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Garrie Cooper's Repco V8 powered Elfin 600C


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#1 David Shaw

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Posted 14 November 2002 - 13:24

I happened to see this car at the historic meeting at Sandown (Australia) on Sunday, and was wanting to find out more about it. Apparently it was built for Garrie Cooper in January 1969, I imagine for Tasman and Gold Star Series duties. How effective was this device, as being a small single seater, it appears to have continued the theme of the Brabham BT24.
There are some photos of it in the top line here:

http://www.hsrca.org.au/gallery10.htm

Also, I would be interested to know of any racing history of the light blue Brabham BT21C in the third photo, it was powered by a Buick 3.5 litre V8

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#2 Ray Bell

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Posted 15 November 2002 - 04:06

Originally posted by David Shaw
I happened to see this car at the historic meeting at Sandown (Australia) on Sunday, and was wanting to find out more about it. Apparently it was built for Garrie Cooper in January 1969..... Also, I would be interested to know of any racing history of the light blue Brabham BT21C in the third photo, it was powered by a Buick 3.5 litre V8


Built byGarrie Cooper...

At this time the Repco V8s were on the way out, so were less expensive. Garrie got one, Malcolm Ramsay got one and eventually (after dallying about with a Climax...) John McCormack got one.

They sort of went together everywhere. Garrie was not the fastest of drivers, but it's interesting that John McCormack ultimately set the fastest ever 2.5 Repco lap time at Warwick Farm in his car...

The Brabham Buick mentioned started life in the UK as a hillclimb car. It was apparently diabolical when it was brought out here as an historic racer, Peter Hopwood driving it at Eastern Creek and pronouncing it a deathtrap... so it's been locked away for many year.

But now it's out again, lost many of its old ways, it seems, and is being driven hard a looks good.

#3 mickj

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Posted 15 November 2002 - 04:40

The Brabham-Buick ran really well at Sandown, it looks good and behaved itself.

Who was the owner when it ran the UK hillclimbs.

#4 Allen Brown

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Posted 15 November 2002 - 23:09

From Bladen's book on Elfin:

Elfin 600C (frame no 6908) was built by and for Garrie Cooper, fitted with Repco RB830-E29-2.5L and delivered in April 1969.

Most of the 600s were Ford twin cam 600Bs. The only bigger cars were Cooper's 600C 6908-Repco and later 600D 7012-Repco, Hengkie Iriawan's 600C 6910-FVA, John McCormack's 600C 7011 and Glyn Scott's short-lived 600C 7016-Waggott.

The 600 series was one of the best racing cars ever built, anywhere, for anything.

Allen

#5 Brian Lear

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Posted 16 November 2002 - 12:01

Originally posted by David Shaw
I would be interested to know of any racing history of the light blue Brabham BT21C in the third photo, it was powered by a Buick 3.5 litre V8


Extract from "The Oily Rag" the Journal of the Historic Sports and Racing Car Assn. of N.S.W
Volume 11 #2 - Summer 2001
"In 1969 Malcolm Eaves of Birmingham bought a new BT21 rolling chassis from Brabham and
had them alter the rear bay to accommodate an alloy Buick V8.....for hillclimbing.
In 1971 Peter Boshier - Jones became the second owner, running it in the 1972 and 1973
British Hillclimb Championships.......
Nigel Pows bought it in 1973 and fitted a Repco Brabham Quad Cam ex Indy motor.....
John Harper purchased it in 1979.
It came to Australia in 1981 and was restored to its original specs in 2000.

#6 Allen Brown

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Posted 17 November 2002 - 21:12

Very useful. If Ted Walker is lurking nearby, maybe he can tell us the chassis number of this car.

Allen

#7 Ray Bell

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Posted 18 November 2002 - 18:39

Originally posted by Allen Brown
The 600 series was one of the best racing cars ever built, anywhere, for anything.


And the subject of a recent article in Motor Racing Australia...

I know the author of that article... later in the day (I hope...) I'll post the entire text.

But Allen, something more important, where is the Hengkie Iriawan car? Last I heard it was on the missing list...

#8 David McKinney

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Posted 18 November 2002 - 19:59

Originally posted by Ray Bell
But Allen, something more important, where is the Hengkie Iriawan car? Last I heard it was on the missing list...

last known under a Toyota Celica body?

#9 Ray Bell

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Posted 18 November 2002 - 20:16

I thought it went to England... or was that another 600 with an FVA?

hmmm... no comment yet on my assertion that McCormack had the fastest ever Warwick Farm lap time with a 2.5 Repco engine...

#10 David McKinney

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Posted 18 November 2002 - 20:56

Originally posted by Ray Bell
I thought it went to England... or was that another 600 with an FVA?

You might be right
The ex-Johnny Walker 600B has certainly been in the UK since the '70s and has made several racing appearances over the past half-dozen years or so, but I suspect it might still have a twincam

#11 Ray Bell

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Posted 18 November 2002 - 21:01

I know Paul Hamilton was looking for one when he went to England... he couldn't find it so bought a Ferrari Dino 246 instead.

I was fairly sure it was the Iriawan car.

