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MG TC Holden Special racing in Victoria 1960's


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#1 kennycooper

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 00:00

I am attempting to trace the history of another MG TC Grey Holden Special that raced in the early 1960's in Victoria

 

I have a magazine  image (kindly provided by Richard Townley in Melbourne) which shows the car as a "square rigger": MG Holden with cycle front guards competing at an unknown meeting in Victoria.

 

The car was driven by Rod Cooper and tangled with a loose wheel from Ron Tanner's R500 Special at this meeting.  I understand Ron developed the R500 in 1964 and it was sold on in 1965? so is this a race meeting in 1964?.  Also it appears from the stripes on the right rear guard that Rod Cooper was a provisional driver at this meeting driving the MG Holden.

 

I am after:

  • Who is/was Rod Cooper and is he still around?
  • Where and what date was this meeting tha The R 500 was also at?
  • The history and development of the MG Holden i.e. was it constructed by Rod, or someone else earlier

I have not been able to upload an image onto the forum after a number of attempts! but can email to any one who is interested

 



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#2 Ray Bell

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 02:09

e-mail it to me...

 

The address is at the foot of my post.



#3 Ray Bell

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 05:46

I had a bit of a wander through the RCNs of the period... January '64 to July '65...

 

There's no mention of the crash you describe anywhere that I saw, I was checking basically all Victorian meetings and I added in a Mallala or two. No mention of any Ron Tanner, apart from Garrie Cooper there are two Coopers mentioned racing in the period.

 

1. Joyce Cooper - won the ladies' race at the April or May Calder meeting, no mention of what type of car. She also performed very well in another race on the day.

 

2. Rod Cooper - MG Holden, spun while leading a handicap for Sports Cars at the 1964 Hume Weir Boxing Day meeting. That means I would have seen him but, no, I don't remember at all.

 

Of further interest:

 

August 30 Calder - An MG Holden driven by Peter Mahoney was at that meeting. Could this be the car prior to Rod Cooper's acquisition? Or was it a shared car? Or a different car altogether?

 

Ron Tanner - Not a mention at all, however there is a couple of mentions of 'Ron Kenner' and they are a couple of months apart. I add that rider because you would be surprised what errors there are in names in these magazines. There's no doubt a few reasons for that, of course. Poor writing on entry forms leading to poor translation to the race programme, errors of all types and pure typos. There is no mention of the type of car Ron Kenner is driving.



#4 ron simmonds

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 12:53

Joyce Cooper, now Joyce Russell, wife of Jim "Stumpy" Russell, was driving the Lipco special, with a Peugeot motor in the back. I believe they still have this car in a shed at their property along with Jims Ford V8 Special, and an early Nedloh  (Holden spelt backwards).



#5 cooper997

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 21:16

In the January 24, 1965 Calder programme the following is listed in the 'Competitors Numbers' page under Sports Cars.
S45 Sports Auto.Access. Service Rod Cooper MGTC Holden Green 2465
SAAS made/sold steering wheels and the like.

Stephen

#6 Ray Bell

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Posted 07 September 2013 - 12:10

Don't you hate it when people go to some trouble to answer a question and the one posting the question doesn't come back?

 

Come back, Kenny, tell us what you think...



#7 MatthewMagilton

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Posted 08 September 2013 - 04:01

Kenny, let me know if you come across a rego number as I am building up a list of these for TC, TD and TF and may be able to help. I am also working on a chassis number list of all known TC's that came to Australia. Quite a few T types had Holden engines.

I know a Rod Cooper in the MGCC of Victoria, TF guy, may not be your man though.

 

Matthew.



#8 ron simmonds

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Posted 08 September 2013 - 05:40

Try talking to John Caffin. He had a TD that he hill climbed, and a MG TF that he put a Holden motor in, and ran for some time. (John lives in Sunbury). I will mention this topic when I see him on Wednesday at the VHRR lunch. Cheers Simmo.



#9 kennycooper

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Posted 09 September 2013 - 06:06

 Hi Ray, et al

 

Thanks for the thread and comments

 

Sorry re not replying but my auto email notification did not work and I access this forum from my work email!

