300 replies to this topic

[spraybeater]

Thanks Martin, it certainly gets a lot of attention where ever it goes, as very few people 

have heard of Oyler Contessa! apart from the educated few, the most asked question is

it a Radford or Wood&Picket.

Am looking forward to Beaulieu, lets hope the weather is good! should make for a good

turnout, going to be a busy time with a local show on the Bank Holiday Monday then

Gadon the next weekend then MCR day at Beaulieu! been 40yrs since I did so many

Miles in a Mini.

[mab01uk]

Some photos of the Oyler Contessa at Blyton are featured on the Maximum Mini blog in link below:-

(Scroll down)

http://maximummini.b.../Oyler Contessa

[spraybeater]

Thanks for linking Martin! it was very interesting to meet Jerone Booi at Blyton

[mab01uk]

Hi Frank, some more photos of the Oyler Contessa and yourself at the Blyton Mk1 Action Day are featured in the latest issue of Mini Magazine (July page 29).

Edited by mab01uk, 24 May 2018 - 10:06 PM.

[spraybeater]

Hi Frank, some more photos of the Oyler Contessa and yourself at the Blyton Mk1 Action Day are featured in the latest issue of Mini Magazine (July page 29).

Thanks for the heads up Martin! need to see if my Pension will stretch to another Magazine!

[mab01uk]

Not been to Beaulieu for a couple of years but it was worth the trip just to see the unique line up of Coachbuilt Minis, also great to meet and have a chat with Frank (the Count) at last and sit in the comfy leather drivers seat of his superbly restored Oyler Contessa! 

 

[JXC Mini GT]

I attended Beaulieu as well and had the pleasure of meeting Frank, his Oyler Contessa looks even better in the flesh especially the lush interior.

[1984mini25]

Was also at Gaydon for the mini and metro show a fortnight ago, but was resisting posting until Frank has posted.

 

[spraybeater]

Thanks guys for the photos and comments, its been a busy time the last few weeks and

a fair bit of traveling about, its forty years since I drove a Mini so many miles, thankfully 

with the high trim level of this car its a pleasure to drive, sits at sixty on the motorway happily!

unfortunately thats HGV cruising speed  and although I try to make it easy for other drivers 

to pass and pull back in some make it obvious that it irritates them, one has to be very aware and

drive devencably and look and be aware well ahead, not as about 85% of others that only see

as far as the end of their bonnet,  (rant over)

 

Anyway the first show after Blyton Mk1 Performance Day! was Ripley near Harrogate near home,

 

 

was a very busy day and warm weather,

 

Next up was Gaydon Mini/Mini Metro Show at The Heritage Centre, which I  was invited to attend,

we got stuck in front of the commentary box and were deafened all day (my own fault by the way)

 

 

arriving on site in the morning  of the show, drove down on the Saturday and had a couple of nights

in a nearby Hotel,

 

 

 

was invited in to the main arena along with a £43000 Goodwood Edition MINI, the commentator asked

if I would swop if I had the chance, guess what I answered!! and I do like and own a MINI,

The next show a week later was another two night hotel stay and a 500ml round trip to Beaulieu,

 

 

ready to leave early Saturday morning,

 

 

parked up at Hotel in Brockenhurst in some other Mini company,

 

 

arriving on site,

 

 

in the Coachbuilt line up ,

 

 

 

as usual I find with shows I never get anytime to take photos, met a lot a nice people 

including some from the forum, in particular MAB Martin Bell,

 

Have been invited to MITP at SantaPod by MiniWorld, so see you there Please say hello

I will try not to bore you to much.

Thanks for looking Frank.

[Ben_O]

Sounds like you are having plenty of fun with the Countess.

 

Hope to see you out and about during the 2019 show season where I will hopefully be in the Cooper.

 

Ben

[spraybeater]

Sounds like you are having plenty of fun with the Countess.

 

Hope to see you out and about during the 2019 show season where I will hopefully be in the Cooper.

 

Ben

 

 

I certainly am! and its nice to meet and talk to people  with interests in Minis and cars

in general, after spending a lifetime working on them for others,

 

Lets hope you get the time to get your Cooper ready for some shows next year.

 

Frank

[Gillybobs]

Nice to meet you at the mini and metro show and have a look round your mini. Truly a stunning car!

Andy

[minimissions]

Wow those are some awesome photos its nice to see such a rare mini putting the miles in and not garaged away and never seen. I look forward to maybe seeing it again over the summer...

[spraybeater]

Prompted by another member on here (from the other side of the world) thought some!! might be

interested in an update of whats been happening with The Countess,

 

 

BMC, Mini& VW show Dudley,WestMidlands, interesting voting systems in place for the Show and Shine

     HaHa,

 

 

Local one at Harewood Hillclimb, was meant to be a MK1 Performance show which unfortunately dint happen.

 

 

SantaPod, MITP plenty said elsewhere!!!

 

 

Outside our B/B for SantaPod,  (excellent by the way)

 

 

The judging at local show Ripon, the Capri in the background the winner as usual!!!

 

 

another show at Preston,

 

 

liked this, brought back a few memories of back in the day, my father owned one and I worked 

on lots of them.

 

 

A local show at Elland,

 

 

 

The star of the show Lancaster Bomber flypast,

 

All in all been a vary busy time with the Contessa, done over 3K miles this year doing shows and 

driving it when I can, weathers been fantastic only got wet! a couple of times, never missed a beat

since Blyton MK1 day.

 

 

Went over to Minispares York to pick up some parts for something I am working on so as the sun was

shinning on Wednesday 10th Oct ! got the sunroof open, and enjoyed it.

 

Thanks for looking,   it does seem to be a bit quiet on here at the moment.

[Daz1968]

Great to see it being used and enjoyment had from it after all the work put in, makes it worthwhile.