I cant believe it my first rally & il get to see a real mini rallying! at first i thought it must have been one of the german imposters(aka minE). cant wait to see it & good luck to the team running her & i wish you's all the best!

[Edited by patty - 10/9/2003 4:14:19 PM]

Mini granted final international outing
The Mini Cooper, the world’s most famous car, has been granted a final outing on this year’s Wales Rally Great Britain, which runs from November 6-9.
Organisers have granted one of the 90 starting places to Mini driver Neil Burgess and his co-driver Jim Holder, who will compete alongside the likes of Colin McRae and Richard Burns on the Cardiff-based event.

The rally will mark the classic single-point injection car’s swansong, as it will no longer be eligible for international rallies immediately after the event.

Burgess, a British Rally Championship class champion, is unlikely to challenge the front-runners, though, as he will run his Mini in the same specification as the car that shot to prominence when Paddy Hopkirk, winner of the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, returned to the world famous event in 1994 to commemorate his success.

“Competing on the same stages at the same time as drivers like Colin McRae and Richard Burns is like being invited to play football at Wembley during the FA Cup final,” said Burgess. “But as they are driving cars with £350,000 of technology on them and I will be at the wheel of the oldest car out there, I don’t think they will have to worry too much!”

The Mini’s place in folklore was then ensured when it won in Monte Carlo again in 1965 and 1967. The car also has an excellent history in Britain, winning Rally GB outright 38 years ago with Rauno Aaltonen at the wheel.

But it was when the Mini upstaged Michael Caine in the classic film The Italian Job in 1969 that it’s position was confirmed as a globally-recognised symbol of cult cool – a fact that is certain to make it a people’s favourite on this year’s event.

“The reaction to the Mini when I have been out competing in the British Rally Championship for the past two years has always been fantastic, so I hope that enthusiasm will bring a few people out to support the car’s final international run,” said Burgess, whose regular co-driver, Anna McColl, will take on team management duties for the duration of the event.

Support has so far been given by Ikea, Competition Car Insurance, Minilite Wheels, the Mini Cooper Register, www.jakobebrey.com and Motorsport News. The full line-up of sponsors and livery will be announced shortly.

Thanks also to Omex, BG Motorsport and Mini Shop for their support on the event and throughout the season.


Farewell to the Mini – points of note

- The tallest driver (6’ 2”) and co-driver (6’ 5”) are piloting the smallest car on the rally.
- The Mini was launched 44 years ago, making it by far the oldest car on the rally.
- It is 38 years since the Mini won the Rally GB outright with Rauno Aaltonen behind the wheel.
- Ford World Rallye Team co-driver Carl Williamson will be lending the team his support, using his World Rally Championship experience alongside Jari-Matti Latvala to help with co-driver training and driver logistics
- The team won their class in the 2002 Pirelli British Rally Championship and came second in class this season using this Mini.
- 2003 is the last year that this Mini, the type first rallied by Paddy Hopkirk, can be rallied at international level.
- In order to comply with modern weight regulations the Mini carries over 100kg of lead - in blocks painted gold of course!
- When not rallying Neil can be found driving many strange vehicles including the Worlds fastest sofa and a motorised four poster bed for Edd China at CummfyBanana.com.
- The team behind the Mini is comprised entirely of volunteers, most of them members of the Mini Cooper Register. www.minicooper.org
- Log on to www.manicminis.com to follow the exploits of the team on the run up to the Rally GB.

Nice one Neil - we'll be there waving like idiots. We did hope to see you on the Monte - but I know that didn't come off. Real shame.

Chris

Hi Neil

Congratulations on getting an entry http://www.emotipad.com/emoticons/2Thumbs.gif

We'll be out there cheering you on, hope to come and see you in service too :)

Sal

Yes - shame that, but entry confirmed this time.

Not sure if I'll spot you on stage but come and see us in service. Clarky and Simon will be getting oily this year!

Neil

Don't let that Clarky near anything mechanical :eek: ;) :D

Well you can be sure he's not getting behind the wheel! lol

A Mini now that brings back memories! My first car was a bog standard green mini, then onto a Mini Cooper S s**t of a shovel springs to mind. Will be cheering you on Neil, go for it.

Yes - I have many mad memories of my first Mini, a "mere" 850. Even Johnny Herbert can relate a few stories from his Mini days.

Cheers :D

Neil

A mere 850 it may have been but it didn't half feel fast at 17, especially down bank with a following wind! Spun into a ditch on some wet leaves in the end not a mark on it but snapped the sub frame, the end came of my ciggie burnt through my kegs and burnt my bum! Boyfriend thought I was panicking, oh happy days.

