A couple weeks back I was searching Google images trying to find other photos of my car at Bathurst in 69. I have really no colour photos of the car and wanted some others so I could decide weather I like the original Jet Red colour. There was as shot in Mini Experience I think that showed the crash, 1st lap of the 69 race, and you can see the roof of the car up against the fence. I stumbled across the front cover of a book called 'Hardie Ferodo 500 1969, a photographic History'. Its published by Stephen C. Stathis.



I was most surprised to find on the front cover a colour photo of 26C at Murrays corner as well as a full page print of the same photo within the book. I did not even know about this book till I stumbled across it but It has some great shots of minis inside and a must for us Mini enthusiasts. The book shows at least one photo of every car that started in the 1969 race and who and what placing they finished. I bought the book from here http://www.motorbookworld.com.au/bathur ... cover.html


Upon reading through the book and examining all the photos of the class C cars (where all the Cooper S cars are placed, total of It seems that 26C was the only MK2 S in the race and this should mean that 26C is in fact the first MK2 mini to set foot on the mountain. Could someone confirm this please.
I can recall Les telling me that he had his MK1 at Bathurst that year and was indenting to run it, but the newer MK2 ran a better time in practice. The body number of 26C is 839 so I guess it should not of been that far from new. What build month would that put it..........July/August?

I have not got the 1970 book yet but it looks to be very good also.

Ian

Interesting to read.
Given Bathurst entries of the day required the car's year of manufacture. This car was indeed the only 1969 Cooper S entered. So yes that will make the car the first Mk2 to run in the race. It's production fits the dates you mention and no doubt supplied new by Regal Motors.
I would encourage you to persist with Red Jet. Genuine Bathurst Cooper S are thin on the ground and if you were to recreate the signage, it would be an instant drawcard for Muscle Car Master and the like. It might not be important now, but more value in Jet Red with the history.

Is there any record of race statistics as far as lap times etc documented anywhere? At this time the Ford Holden rivalry was well under way so most things you find published seem to be on the Holden Ford cars..........
Les said that after he was finally released from being wedged on fence from the carnage of the first lap crash, the MK2 ran pretty good times. He does not have any record of these. Once he had done his compulsory first pit stop and opened the boot to get the spare tyre, they couldn't keep the boot shut during the next several laps of the race, the car black flagged because of the boot flying open. This was probably due to the fact he was hit up the bum during that crash.

According to the Cooper S register it's a July/August delivery car. Body numbers 834, 836, 837 and 840 are all Jet Red with Crystal White turret. I believe one of those might belong to our leader, Mick.

If you come across any photos of the Welsor sponsored Group C MK II S from 1973/74 Bathurst please let me know - viewtopic.php?f=9&t=86478

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Period info classify 26C as 8th in Class C. 117 laps covered over 6 hours 34min & 54secs. Best lap of 3m 13s and fastest flying 1/8th speed of 104.61mph

Cool, So where did that info come from.

This book has only recently come out (a few months ago) and Steve has similar books on the Bathurst races from 1968 to 1972 - his grand plan is to have every year from 1963 to 1999.

He also has a book on all the race results from the Phillip Island and Bathurst 500/1000 races over the same period - The Traditional Years of the race (before the taxi racing). All the books are available from Steve's website - http://www.phasethreeposters.com/books.asp?action=

We have the race results book available from The BMC Experience here: http://bmcexperience.com.au/shop/competition-history-books.html

I also had a major feature on all the Minis at Bathurst in Issue 4 of The Mini Experience. 1969 had 8 Cooper S and two Mini K (Class A) - the only year a Mini K raced at Bathurst.

26C - the Cooper S in question, finished 8th in class, 22nd outright and completed 117 laps. The Cooper S of Warren Gracie & Ron Gillard won the class, and were 14th outright with 119 laps.

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Watto .
Photojournalist
Mini historian and enthusiast
http://www.theminiexperience.com.au

Any intention of doing a specific book of minis at the mountain?

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Member VMCI #19

Probably not. Steve has books on Holdens and Fords, and even one on Mazdas, so maybe there will be enough interest in a Mini one. I really have no idea, but maybe if a few people contact him with the same question he might look into it.

Cheers, Watto.

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Watto .
Photojournalist
Mini historian and enthusiast
http://www.theminiexperience.com.au