1960/70's Mini Racing Photos

[mab01UK]

Steve Neal, Austin Mini Cooper S leads John Rhodes, Morris Mini Cooper S and John Fitzpatrick, Ford Anglia
(Photo by: Rainer Schlegelmilch)

"Best known in the modern era as the long-time boss of British Touring Car Championship squad Team Dynamics, Steve Neal, who has died aged 82, was also a leading driver."
https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/...d-82/10490478/

[S griffin]

Great names there, they were certainly top drivers of their time. He did a lot for motorsport did Steve, and while Matt has had a lot of success in various series, Steve will always be remembered too.

[mab01UK]

Sad to hear of the passing of tuning legend Jan Odor who after learning his skills at Downton Engineering as a young refugee from Hungary in the late 50s formed Janspeed in Salisbury in 1962.

Jan O'dor - The Hungarian, who became a British legend. - "The story of Janspeed's founder".
"This documentary is dedicated to a significant and prominent Hungarian man, who is unworthy unknown for the Hungarians - Jan O'dor - who's life story is starting in the times of the 1956 revolution in Hungary, with a great escape, lots of luck, plenty of learns, strong willingness to do, humanee, and humblessness for his family and the motorsports. The story takes us from the village of Lovasberény (65 km-s from Budapest) across Budapest to Salisbury, UK, when Jan started his professional career, mocking up, and tuning classic Minis since 1959. Later on, at the 80th of the last century he reached the top, as the owner of Britain's one of the biggest car tuning and motorsport firm. And after the top, he experienced the painful deep as well, after his son passed away in 1995. He turned his back to motorsports, and settled down in the sunny Portugal, with his wife Anna, and enjoyed the life of a retired couple, loving to play golf, until they accepted the invitation of Mini Club Hungary, and arrived to Budapest in 2018 to tell his story which this film were made of."
The documentary is made with the support of the members of Mini Club Hungary by Attila Damokos, Máté Hercsel, Gyárfás Oláh, Dorottya Molnár and Gabor Varga Gojo in 2020.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP2Flch5cdc

[mab01UK]

1972 TEAC Champions

[S griffin]

Sad news about Jan O'Dor, especially coming so soon after Steve Neal's death, another BTCC team boss. At least he is reunited with son Keith

[mab01UK]

Paul Gaymer 8-Port race Mini 1971
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...3&locale=en_GB

[mab01UK]

1976

[mab01UK]

A rally Mini for a change...

The late Brian Griffin in action 1971 - Semperit Welsh Marches Rally

[mab01UK]

Alec Poole - Turners Hall, Barbados 1971
https://www.barbadosrallyclub.com/im...ners-hall-1971

[mab01UK]

Mini racing legend Peter Baldwin 1941-2023 - Race in Peace.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/267279575525878/




Peter fine tuning his BDA Mini - Silverstone (29-10-83)

[John Elwin]

Many many happy memories of Peter Baldwin & his orange Mini's. Being from Cambridge, he seemed to be almost a permanent fixture at Snetterton meetings in the 1970's at least, where I spent many happy hours.

R.I.P. Peter

[chunterer]

Sad news indeed.

Very good driver and a great marque enthusiast!!

[mab01UK]

Richard Longman 1275GT

[mab01UK]

Oulton Park 1978
Photo: Steve Murphy

[mab01UK]

Built in period by Richard Longman for Patrick Motors
Replica of his 1978/1979 British Saloon Car Championship-winning Mini 1275 GT
Used for promotional purposes and never raced
Requires recommissioning before use:-
https://www.bonhams.com/auction/2830...gine-no-18330/

[mab01UK]

Final selling price was £40,250 and it now seems it may actually be Longman’s 1978 Championship winning car. The Longman Mini 1275GT owned by BMW Classic currently in the BMW museum then must be the 1979 car....

[mab01UK]

Mud or Dust - The British Rallycross Years 1967-71



"The book 'MUD OR DUST' is a nostalgic rewind in black and white of Rallycross through the formative 1967-71 British years by author Jeremy Walton. While Walton scribbled for Motoring News, Peter Osborne and Mike Black photographed the unfolding high octane action.
Presumed lost for many years, the 300+ black and white negatives they captured were recently rediscovered lurking in a dusty garage.
Although having suffered some damage, Osborne has restored many of these historic images and they form the basis of this book, along with samples of Walton's contemporary Motoring News reports.
Walton has also written 7000 words to accompany the 123 original photographs that bring to life the beginnings of this exciting, if somewhat mucky, branch of motorsport."
https://www.fromthedrivingseat.com/b...d-or-dust.html

"The BBC could attract up to 8 million viewers of a Saturday afternoon—and ITV’s World of Sport also had a major series running that attracted the TV millions—this was a Big Deal for Rallycross.
Mud-splattered Minis and their courageously skilled conductors became living room heroes, perfect for the David versus Goliath roles as they fought bestial 4x4 Capris with more than twice the horsepower, but not a fraction of Mini’s manic manoeuvrability.
Although factory drivers like John Rhodes earned their professional retainers with honour, for many the heroes were Mini drivers like double Lydden Hill champion Hugh Wheldon, amateur to paid S-type driver ‘Jumping’ Jeff Williamson, David Angel, Nick Jesty, Pip Carrotte, George Jackson and Keith Ripp, who made it from sausage salesman to period proprietor of a major speed shop chain, Rippspeed. Also up there on the Mini honours boards were John Buncombe and Geoff Mabbs, plus auto and rallycrosser Glynn Swift. Always a standout in his colourful self-prepared Minis, Glynn became father of Nick Swift, present day classic FIA Mini winner and owner of Mini period engineering specialist, Swiftune."
Jeremy Walton recounts some of his memories of Mini drivers who have inspired him:-
https://www.fromthedrivingseat.com/c...magicians.html

[mab01UK]

(Duckhams Quest magazine 1972)

[mab01UK]

Paul Taft

[mab01UK]

1961 Austin Mini - J Gibson - Silverstone

[mab01UK]

Greg Taft

[GWOOD1170]

Geoff Wood 1972

[68targa]

A few mini photos that I took in period.
1978 Thruxton #66 James Burrows Mini 1275 - #7 Vince Woodman' Capri.





1978 Oct 22 Brands hatch # 72 Peter Hardman. The programme shows him in a Morris Mini Tyrrell 850.



1978 Oct 22nd Brands Hatch Bev Comber





1967 - 12 Nov Brands Hatch - Janos Oder's Ford engined Mini driven by Geoff Mabbs. He finished 2nd in this race Bernard Unett's Imp





1969 Brands Hatch 6 hours ETC round - Paddy Hopkirk/John Rhodes

[mab01UK]

The Vita-D Racing Team 1964
"The racing activities of the Vita sponsored racing team, based at Littleborough in Lancashire, England captured on film by racing driver Harry Ratcliffe during 1964. Footage includes Oulton Park, Mallory Park, Brands Hatch, Castle Combe and the 1964 Tour de France Automobile. Drivers include Harry himself, Jeff Goodliff and the Reverend Rupert Jones racing Mini Coopers."
Remastered footage of BVRT / Harry Ratcliffe:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXoxp96WSso
(copy & paste link above if it does not work direct)

[mab01UK]

Originally Posted by 68targa

A few mini photos that I took in period.



1967 - 12 Nov Brands Hatch - Janos Oder's Ford engined Mini driven by Geoff Mabbs. He finished 2nd in this race Bernard Unett's Imp

Great photos, thanks for posting them!

Some details on the Mini-Ford driven by Geoff Mabbs in 1967 below:-



CR Calls The Tune:-
https://mk1-performance-conversions....s-the-tune.pdf