Mud or Dust - The British Rallycross Years 1967-71
Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2023 11:46 pm
"The book 'MUD OR DUST' is a nostalgic rewind in black and white of Rallycross through the formative 1967-71 British years by author Jeremy Walton. While Walton scribbled for Motoring News, Peter Osborne and Mike Black photographed the unfolding high octane action.
Presumed lost for many years, the 300+ black and white negatives they captured were recently rediscovered lurking in a dusty garage.
Although having suffered some damage, Osborne has restored many of these historic images and they form the basis of this book, along with samples of Walton's contemporary Motoring News reports.
Walton has also written 7000 words to accompany the 123 original photographs that bring to life the beginnings of this exciting, if somewhat mucky, branch of motorsport."
https://www.fromthedrivingseat.com/book ... -dust.html
"The BBC could attract up to 8 million viewers of a Saturday afternoon—and ITV’s World of Sport also had a major series running that attracted the TV millions—this was a Big Deal for Rallycross.
Mud-splattered Minis and their courageously skilled conductors became living room heroes, perfect for the David versus Goliath roles as they fought bestial 4x4 Capris with more than twice the horsepower, but not a fraction of Mini’s manic manoeuvrability.
Although factory drivers like John Rhodes earned their professional retainers with honour, for many the heroes were Mini drivers like double Lydden Hill champion Hugh Wheldon, amateur to paid S-type driver ‘Jumping’ Jeff Williamson, David Angel, Nick Jesty, Pip Carrotte, George Jackson and Keith Ripp, who made it from sausage salesman to period proprietor of a major speed shop chain, Rippspeed. Also up there on the Mini honours boards were John Buncombe and Geoff Mabbs, plus auto and rallycrosser Glynn Swift. Always a standout in his colourful self-prepared Minis, Glynn became father of Nick Swift, present day classic FIA Mini winner and owner of Mini period engineering specialist, Swiftune."
Jeremy Walton recounts some of his memories of Mini drivers who have inspired him:-
https://www.fromthedrivingseat.com/clas ... cians.html
