Works car found

[SMOKE GREY]

Reading a report in Motoring News on the Polish event in 66, a report says the special stage at an airport saw the 970 (GRX309D), not slower than the 1293, Timo's 1293 pulling 7800 in top on a 4.1 (105ish) and Fall's 970 pulling 8200 on a 4.26.(106ish)

[LMM76C]

Presumably written by Atis Krauklis (unbiased?!). I vaguely remember reading that somewhere in period although I wasn't reading MN until the RAC (and wondering if it was co-drivers comparing notes or from a tell tale on the rev counter). Sounds right but was there enough runway used on the stage for the Makinen car to peak? (the 970 on a 4.26 would peak earlier and run a bit higher of course).

Do you have the MN report on the 66 Welsh? I have had a second hand report that it adds nothing to the quest to discover exactly how badly damaged 309 (third iteration) was. Exact wording would be useful. It would be interesting to know whether it was effectively written off (by Abingdon standards) in that shunt. We do not of course know for certain that the Welsh 309 was the Hill RAC car (all logic says it was) rather than a plate swap. There has been a claim 309 was a 67 Monte recce car but, if it was, that was likely to have been a plate swap as the Welsh damage was known to be more than superficial, even if not a write off. Shortages meant there were other plate swaps on 67 Monte recce cars, including Bob Freeborough's Gp2 car's plate on to a standard white/black car for Aaltonen.
Likely scenario is that the third 309 was in the workshop corner after its Welsh shunt when the id was used on the new (4th) car for Sebring.

[Pete]

Looks like the build is progressing!

[Costafortune]

Good thread.

Are you reinstating the GMM51B plate and using it in events? The later number has more relevance than the GRX plate - it's been GMM51B for my lifetime, and I'm getting on a bit.

[Pete]

At Blyton...

[spoon.450]

Thanks for posting Pete..... I didn’t take any pics..but did get to drive it !!

[spoon.450]

Good thread.

Are you reinstating the GMM51B plate and using it in events? The later number has more relevance than the GRX plate - it's been GMM51B for my lifetime, and I'm getting on a bit.

Paul still has the GMM 51B registration which was ' allocated ' by Abingdon works mechanic Johnny Organ when the car left the Works, so he does have that option

[steve1071]

Good thread.

Are you reinstating the GMM51B plate and using it in events? The later number has more relevance than the GRX plate - it's been GMM51B for my lifetime, and I'm getting on a bit.

Paul still has the GMM 51B registration which was ' allocated ' by Abingdon works mechanic Johnny Organ when the car left the Works, so he does have that option

Dave, can you tell Paul I’ll dig those SP44’s out I mentioned to him at Blyton.

Cheers

[spoon.450]

Will do Steve....thanks very much.

[spoon.450]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8UonsjoXmk
Pauls car on the rollers yesterday.

[spoon.450]

It appears that the ( Tony Arnold ) RAC replica car ( that we believe carries the V5 ) has at last reared it's head at the Bernina Gran Turismo last month, in Switzerland, where we thought it was. Intriguingly, it has had a makeover to look like the flowers car ( which we all know belongs to Paul Bates ). It looks and sounds great in the pics and videos on the internet ( as they all do )....but I can't understand why the ( new ? ) owner has re-styled it as the first incarnation, Flowers car, including number 50. The original ( false ) story that the car was the RAC ( Graham Hill ) car was believeable and historically possible, so why change that to something that is totally false ?
Pics to follow.....and see Facebook the sporting minis

[Pete]

Yes, all very odd!

[wantafaster1]

Maybe he thought he was buying Paul's car.

[hanlminiman]

50 - 49 - 205 ????

[Fanfaniracing]

I saw the car where it has his engine/gearbox rebuild just before the run @ the Bernina Grand Tourismo and after the Weekend.

Very nice built car to a very high Standard.

As i understand, the owner says that this is the original Hill Car...

[Pete]

I saw the car where it has his engine/gearbox rebuild just before the run @ the Bernina Grand Tourismo and after the Weekend.

Very nice built car to a very high Standard.

As i understand, the owner says that this is the original Hill Car...

Which I’m sure is the story he was given when he bought it. Really curious that it’s been rebuilt back to ‘66 Flowers spec then. Now looks the same as the genuine one this thread is about!

If only these hooky works logbook applicants knew the trouble they’d cause 25 years or more down the line when they applied for them all back then. There again they’ve got their money out of it by now so probably won’t concern them too much. This stuff just rumbles on and on, DJB 93B being described as the actual Rauno Aaltonen ‘65 RAC car in this month’s MCR mag, pretty ridiculous statement but it’s in print now so must be true!

[spoon.450]

I saw the car where it has his engine/gearbox rebuild just before the run @ the Bernina Grand Tourismo and after the Weekend.

Very nice built car to a very high Standard.

As i understand, the owner says that this is the original Hill Car...

Hi Fabian, when you saw the car did you meet, or do you know who the owner is ?

Thanks
Dave

[Fanfaniracing]

I know who the owner is and i saw the car in serval states of build and know a bit of the story of the owner and how he use to drive the car...

But i do not know the owner personally

[spoon.450]

Thanks for the reply Fabian.

[Supersonic]

What is the story behind DJB 93B. The MCR Club describing a car as authentic means nothing to me. I’ve a friend who has did extensive research on BJB 77B and will be posting his findings soon on Face book.

Messy springs to mind

Alan