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 Still speechless

 Created by: Air2air
Orig. Posting Date User Name Edit Date
Apr 12, 2014 09:41PM Isleblue65  
Apr 12, 2014 02:32PM miniestate Edited: Apr 12, 2014 06:00PM 
Apr 12, 2014 02:30PM Air2air Edited: Apr 12, 2014 02:36PM 
Apr 12, 2014 02:20PM ve9aa  
Apr 12, 2014 01:44PM Dan Moffet  
Apr 12, 2014 01:28PM Air2air Edited: Apr 12, 2014 08:30PM 
Apr 12, 2014 01:28PM Air2air Edited: Apr 13, 2014 09:04AM 
Apr 12, 2014 01:27PM Air2air Edited: Apr 12, 2014 01:42PM 
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Found 28 Messages

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 Posted: Apr 12, 2014 09:41PM
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US

Wow Todd, just Wow!   Congratulations on a once in a lifetime experience!    You now have the most famous Mini in the Bay area.  

 

"I drive a Mini. What are you compensating for?"

 

 Posted: Apr 12, 2014 02:32PM
 Edited:  Apr 12, 2014 06:00PM
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Todd!!! What a story!!! I looked up the word 'Awesome' on one of the online dictionary sites this morning, and this Mini Mania Forum Topic popped up!!! Good heavens Man!!! 'Emerson Lake & Palmer' couldn't have said it any better, 'Ou What a Lucky Man He Was!' Paddy Hopkirk in the flesh! I'm not even gonna start to ask how all this came about. I'm just glad it did! Congratulations to all of you! (Jeremy T., Dave N., and Eric N., were all good friends of mine from many years back) You guys all look fantastic! What a beautiful scene too. I'm sure this gathering is well documented. May we look forward to a future magazine release or a possible video? Again, congratulations to everyone!!!                 Mini Estate

P.S. How much do you have to have for that visor???!!!Cool

"It's a good day when you wake up with a Woody!"
 Posted: Apr 12, 2014 02:30PM
 Edited:  Apr 12, 2014 02:36PM
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ve9, note the 'Coming in soon baby' at the top.  

I'm sure you know the risks you face naming names!

 Posted: Apr 12, 2014 02:20PM
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CA


Loved the cell phone pic.  I literally laughed out loud @ that one.  too funny !

Who supposedly sent it? ;-)

  ~ 30 minutes in a Mini is more therapeutic than 3 sessions @ the shrink. ~

  Mike  Cool  NB, Canada   

 Posted: Apr 12, 2014 01:44PM
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CA

I thinki the proper British term is "Gobsmacked!!!!!"

WOW what a day you had!

MY tears would well up too. Even seeing it in a pic puts a lump in my throat.

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Apr 12, 2014 01:28PM
 Edited:  Apr 12, 2014 08:30PM
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After Eric's interview Paddy and Jeremy piled in and we shot the cameras out the back of Dr. Dave's chase Honda for the in-car interview. The climax was a turn we set up the cameras at and Paddy took the sweeper at 81 years old like he did at 33 ... No difference.

Propelled by a new Mania-built 1330 which purred as usual, thanks to Jemal and Tony at Mania. Paddy said "torquey!"... pretty sure it wasn't "turkey".

The highlight of the day however was hanging in the parking lot after filming was over. Though toasted across europe for decades and an Irish national hero, you would never even suspect it. He's exactly like your dad would be. He pulled out his laptop to show off the presentation he'd carefully done for Norm's event the next day. He was sincerely interested in each of us and listened carefully. He works hard at SKIDZ, his charity org for disadvantaged children in Belfast.

So we learned that Paddy Hopkirk is not a logo. He is a classical gentleman who cares sincerely about you, the hobby and the people in it. At 81, I hope to be such an example. How many celebs would thank you sincerely and graciously for the opportunity to meet, while knowing you would sacrifice a limb for the opportunity?

Without a word he grabbed Jeremy's sharpie and went over to scribble away on my visor. This morning I pulled down that visor and tears welled up. It says 'thanks for the drive'.

Are you kidding me, sir?

 Posted: Apr 12, 2014 01:28PM
 Edited:  Apr 13, 2014 09:04AM
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Now ask yourself what you would do to your car tonight if you found out that Paddy Hopkirk was going to drive it for the Jet Motors cameras tomorrow.

Pity me. First comes the denial stage, then acceptance. I decided on full disclosure, asking among other things that the guys not let Paddy see my crap torn 80's Mayfair seats which have tortured my eyes and butt for years. So of course Dr. Dave had to wait for the right moment - when I was looking - to specifically point out the seats to Paddy with a grin.

Eric's plan was to shoot an interview portion with Paddy alone, and then an in-car interview between Paddy and Jeremy. These pics are at the Burlingame Country Club when he first showed up - with Norm, Jeremy, Eric, Dave and myself nervously trying to behave.

Turned out we didn't have to be nervous. Paddy is just another one of us...he doesn't do the celebrity diva schtick. He even tried so hard as to laugh at Jeremy's jokes, which I'm sure Jet Motors customers know is even more difficult than normal while jet-lagged. Paddy's dirty jokes made ours look like Sesame Street, reflecting more than a few nights spent with fellow drivers around campfires in the Alps.

Paddy has two minis now, one a perfect copy of 33 EJB built by his friend Graham McConnell who willed it to Paddy just before his passing a month ago. The original 33 EJB, he and Norm say, is in shabby shape because the museum won't maintain or restore it - for originality's sake.

 Posted: Apr 12, 2014 01:27PM
 Edited:  Apr 12, 2014 01:42PM
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How often do you share a day with new friends - all of whom agree it was the best day of their life - besides their wedding?

Never happened to me either; so I thank Norm Nelson, who the mini fraternity should thank for so much. Pat him on the back next time you see him; he's helped your hobby in ways you might not know.

With the help of MOASF's Jim Predmore (JiMini), Norm set me up with the irrepressible Jeremy "Jet Motors" Thorpe, "Dr. Dave" Noel, and film producer Eric Newland of Oregon Minis for a day we will never forget. Most of the time we were just looking at each other wondering if it was really happening.

I was jazzed just to meet these guys, actually - with over half a century in the hobby between them. New dirty jokes learned. Lots of little issues and fixes pointed out on my car that I've never heard or read anywhere else.

All this with an undercurrent of terror.  We were about to meet Norm's most distinguished guest, who had just been hanging out with Prince Albert of Monaco the week before.

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