Basil Wales
John Cooper was one of the most popular figures in the history of motor racing. Having helped his father establish a world beating Grand Prix design and manufacturing team by pioneering the post war development of rear-engined rear-wheel drive sports and race cars, he spread his enthusiasm to the newly launched Mini. We who shared this enthusiasm with him know how supportive he was of anyone showing similar interests. He had such a wealth of experience that came full circle just be fore his death when the Cooper Car Co. flame was seen on a modem 'soap-box' car at the 2000 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Michael explained to me how it was crafted from chalk lines on the floor using an old 50Occ race car nose cone, "just1ike the old man did in the 50'?'. It sported an original chassis plate from his office drawer, and it won first time out!! I first met John in the '60s when visiting the RAC Headquarters in London and their Motorsport boss Dean Delamont to homologate the new wide wing extensions for 5 1/2" wheels on Mini Coopers. He was charming then, in an era when competition was a sport and his enthusiasm was infectious. Much, much later I had to 'sign-off" his Mini Cooper 'S' tuning kit on behalf of Austin Rover to gain full warranty, and so began a new era of our relationship At the annual Mini Cooper Register day at Beaulieu he would always spend a long while in the Ex-works display area, admiring the rebuilt cars and just sharing his enthusiasm with everyone. We have all lost a true friend of the Mini, but those whose experience brought us closer to him are the richer for that relationship.
