Comps Dept reunion August 2017

[Pete]

Couldn't make this reunion of Comps staff, works cars and replicas last weekend but there's a great set of photos online here :

http://www.robertclayson.co.uk/p69230884

It was organised by John McIntosh and by all accounts was superbly done and a brilliant weekend!

[Peter Laidler]

Hey, there's my car there........ 59 and 73. Hey, there it is again at 147 and 148. Chief Marshal. Good weekend and I doubt whether there will ever be a gathering of or like this again.

[mk1]

Great Pics, Glad to see John Rhodes looking so well.

[Pete]

John's 90 tomorrow!

[Peter Laidler]

Some/most of the cars that raced on Sunday sounded as rough as guts in the perimeter bay area but they did sound nice when they were warmed up and tanking it around the runway track that we'd laid out.

Incidentally and by accident I discovered the bloke who owns the Marina pick-up that was used as the load carrier for the ST dept here at Abingdon. I'll tell the ex works blokes but doubt VERY much that they'll be interested in a Morris Marina......... But you never know!

[VKA305H]

great photos, great collection of cars. Many thanks. Cheers Brian

[mk1]

I'll tell the ex works blokes but doubt VERY much that they'll be interested in a Morris Marina......... But you never know!

Paint it Red & White, that should peak their interest

Seriously though, it's good to know that some of the vehicles other than the red & white ones have been saved & their history is known.

[LMM76C]

Posts raise a number of questions.
Who is John McIntosh? Is he part of a particular organisation or club?
"Raced"? Under what authorisation/permit?
"Replicas"? Of what? Many photos seem to be of unfamiliar registrations and cars that "look a bit like rally cars with some works-like bits on them". Given the wide concerns regarding the subject of such cars, any sort of "closed shop" event merely stirs the pot and raises the question of just how much some major figures from the history of "works" cars really know about how vital it is that their own history/records etc. eventually end up in the public domain rather than somewhere that is accessible "by invitation only".
Excuse that it was "held in a secure location". Why? (One that has routinely invited the public in to motoring and motorsport events, "carnivals" etc. for many years now).

[Pete]

Posts raise a number of questions.
Who is John McIntosh? Is he part of a particular organisation or club?
"Raced"? Under what authorisation/permit?
"Replicas"? Of what? Many photos seem to be of unfamiliar registrations and cars that "look a bit like rally cars with some works-like bits on them". Given the wide concerns regarding the subject of such cars, any sort of "closed shop" event merely stirs the pot and raises the question of just how much some major figures from the history of "works" cars really know about how vital it is that their own history/records etc. eventually end up in the public domain rather than somewhere that is accessible "by invitation only".
Excuse that it was "held in a secure location". Why? (One that has routinely invited the public in to motoring and motorsport events, "carnivals" etc. for many years now).

Short of John answering (who's not a member here) I'll have a go. I'm the first to have a go at the secrecy and bullshit surrounding the works car scene sometimes and I know this event looks like a 'closed shop' as it took place in private and was invite only (though evidently there were a few faces there that have zero interest or connection with works Minis) However John McIntosh organised this (John owns LBL 590E) using his specific connections at the base so it could be held very close to the original Comps Dept workshops. That way they could use the base's facilities, (including the tarmac!) ,it would be secure and it was perfectly located. He could hardly open it up to the public given the circumstances and I can't see how it could have been done any other way so close to Abingdon. By all accounts it was very well organised and very well recieved. As for which cars could or should have been invited (there's loads of decent works replicas), which "works cars" deserve the plate they have on the bonnet or who got invited is a whole different conversation. I think John did a great job from what I hear and looking at the pics!

[Peter Laidler]

The Army who owned the messing, lounge, lecture hall, catering, secure and guarded storeage facilities for the cars and the later use of the (still) service and maintained airfield runways were not prepared to allow pretty-well free access to those facilities to members of the public/vehicles in the present climate. It would be unwise to discuss the reasons why and the and close control of those people who were invited who were strictly vetted prior to the event. In short, a public event was a no goer right from the start for reasons best left unsaid........

[spoon.450]

Fair comments chaps. Peter...were you representing any particular ex works car, or just helping out as friend of the organisers, or something like that ?

[Supersonic]

Have I lost the plot?

[mk1]

a public event was a no goer right from the start for reasons best left unsaid........



I wish someone would "say", I can't for the life of me imagine why.

[Pete]

Yes I ddn't quite get that, though we all realise they can't let the public wander about on a military base.

[Peter Laidler]

The security implications are the reason and the main organisers are not not really in a position to discuss them openly. Maybe it can just be left at that

[billycooper]

Good to see them all lined up, and brill pictures from Robert

I've always been a big works mini fan , one of only a few on the forum , and attended a lot of the events, I understand the security implications, but this all seems a bit "of a secret club" and a bit Masonic to me !

Shame, it's coming to this , would have loved to have had a good look round


Maybe I won't join and buy DJB92B now for £130000 !

http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C903043

And yes I would buy it if I had the funds .... providing I had a lot more funds to spend on life !

Just humour guys, just humour, but feel I've missed out

[Pete]

Some footage from Diddy Dave

https://www.facebook.com/MiniSportLtd/v ... KmkTim5coE

[timell]

Some footage from Diddy Dave

https://www.facebook.com/MiniSportLtd/v ... KmkTim5coE

Great willpower to resist turning it into a flat out race to the end of the runway...you can feel the tension!

[Pete]

Just humour guys, just humour, but feel I've missed out

To be fair I have heard a few say that, a couple with very nice works replicas. I bet the old boys being interviewed was really interesting, the main draw for me if I'd have made it.

[coopertim]

I too get the location with its need for security but with so many comments that this type of get together may never happen again not only with the number of works cars present but also the people from the era who attended and without a doubt would have added to the day, i feel a great number of true enthusiasts definitely missed out on this which was a great shame. It did however look to be a fantastic day for the works owners and privileged invited few and was really well organised by John McIntosh. Not sour grapes at all but my interest in the red and white cars is now at an end as i prefer my passion for minis to be inclusive and welcoming just as it is at our own Mk1 Performance Day at Blyton and long may it continue to be so.

Tim