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A guy at work brought a book in today, he was given it when he worked at another motor factors by his area rep, who asked if he liked old cars and clearly didnt think much of the fact that it was signed. It's a lovely black hardback book on the history of the Mini from 1959-1989, not sure where it came from but it seems to have been through some famous hands. There's 9 autographs in the front, I've identified 5 names and know who 3 of them are. 1. John Cooper 2. 3. Alex Moulton 4. 5. 6. John Cooper (again!) 7. Paul East (not sure who he is) 8. Basil Wales - BMC special tuning 9. The 5th one, I cannot see anything other than Stuart Turner but as far as I know, he was a Ford man? Can anyone shed any light on it?
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The 5th one, I cannot see anything other than Stuart Turner but as far as I know, he was a Ford man? Same guy, he was also BMC Competion Manager for years so would have been involved in the Mini wins at the Monte and the like. Number two could be WJ Daniels, a BMC engineer who worked on the Mini. Quote from MG Rover when he died in 2004: "Jack was affectionately known as the man who was ’90 per cent perspiration behind Alec Issigonis’s 10 per cent inspiration’ in designing the Morris Minor and the original BMC Mini. Jack was also the first MG apprentice."
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Jan 24, 2013 12:34:13 GMT
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Ok so we now have
1. John Cooper 2. WJ Daniels - 'Apprentice' 3. Alex Moulton - The suspension guy 4. 5. Stuart Turner - Competition Manager at BMC and Ford 6. John Cooper again 7. Paul Easter - Timo Makinen's co-driver 8. Basil Wales - BMC special tuning manager 9.
3 looks to be Paddy Hopkirk, possibly, looking on Google images, possibly (can you tell I'm not sure)
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Jan 24, 2013 12:38:28 GMT
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Number 4 is Rosemary Smith who is probably more famous for her exploits in Rootes vehicles than BMC.
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Jan 24, 2013 12:49:00 GMT
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1. John Cooper 2. Jack Daniels - Issigonis's right hand man 3. Alex Moulton - The suspension guy 4. Rosemary Smith - 5. Stuart Turner - Competition Manager at BMC and Ford 6. John Cooper again 7. Paul Easter - Timo Makinen's co-driver 8. Basil Wales - BMC special tuning manager 9. John Rhodes - Racing Driver
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Jan 24, 2013 12:51:35 GMT
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4 is definitely Paddy Hopkirk guys, just looked at every signature of his on Google images.
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Jan 24, 2013 13:02:34 GMT
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Doesn't look like its John Rhodes
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,926
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Jan 24, 2013 13:25:33 GMT
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Please get in touch with antiques roadshow and see if they'll value it, then do one of the shocked faces people pull when they're told something is worth a fortune, while you can see in their eyes that all they're thinking is conservatory/holiday/nee car.
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Jan 24, 2013 13:30:12 GMT
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Ha, to be honest, he's the kind of guy who will keep it and let it gather dust, I imagine him to have a spare room full of old 'tat' which is actually worth loads.
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Jan 24, 2013 13:33:32 GMT
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Jan 24, 2013 13:40:14 GMT
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Number 8 (from the top down) is Basil Wales.
9 is the one on its own on the right
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Jan 24, 2013 14:26:51 GMT
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jesus i cant count
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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Jan 24, 2013 14:56:20 GMT
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4 is definitely Paddy Hopkirk guys, just looked at every signature of his on Google images. Posting a comparison may be helpful. From the Mini book above... Comparisons Looks pretty close to me, and would make more sense logically than Rosemary whats-er-face who had nothing to do with Minis.
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Jan 24, 2013 15:17:41 GMT
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It's the little 'd's in Paddy which made me sure
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Jan 24, 2013 15:24:59 GMT
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I'd rather have Paddy Hopkirk than Rosemary whats-er-face.
Great find, hope to see this on eBay for huge money in the near future.
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Brian Damaged
West Midlands
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 9,555
Club RR Member Number: 33
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Jan 24, 2013 17:06:56 GMT
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Rosemary Smith drove for the BMC Works team in Minis in 1961/62before switching to Rootes. She made a reappearance in 1970 when she drove a Maxi on that year's World Cup Rally.
But hey, what do I know?
The signature is in all probability Hopkirks, though. You got that bit right.
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