In the mid 1970s, while working at Charles Hurst, I bought an ex-works Mini Cooper S, ORX 707F, from another mechanic there. 

And this wasn’t just any Mini. It came from the same stable as the one Paddy Hopkirk drove to victory in the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally. ORX 707F had its own impressive résumé too, including the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally, where it finished 2nd in its class and 4th overall, guided by the expert hands of Tony Fall and Mike Wood.

I never quite managed to rally it properly. Turns out motorsport requires funding, what 18 year old would have thought of that? Two memorable “events” from my ownership have stayed with me. 

The first was during an ambitious attempt to recreate a night rally on some quiet country roads near Ballygowan, a small village about 8 miles from Belfast. ORX was going beautifully  right up until my complete lack of experience (more like no experience) sent us sliding down a ditch and ending up in a farmer’s field. Thankfully, both my navigator and I were unhurt. The Mini, being a Mini, took it in stride. The farmer, thankfully, was more amused than angry and the next day hauled ORX out of his field with his tractor. A few late nights and a couple of weeks later, and ORX was back on the road, none the worse for the experience.

 The second incident came during a local Boxing Day event, more of an auto test than a rally, where once again, my lack of talent was outweighed by my lack of common sense. The end result, a sheared differential and yet another repair bill I really couldn’t afford. 

Eventually, reality set in. The meagre wages of an apprentice motor mechanic were no match for even a modest motorsport habit, so, reluctantly, I put ORX up for sale.

 The car is still in Northern Ireland, and here’s the twist that still makes me laugh. The current owner remembers coming to my house in the ’70s to buy a straight cut gearbox I’d advertised, although he was unaware that ORX was for sale at the time. When he found out, he wanted ORX so badly but just couldn’t afford it, so he went home with the gearbox he came for. 

Fast forward a few decades, and the universe clearly has a sense of humour. He now owns the very car he couldn’t buy at the time. Worth over £100,000 (and not likely to come up for sale), ORX would now firmly be in the “I couldn’t afford it” category for me. 

Looking back, it’s a decision I regret even more now. How I wish I still had it... Hindsight, as they say, is a wonderful thing!

Photo is me reunited with ORX in 2003