The engine out of our mini is in bits, spread around a number of specialist engine builders (MED and Southam Mini Centre), to be tuned up and the power output cranked up a bit. Although Jaspers restoration was meant to be a quick tidy up, its ended up becoming a complete makeover.
The bodyshell is in the blasters to be stripped of paint. So we have turned our attention to the rear subframe, the first of the parts we are refurbing in house.
It was a bit grotty to start with, but mainly surface rust so nothing to major to put right.
The swing arms were blasted, coated with cold galvanizing spray then topcoated with a Rustbusters product. The bushes and bearings were changed, new pins fitted, Goodrich brake lines, alloy brake drums, and specialist components rear hub assemblies fitted, along with DSN retrosport alloy brake plates.
Things like the handbrake quadrants are really for looks rather than performance, but hey if you are going to do it, might as well look the part.
To finish the subframes we fitted alloy trunnions, adjustable swing arm brackets, and seam sealed the subframe to prevent water ingress. Once the subframes are fitted we have some Bilt Humber anti rust wax, but we don’t want to coat the parts yet as it will make a mess fitting them.
Jasper is our British Racing Green Classic Miniphoto booth. One of our most popular booths he has travelled the highways and byways of our green and pleasant land. Dispensing lashings of fun and weddings and corporate events. This will be a running tale of Jasper’s new clothes, also known as a full restoration.
After much hard work it was felt that Jasper was starting to look a little frayed around the edges. The decision was taken to patch up some of the rust that is starting to appear. Then to paint the engine and engine bay to spruce him up a bit.
However, like many of the best laid plans, once we started stripping him down, this suddenly morphed into a complete nut and bolt restoration. Similarly it was felt that a little extra power would be nice on the engine front. Which rapidly became a full engine rebuild with numerous upgrades to increase the power and drivability.
Currently Jasper is in bits, (and we mean in bits, there isn’t any 2 pieces still connected together). Pictured below he is being carried into the shotblasters. He is going to be taken back to bare metal before the new body panels are fitted.
Jasper Being Carried Into The Shotblasters
Over the next few months we will post regular updates to keep you informed of how he is coming along. At the minute the shell is in being blasted, the engine parts are at various experts getting work done. The sub frames are at our base being rebuilt by us.
All in all we are sure Jasper’s new clothes will result in a stunning example of this classic British car.
For a number of years I would choose a family holiday around where my young daughter wanted to visit. Usually they would revolve around some school project she was involved with. When studying the Romans, we ended up in Rome, during an art project, Barcelona to visit Anton Gaudi’s work.
It rolled around to them doing a project about the holocaust, during which she learnt about Anne Franks. That year we took her to Amsterdam, one of my favourite cities, to visit the Anne Franks house. I remember calling there on honeymoon, at the time it was basically the original house. When we called this time it had been built into a museum. As we were exiting, we noticed a display on the wall concerning the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. She turned to me and asked if I would take her there.
As soon as we had some time spare, I arranged a few days in Krakow, and booked a days excursion to Auschwitz. Krakow was lovely, and the people really friendly. On the morning we were due to visit the camp, I had arranged a private taxi and driver so that we could follow our own itinerary, and not be rushed about.
Into Auschwitz – Birkenau
The Infamous Entrance To Auschwitz
The camp itself was a brooding intense place. The one stand out memory was the quiet. Not from the visitors who were being properly respectful. But from the lack of any of natures usual chorus. We didn’t hear any birdsong, not a tweet or chirp of an insect. It was as if nature itself sensed the enormity of what had transpired at that terrible place and either avoided it, or refused to give song within its boundaries.
Some of the rooms had been made into exhibits. These alone were heartbreaking. A room filled to the ceiling of children’s shoes. Another filled with false legs. When you think what proportion of the general population had false legs, you realised how many people they had to kill to fill a large room with them.
Shoes Stripped From Dead Children
Mother, Father and Child
We took many pictures there, and couldn’t look at a lot of them until much later. The picture below was to my mind the most poignant. It was placed at the end of the railway tracks leading onto the camp. Only small, about perhaps 10 inches high, with nothing to say who had placed it there or what it represented. I didn’t really understand what it was until much later. Looking at it one day, I suddenly realised it was a mother and father holding a child’s hands between them. The camp guide had told us that the railway siding had been where the inmates would have been together as a family for the last time. Before they were segregated and some sent to the gas chambers, others to be worked to death.
A Small Symbol Of Two Parents Holding A Child’s Hands
I think that visiting Auschwitz is something everyone should try and undertake at least once during their lifetime. To see just what horrors mankind is capable of inflicting upon itself.
The plaque below sums up the unimaginable numbers involved in the whole process. Evidently the small stones placed on it are a Jewish tradition. An explanation of this can be found here.
The second film to come out of our 101 movies poster, was the Monty Python film, Life Of Brian.
Seriously controversial on its release, the film deals with Brian, a regular guy in Judah around the time of Jesus. Due to a serious of misunderstandings, Brian is mistaken for the Messiah. Quickly gaining a massive following wanting to hear his teachings.
Unfortunately after being arrested, he is sentenced to crucifixion. The film ends with him on the cross, and one of his fellow sufferers singing “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life”! Famously the sailors on HMS Sheffield sang this during the Falklands War whilst awaiting rescue.
The film has the usual farcical Python jokes, such as a crack suicide squad turning up as Brian is suffering on the cross. Just as Brian thinks they have come to rescue him, they all commit suicide.
Controversy
The film on its release was quickly banned in various places. This included Norway (leading to the sales pitch in Sweden of come and see the film Norway banned). Additionally some councils banned it being shown in the cinema, even though they didn’t have a cinema! I remember the BBC’s Friday Night, Saturday Morning debate. John Cleese and Michael Palin appeared to debate the film with the Bishop Of Southwark. What stood out was the farcical argument put up by the Church side. Especially seeing as they hadn’t even seen the entire film.
Truth be told, this isn’t going to go down as one of our most popular movies. I don’t think the younger generation get the humour of Pythons satire, in fact I think many struggle with the subtlety of satire. To be honest, the older generation find it a bit tired too. It does however have 2 of my favourite comedy lines. Brian’s mother exclaiming to the assembled multitude, that “Brian is not the Messiah, he’s just a very naughty boy”. The other when Brian is on the cross, and Pontius Pilot has agreed to pardon someone called Brian. When the centurions turn up and ask who is Brian, everyone starts shouting I am Brian. This includes one well spoken man who shouts “I am Brian and so is my wife!”
So overall “Life of Brian” probably more of a miss than a hit.
Anyway the next panel has been rubbed off, and the next movie night will see us watching Everest. The true story of 2 groups of climbers caught in a massive storm whilst ascending Everest.
