Tuesday 28th September 2021

 
BOOK REVIEW  by Peter Baker 

MINI COOPER 1961-2000 

From the outset it is necessary to point out that author of this little gem, Peter Barker, is in no way related to me, Peter Baker, book reviewer. However, as old friends we often joke about past acts of mistaken identity. Hotel rooms in Monte Carlo, booked and paid for by one, but slept in by the other. Rally championship points, hard earned by Mr. Barker, and quietly snaffled by yours truly when nobody was looking. It's been fun.

And by coincidence, we both started out with Minis, although his continued passion for this ‘roller skate on 10-inch wheels’ is by far stronger than mine. Peter is recognised as an expert on all things Mini Cooper and has competed at the highest level on many famous historic rallies, not only using a well-known ex-works car - 997 ARX - but also employing the services of legendary navigator Willy Cave. A photograph on page 85 shows a much younger Willy in 1963, with driver John Sprinzel, scratching their heads after having crashing this very car into a mountain.

I digress. What we have here is a 96-page pocket history of all things Mk1 Mini Cooper, written with precision, profusely illustrated with colour pics, most of which I’ve never seen before, and costing just £15.99. Not much more than a pint of decent lager and a packet of crisps. Highlight? Chapter 4. Mighty Mini -the Mini Cooper in Competition. It’s all in there. Left foot-braking. Paddy Hopkirk. The Monte disqualification. And, of course, the 1967 comeback victory. In just a few months' time, in January 2022, we’ll almost certainly be meeting up again on Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. Maybe, when nobody’s looking, I could steal his hotel room?

MINI COOPER 1961-2000
Written by Peter Barker
ISBN 978-1-3981-0340-5
Available from Amberley Publishing
Price £15.99