Hi guys,
Does anyone here know if at Bathurst they are goingt to get a heap of Cooper Ss to do a lap of the Mountain like the Ford Cortinas did?? (ie 1965 winners).


If so I would love to be involved I have a 1967 Cooper S Lake green white roof

Cheers Brett Nosse

From what i have heard AVESCO aren't even remotly interested in that.... Mini's have nothing to do with the Taxi racing. Cortina's are fords so that was ok.... don't know if anyone can influence them in regards to this though.\

Cheers

Aaron

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I made some enquires in order to keep ACT Mini Car Club members informed of any developments in this area.....I hope there will be an opportunity for a large number of Mini people (club/non club) to be involved somehow.

The problem with Bathurst in October is accomodation, everything is booked out from one year to another. I suppose groups wishing to be in the area on the days(s) could stage from towns further out.

Here is one reply I recieved:

Mick,
Plans are pretty well advanced to commmorate the 40th
anniversary. Approximately 200 cars are expected to do a parade lap before next year's race and I'm sure that there will be other activities. I don't know whether the original cars are still in the UK, but it would be good to see them (we have a replica) and even some Monte Carlo Rally cars.

Brett Robinson from the NSW club is doing some things, but I haven't heard from him for a while.

Cheers

Rod Harvey
Manager
National Motor Racing Museum
Murray's Corner, Mount Panorama BATHURST NSW 2795
Phone: (02) 6332 1872
Fax: (02) 6332 3349
Mobile: 0409 039 268
Web: www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au

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"Show me the Mini!"

um WTF is he going on about original cars being in the UK. they were all aussie cars in 1966. i would have thought the manager of a national museum would be able to get his hands on the correct information.

And Rae told me at or last meeting in december that AVESCO and in particular Tony Cochrane were absolutely not interested in having a mini parade or any involvement with MCCNSW. i don't know who Brett Robinson is either, but i'll get to the bottom of it from our end.

thanks for the info Mick

michael

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

I have never really gone into what happened to the race winning cars....the BMC big wigs wouldn't have cared a tinkers damn where they were built so long as they could crow about a race win.....

but I do know that they were British Motor Corporation backed cars and may have been whisked away to the UK or more likely sold off cheap to the competitors or possibly fixed up and sold to customers.....fairly sure the replica at Bathurst was built by the TAFE.

Back to Watto's story on Bathurst to see if he covers this aspect

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"Show me the Mini!"

Firstly - I had a call late last year from someone who is organising an event at Bathurst - to include the Mini parade. He said he'd be back in touch early in Jan (haven't heard yet) but I'll chase it up and see what the go is. This is apparently being done as a commercial venture (so you'll have to pay to be part of the event) as I'm told this is the only way AVESCO will allow any such thing. I'm also told it is already agreed to from the AVESCO/CAMS point of view.

As I said, I'll chase it up and let you all know what is happening. Keep tuned to the news section of The Mini Experience as well.

As for the cars - we had a fair bit on where they came from in Issue 4 - ie they were Aussie cars built at Zetland. The three Works cars (Aaltonen/Holden, Hopkirk/Foley and French/Harvey) were race-prepared by the apprentices at Zetland, with Holden getting his on the sly to rebuild to his satisfaction - but no cheating.

As for after the race - Bob said the cars were just sold off as standard Cooper S - perhaps demonstrators?! It is not known what became of them. However, a letter from Gary Norwood in Issue 3 gave a good rundown on what is known of some of the cars, but nothing on the 1966 cars.

The car in the National Motor Racing Museum at Bathurst was restored by the mechanics at the Bathurst City Council Vehicle Maintenance Department (they have done the work to most of the cars on display at the museum, I believe) and has the number plates from the 1966 Bathurst-winner. This means the original car is not on its original rego and therefore becomes virtually impossible to track down. The car at the museum is not painted the right colour, but is meant to be representative of the cars that won Bathurst, rather than trying to be the car itself.

As for Rod Harvey not knowing any details about the Minis - give the guy a break. He looks after a museum that covers the racing history of Mt Panorama, from the 1930s, and including more than 40 years of The Great Race, plus all the Easter meetings, etc. He cannot be expected to be an expert on every car that raced at Bathurst - even in the 500/1000. After all, how many Mini enthusiasts would know that the GT500s that won in 1965 were originally English two-door Cortina GTs?

Cheers, Watto.

The Mini Owners Club of Queensland put out an expression of interest to owners wishing to ship their vehicles to Bathurst and fly in. There wasn't any details of the celebrations planned though. If a track day is incorporated I'd be very interested.

Its a bit far to go for one slow lap though!!

Cheers,


Jacks.

the car in the museam was found at the bathurst dump i think or some where near to bathurst mabe even orange it is on the display plark were it was found was two years ago you know
makka

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Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

but a lap in front of thousands

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ook!
69 mini k
'Kids don't recognise a Saab from a Volvo but they always recognise a Mini,'

[quote

Its a bit far to go for one slow lap though!!

quote]

but it's a MINI Run It's something that you will remember forever

Waiting for more details-and it's only 3500km from here
That's NOT to far

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I`m gonna try to be there

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

id certainly take the oppertunity to drive around that brilliant circuit, pitty car wont be ready then, oh well, race one will be but prolly wont be good for driving slow in lol.

if they dont have minis it would be a crime, they did do that amazing finish with something like the top nine cars being minis!!

if they dont someone should graffitti mini all over the barracades around the track before the weekend starts lol

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Potato

Alright Mick, you get it organised and we'll reprise the 25th anniversary trun in the 1071.

Cheers,

Whats to organise

NSWMCC may be organising some sort of user pays gig with AVESCO for a parade at the mount. The logistics of organising something like this will be made difficult by the chaos that Bathurst experiences around October (where does "200" Minis and their drivers/passengers stay when everything is booked out from one year to the next....well away from Bathurst I would suggest....I have my campsite booked ). It remains to be seen if NSW will open the event to other clubs/interested persons...time will tell....hope they give people plenty of warning...

I have suggested to some that a celebration, gathering, cruise, BBQ near the track on the Sunday might be a good thing.....(obviously, staged from somewhere like the Blue Mtns....say). Yeah....Hydro Majestic full of Mini folk (ya dreaming Mick!!)

25th Anniversary for the 1071 has my interest tho....1965ish is not 25 years so it must be when you picked up yours Would be great to see you put her back together and still run the Traveller...Cheers, Mick

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"Show me the Mini!"