#12 Ray Bell

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Posted 19 November 2002 - 10:38

For your information (please advise if it needs any correction)...

The recent article I put together on the Elfin 600:

http://members.atlas...- Elfin 600.doc

It's saved in a relatively early version of MS Word.

#13 Vorticist

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Posted 24 June 2010 - 01:03

McCormacks alleged W.F. lap record time would have had to have been an extraordinary one Ray. The records I have state the
best time there in a 2.5 Repco was Leo Geoghegan (740 RB?) on 13/7/69 with a 1.28.2 min equalling the Bartlett Alfa-Brabham time set
at the same meeting. The ultimate [official] lap record is Matich's in his A50 machine with a 1.23.3 on 29/10/72. Interestingly,
Matich's Sports Car record - set at the July '69 meeting - was 1.3 secs quicker than Bartletts/Geoghegan time.

#14 Ray Bell

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Posted 24 June 2010 - 02:14

Bear in mind that tyre technology was moving right along...

It's not as if McCormack was there with a Repco V8 at the same meeting as Leo. The records say he did it, and it wasn't out of keeping with other events of the day.

#15 David Shaw

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Posted 24 June 2010 - 06:13

Looking in the Blanden/Catford book, Australia's ELFIN Sports and Racing Cars, it was the 1970 AGP at the Farm. In qualifying McCormack lapped in 1:27.4, with Garrie on 1:27.9, to fill the fifth row of the grid behind F5000s. Of course this wasn"t a lap record as it wasn"t set in a race.

Edited by David Shaw, 24 June 2010 - 06:14.


#16 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 24 June 2010 - 07:37

Garrie was never really much slower than the best though was a little less agressive.

#17 Ray Bell

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Posted 24 June 2010 - 12:59

It was never said to be a lap record, of course...

Just the fastest lap ever recorded by a 2.5 Repco engine at the Farm.

#18 SJ Lambert

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Posted 05 July 2010 - 13:02

I happened to see this car at the historic meeting at Sandown (Australia) on Sunday, and was wanting to find out more about it. Apparently it was built for Garrie Cooper in January 1969, I imagine for Tasman and Gold Star Series duties. How effective was this device, as being a small single seater, it appears to have continued the theme of the Brabham BT24.
There are some photos of it in the top line here:

http://www.hsrca.org.au/gallery10.htm

Also, I would be interested to know of any racing history of the light blue Brabham BT21C in the third photo, it was powered by a Buick 3.5 litre V8


I haven't seen the shots you've made reference to David, but is this the car that you're referring to?


Posted Image

Edited by SJ Lambert, 16 February 2013 - 12:39.


#19 David Shaw

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Posted 05 July 2010 - 13:11

That certainly looks like the beast thank you.

Is this livery from one of its Asian visits?

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#20 SJ Lambert

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Posted 05 July 2010 - 14:11

That certainly looks like the beast thank you.

Is this livery from one of its Asian visits?



Yep, I reckon it's Mt Fuji in 1969 either taken by or with my Godfather, Bob Mill's camera - it may actually be Bob in the cockpit. I think Garrie plonked it on pole and then went gardening on 1st or second corner of lap 1...............

Edited by SJ Lambert, 05 July 2010 - 14:14.


#21 lyntonh

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Posted 06 July 2010 - 11:22

Several photos of the car during 1969 & 1970.
Posted Image
Oran Park Gold Star 27th June 1970

Posted Image
Warwick Farm 11th July 1970

Posted Image
Warwick Farm 11th July 1970

Posted Image
Warwick Farm 5th Sept 1970

Posted Image
Warwick Farm 5th Sept 1970

Posted Image
Warwick Farm 6th Sept 1970

Posted Image
Warwick Farm 6th Sept 1970

Note the wing changes between the two Farm meetings.










#22 David Shaw

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Posted 06 July 2010 - 11:34

Thanks Lynton, nice photos although I believe they are the later 600D.

PS. Is that other 600 in the early photos Glyn Scott's Waggott powered 600B?

Edited by David Shaw, 06 July 2010 - 11:38.


#23 lyntonh

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Posted 06 July 2010 - 11:38

Hoped you weren't going to say that!!

#24 lyntonh

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Posted 06 July 2010 - 11:49

Thanks Lynton, nice photos although I believe they are the later 600D.

PS. Is that other 600 in the early photos Glyn Scott's Waggott powered 600B?



I'm unsure, there's no labels to give it away.



#25 David Shaw

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Posted 06 July 2010 - 11:52

Hoped you weren't going to say that!!


Not to worry, they are great photos all the same.

#26 SJ Lambert

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Posted 06 July 2010 - 12:30

I'm unsure, there's no labels to give it away.


I can't tell who the other one is either Lynton - anyone?

Here's another Fuji one............

Posted Image

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Edited by SJ Lambert, 06 July 2010 - 12:49.


#27 Ray Bell

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Posted 06 July 2010 - 12:52

Not Scotty, he carried number 20...

Not sure who it is though. But the striped wing in the later pics are on the rear of the Muir Rennmax.

