was living in Belfast at the time and I saw the Mini in the local Austin dealership,” he told us. “I thought it was bloody awful, actually.
“Back then I was driving works cars, as I drove for Triumph: TR4s and 3s and things. Next I joined the Rootes Group and then BMC to get my hands on the Big Healey [the Austin-Healey 3000].
“One day, when I was racing at Oulton Park, Stuart Turner, our team manager, came and said, ‘This is the new Mini Cooper S – John Cooper has really made the Mini handle well and go quickly.’
“I got in and drove it around the block and near the paddock, and I was just amazed by it. It was lovely. And being front-wheel drive, I found it very forgiving. I liked that you could make mistakes with front-wheel drive and get away with it, which you couldn’t with a Big Healey!”
So to 1964 and the Monte Carlo Rally, and the Mini was up against the big boys of the rallying world. “We surprised ourselves, and the world was surprised by that. It wasn’t expected,” said Paddy.
“I think the fact that the car was small and the roads were narrow because of the snow plough helped. So it was like the roads looked big to the Mini because they were very narrow, and that wasn’t so good for the bigger cars.
“Everything went right. I had a wonderful co-driver, Henry Liddon, I had a wonderful team manager, Stuart Turner, and just a wonderful team – and we had done a lot of work, a lot of practising, good notes, had the right tyres. Just everything came together. We didn’t expect to win it, but we did.”
Paddy has been intrinsically linked with the Mini since then, and it’s a car that he has genuine admiration for, as he explains: “I love the fact that Alec Issigonis had designed it as the district nurse’s car and then everybody souped it up!
“And then Peter Sellers got one, and the Royal Family had it – it became more chic than an E-type Jaguar. I remember John Cooper saying, ‘When you drive up to a big mansion, there are two Minis outside: one is the cook’s, and the other is His Lordship’s, which is a souped-up Cooper S’.”

Hanging on the wall in rally legend Paddy Hopkirk’s home, there is a fantastic reminder of the moment he turned the Mini from a simple car into a global icon. It is a framed telegram and signed photo from the Beatles, which they sent to congratulate him on winning the Monte Carlo Rally.
“It’s on my cloakroom wall,” laughs Paddy. “It reads ‘It’s nice to be number one isn’t it. Stop. Congratulations. Stop. Thanks for the lift. Stop. Ringo Starr.’
“One of our mechanics had given Ringo a lift in Paris a few days before – that’s why he was saying thank you”.
All four Beatles signed the picture and added the note, “You’re one of us now Paddy!” in recognition of his giant-killing win and rallying number one status.

 

[mab01uk]

On the 1967 Italian Rally of the Flowers (San Remo Rally) Hopkirk was leading when he tackled the final stage. Less than a mile from the end a driveshaft snapped. Paddy summoned help from a tractor driver who pushed the Mini to the BMC service point and although he had lost his lead, he could still finish second provided he could get back to San Remo. Paddy ordered the mechanics to push the Mini with the BMC service car down into San Remo, at times Hopkirk being pushed along at 70mph, then a final shove from the service car before dropping back out of sight, sent the Mini into the town square, lights flashing, horn blaring, before coasting over the finish line without any rally officials noticing.... 

 

 

[mk1leg]

He was a true gentleman I meet him at several shows when I came to the UK he was very plesant and always had time to Chat to you and sign pics or books a wonderful person R.I P Paddy

[PACINO]

A recognized and loved man also outside United Kingdom. A true legend of the classic Mini.

R.I.P. Paddy Hopkirk