The Brick has sat neglected in the shed for well-over six weeks since given its last oil change and a general smarten-up in preparation for the 2016 season. It was on its road-tyres, the Club Permit sticker had been renewed and it was impossible to ignore any longer that hangdog look of expectation whenever the garage door was raised.
It was before most people had crawled out of bed that the pristine stillness of this early country morning was broken. The engine coughed once or twice then settled into an irregular rhythm accompanied by that cacophony of familiar mechanical noises A-series enthusiasts know so well. We crawled down the 250-metre long driveway and upon reaching the road took the down-hill option in order to give the choke-less, Weberised engine a chance to warm up before being asked to behave properly. The fuel gauge hadn't moved, so it was either broken or the tanks were empty! It's about 4km into town, mostly downhill - so with optimism and a light foot on the throttle we headed in that direction. At the servo, a chap filing at another pump wandered over to look at the Brick and he told the usual stories about having owned a Cooper S back in the 70s, but couldn't remember if it was a 1600 or 1800 version! $10 worth of 98 moved the needle a smidgen away from the E, which meant that at least the gauge was working. The cashier gave a wry smile and said,"Have a nice run". It takes a few minutes to access most competition cars and this one's no different. There's a full roll cage with intrusion bars, a high sided race seat and a 6 point harness to plug in. One feels quite self-conscious as other customers watch on curiously.
Thankfully the engine started at a twist of the key and settled at an eager idle before moving off smoothly to enjoy the empty roads of the nearby hills. The chosen route consisted of undulating, sweeping and sinuous secondary roads that allowed for enjoyment without the need to exceed the posted speed limits. The Brick behaved impeccably and reminded me of why I've owned and maintained this car since 1973 - on the right road, you wouldn't want to drive anything else
_________________
Curly
'64 Cooper 'S' (Group Nb spec)
'67 Mini Marcos GT
www.mm7056.wordpress.com
