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sports850
PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:15 am 
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After terrifying Frank Stephenson (clue) with a Scandinavian flick (clue) said "I just wanted to tell you that this is the best-handling front-wheel car that I've ever been in"

And what car were they talking about :?:

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adamstuart
PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:20 am 
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sports850 wrote:
After terrifying Frank Stephenson (clue) with a Scandinavian flick (clue) said "I just wanted to tell you that this is the best-handling front-wheel car that I've ever been in"


Every mini owner?
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sports850
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:23 am 
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:P

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adamstuart
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:31 am 
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did i win?
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Mike_Byron
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:44 am 
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Either Paddy or Rauno - I cant remember which but it was part of a film clip made to promote the mini and may have even been a british TV commercial.

I think it was the genial Irishman

Mike
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sports850
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:06 am 
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Mike_Byron wrote:
Either Paddy or Rauno - I cant remember which but it was part of a film clip made to promote the mini and may have even been a british TV commercial.

I think it was the genial Irishman

Mike


It was Rauno Aaltonen , but what was the car or variant he was talking about ?

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Mike_Byron
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:19 am 
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There were a few different TV clips back then - there was one featuring a mini 850 which I think was Rauno - a grainy black and white.

Then there was the one done at a race track in the wet (shown on here a few years back) where both Paddy and Rauno demonstrated reverse flicks and scandy flicks for the press in a cooper car. Also a low grade grainy black and white clip.

Mike
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sports850
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:23 am 
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No and No , check out who Rauno said it to and you'll see how far off you are :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Mike_Byron
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:37 am 
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The google gods smile

"Automobile magazine's design guru Robert Cumberford does a great job profiling Frank Stephenson, new MINI designer and current head of Ferrari Maserati design in the latest issue. Here's an excerpt:

“One can understand why the MINI project so appealed to Ferrari management: it is a completely modern interpretation of the '50s design, instantly recognizable. Pininfarina will continue to produce classic Ferraris, identifiable at a glance. Multiple designers, including Pininfarina, will continue to produce concepts for Maserati, as has been the case since the company started making road cars. Stephenson's job is to make sure that both marques are true to their heritages, that they remain emotional and sensual and Italian…”


I think it's easier for the general public to dismiss a designer's creation rather than study it, understand it, and eventually learn to enjoy it. Yet Frank Stephenson made that last bit pretty easy with his design of the MINI. I think he's done the same with the Maserati MC12 and the Ferrari F430.

However, as deserving as Frank is for such an opportunity, I can't help but wish he was back at BMW heading the next generation MINI project due out in just a few years. And I think the obvious thought of most MINI enthusiasts out there is, how did BMW lose this guy and how will the new MINI's design evolve without its creator? Apparently Frank has also sensed this feeling among the MINI faithful. In a recent email to me he commented, “I only hope that the MINI continues its success, making people feel just that little bit happier when they come into contact with it! BMW has a great team behind it and I'm sure they will work hard to improve on it in every way.”


I dont think I need another guess *lol* It would have been a dinosaur testing a hatchling.

After a few more cups of coffee - the clip I remembered with Rauno was him being tested for a british drivers licence so he could drive in Britain as part of the works team.
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sports850
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:47 am 
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:D :D :D

According to the book "MINI , the true and secret history of the making of a motor car" by Simon Garfield (very interesting book , mostly interviews with people involved in designing and building the mini and MINI ) ,

Frank Stephenson wrote:
The first experience I can remember of physically being in the car was with Rauno Aaltonen (The 1960's Monte Carlo Rally champion in a Mini Cooper S) ata a test track in Munich . I didn't know who he was until he came up to me and said "I'd like to show you what I think of this car" . He was limping because he'd had a snowmobile accident . He got in the car and drove towards these snow cones . We had a set speed that you could come in at , and he was much much faster than that . He did that Scandinavian flick , where they back the car into the corner . Then he got out and said "I just wanted to tell you that this is the best-handling front-wheel car I've ever been in".

I said "Yes , but who are you ? Because nobody drives like that."

He said "My name is Rauno Aaltonen". He must have been in his 60's .


Imagine being driven in a car you had designed for the first time by an old guy who limped , and then finding he was a rally champion and mini fan who loved your creation ....

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Mike_Byron
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:29 pm 
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Ian

Are we having another snap quiz in the morning ???

btw - I find it interesting the number of people who sit in front of the TV watch THAT multiple choice quiz show hat preceeds the news with a laptop on their knees googling the answers - and then .....

Shouting at the contestant - "you dummo - thats the wrong answer" *lol*

Mike
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sports850
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:30 pm 
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OK Mike, I'll get another one for you in the morning :D

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sports850
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:20 am 
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Today's quote ,

Quote:
They'll remain as they are . You can't tell one car from another today unless you look at the badge . The only exception to that is the Mini.


It's fairly well known so should be easier than yesterday.

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Mike_Byron
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:19 am 
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I dont know the answer to this one and I cant cheat because google doesn't know either

Sigh !!!!

Mike
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sports850
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:27 am 
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Can't give you too many clues Mike as mini owners should know him .

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