The Mini Mag. ..... Volume No.3 No.1.... 2001
  January 2001

Volume 3 Index. | Article Index.
You NEVER forget your first Mini !

“That’s a nice little car.”

My first car was what every young country boy wanted, an FJ Holden. A \$100 special. I drove it like it was a race car, as 17 year olds do, and got to know most of the friendly boys in blue (karkhi in those days) in a very short time. The poor old FJ fast became a worn out heap, with the amount of smoke coming out of the exhaust keeping the whole of Maryborough free of mozzies.

It’s final outing was to the drive-in where, while tapping the feet to the music (that’s my story anyway) the feet went through the floor. The much loved FJ then became a saloon car for the speedway. Mum was pleased the FJ was off the road and that I would not get anymore tickets to the policeman’s ball, but not overjoyed about the speedway.

Then one day as she was driving me to work past a used car yard, she said “that’s a nice little car, that would suite you to get back and forth to work”. She thought that this nice looking white Morris 850 would keep me out of trouble as it could not possibly go very fast. So, I took that nice little car for a test drive, loved it and signed the hire purchase agreement and Mum was happy.

What she didn’t know was that “that nice little car” had been tricked up, or a dealer special, with twin carbs, head work and cam and it went as good as the Coopers of the day. I did all the normal things that a young hoon does, like fit wide wheels, racing tyres, weber carb, lowered it to the limits and of course the must have of the day, cushions on the back shelf. Within a couple of months NXA-440 was back on the mailing list to the policemans ball. I told Mum that they must like me as they keep stopping me for a chat. I still have a copy of a speeding ticket for doing 36mph in a 35mph zone. Yes, one mile over the limit. (Told you they liked me). The last I heard of that officer he was serving a jail term for his part in a car stealing racket. Nice bloke George!

The nice little white car became a nice little “metalflake gold” car. Easier for the friendly officers to spot. The engine was worked more to try and keep up with the new Cooper S in town.

I kept the 850 for about 18 months and then bought a Cooper S. If you can’t beat them, join them. Mum also thought that it was a nice little car, better than the gold one. I used to delight in taking her to work on a rainy day. I would always drop her off by doing a handbrake turn and parking out the front of the shop. The Cooper S quickly became a modified version and again, for a time, I had the fastest Mini in town. Yes, I did keep up my relationship with the local boys in blue, and yes I did keep up the speedway activities.

All this came to an end though when I decided to settle down (although Gayle might not agree with that statement) and get married. The Cooper S was sold, I became a spectator at the speedway and bought a HK Holden Premier.

So, I would not be writing this today if my Mum had not said, “that’s a nice little car”.

Your President.