August 26, 1959 was a landmark in automotive design.  The British Motor Corporation (BMC) lifted the covers off the Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven.  It measured only ten feet long, yet was capable of seating four passengers.  Its top speed was over 70 mph, quite respectable at the time.  There was all-independent suspension, unheard of in a small car.  The engine was transversely mounted to save space. Its handling was so superb that it would wind up being a multiple winner of the grueling Monte Carlo Rally.

Forty three years on, the Minis are still alive and kicking.  Long live the Minis.   MSVCR (Mini Section Malaysia)  paid homage to Sir Alec Issigonis, the brain behind this wonderful car, by celebrating the Mini’s 43^rd Birthday on 20 October 2002.

By 9.00 am, nineteen minis assembled at the Gombak Toll  House. One of the minis came as far as from Singapore. Their guests also included a VW, Volvos and a Mercedes, all classics in their own right.   The birthday bash was in the form of a leisurely drive to Tanjong Malim via the longest and most adventurous route.  All in there were about fifty drivers, wives, girlfriends and children.

The first sector was from the toll house to Awana.  It was a beautiful morning.  The sun was up and the weather pleasantly cool.  The scenery along the Karak Highway and the Genting Sempah to Genting Highland was breathtaking.  However, for some of the mini drivers the scenery was secondary.  Their eyes were glued to the sweeping uphill curves of the wide dual carriageway.  It was seen that some of the drivers were practicing their apex to apex cornering prowess,  ala Montoya style.   The more sober drivers just enjoyed the morning drive.

At Awana, some forty five minutes later, it was time for breakfast.  As usual the local mamak teh tarik stall was the hive of activities for the club members, with each relating their version of the drive uphill.  There were  lots of laughter in between sipping the tea and munching the nasi lemak and roti canai.   The weather was cool here in the mountain.  After about an hour’s break, it is time for us to push on into Sector 2, from Gohtong City to Tanjong Malim via Batang Kali.

The drive on this sector was equally nice, but drivers has to be careful with their apex to apex cornering maneuvers as this stretch of road is a single carriageway and downhill for half the distance.   The corners are tight, excellent for minis.  Traffic is light and overtaking is a breeze.   However, from Batang Kali to Tanjong Malim the traffic was heavy and slower.

Slightly past noon all cars arrived Tanjong Malim safely.   The rendezvous was the famous Yik Mun Restaurant that has been in existence far longer than the minis themselves.  All, but one of the table, were taken up by club members.   The lone table occupied by a non-member was an “Amo Lang” with his girlfriend.  He admitted that he has a mini back home in England and thus was very comfortable with our company.

Yik Mun Restaurant is well known for decades for its famous kueh pau and noodles. Numerous newspaper  cuttings, nicely framed up which were hung behind the counter bear testimony to this effect.  One particular newspaper clipping stated that the late Yang Di Pertuan Agong was an ardent fan of the kueh pau.  Well if the paus were good enough for a King, then they are good enough for drivers of cars that once ruled Monte Carlo Rally.

The lunch was sumptuous, but the cutting of the 43^rd Birthday Cake was the climax.   A simple cake was brought all the way from KL for the occasion.   At the count of one, two, three,  all members and their family sang in unison “Happy Birthday To You”.  After the photograph session we were ready to drive home.

The group was split into two.   The first group took the shorter way home through Ulu Yam while the other group took the Kuala Kubu Bahru, Gap, Tranum, Bentong and back to KL via Karak Highway.  The group that took the longer but more exciting way back home were  William Lyou and Eng Peng, both season mini race drivers from Singapore;  Linda, a nineteen year old budding race driver tutored by Sam;  Muaz;  Cheah and wife and yours faithfully,  a faded once mini rally and race driver of the early seventies.

The drive from KKB to Gap was fast along the twisty road up the main range of Peninsular Malaysia.   I was the lead car in a Cooper S.  But Linda was giving me a hard time pushing my ‘S’ or rather “**s”.   In turn William Lyou was pushing Linda’s “S” (Cooper S – that is) real hard too.  Way behind are Muaz and Cheah enjoying the battle up front from the comfort of their cockpit.   The heritage Gap Rest House was a welcome sight where we took a short break for a cuppa of tea.

The drive downhill from Gap to Tranum was tighter.  William took the lead with Linda and me in tow.  The road on this stretch was littered with sand from the previous landslide and driving was a bit more hazardous.  But this did not deter the minis.  William related to me that Linda was pushing him real hard and in fact overtook him at a corner just before arriving Tranum.  The drive from Tranum to Bentong,  Cheah’s hometown,  was leisurely.

At Bentong, Cheah treated us to a delicious home made ice cream and ais kacang.  The drive from Bentong to KL was leisurely.  At Gombak, we parted company, with William and Eng Peng having to drive another 400km back to Singapore.

Thank you to all participants of this event, especially to our friends who came all the way from Singapore   and the representative from VW club.  A big thank you to Ismail Taliban and Fendi Besi Kuning for their effort in organizing the 43^rd Birthday Bash.