Minty - 1964 Aurora Gears Racing /Newtune 1071 Cooper S

[Pete]

I had more success looking for the original Alexander Engineering premises, 2 of the 3 buildings still very much intact on the Thame Road Industrial estate in Haddenham. Minty was a mechanically tired racing car in early 1965 when Robbie Gordon broke down on his way back from buying the car in Yorkshire so took it straight to Alexander for a rebuild.

After a some enquiries via the Haddenham page on Facebook late last week I eventually located what turned out to be the main Alexander workshop building still very much as it was. The showroom and forecourt long gone and replaced by another unit in front but the large 60s building added on the rear was very much still there also. Quite a big set up back in the day with the workshops handling the cars with Fred Hillyer at the helm and the new build housing the previously outsourced engineering operation bought up by owner Michael Christie and moved lock stock and barrel from nearby Thame plus the entire accessory business and offices. I managed to grab a few snaps in front of the workshop and at the back where it meets the later build, all now part of a complex of subdivided units named Alexander House. The cars were tested on the large airfield round the back which seems quite apt as Fred was an ex WW2 Wellington bomber pilot.

[Pete]

More pics…

[Pete]

The later build to the left of the workshop were the offices for the very busy accessory business.

[Pete]

https://youtu.be/jVrNOjNmHds?si=6oY0-MSE55al1BSr

[spoon.450]

Great pics and history Pete

[mk1]

Thanks for sharing.

M

[steve1071]

Brilliant those, Pete.

How about a nice black and white one for that period look...?!

[Pete]

Bit too sharp but …

[Pete]

Love this shot of the Delta Garage team, Hockliffe Street Leighton Buzzard. Minty was delivered here in March 1964 and first owner on the logbook was the daughter of owner Douglas Wilson Spratt (2nd on the left) at the same address. No idea why , maybe she just signed the paperwork when cars were delivered but Minty was sold to the Taylors shortly after. I did wonder whether it had briefly been a rally car!?? Anyway this picture was taken in May 1965 on DWS’s return from the Acropolis Rally, he wore his DWS 97 number plate on all of his competition cars. As pictured on the previous page the garage is now a car park so I didn’t bother to go over.

[Pete]

DWS outside the garage, an early shot of the Delta workshop and an old ad for the Austin dealership

[Pete]

Quick bit of footage from KOP….

https://youtu.be/X5a7SF9ZpGA?si=yn5gaq_6klIIUjxK

[Pete]

I still keep discovering races I’d not realised Minty competed in. A new one to me was the Martini Trophy meeting at Silverstone on July 4th 1964 where Trevor Taylor broke John Fitzpatrick’s 1300cc lap record (described by Motoring News as “fantastically fast” ) , this was the first meeting for both Aurora team cars using the new 1275 engines. I’m still not sure where those engines were built and sadly Anita’s brother who told me originally about the initial Downton preparation passed away a couple of years back. I’ve not found a result for Anita in this race as yet but judging by the programme possibly a DNF or even a DNS?
Photo of Trevor getting his lap record!

[Pete]

Here’s the quote from Robbie Gordon when he bought Minty off the Taylors, sadly he couldn’t make it to KOP so still hasn’t seen the car! He and his wife used to call the car Supermin. Both team cars were advertised in late ‘64 in Autosport along with the VW pick-up tow barge and spare engines. Wonder what happened to that lot??

“Morning Pete
Glad KOP went really well.
When I bought Supermin,the plan was to drive her from her home "up north" to Cambridge..and a good pal of mine volunteered to drive her.I got a phone call from the A1 in Yorkshire..Supermin had broken down..main drive from engine to gearbox broke.So,we towed her about 170 miles to Alexanders.where she was repaired.and they overhauled the engine as well.Not the best start to our relationship!
All the best Robbie”

[mk1]

Pete,

You constantly amaze me with your tenacity in finding all this fantastic history.

M

[Pete]

Thanks Mark , there’s lots more to find, not started on the post Robbie Gordon history of the late 60s yet! Or the special saloon era! All I know is that Robbie sold it to Newtune, and John Aley bought it from them. I got an email from John Aley saying that he remembered buying the car and that’s all I got before he passed. Aley sold it to a Terrence Cole of Blaby in Leicester in December 1966 and at some point the car was painted white (Aley’s racing Minis were usually always white) over the Newtune colours. I’m yet to track Cole down and find out what he did with it! He rebuilt the engine to +40 in 1968 so I’m assuming it was a road car at this point.

[Pete]

I was having a very interesting chat with Steve Myers round at Nick Wardley’s place a couple of weeks back and he remembers not only both Aurora team cars in the showroom window at the Taylor’s garage but says he also remembers Dave Mathews bought the Trevor Taylor car and it was prepared with a 970 engine at some point at Coldwell Engineering where he was working.
This entry list for the 1964 Boxing Day race at Brands Hatch lists Mathews in what could be the car, entrant was Anita! I’m trying to get in touch with Mathews to see what happened to it.

[BigWig]

So much history constantly being unearthed on this car. Be amazing if the Taylor car still existed, be interested to hear more...

[Pandora]

Pete, the guy I was in touch with who worked at Coldwell and is seen in the film was Steve Myers. Have you spoken to him?

Al

[Pete]

Yep Steve Myers, spoke to him about a year ago and met him at Nick Wardley’s couple of weeks back.

Found another programme with Minty’s 2nd owner Robbie Gordon actually racing her at Silverstone (he usually let David Wansborough drive and/or Gerry Marshall) from October 1965. Robbie also owned and raced the famous Jag ‘CUT 7’ at this time, both stabled at Newtune, Minty was painted in the same metallic gun metal grey colour (with maroon roof). I spoke to Robbie a while back and we’ve swapped emails a few times but unfortunately I’ve still not met him!

Having problems uploading photos again so will try again.

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

I just sat and read every single page of this thread pete...

Great read! Some very cool history, and some beautifully done work sir! Labor of love that...