The full Monte

It is not every day that you get to have lunch with a legend. In 1964 this man made motorsport history by winning the Monte Carlo Rally in a Mini Cooper S.

Other victories in his 1960s heyday include the Circuit of Ireland Rally twice, the Alpine Rally twice, and the Acropolis Rally. He also almost won the London-Sydney Marathon, but heroically forfeited a near-certain victory to rescue another competitor who had crashed and was badly hurt in a blazing car.

Who else but the fabulous Paddy Hopkirk, still lively company at a well-preserved 82. I went to interview him for a magazine feature, and he drove me to lunch in his John Cooper Works modern MINI. Yes, it was a rapid trip!