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By the way there's plans afoot for the attendance of another famous British Vita Mini alongside the sprint, watch this space !!

Another STOP PRESS.

Paddy Hopkirk is also driving at Shelsley on Sunday.

http://www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk/clubnew ... asp?ni=330

Pete wrote:
http://www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk/clubnew ... asp?ni=330

nice photo of tims mini there as well!

How I wish I could make it to this event on Sunday, but alas I have had something else booked for months & can't get out of it.

This is a real once in a lifetime chance to see Jeff & his old car reunited for the first time since 1970 & it's down to Pete's hard work that it all finally came together.

I look forward to seeing the pictures & hearing all about it next week.

Have a great weekend.

Mark F

Shame you can't go Mark, and don't forget folks there'll be a '68 Vita touring car there also that's making it's debut alongside Jeff's sprint. What a shame Harry Ratcliffe isn't able to join in, I'll be quite sad about that on the day I think.

Shame it clashes with the Silverstone Classic but it's nice that Shelsley has welcomed us with open arms and decided to celebrate 50 years of the Cooper S, unlike most other motoring events. We've got three 1071's on the hillclimb entry list out of a field of over 20 Minis and variants in the class. The MCR are fielding a large display of cars amongst other Mini clubs....just think Mini Show but with decent food, a bar, live music, live action and without the boredom.

And some decent motorsport to watch too!

This will be a fantastic once in a lifetime day.

If I wasn't at the other end of the country this weekend I'd be there as should anyone with an interest in this hobby.

Can't wait to see the pics.

M

mk1 wrote:And some decent motorsport to watch too!

This will be a fantastic once in a lifetime day.

If I wasn't at the other end of the country this weekend I'd be there as should anyone with an interest in this hobby.

Can't wait to see the pics.

M

Hi Mark
Sorry you couldn't be there. I think that when you retire from this forum you will have a very active and successful career as a prophet. Today was definitely a "fantastic once in a lifetime day." Our Pete worked exceptionally hard to get the competitors there and the Mini Cooper Register had a display of 25 cars to watch the competition. The weather wasn't too bad and we were "taking tea" in the cafe when it rained.
A big thank you to those who travelled down to be at the event.
Stuart was there taking pictures and I took a few so be patient.
Cliff

Mark , you didnt miss much with the vita mini



apart from





the noise
the smell
the vibrations in your chest from the exhaust
the spectacle of it running
small children crying
adults shouting for mummy

and a french chap , a rather proud fench chap

wanna see it ??

pad4 wrote:Mark , you didnt miss much with the vita mini



apart from





the noise - awesome
the smell - Castrol R
the vibrations in your chest from the exhaust - I thought it was the classic skirt lines of the "supporters"
the spectacle of it running - awesome again
small children crying - I'm vertically challenged as well and know how they feel - why are hedges so high?
adults shouting for mummy - to borrow money!

and a french chap , a rather proud fench chap - A VERY PROUD FRENCH CHAP - OUI!!

wanna see it ??

I saw it on the track and in the paddock.

Fantastic weekend, I'll post some photos up later if someone else doesn't beat me to it (please !!)

Highlights :

Talking to Stirling Moss about the Rob Walker Minisprint (Ant I have a surprise for you)
Finally meeting Paddy Hopkirk
Meeting 'the French guys' Jean and Errol after months of letters/emails/phonecalls to try and make this happen, that BVRT Minisprint is awesome, sounds awesome and Jean went up the hill so quick from the start line (on a parade I might add) my camera couldn't keep up ! (hope someone got a shot of it on the hill !!)
Trevor and his British Vita touring car, what stories that car can tell, full of fascinating details.
Meeting Jeff Goodliff junior, and Jeff's grandson who had his own Corgi Vitamin. Sadly Jeff wasn't well enough to travel.
Some great cars on the entry list. Ian Jarman's 'Alexander' car was a peach (and so quick !)
Great to see some very standard looking early road cars just turn up, skinny tyres , stick the numbers on and go for it.

Never enough time to do what you want, yak to who you want. A one off experience.

Glad all your hard work paid off Pete.

I spent all Sunday thinking about what was happening & really regret not having been able to make it.

I am REALLY looking forward to seeing the pics.

M

I'll post some later but there's a set posted on the MCR Forum here if you want a peak....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38287160@N ... 828669973/

The hornet sounded on song for that first timed run after lunch Pete? Had a fantastic day the vita cars being the icing on the cake, brother and I just kept going back to look at the sprint, well done Pete for making that happen lot of work on your part. Will post some photos and a bit of video footage when they started the sprint up. Again really great day.

