Works car found

[spoon.450]

Pete / Mark, you have pm's.

Dave

[mk1]

Thanks Dave,

PM received.

[spoon.450]

What an excellent event at Blyton today, thanks to Pete and Mark. We have found out loads of info. about Pauls car and will update this week. Thanks to all involved.
Dave

[mk1coopers]

Nice to see GRX in the metal

[Pete]

I didn't get chance / make the time..

[rich@minispares.com]

great to see both the ex works cars at blyton,


whilst ex works rally cars are not really my thing, even a heathen like me could appreciate the 'ooze of history'!

[spoon.450]

We had a brilliant time at Blyton and can only repeat all the comments made on the Mk1 action day thread. There was a lot of enthusiasm around the works cars and it was great to have the two 66 cars ( Ronnies LBL 66D and Pauls GRX 309D ) side by side to compare some identical Abingdon features such as seat bracket mount holes, sump guard fittings and internal hydro pipes etc.
A lot of interesting new information regarding Pauls car was offered including the fact that the engine number on the cars current V5 is from JBL 494D, another 66 works car. We were also advised that there are photos in existence ( somewhere ! ) of Pauls car sporting its current registration number on the 1969? RAC rally. We'll have to do some digging.
We were approached by a previous owner of the car ( Alan Bell ) who gave us photos of it from 1974 / 5 when in his ownership as a road going car in which I think he said his wife took her driving test. Alan could remember the twin fuel pumps being located on the rear subframe, protected by a skid plate as detailed in the recently acquired build sheets. Sorry I was called away mid conversation Alan, we will be back in touch, and thank you for the photos and info. I will upload these photos later.
Another interesting suggestion was that Pauls car could have possibly done more works events under a different works identity / identities ? We'll probably never know that.
I'll keep adding as things come back to me but this gives a lot to think about for now !
Thanks to everyone for the much appreciated information, it was great to spend the weekend with so many decent enthusiasts, and thanks also for the Car of the Day award, Paul was overwhelmed !

Dave

[Pete]

It's great when all this stuff comes to the surface isn't it, bit by bit. I'm sure there's more to come on this car. 'Keep it quiet!' - my arse.
Let me have the replacement reg number Paul, I'll have a sift through some RAC pics, I'm sure Steve (Smoke Grey) will have a few RAC snaps also.

[LMM76C]

I've got quite a few reg nos recorded of Minis on the 69 RAC, if that's the year.

I know it's not this one (nor its service car...).

[spoon.450]

The replacement reg. no for GRX 309D is GMM 51B. Any info. relating to this will be much appreciated.

Regards
Dave

[Pete]

One thing I did do was check through all the Minis listed (by registration) in Motoring news rallies recorded by Peter Robinson from 1970 onward and despite plenty of ex works Minis listed (mostly under their Abingdon registrations) GMM 51B doesn't appear so I presume it had retired from rallying by this point? Anyone got access to similar records pre 1970?

[LMM76C]

Named first drivers of Cooper Ss on the 69 RAC I don't know the reg nos of:
McLaren,Khan,Hoskin,Heaver,Pallot,Roderick,Boulden,Armstrong,Taylor,Lt Shaw,Cameron,Englefield,Kershaw,Jones.
The last is R.Jones in a 970, not sure if it was the Rev. Rupert.

[LMM76C]

One thing I did do was check through all the Minis listed (by registration) in Motoring news rallies recorded by Peter Robinson from 1970 onward and despite plenty of ex works Minis listed (mostly under their Abingdon registrations) GMM 51B doesn't appear so I presume it had retired from rallying by this point? Anyone got access to similar records pre 1970?

Peter Robinson's new book on the earlier years is on the way soon. I'll check "Nineteen to the Dozen" (1969).

[Pete]

The last is R.Jones in a 970, not sure if it was the Rev. Rupert.

That's a bit later than I thought he competed, the other member of the crew may give a clue.

[Pandora]

We were also advised that there are photos in existence ( somewhere ! ) of Pauls car sporting its current registration number on the 1969? RAC rally. We'll have to do some digging.
Dave

I'd start with LAT archives, part of the Haymarket publishing group. I'm sure the RAC will have been well covered by the various photographers held in their archives.

I was involved with the sale of 3 ex works cars and on each occassion they were able to provide photos if you gave them the event, reg. no and / or entry number.

Al

[LMM76C]

R.Jones/D.Gregory was the only 970 in the 69 entry list (all other Minis 848, 998 Cooper or 1275/1293 S). Thinking about it, this would have been the last International Rally for a Gp2 970S.

Foster and Skeffington covered the event (photos sent to all crews), 101 (998 Cooper) here:

[LMM76C]

Peter Robinson's new Book "Memory Lanes -The Early Years" should be out in July. This covers 1966 to 1969 inclusive.
He confirmed to me today that there should be a 4th book to follow it covering 61 to 65.

[1071 S]

LMM 76C... interesting user ID... I used to own LMF 602C.

AIUI similar numbers would have come from the same area ... and I've always wondered about the origins of the (Fiesta) Yellow Beast...

Cheers, Ian

[LMM76C]

I think MM was Middlesex (Surrey only other possibility - its first owner in 65 was SW Middx or just over Surrey border). It lived in Middx mid 66-75 and I sold it in Surrey in early 76.

(The L is not geographic)

[Pete]

LMM..C is indeed a Middelsex & Gtr London (NW) registration as was LMF ..C which was issued between Jan and Aug '65. Back to the subject and GRX 309D's donor registration 'GMM 51B' when sold off by Abingdon was issued in Middlesex again between March and Nov '64. I strongly suspect that reg will come up in 60's Motoring News entry lists!