Thankyou both Rod and Ken for new information on this. I might be wrong, but my understanding is that when Hilton McGee had the car it was fitted with a JAP single. My recollection from the WA results on Terry's site is that the Cooper was raced with a 500cc engine at least sometimes during Jack Rowe's ownership, but I will go back and check that. I also understand that when John Dymond bought the car, he had to find an 1100 JAP, and eventually did so with an engine that was a spare with the ex John Crouch Cooper Mk IV that was with George Best in WA for many years.Hi Gordon. I just spoke to Jack Rowe and he confirmed that he briefly tried twin Triumphs in the ex Green/Ayres Cooper before one blew up. He sold the car to Hilton McGee who rebuilt and fitted the original 1100 JAP motor. Jack has no knowledge of a Ford motor being fitted by anyone. He later bought the Howard Davies Cooper MkV which he eventually sold to Don Hall and which Don sold to someone in the east.
I also have September 1956 as Doug Green's first appearance, but I suspect there may have been something earlier. The last record I have for the car in Tasmania is March 1955, so we have a period of 18 months to account for.
Any contact details for Hilton McGee and Jack Rowe would be appreciated.
Rob Saward
Edited by austmcreg, 28 May 2013 - 13:08.