The first car I remember was a bright yellow mini my mum owned :cool::D (she drives like a rally driver too ;):))

Always loved them and loved watching them rally- I'll certainly be cheering you on Neil! :cool::D

Yes congrats on your entry, we'll be there cheering madly too.

Yeh, Good Luck Neil!! Do the Mini Proud!!

NICE ONE !!!!!!! GREAT TO SEE A MINI ON RALLY GB SINCE PLANT BROTHERS GAVE UP...GOOD LUCK FROM ALL AT OLDHAM MINI CLUB

personally,i cant wait to see the good old mini.......british built car at its best.....TAKING ON THE BIG BOYS.....COME ON!!!!!......give it all..........i'll be cheering you on.................do you know what number you are???....tez

Welcome Neil.. How come Anna isnt sitting next to you on this one?

Paul..

Paul

Neil's being co-driven by Motorsport News's Jim Holder story here (http://www.wrc.com/en-GB/Features/Features/001/2003_R_GB_JBJobPart1.htm) as a one-off thing, Anna is teaching him to co-drive and managing the team :)

More info at manicminis.com (http://www.manicminis.com/)

Go Mildred! :D

[Edited by scoobychick - 10/10/2003 8:34:19 AM]

Thanks everyone - sorry we were running around the country yesterday.

As you say Sal, Anna is trying to keep the whole (sizeable) team in order this time.

We won't know our entry number until later, but we will be easy to spot ;)

Well done Neil, looking forward to giving a wave.
I suppose now that your are famous, you and the crew will be staying in a swanky hotel in Cardiff.

I remember when a sofa in our rented house in LLandovery was good enough. Those were the days, small boys in the park, jumpers for goal post...........

Hee hee! Yes - sofas are still really comfy I'm afraid! We have hired a house this year but still have people sleeping on the floor :S Not a swanky hotel in Cardiff but within easy hitting distance of a variety of takeways, warm, dry and a "home from home". Large chunk of budget going on that but a good nights sleep is essential!

Had my 1st car crash in a mini - but I wasn't driving! My mate had just put his mini on the road and decided he was going to try and show off his driving skills - his words were "You might have the MkII Escort but I can drive just as well".

As with most rally drivers, we make poor passengers and when forced to take on the co-drivers role and call "this is a slow tight, greasy right-hander - you'll never get round at this speed!" doesn't fill anyone with confidence. Unfortunaly I was right, and the mini understeered up a bank, climbed a tree before tipping over and coming to rest on its side. The near-side front wheel was forced right back into the wheel arch, the sub-frame was snapped and the gearbox was a right mess.

From that day on the mini had a special place in my heart!!

Erm ok - oops

My first crash was in a Mini.. and second.. and third.. and.. well you get the picture, but I raced them before rallying so I have had plenty chances for dinks of my own and others making!

congrats on the entry, i won a ride with you at pbrc live nuneaton(well done for scarin the hell outta me) i`ll give ya a cheer when i see you and mildred, good luck!!

Yes, I remember that! Thank you :D

Much madness here - loads to do and list getting longer all the time - sure thats the wrong way around :S

Yes, I remember that! Thank you :D

Much madness here - loads to do and list getting longer all the time - sure thats the wrong way around :S

Watch the WRC shakedown on Saturday morning on Channel 4, buy the Sun tomorrow and the Sunday Times.. together with MN of course!!

Saw your two page spread in Motoring News Neil :D

You look like you've grown a few extra feet taller since I last saw you ;)

[Edited by scoobychick - 10/30/2003 1:26:26 PM]

goin to be great to see the mini on the stages, went for the first time last year and i was really dissapointed not to see loadsa different types of cars other than the ones you expect.... well done neil....

Thank you Penfold! (always wanted to say that!)

Hmm.. hope I have not grown Sal - we are already a tall ennough pair to fit in a Mini, would you believe our combined height is 2ft6in longet than the Mini!!

We should also be in The Sun tomorrow and the Sunday Times.. and make sure you don't miss the shakedown programme, Channel 4, 0830 this Saturday morning..

Neil
www.manicminis.com/rallygb

NOTHIN MORE RIGHTEOUS THAN A MINI IN MUD:D:D. ALL THE VERY BEST.

mini on rally will be soo cool we waited right till the end of germany rally to see a fiat scicento wich was cool but we will wait all day for the mini i hope were not alone like wiv the fiat and i hope u last till sun after noon where will u b at service cos we would love to see you