Here's a shameless commercial plug. I hope I'm not breaking any rules Mods.
We just got these DVDs in stock. Unfortunately a little too late for our Grand Day Out, and just a little late for Christmas (unless you phone me today - 19 December - and I'll put one straight in the post).
The first is another version of the history of the Mini. OK, there's not a lot you can say about the Mini that hasn't already been said, but this almost-two-hour DVD packs in a lot of info, some great footage and some excellent events from the Mini's 40th birthday - way back in 1999.
There are a few bonus extras, including a short doco just on the 40th birthday at Silverstone and Gaydon, and a swag of interesting development and publicity stills from the Mini's illustrious history.
Although this DVD/video has been around for nearly ten years, it is still relevant and well worth adding to your collection.
The second DVD is a real blast from the past and features some terrific rally footage of Minis, Austin Healeys and BMC's main competitors of the 1960s. Produced by Ford Motorsport and Castrol in 1976, and looking at the period from 1958 to 1968, when rallying went from being virtually an amature past-time to a truly professional sport, the film is very balanced and shows the Minis at the top of their game.
Narrated mainly by Stuart Turner, there are also snippets of interviews from Timo Makinen, Paddy Hopkirk, Henry Liddon, Eric Morely and Val Morely (nee Dolmeo).
Bonus features are the short films about the 1973 Scottish Rally (there's one fleeting shot of a Mini) and the 1969 East African Safari.
For any enthusiast of the glory days of the Works Minis, or rallying of the period at all, this DVD is a must-have.
The third DVD is the Flying Finns, from the Castrol Classics series, and has some of the best in-car rally shots of Mini legend Timo Makinen, as he demonstrates how to drive a Cooper S on dirt stages. It is fabulous to watch his feet dancing on the accelorator and brake - never using the clutch to change gears. This is compared with a very young (university student) Hannu Mikkola, having his first drive in a Works Ford Escort, and showing a completely different approach with the rear-wheel-drive car.
The action then moves on to the 1968 1000 Lakes Rally, which had been won three times previously by Timo. Sadly for Mini enthusiasts Timo retires about half way through the rally, with Mikola going on to score his first major win for Ford.\
Bonus material is the 1974 Burmah Rally, in the Scottish county of Argyll. some great rally footage of a rally dominated by the Ford Escort RS, but don't expect to see any Minis - I think I got a glimpse of one.
Finally is the story of Russ Swift - Mini stunt driver extrordinaire. There is some interesting footage of Russ' early days in auto-tests (motorkhanas to us) and loads of excellent action in Classic Minis and new MINIs.
Russ also demonstrates how to put a car on two wheels and keep it there, but if you think it is worth trying this with your car, there is enough footage of his many mistakes along the learning way, to quell that desire in most people. It is remarkable, though, to see him putting a five-ton truck up on two wheels. Russ' son Paul also gets into the act, and there is some great footage of him at age 7, with a half-scale Mini built for him by his dad up on two wheels.
The introduction is very corny, but the rest of the film is very entertaining and informative.
The DVDs all sell for $39 plus $4 postage.
You can get me on all the usual methods:
P: 03 5250 4842 or 0427 537 443
E: [email protected]
If you are going to the Geelong pub night tonight (Thursday) I will have some of the DVDs with me.
Cheers,
Watto.
