22 replies to this topic

[Morris S]

A nice shot here of the Corsley Garage Mini van with a Cooper S race car in tow....

http://www.racebears...rminishpwb.html

..but who would have raced the Mini , can't seem to find any entries on behalf of Rob Walker, any ideas anyone ?

[LittleChris]

A nice shot here of the Corsley Garage Mini van with a Cooper S race car in tow....

http://www.racebears...rminishpwb.html

..but who would have raced the Mini , can't seem to find any entries on behalf of Rob Walker, any ideas anyone ?

Looking at the other photos on the site you link to, many of which appear to feature the same car albeit with different race numbers, it looks like John Rhodes, Paddy Hopkirk and (Sir) John Whitmore all drove it

[cooper997]

Looking at the other photos on the site you link to, many of which appear to feature the same car albeit with different race numbers, it looks like John Rhodes, Paddy Hopkirk and (Sir) John Whitmore all drove it

Pete,

I would have thought that there's most likely some Geoff Thomas involvement in this car. Perhaps his Cooper S that Neville Trickett turned into the Minisprint GTR.

David Edgington, a former Corsley Garage employee and later an Alfa Romeo spares specialist could be another source for the tale behind this photo. If I was to guess a date, I'd say 1965.

Stephen

[elansprint72]

Some interesting (and good) shots on that site; thanks for the link.

[Morris S]

Looking at the other photos on the site you link to, many of which appear to feature the same car albeit with different race numbers, it looks like John Rhodes, Paddy Hopkirk and (Sir) John Whitmore all drove it

They're all different cars, years and drivers.

[Mistron]

Great photos. The van is very nice. I should imagine a relpica will be seen in the paddock at Goodwood before too long.

I'd never seen a photo of Bill Borrowmans mini. I seem to remember Robin Gray of 'Mainly Minis' in Edinburgh telling me that he spent hours and hours drilling holes in the door frames of that car!

Didn't Tom Walkinshaw help prepare the car too?

[Morris S]

Pete,

I would have thought that there's most likely some Geoff Thomas involvement in this car. Perhaps his Cooper S that Neville Trickett turned into the Minisprint GTR.

David Edgington, a former Corsley Garage employee and later an Alfa Romeo spares specialist could be another source for the tale behind this photo. If I was to guess a date, I'd say 1965.

Stephen

A very interesting theory Stephen, a very likely scenario and I did suspect it was a club racer and yes 64/65. I'd be interested in any other information on Corsley Garage if anyone can point me in the right direction.
Thanks
Pete

Edited by Morris S, 09 January 2011 - 14:05.

[JtP1]

Looking at the wheels, I reckon it is a Cooper and not a Cooper S. So the photo might be as early as mid 61.

[jph]

John Fenning drove a Rob Walker entered Mini at the April 1964 Members' Meeting at Goodwood, race number 115.

[Morris S]

Looking at the wheels, I reckon it is a Cooper and not a Cooper S. So the photo might be as early as mid 61.

Very difficult to see from that angle and resolution. I have seen the high res version and it's still no easier to tell whether they are vented rims or not.

[Morris S]

John Fenning drove a Rob Walker entered Mini at the April 1964 Members' Meeting at Goodwood, race number 115.

That would make sense in terms of the rest of the collection , many were taken at Goodwood. Can anyone confirm the location as Goodwood ?
Thanks

Pete

[cooper997]

Pete,

JPH's mention of John Fenning does make sense, but I can't put my hands on a magazine that has a report of the April 25, 1964 Goodwood Members' meeting. Simon W might be able to fill in the blanks.

Geoff Thomas did have (& may still have) his website www.statim.co.uk - but haven't looked for ages.

David Edgington was featured in Classic & Sports Car mag - Feb 1993.

Stephen

[Morris S]

Thanks Stephen, I got in touch with Geoff and he revealed that the Cooper S on the trailer 'RRW1' belonged to , and was raced by Corsley Garage manager David Jolliffe, son of ex RRC mechanic Stan. Usually raced at Combe where I suspect this shot was taken.

Thanks all.

Pete

[JtP1]

Very difficult to see from that angle and resolution. I have seen the high res version and it's still no easier to tell whether they are vented rims or not.

Has to be later than mid 61, the van has vent on roof. I was working from the tyre shape and how the wheel sits in the arch and it looks a bit like a 3 1/2" wide and therefore not an S wheel in that outer shape. No S badge on bootlid, should be under the handle just above script. In fact I wonder if there is enough space to put the Cooper bit on as the end of the Austin is in line with the handle.

[ianselva]

Very difficult to see from that angle and resolution. I have seen the high res version and it's still no easier to tell whether they are vented rims or not.

They dont look like S wheels to me , but they might be either wheels just used for travelling or maybe just a set of 'wets'

Edited by ianselva, 10 January 2011 - 12:13.

