Minty - 1964 Aurora Gears Racing /Newtune 1071 Cooper S

[Pete]

British (European) GP at Brands Hatch 11/07/1964

[Pete]

Competed against ‘Sophie’ the Downton car quite a few times. Here again at Mallory Park, my car is on the third row. Victory lap by Slotemaker I think (EDIT it’s John Fitzpatrick) in Sophie.

[Pete]

Well here’s something I didn’t know. Looking at this photo of Anita at Goodwood for the St Mary’s Trophy on 30th March 1964 the car was still red/black for this her first race in it! First under bonnet shot I’ve found and you can’t really see anything!

[Pete]

Right, I’ve managed to solve a mystery. I’d been struggling to fathom the photos I’ve got of Anita at Mallory in early 64 (some of which are above) as the meeting I was thinking it must have been was a round of the European Touring Car Championship and she wasn’t in that three hour race (because you had to be a registered competitor in the ETCC to enter) so I was happy to find the programme which confirms the photos above are indeed from that meeting but it’s the Molyslip race for saloons up to 1300, last race of the weekend. The Downton car pictured on the left wasn’t Slotemaker driving it’s winner John Fitzpatrick (obvious now looking at the photo) and the car to the right is Harry Ratcliffe of course (you can just see the Vita-D sticker on the wing). The rest of the grid includes some of the best Mini racers of the day including Trevor Taylor in the other Aurora Mini and Phil Middlehurst yet again! You can see the top boys have already got 1275 motors. Be interested to find the results.

[Pete]

Flashback to Yorkshire Motorsport Festival

[Pete]

It’s amazing to think that at least three of the Minis on that Mallory Park grid still survive. Here’s one, it’s Tony Rutt’s car (Surf Blue with white bonnet stripes) pictured here in front of mine (not for long though) at Crystal Palace in May 1964. That car is still racing in very modified form in the U.S., one of a number of race cars that went over there in the 60s, Rachel’s ex Steve Neal car being another. The Harry Ratcliffe car also survives over here of course.

[hanlminiman]

Sorry to ask but is the Anglia a Superspeed one?

[Nick W]

Any idea what this is?

[mk1coopers]

That sort of looks like tape on the front of the grill, is that another section to the left of it running top to bottom next to the grill stabiliser, some sort of weather protection (if something had been held between the two sections to cover the distributor) or a way of blanking a 1071 side mounted oil cooler air supply / protecting the oil filter bowl ?, this is all a complete guess

[Fanfaniracing]

Any idea what this is?

Oil Cooler Thermostat?

[Pete]

Interesting question!

[Pete]

I won’t be competing in it next year but found a nice snap from YMSF

[mk1]

Lovely car Pete!

[Pete]

Hopefully you’ll be mounting an attack on the YMSF course next year!? The Minis are back and I’m putting up a trophy!

[Nick W]

Count me in Pete!

[hanlminiman]

I won’t be competing in it next year but found a nice snap from YMSF

Dare I ask WHY?

[Pete]

I won’t be competing in it next year but found a nice snap from YMSF

Dare I ask WHY?

Yep. Because of this!

[hanlminiman]

Only a few HOURS of work left on the body fittings before subframes etc and engine! Plenty of time between now and the event but don't forget to factor in the early hours of the morning before the event to get it finally sorted.

[Pete]

Tell me about it. . Subframes all done, engine ready to go in. Need to get on with it soon. I’ll use Minty for the odd competitive event next year but the Aley cage will have to come out and some other bits doing to comply. Some more pics

[Pete]

A few European Touring Car Championship photos from 1964 at Brands and 1965 at Snetterton.
Trevor Taylor at Brands Hatch in 64 for the 6 Hour race sharing his car with Anita and a couple David Wansborough at Snetterton for the 6 Hour race in 65 sharing with Gerry Marshall.