If you have a problem or need something you are best going to an expert.

Pettigo mechanic Mervyn Johnston would certainly fall into the expert category when it comes to Minis.

Having rallied and worked on the car for decades, he gets work from all over to his garage on the border.

At 84 years old many would be well into retirement, but Mervyn would rather be working on a car he knows inside out.

“I have been at Minis all my life. From they come out,” he explained.

“I bought my first Mini I think it was in 1961 and I started to rally it then I went on to buy a [Mini] Cooper and I was still rallying Minis up until three and half years ago.

“I rallied Minis from 1962.”

An accident three and half years ago, in which Mervyn fractured his back put an end to the rallying for him, but it did not stop him from working as a mechanic.

Rallying had been a successful sport for Mervyn, and he had some successes.

“I won the Irish Historic Tarmac Championship four times.

“I have been to Italy and Belgium. I’ve been across in England, Wales and Scotland.”

What makes it all the more impressive is how he was driver and mechanic rolled into one: “I did the service and all myself.

“I never had a service crew because I couldn’t afford one.

“When you know what is involved it is no problem.”

And when he would win, it would make it all the sweeter.

“Whenever I would win an event I would have got immense satisfaction of finishing first and doing my own work on the car.

“I have been very lucky that was a mechanic and a driver,” said Mervyn.

With his rallying days over, Mervyn put his expertise into making sure other people’s Minis are fit for the road.

With no sign of retirement: “I retired on paper about 15 or 16 years ago. This would be a hobby more or less.

“I do engines for customers from abroad and I actually sent an engine to a customer in England a fortnight ago and there is one going over now to Scotland.”

While Minis is his forte, Mervyn does work on other classic cars, but the Mini is his preference as he knows them “inside out”.

Rallying Minis is in the Johnston blood as well with Mervyn’s son, Karl, also into it.

And he has one of the most knowledgeable men to look after his car which he drives in sprints and hill tests.

With 60 years of expertise in Minis and as a mechanic, Mervyn does not look like he is going to put his feet up just yet.

And why would he? He gets immense satisfaction in his work and the interest is still there.

And Mini owners both far and near know that if they need someone to look at their car, Mervyn is your man.