News Mini Cooper Register Bournemouth Weekend 2007

News

Mini Cooper Register Bournemouth Weekend 2007

Lombard Rally 2006 - 26^th to 29^th October 2006

Neil Burgess, who has gone down in history as the last person to drive a Mini Cooper to a class win on a World Rally Championship event, Wales Rally GB 2003, will co-drive for Cliff Porter on the Lombard Rally 2006 next week. www.endurorally.com/extra3.html

Over 100 teams are due to start the event organised by The Endurance Rally Association from York on Thursday 26^th; the route will cover 1,200 miles in northern England and venture into more than 45 test venues, including the infamous Keilder Forest roads and tracks in Northumberland before finishing in Blackpool 4 days later. The event, in its 3^rd year, aims to recapture the spirit of the Lombard Rallies that once ranked as Britain’s top motor-rally. Lombard were pleased to be asked to support the event which is restricted to basically standard 1400cc saloon cars with safety modifications. All competitors will be using Colway Road Plus tyres which keeps costs down.

The car is a standard 9 year old classic Red & white Rover Mini Cooper which Cliff used on the 2004 event. This year the car will run as number 87. It is prepared by Pat Healy Motorsport in Nazeing and was originally a John Cooper Garages demonstrator.

Cliff bought the car in 2000 to take part in The Italian Job which has now raised almost £2m since its first run. Cliff with his son Niall raised the most sponsorship in 2000 and took part again in 2001 raising over £10.000 for the childrens charity, NCH. They also finished the first Lombard Revival Rally in 2004 and the Midsummer Endurance Rally this year.

Neil has partnered Cliff before, on the 2005 Midsummer Endurance Rally organised by Chelmsford Motor Club. Cliff competes regularly on Historic Rally Car Register Clubmans Rally Championship events in his 1971 Mark 3 Cooper S and is Competition Secretary of the Mini Cooper Register.

Neil is a former class winner in the British Rally Championship in his Rover Mini Cooper and also raced a Mini in the Mighty Mini series. Both his Minis have been reproduced as models by Corgi.

The Mini was produced for 41 years and it is 41 years since Rauno Aaaltonen won the European Championship by winning a very snowy 1965 RAC Rally in his Mini Cooper S. Cliff remembers following the success of the triumphant BMC team by reading the motoring magazines before delivering them to customers on his paper round. It is also 45 years since the Mini Cooper was introduced. “The legend lives on.”

Cliff & Neil will also be part of a 3 car MiniWorld/Cooper Car Co team which includes Peter Barker/Willy Cave and Chris Day/Simon Wheatcroft. All are members of the Mini Cooper Register. Follow the team progress by visiting www.cbmmotorsport.com