[Morris S]

Having spoken to Geoff and seen other photos I can now confirm the car was a 1071 'S' .

[bradbury west]

A few points to query.
I doubt if the van is coupled to the trailer as the ramps atre at the wrong end, plus the car-front end is higher, suggesting it is there with the jockey wheel raised from uncoupling, plus, and significantly, if it is coupled up, it is highly dangerous as the engine end of the car is at the rear of the trailer, rather than at the front (60% weight over the towhitch ideal) and in such a configuration is likely to result in a tail-wagging-dog situation. I suspect the van was there as an extra.
Plus, in terms of the year, it must be later than mid 61 as Daniel Richmond's legendary 1088cc "Downton Mini-Ton-Bomb" Mini Cooper, was regd 860 MW and that was tested IIRC sometime in 1962 or 63, with JVB's description of the new Cooper Mini dated 22.9.61 and a road test in ecember 63
Roger Lund

Some nice shots of Christabel Carlisle, plus intersting ones on the other models and marques.

Edited by bradbury west, 10 January 2011 - 13:05.

[cooper997]

Thanks Stephen, I got in touch with Geoff and he revealed that the Cooper S on the trailer 'RRW1' belonged to , and was raced by Corsley Garage manager David Jolliffe, son of ex RRC mechanic Stan. Usually raced at Combe where I suspect this shot was taken.

Thanks all.

Pete

Pete,

Good to see that with a little digging you've got a result. Making contact with Geoff was worth the effort.



Bradbury West,

During the 1962 racing season the Cooper Car Co used Mini vans with their Mini Cooper racers. Weren't real popular with the mechanics who had to tow with them from what I understand. So I think you'll find the RRC Walker set up will be the real tow car too.

Stephen

[JtP1]

The photo would need to be late summer 63 to be an S. Please note that Bill Borrowman, John Fenning and the worried looking guy in 118 do not have Cooper Ss.
Loading the car over the front was not unknown in those days and the CG of the car on the trailer is what is important, not where the engine is. Well seen the trailer rules were somewhat more relaxed in those days, in fact probably non existant. Looking at the photo, I reckon it is hitched to the van from the angles everything is sitting at.

Edited by JtP1, 10 January 2011 - 20:40.

[Milan Fistonic]

Slightly OT but a 1966 Autosport I received yesterday has an article by John Bolster on the MiniSprint and Walker GTS. R.R.C.Walker Garages were distributors for the MiniSprint built by Geoffery Thomas and Neville Trickett of The G.T. Equipment Co.

"The man who wants the ultimate takes his Mini - 1275 S or what have you - along to Rob Walker's garage. In two and a half working days they will strip it down and rebuild it into a lowered MiniSprint shell. The car can be finished in any colour scheme and the interior is trimmed like an expensive G.T. model. The complete rebuild costs 337 pounds and the car is then called a Walker GTS."

[Catalina Park]

A few points to query.
I doubt if the van is coupled to the trailer as the ramps atre at the wrong end, plus the car-front end is higher, suggesting it is there with the jockey wheel raised from uncoupling, plus, and significantly, if it is coupled up, it is highly dangerous as the engine end of the car is at the rear of the trailer, rather than at the front (60% weight over the towhitch ideal) and in such a configuration is likely to result in a tail-wagging-dog situation. I suspect the van was there as an extra.

I have blown the photo up and I have to agree that the trailer is backwards and not hooked to the van.

[cooper997]

Slightly OT but a 1966 Autosport I received yesterday has an article by John Bolster on the MiniSprint and Walker GTS. R.R.C.Walker Garages were distributors for the MiniSprint built by Geoffery Thomas and Neville Trickett of The G.T. Equipment Co.

"The man who wants the ultimate takes his Mini - 1275 S or what have you - along to Rob Walker's garage. In two and a half working days they will strip it down and rebuild it into a lowered MiniSprint shell. The car can be finished in any colour scheme and the interior is trimmed like an expensive G.T. model. The complete rebuild costs 337 pounds and the car is then called a Walker GTS."

That would possibly be the 21/1/1966 issue, Milan. Geoff Thomas was the owner of the RRC Walker Garage by that stage.

Neville Trickett has been doing Minisprint bodyshells in France over the last 3 or 4 years.

Stephen

[bradbury west]

I have blown the photo up and I have to agree that the trailer is backwards and not hooked to the van.

The only way they could level it would be to put the spare wheels and tool boxes where the back seat went, or in the boot. In any case I would like to see them loading the car onto the trailer in that configuration as there do not appear to be steadying braces at the front or rear to allow the trailer to stand free and level, plus the body level of the van is constant and any imposed weight such as we see would surely make the back end sit down. BTW what is the silver coloured board between the ramps, and under the car number plate, a numberplate and light board perhaps?
RL