 

I made and error as it was the Ron Kenner R500

 

I do have some history on the Peter Mahony car  - I will have to check if there was any connection

 

BTW the Rod Cooper currently in the Victorian MG Club is a different Rod Cooper

 

The key is to find Rod Cooper - if anyone has a lead

 

cheers,



#10 kennycooper

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Posted 09 September 2013 - 06:14

Hi

 

I still cannot upload the image of the Rod Cooper car  I have but can email as needed

 

cheers,

 

Kenny



#11 Ray Bell

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Posted 09 September 2013 - 06:41

Yes, I'm waiting for that e-mail...

 

r@ybell.net



#12 Ray Bell

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Posted 09 September 2013 - 07:04

Here's the pic:

 

rfz2.jpg
 

Possibilities: The downhill run after turning out of the pit straight at Winton... maybe Tarrawingee, not Hume Weir, not sure about Bright but possible.

 

I would think this is from Autosportsman or AMS.



#13 Ray Bell

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Posted 09 September 2013 - 08:56

And a pic from Richard Townley...

 

exgj.jpg
 

From the first Lakeland hillclimb, which I think was in 1965 too, was it not.



#14 kennycooper

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Posted 10 September 2013 - 04:46

Ray

 

Thanks for the posting of the shots

 

The MG Holden at Lakeland looks like it has wide 15" wheels?

 

Does anyone have any leads on Rod Cooper - if he was entered under the SAAS banner was he an employee or part of the early organisation?

 

Plus are there any photos of the events listed ablove that may show more shots of this car?

 

cheers,

 

Kenny



#15 kennycooper

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Posted 11 September 2013 - 07:12

The shot above I suggest is the Peter Mahony MG Holden at the Lakeland Hillclimb?

#16 Ian G

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Posted 11 September 2013 - 11:26

Ray

 

Thanks for the posting of the shots

 

The MG Holden at Lakeland looks like it has wide 15" wheels?

 

cheers,

 

Kenny

 

Yeah,looks like Pirelli's on 15" rims,interesting offset.


Edited by Ian G, 11 September 2013 - 11:28.


#17 kennycooper

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Posted 12 September 2013 - 04:40

Ian

 

The shot above has been confirmed by Peter Mahony to me today as his car at the Lakeland Hillclimb in 1964.  He did indicate it had 16" rims - Pirelli's were available in a 185Rx16 in the 1960's



#18 kennycooper

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Posted 24 September 2013 - 23:40

Hi

 

Does anyone know the whereabouts of Rod Cooper if he is still around? Is he still in Victoria?

 

He would be the key to finding out more history

 

cheers,

 

Kenny



#19 Ian G

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Posted 24 September 2013 - 23:46

Ian

 

The shot above has been confirmed by Peter Mahony to me today as his car at the Lakeland Hillclimb in 1964.  He did indicate it had 16" rims - Pirelli's were available in a 185Rx16 in the 1960's

 

Ok..Thanks.



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#20 Ray Bell

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Posted 25 September 2013 - 06:07

What sources have you tried, kenny?

 

I don't think anyone here so far has said they knew him, have they?



#21 kennycooper

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Posted 26 September 2013 - 23:01

Ray,

 

I have gone through a reasonable number of the people involved in racing in Victoria in the period - all have turned up blank -  and also am now chasing up John Caffin in the VHRR to ask there

 

cheers,

 

Kenny



#22 Ray Bell

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Posted 26 September 2013 - 23:44

People who used Holden engines would be a good prospect, I'd think...

 

Alan Gissing?



#23 kennycooper

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Posted 29 September 2013 - 23:01

Ray

 

do you have any contact details for Alan Gissing



#24 Ray Bell

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Posted 30 September 2013 - 03:26

I haven't seen him in many years, but he lived around Caulfield somewhere when I last did see him...

 

He's probably retired now, his name shouldn't be too hard to track down on whitepages.com.au



#25 kennycooper

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Posted 30 September 2013 - 06:20

Thanks Ray

 

There is a Alan Gissing in Caulfield - v close



#26 2Bob

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Posted 30 September 2013 - 07:09

Thanks Ray

 

There is a Alan Gissing in Caulfield - v close

 

Peter Turner used to race against Alan and has mentioned quite recently to me that Alan is getting car back together for historic racing.  Peter may even have an idea of your car.  If you pm me I will send you Peter's email address.

 

Good luck