Surbiton's year of Mini Cooper celebrations

[mab01uk]

"Saturday 18th May 2024 will be a Mini Celebration at the original John Cooper Garage in Surbiton (now 'Charles Ivey' Porsche garage). The Hollyfield Road will be shut, and we would like to gather around 150 vintage and modern minis to display themselves along the road. It is our ambition to have a Mini Cooper representing each year from 1964 to 2024 alongside the classic iconic 60’s minis. Prior to the display, there will be a Mini Monte drive around the area for those Mini cars that wish to participate.
There will be entertainment in the form of young bands reinterpreting the hits of 1964 (and the 60s) as well as showing the original Italian Job. In addition, there will be guided tours of the former-Cooper garage and design rooms. We hope this will be a fun day to highlight the innovation and design of the Mini Cooper as well as mark its first Monte Carlo Rally victory."
Time & Location - 18 May 2024, 11:00 – 17:00
Surbiton, Hollyfield Rd, Surbiton, KT5 9AJ
https://www.thecommunitybrain.org/event ... s-festival

Kingston, Surrey Mini Cooper Events
Mark your calendars for a series of spectacular events celebrating the iconic Mini Cooper. From heritage displays to floral tributes, each event promises to be a unique journey through the local Mini Cooper story:-

Sunday 21 January: London Waterloo Station: Step back in time with the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally Winning Mini Cooper and a captivating heritage display.
March: Launch of the "Speed" book, exploring Surbiton, Tolworth, and Chessington's connections with motorsport and speed records.
Saturday 18 May: Hollyfield Road, Surbiton: Witness a grand gathering of more than 200 Mini Coopers and Minis from the last 60 years, complete with live 60s music performances and a screening of 'The Italian Job'.
2 - 7 July: Hampton Court Garden Festival: Experience a unique blend of horticulture and automotive history with The Community Brain's Mini Cooper-themed garden display.
Saturday 28 September: Surbiton Festival: Enjoy a special Mini Cooper heritage event celebrating the legacy of this iconic car.
https://kingston.nub.news/news/local-ne ... loo-217558

[mk1coopers]

Why are they focusing on 1964 as a date, is it purely the Monte connection ? (Which is more or a connection to Abingdon than Surbiton as far as I’m concerned)

[Logs]

Why are they focusing on 1964 as a date, is it purely the Monte connection ? (Which is more or a connection to Abingdon than Surbiton as far as I’m concerned)

Is it because that was around the time they moved to this address? My 1962 cooper, which was 1st owned by Coopers garages, was registered to their 243 Ewell road address on the original buff logbook.

[mk1coopers]

As far as I know Charles Cooper moved there around 1934, as they won the F1 Championships in 1959 and 1960 they would have been there long before 64', and developing the Mini Cooper following on from the Championship years to its release.

By the looks of the posts on Facebook and their own website they will have 33 EJB there, as they did earlier in the year at Waterloo station, to me, the Cooper Car co is a race team, perhaps it is just the 'fame' of EJB being used to promote the event.

This is in no way a criticism of the the event, or any of the others they have planned, I am just interested in why 1964 was chosen so that the events were run this year in the '60th' anniversary.

[mab01uk]

I think 1964 was probably chosen as many of the planned events like 18th May are being billed as part of a family fun day aimed at attracting local people in the surrounding communities of Surbiton and Kingston, who are far more likely to be aware of the 1960's Mini Cooper Monte Carlo rally victories as a connection to the Surbiton Cooper garage celebrations. Whereas the Mini Cooper Car co race team history is less well known outside of Mini enthusiast circles. The display board with 33 EJB when on display at Waterloo Station was mainly about the 1964 Monte but did also detail the story of John Cooper and the Cooper Car Company on the other side of the display board for those interested to know more about the racing connections.

[Pete]

Bit stumped by the ‘64 thing aswell but that doesn’t put me off really admiring the work of this voluntary organisation in celebrating the history of Cooper and Holyfield Road for their own community. I wish more communities were like that! Absolutely doff my cap to them, how I wish the homes of Alexander Engineering, Broadspeed and British Vita Racing got that level of celebration or recognition. Brilliant work and I might just venture down for this!