Morris Minor Owners Club

After this years MOT a couple of us are going on a jolly - bit more of France, Switzerland, Italy, going across the Saint Bernard Pass and back through the Mont Blanc Tunnel. We've room for more, if anyone fancies coming with us?

Go on, you know you want to!

http://minors-on-tour.org.uk/2013-mot-extended-version

If anyone has ever seen the beginning of the original Italian Job - where the Lamborghini Miura is speeding along the mountain roads before meeting an untimely end at the hands of a Mafia bulldozer - well, that's the road we'll be going on (weather permitting) so download your copy of Matt Monroe singing On Days Like These, dust off your late 60's/early 70's sunnys and join us in the high alps. We can't guarantee that we wont meet the Mafia but at least this time we're not trying to nick all their gold - or are we?? Check out the link from Mikes post and see what you'll be missing

Sounds like it would be a fantastic trip. Oh for the time and money.

I'd also have to await the acquisition of a Minor 1000 - doubt it'd be much fun in an 803.

JOWETTJAVELIN wrote:Sounds like it would be a fantastic trip. Oh for the time and money.

I'd also have to await the acquisition of a Minor 1000 - doubt it'd be much fun in an 803.

It can be done though. Some people went from my our branch in an 803 and said it was no problem. Saying that, id avoid the motorways.
Then again minor roads are always more scenic anyway.

True, but the hills are the problem. Going at a steady 20 gets tiresome when you should be doing 30 plus and enjoying the twists of the road, which is what those Alpine passes are all about.

I regularly put it through its paces and this years Roses Run is something I am very much looking forward to!

Yes hills are a problem. In fact I went up a rather steep hill the other day, thinking that shifting to 3rd would be ample, but no. The car nearly rolled back, so shifted to 2nd.
Even in 2nd, she was sluggish, and then finally started to pick up speed with my foot pressed hard on the pedal!

Ive realised now the trick is to build up speed before heading up a hill, but not able to do in the middle of a small village with 20mph limits.

The joys of an 803

The route - especially on the Friday - does go upwards VERY quickly both Mike and I will be running 1275 based engines - mine at +20 thou with a standard Midget 4 speed box and final drive, Mike on a Ford type 9 mated to a 1380 and I think both of us are prepared for long periods in low gears both upwards and downwards.

Having said that, Max Horvat, long time Minor owner and club stalwart of the 1980's, drove his standard 950 Minor all over Europe - including part of the route we are doing - AND came back to write a book about his trips in 79 MMM - worth picking up a copy of Marvellous Morris Minor if you have not got one already and if you want to see what a li'l ol' Minor can really do

Bruce its magnificent Morris Minor published by bookmarque publishing he also goes up the Rhone valley amongst other destinations a great read as you say

Yup - my mistake

I knew Max quite well after spending some time with him on MOT 87 (which he also writes about in the book) and meeting him a various rallies in the late '80's - he used to like to send people 'silver' letters - a normal letter on coloured paper but using silver ink - I still have a couple of these tucked under the front cover of the book. A lovely man who tried very hard, for a number of years, to get the book published. Glad he did before he passed away. Believe the car is still going strong too.