'Mini' Lectures at Gaydon

[mab01uk]

The Motor Heritage Centre at Gaydon are looking to put on a half day of lectures about the Mini and would like to hear from Mini enthusiasts about what they would like the topics to be.
More here on TMF:
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/to ... -a-gaydon/

Here is one possible 'Mini' public speaker mentioned that I had never heard about before?
"Tony Ball is one of Britain´s top marketeers and one of the most sought after public speakers. Tony started his career off as an apprentice on the shop floor of the Austin Motor Company to become soon the youngest ever Sales Director. He even launched the Mini in the 60s. In his career he had been Chief Executive of major international companies including Ford, Mercedes Benz and General Motors. He was also Chairman and Managing Director of BL Europe and Overseas, as well as World Sales Chief of BL, Rover and Jaguar Cars. He helped them through a hard time......"
http://www.justball.net/home/justmichae ... nyball.php

Who's Who Entry for Tony Ball
"Ball, Anthony George, (Tony), MBE 1986; FCIM; FIMI; Chairman, Tony Ball Associates plc, since 1983; b 14 Nov. 1934; s of Harry Ball and Mary Irene Ball, Bridgwater; m 1957, Ruth Parry Davies (marr. diss. 1997); two s one d; m 2000, Ms Jan Kennedy. Educ: Grammar Sch., Bridgwater. Indentured engineering apprentice, Austin Motor Co., 1951-55; responsible for launch of Mini, 1959; UK Car Sales Manager, Austin Motor Co., 1962-66; Sales and Marketing Exec., British Motor Corp., 1966-67; Chm. And Man. Dir. Barlow Rand UK Motor Gp, 1967-78; Managing Director: Barlow Rand Ford, S Africa, 1971-3; Barlow Rand European Operations, 1973-1978; returned to British Leyland as Man. Dir. Overseas Trading Operations, 1978; Dep. Man. Dir, Austin Morris Ltd, 1979; Chm. and Man. Dir. British Leyland Europe & Overseas, 1979-82; Director, BL Cars Ltd (World Sales Chief, 1979-82; responsible for launch of the Austin Metro in 1980); Austin Morris Ltd; Rover Triumph Ltd; Jaguar Rover Triumph Inc. (USA); Dir. Jaguar Cars Ltd. 1979-81; Chief Exec. Henlys plc, 1981-83;..............."

[bill773mini]

Tony Ball will be one of our VIP guests on the 1959 Mini Register stand at Gaydon on 6th July 2014.

This series of photographs were the brainchild of Tony Ball, he was dressed as a circus ring master and revealed the car out of the top hat.



The woman and child are Tony's wife and new born baby.

[Lakeland997]

Of course, to get that lot in a Mini you'd need to be a Magician not a Ring Master.
Wizardry on Wheels indeed or 'a blatant breach of advertising standards' as we'd call it these days.

[bill773mini]

You wouldn't get away with it today certainly.

The top photo was genuine aparantly. But with 4 not 7 passengers!