West Sussex Mini Owners Club - Where Friends Meet

My life with Minis and the Cooper Family

I first became a member of the West Sussex Mini Owners Club when it was founded, with the very first meetings being held at the Roundstone Pub.

In 1982 I joined John Cooper Garages in Ferring and East Preston, where I worked as a Service Advisor for 25 years. My role involved looking after customers, booking in vehicles for servicing, MOTs and repairs, answering the telephone, preparing job cards, producing invoices and explaining the work and costs to customers. It was a job I thoroughly enjoyed.

Working alongside the legendary John Cooper and Mike Cooper was an unforgettable experience. John would often entertain us with fascinating stories from his motor racing career, and there was never a dull moment. I was fortunate to work with a fantastic team of colleagues, and we shared many memorable moments over the years.

The garages were a paradise for Mini enthusiasts. We developed and prepared countless Minis, including prototype vehicles, and customers travelled from all over the UK and overseas to have work carried out by the Cooper team. I regularly advised customers on engine conversions, brake upgrades, wheels, tyres and many other performance enhancements. It was common for customers to leave their cars with us for a week while the work was completed.

During my time at Cooper's, I had the privilege of meeting many famous names from the world of motorsport and entertainment. These included world champions John Surtees and Jack Brabham, rally legend Paddy Hopkirk, formula one driver Mika Salo, racing driver John Rhodes, and actress Britt Ekland, to name just a few.

As an employee of John Cooper Garages, I was fortunate enough to drive several company Minis. Over the years I have owned some very special cars, including a Cooper Metro, one of only five ever built, which originally belonged to Mike Cooper. I still own this car today. I also owned a 1959 Morris Mini Minor and today I own a very special BMW Mini John Cooper Works. It is one of only 67 examples built from new at John Cooper Works in East Preston.

Around ten years ago, I re-joined the West Sussex Mini Owners Club,  my wife and I am delighted that my daughter has now become a member too, continuing our family's passion for Minis.

More recently, I was honoured to be made an Honorary Member of the Cooper Register, a recognition that means a great deal to me. I am also proud to serve as a Director of the Cooper Car Club, where I give talks on the history of John Cooper, the Cooper family and the remarkable legacy they created in motorsport and with the Mini and race cars.

Looking back, Minis have been a huge part of my life. They have given me a career that I loved, lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories and the opportunity to meet some remarkable people. I feel incredibly privileged to have been part of such an important chapter in the history of the Mini and the Cooper name. 

Chris Dawson