Francis

1ely wrote:The hornet sounded on song for that first timed run after lunch Pete? Francis

Yes, it's amazing how well it sounds/goes when the tappets are adjusted properly !



Just need to adjust the driver now !

I got to sit in the sprint, surprisingly comfy driver position. Lots of aircraft bits on that car including the blower (Jeff and Harry are ex Avro... http://www.engineering-timelines.com/sc ... asp?id=997 ) and is more like a fighter cockpit than a Mini !

Anyone know what engine 732 HOP had in it on Sunday, I'm either much worse than I thought or that's no standard 1071 !!

Pete wrote:

1ely wrote:The hornet sounded on song for that first timed run after lunch Pete? Francis

Yes, it's amazing how well it sounds/goes when the tappets are adjusted properly !



Just need to adjust the driver now !

I got to sit in the sprint, surprisingly comfy driver position. Lots of aircraft bits on that car including the blower (Jeff and Harry are ex Avro... http://www.engineering-timelines.com/sc ... asp?id=997 ) and is more like a fighter cockpit than a Mini !

Anyone know what engine 732 HOP had in it on Sunday, I'm either much worse than I thought or that's no standard 1071 !!

Pete it's a standard 1071 as was mine and we were very similar as you can see on times You were 10 seconds faster than both of us - which you should be with that engine and being considerably lighter than Thee!!

Here are the results:-

Class E MINI COOPER CARS 50th ANNIVERSARY INVITATION CLASS
No. Name Car Year c.c. Run 1 Run 2 Award
74 Michael Gallery Morris Mini 1965 1380 36.73 39.75 3rd
75 Philip Skipp Austin Mini 1961 1340 41.17 43.57
76 Patrick Walker Morris Mini Cooper 1962 1293 43.75 46.44
77 Ian Jarman Morris Cooper 1963 1293 40.47 41.85
78 Michael Brough Mini Cooper S 1963 1071 51.35 52.38
79 John Pick Austin Cooper S 1963 1071 50.57 51.35
80 Barrie Williams Austin Cooper S 1963 1293 43.10 43.69
81 Peter Flanagan Wolseley Hornet 1964 1293 43.85 43.93
82 Allan MacVarish Austin Cooper S 1964 1275 51.14 52.69
83 Brian Dennis Morris Cooper S 1964 1380 38.55 40.72
84 Tim Dennis Morris Mini Cooper 1965 1380 33.93 35.44 1st
85 Mike Cockayne Mini Cooper S 42.86 46.16
86 David Taylor Morris Cooper S 1967 1380 41.75
87 David West Austin Cooper S 1969 1380 39.16 41.17
88 Martyn Davies GTM 1974 1380 38.43 41.26
89 Tony Salter Rover Cooper 1990 1293 45.21 47.13
90 Brian Davage Rover Cooper 1994 1275 53.62 55.00
91 Martin Depper Rover Cooper 1995 1400 34.08 36.23 2nd
92 Paul Jones Austin Mini 1969 1340 44.72
93 Martin Watts GTM 1974 1380 41.04 42.18

I've had to lighten my Mutant with ghusto just to get down to the weight of a standard Mini ! That's the excuses over with, but yes I got 732 HOP mixed up, must put my reading glasses on more often !

Did you manage to do a decent run Mick ?

Pete wrote:I've had to lighten my Mutant with ghusto just to get down to the weight of a standard Mini ! That's the excuses over with, but yes I got 732 HOP mixed up, must put my reading glasses on more often !

Did you manage to do a decent run Mick ?

I thought the last run was going to be a 49 but FN started sliding to the bank on the right hander and well sense over took the red mist. Right need to get those H4's on, drop the ride height, lose 4 stone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Interesting that both 1071's hit the dead same time on my first and HOP 2nd run - evenly matched

Thoroughly great day and one possibly never to be repeated with that many Minis. Well done Pete in organising the whole event, that has to be the Best Event of the Year - and much more enjoyable than looking at a lot of Red and White cars in a field. Fancy using the cars for what they were originally intended

P.S nice photo of you and I going to the start taken by Jon but can't upload the photo as it says file is too big

9330FN wrote: much more enjoyable than looking at a lot of Red and White cars in a field. Fancy using the cars for what they were originally intended

Steady on Micky, each to their own.

Yes, never to be repeated in terms of the two Vita Minis, and in the respect of such a large presence at Shelsley with Minis but wouldn't it be nice to see an annual hillclimb or sprint along the same lines of the Brands Mini Fest ?

Everybody slower on second run, was that the weather? Good runs Pete, only a few tenths slower than Whizzo!

It seems you have some good time ! The Vitamin looks like in pretty good shape ? I'm happy you finally managed to get the car..