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As Brett says, a number of local Mini enthusiasts have been providing John with information for his next book. I have submitted data on Australian Police Minis, for example. Unfortunately he has had some 'debates' with the intended publisher that means the new book is now several years past the intended publication date. I visited John three years ago whilst in the UK and he outlined the issues he faced.
Now on to the errors in the Australian section of the original book. Below is a cut and paste of a post John made in October 2010, together with a reply by Mick. John's words speak for themselves, I think. Search for username 'John Parnell' if you want to see other posts he's made.
Dear all,
Thank you for allowing me to join your forum.
If the name to the left of this message looks familiar, I am the individual responsible for that most awful chapter (one page!) on Australian Mini Coopers that appeared on page 102 of Original Mini Cooper.
I should explain that when the book was being written in the early 1990s, a chapter on Australian cars was never envisaged. A combination of ignorance and misguided belief had pigeon-holed the Australian variants as being little different from their UK counterparts. As Original Mini Cooper was literally going to press, I received a frantic telephone call from the editor telling me that a chapter on the Australian Mini Coopers was now to be included and I was given about ten days to come up with something suitable. In June 1993 there was no internet as we know it today, and `email’ was unheard of. I now realise to my shame that it would have been better to have not written anything at all. So firstly, I would like to convey my apologies to those owners and enthusiasts of Australian Mini Coopers whom I so badly let down. We all make mistakes, and I have made more than my fair share. The important thing is not to make the same ones twice.
I am now in the process of putting together the remaining elements of the Australian Mini Cooper chapter for a new book entitled Mini Cooper In Detail, and this time I want to get it right. There are still likely to be wrangles with the publisher, not least because the whole book is approaching twice the agreed size. That bridge I will cross once the last two chapters (including this one) are submitted, and not before. so please no missives. They have a tough job to do and at present they are leaving me alone to get the task in hand finished!
As you can imagine, not too many Australian Mini Coopers have made there way to England which makes a study of them by someone like me all the more difficult. For this reason, the progress I have so far made on writing about them owes a great deal to the generous efforts and superior knowledge of those who have lived with and worked on these magnificent cars. And the more I learn about them, the more I admire them.
The other thing I learned a long time ago is that when it comes to Minis, anything one writes about them is always a work in progress. The knowledge base is expanding all the time and the benefit of forums such as this is that everybody knows something. Since much of the essential factory information is either missing or of questionable accuracy, it is only by comparing notes and details on different cars that the truth emerges. With this in mind I am going to spend time drilling down through the vast labyrinth of discussion topics and responses on the Ausmini forum and then if it is okay with everyone I would like to throw open some further questions to you the owners, who are the real experts. Forums are all about views and opinions, so I am also looking forward to chipping in too if it adds to a discussion. London is between 8 and 10 hours behind Australia, so we may be ships in the night depending on the time zone scale.
For the record, I bought my first Mini in March 1973 and have owned one ever since. I presently have a restored 1964 Austin 970, a dilapidated 1963 Morris 1071, awaiting restoration, and a painfully expensive 1965 coach-built Radford 1275.
Best regards,
John
Welcome to the forum John, it's great to see a name such as yours on the Ausmini books.
Your book Original Mini Cooper was/is a real inspiration. I remember stumbling upon it in early 1994. I still enjoy opening it up and looking at the pictures every now and then to see exactly what is possible when you put a mini back together.
Good luck with the book! Is it possible to place an advanced order yet??
Mick
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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43
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