24th January 2004, BMW Group Plant Oxford.

Saturday 24th January MINI UK held an event to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Paddy Hopkirk/Henry Liddon victory in the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally. The pair won the event outright driving a BMC (British Motor Corporation) Works MINI Cooper S (Car No.37, 33EJB) on 23rd January 1964, winning a hard fought race against strong opponents, the toughest competition coming from Ford and Saab.

Henry Liddon sadly didn’t live to see this occasion, but Paddy Hopkirk was there in person, larger than life as ever, to accept a gift of a bottle of 1964 Claret from MINI UK General Manager, Trevor Houghton-Berry, on behalf of all Mini fans.

While several big Mini names were in attendance (Basil Wales, Mike Cooper to name just a couple), this event was really for the Classic Mini clubs and owners who have supported the Mini for nearly 45 years, and who keep the spirit and fun of the Mini alive today. Nearly 100 clubs were represented at the event, which consisted of music, food, and of course (as all celebrations should), much drinking! Club members had traveled from all over the country mark the event, and   good time was had by all involved. This event is the first in a series of events to mark this significant moment in Mini history, which will also include the launching of a Limited Edition MINI Cooper S at the Chicago Motor Show.

The 1964 win for the Mini Cooper S was the first in a series of 4 (3 official) Monte Carlo Rally victories for the Mini, and the British Motor Corporation, and was an event that truly captured the imagination of the British car buying public, and helped make the Mini to be taken seriously as not only a smart, fashionable, practical little car, but a real giant killing little “pocket rocket”.

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the classic Mini, the Works Mini Team, and the famous Monte Carlo Victories (and disqualifications!), the internet has
a mine of information (for example the Mini Cooper Register and British Mini Club are good places to start), and there are many good books you can read, as well as the magazine’s Mini World, and Mini Magazine.