That 1,100 Km Weekend To Pau With A ’97 Mini Cooper | Your Cars

15 October 2021 Redazione Your Cars

Passion for cars comes in different forms. You got the unmistakable shapes of supercars, charming sounds of vintage classics, huge V8 muscle cars, hot-hatches, you name them. And then you have that of the Mini, a tiny little pepper able to outcome superior models in rallies, thus becoming a legend on everyday roads and on racing weekends. A classic Mini is something that ticks all the boxes and it is still able to give once upon a time emotions at the wheel. We met Pablo, a Spanish guy that knows how to share and live indelible memories putting into the recipe two ingredients that contribute elevating the driving experience: the right roads and the best traveling partners. He tells the story.

“My name is Pablo Velasco, I am from a beautiful region in the north of Spain, Asturias. Currently my car and my passion is a ’97 Rover Mini Cooper Sport-pack. My history with Minis began more than 11 years ago. After completing my studies in Vehicle Mechanics I met the owners (Sergio, Santiago and Manuel) of a classic vehicles restoration workshop, where my journey and my passion for the Mini world began. After a few years repairing them and enjoying seeing them there, I decided to buy one for myself. It is where I got this one, which I have modified to my liking and has been in my possession for 11 years now. My passion for cars was already strong at the time, because as a child I saw the Príncipe de Asturias Rally passing through the roads of my town. Every year it was a pleasure to behold those machines rolling right at the door of my house. The years passed and luck and dedication allowed me to get one of the cars like those that raced the legendary Monte-Carlo Rally.

Since I own the Mini I have traveled something like 60,000 km with it, not without having repaired and conditioned almost every part of the engine, gearbox and suspension. My best road trip has been an unforgettable 1,100 km drive I accomplished a weekend in May 2018 heading for Pau – in France – attending the historical Grand Prix where the Maxi 1300 Cup hosts a large number of racing Minis. A great place where you can see and touch ready-to-race Minis and check for yourself all kinds of interesting details. However, my favorite road is only 30 km from home, it is called El Tramo de Libardon and it is one of the special stages of the Príncipe De Asturias Rally, a twisty road running through the forest, with many curves combined with downhill traits. A road that any rally lover loves. And speaking about these rally lovers, my father – my faithful co-driver – it’s someone I love to enjoy this road with, along with my girlfriend as well.

Driving a proper car such as the Mini, it is something that frees me from the daily routine, where driving a Fiesta MK7 cannot transmit the same sensations of the road at your fingertips. This driving feel is the thing that really represents my passion. I consider modern automobiles to be made for easy driving and just little personal enjoyment for purists.

Currently I love my Mini but we all have a dream. Mine is to one day being able to enjoy the roads out there with my father with a 1969 Porsche 911 T, a car which I consider a real sports car. But until that moment comes, in 2022 we will try to continue topping all the mountain passes we can and if Covid allows, visiting Angouleme to see Bugatti race over there.

 Thanks for your time and keep living your dream.”

 Photos by Pablo Velasco