In the year that the Mini turns 60, the BVAC Classic celebrate with the Year of the Mini

The Borders Vintage Automobile Club will be celebrating the 60th birthday of the most iconic British car of all time at this year’s BVAC Classic at Thirlestane in June.

To celebrate the anniversary of the launch of the Mini, the theme of this year’s Festival of Motoring will be the ‘Year of the Mini’. A whole host of fabulous events are planned including a Classic Mini Cooper Raffle in aid of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, a Big Mini Cram record-breaking attempt, a special Italian Job display, surprise celebrity guests and much more.

To officially launch this year’s BVAC Classic and to showcase the club’s continuing partnership with Brewin Dolphin and Thirlestane Castle, the BVAC held a private screening for around 100 guests of the original The Italian Job movie at the Tower Mill Cinema in Hawick.

BVAC Chairman David Pratt said:

‘In a year that is jam packed with big motoring milestones and anniversaries, we are delighted to announce that the central theme of this year’s BVAC Classic will celebrate 60 years of the Mini.  And in another birthday celebration, quite remarkably, the Italian Job film will be exactly 50 years old at this year’s show on the 2 June! It is fitting therefore, that we have officially launched the event with a screening of this absolute classic which famously starred a trio of Mini Coopers.

This is also the perfect occasion to thank our partners Brewin Dolphin and Thirlestane Castle for their continuing support as well as Emtelle of Hawick and Jedburgh, who have so generously donated the Classic Mini Cooper for our charity raffle in aid of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. The Club are thrilled at the response from the generous Borders public and look forward to donating this lovely little car to one lucky winner on the 2nd June as well as raising valuable funds for research into Motor Neurone Disease.   With more than 1200 classic and vintage vehicles of all shapes and sizes making the journey to Lauder, this year’s event promises to be an absolute classic.’

BVAC Classic at Thirlestane Castle, Lauder, Sunday 2nd June from 11am  Described as the ‘Best Classic Car Festival in Scotland’ there will be Veteran, Vintage and Classic Cars, Motorcycles, Commercial, Agricultural, Military, Steam and American Classes on show.

Picture from left to right:  John Bathgate and Ali Gibson of Emtelle, David Pratt, Chairman of the BVAC, Edward Maitland-Carew of Thirlestane Castle and Johnny Fleming of Brewin Dolphin.