Three Mini Se7en drivers to crew for Birkett Relay 50 years after podium

Three of the six Mini Se7en drivers who finished third in the 1966 Birkett Relay will return to crew an entry in this weekend’s 2016 event, 50 years after their achievement.

Bob Fox – winner of the first two Mini Se7en titles in 1966 and ’67 – Colin Youle and Gordon Line will help to run the pitwall of the Mini Se7en team that takes on the 750 Motor Club’s six-hour handicap event, as the Mini club also commemorates its 50th anniversary.

Of the remaining 1966 line-up, Nick Faure and Phil Wickes both had existing commitments while Julian Vereker passed away in 2000.

The six 2016 relay cars will race with the #32 – the original number used by the 1966 entrants.

Mini Se7en regular Dave Robinson, who is part of this year’s team of drivers, said the idea to get the original team back together came about after a conversation about celebrating the club’s anniversary.

“It’s the 50th anniversary of the Mini racing club so I took it upon myself to suggest that we entered [the Birkett],” said Robinson. “I spoke to our archivist, Richard Williamson, and he seemed to remember the club getting a podium in 1966. As soon as he said that, I thought that’s it; if they’re still around I’ll try to get them on our pitwall. We already knew Bob Fox, who won the first ever Mini racing club championship. I got in touch with Bob and asked if he wanted to work the pitwall; he was well up for it, and gave me all the names of the others involved.”