#28 David Shaw

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Posted 06 July 2010 - 22:08

I chanced across some photos of Garrie's 600C from Macau under Steve Holland's ownership.
http://www.imagensda...album/aa70?i=25


#29 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 06 July 2010 - 23:33

Several photos of the car during 1969 & 1970.
Posted Image
Oran Park Gold Star 27th June 1970

Posted Image
Warwick Farm 11th July 1970

Posted Image
Warwick Farm 11th July 1970

Posted Image
Warwick Farm 5th Sept 1970

Posted Image
Warwick Farm 5th Sept 1970

Posted Image
Warwick Farm 6th Sept 1970

Posted Image
Warwick Farm 6th Sept 1970

Note the wing changes between the two Farm meetings.

Same wing I think but with different ends and a second plane.

#30 ellrosso

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Posted 07 July 2010 - 03:59

I think No 8 might be Maurie Quincey.

#31 lyntonh

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Posted 07 July 2010 - 05:56

I think No 8 might be Maurie Quincey.



Maybe...maybe not ?

Posted Image
Photo taken Warwick Farm 11th July 1970

Posted Image
Photo taken Warwick Farm 2nd May 1970

Edited by lyntonh, 20 February 2012 - 11:44.


#32 Leo D

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Posted 07 July 2010 - 06:53

I happened to see this car at the historic meeting at Sandown (Australia) on Sunday, and was wanting to find out more about it. Apparently it was built for Garrie Cooper in January 1969, I imagine for Tasman and Gold Star Series duties. How effective was this device, as being a small single seater, it appears to have continued the theme of the Brabham BT24.


The vehicle in question?.......I took these at the said 2002 Sandown meeting....

Posted Image


Posted Image


Edited by Leo D, 07 July 2010 - 06:57.


#33 ellrosso

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Posted 07 July 2010 - 07:23

Hmmm.....rear wing mounting is certainly different is'nt it? Have to check the RCN report.

#34 David Shaw

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Posted 07 July 2010 - 07:28

Different helmet, wing setup, exhaust, rear tyre width, no BP logo, name.

Scott did usually carry number 20, but not always as I have seen a photo of the Bowin with number 10. The BP sponsorship ties in with Scott, and I have him listed at the Oran Park meeting as carrying no. 4 which appears to be the same car behind Garrie in the Oran Park photo.


#35 David Shaw

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Posted 07 July 2010 - 07:56

The vehicle in question?.......I took these at the said 2002 Sandown meeting....


Yes, that's it Leo, nice photos.

#36 SJ Lambert

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Posted 07 July 2010 - 09:25

Quoting David -

"Different helmet, wing setup, exhaust, rear tyre width, no BP logo, name.

Scott did usually carry number 20, but not always as I have seen a photo of the Bowin with number 10. The BP sponsorship ties in with Scott, and I have him listed at the Oran Park meeting as carrying no. 4 which appears to be the same car behind Garrie in the Oran Park photo."



Here's Maurice a year or two earlier, did he always employ the "Kangaroo" helmet? Perhaps the other 600 can be identified by process of elimination? We could certainly figure out a few candidates who it's not!



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Edited by SJ Lambert, 07 July 2010 - 09:40.


#37 SJ Lambert

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Posted 16 September 2010 - 14:03

I happened to see this car at the historic meeting at Sandown (Australia) on Sunday, and was wanting to find out more about it. Apparently it was built for Garrie Cooper in January 1969, I imagine for Tasman and Gold Star Series duties. How effective was this device, as being a small single seater...


From what I'm told, Garrie loved this car, I wouldn't have been arguing with him!!!

Posted Image

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James

Edited by SJ Lambert, 16 September 2010 - 14:04.


#38 Ray Bell

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Posted 16 September 2010 - 14:39

That's certainly an early photo of it...

By May the wings had to be mounted on the chassis.

#39 Vorticist

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Posted 19 November 2010 - 23:57

Ray, do you know what profession John McCormack was? I guess by the
mid-1970's he was a full-time racer but don't know what led to that. He seems
to have been a bit peripatectic - growing up in Tasmania, moving to Adelaide
then Melbourne and then I think back to Tasmania. Without wanting to be too unkind
he always looked old for his age too: when he was thirty he looked like an old man!!


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#40 brucemoxon

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Posted 20 November 2010 - 00:25


Here's the 600-Repco in question at Eastern Creek, 2008. It's a lovely car, I think.

Posted Image


And the Brabham-Buick at the same meeting. I remember when Les Wright first started racing it, he commented on the enormous power and lack of grip.

Posted Image



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#41 Ray Bell

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Posted 20 November 2010 - 01:18

I think John McCormack was in engineering, he certainly had some sort of engineering background...

And when he went back to Tasmania he was running some sort of agency for mining equipment, based in Devonport.

#42 ellrosso

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Posted 21 November 2010 - 00:02

In 68-69 at least, John had a garage/workshop at Cooee just outside of Burnie on the NW coast. We used to call in for petrol on our way from Elliot to Burnie and he let me go in and have a sticky at the Brabham Climax on one occasion - just after he had won the Cambridge Trophy at Baskerville from memory.