Video: Mini Cooper domination at the 1966 Bathurst 500

Back in 1966 Australia’s great race wasn’t called the Bathurst 1000, it was the Gallaher 500. This video offers a spectacular throwback to the year that Rauno Aaltonen became the first international entrant to win the race.  Against today’s landscape of heavily developed front engine, rear wheel drive V8 sedans, it’s easy to forget that in 1966 it was the mighty yet humble Morris Cooper S that was running the show. This video serves to remind us of that time, and showcases a year the race was won by the Finnish Rauno Aaltonen, teamed with veteran Australian Mini racer Bob Holden. The duo ran a lap ahead of Fred Gibson and Bill Stanley, who held off the small fleet of Mini Cooper S who filled the first nine positions! The best non-Mini was a Chrysler Valiant which ran a full six laps behind Aaltonen and Holden, in tenth position. How times have changed!