Gordon Mitchell in the 1970 6hr LeMans race at Wanneroo Raceway in Perth.
Same car in practise for the 1971 6hr LeMans race at Wanneroo Raceway. The car almost won the race against such formidable opponents as Lola T70, Porsche 911 etc. Unfortunately suffered brake problem and then front suspension collapse in closing stages.
And during the 1971 race...
I have more pics, plus a few of later Sprites in competition from late 1960's and early '70s but will have to find and scan them. This particular car was built by my father for Gordon Mitchell and was probably the most successful Sprite to ever race in Australia. It was campaigned from 1969 through to the early 1980's with enormous success on the West Coast of Aust holding class lap records and untold class and outright wins. The car was radically lightweighted with aluminium doors (hand made by my father), floors and all flat panel sections of the footwells plus glassfibre front. It was an awesome little car and was a constant embarrassment to much more expensive and serious race machinery.
My father also owned a very nice near concourse Mk1 that he restored from a written off smashed car for many years which we kids loved to bits. My father, John Hagarty, together with Gordon Mitchell and few others were the foundation members and initiators of the Austin Healey Car Club in WA and Dad is honourary life member No. 3.
_______________________________
Brendon Hagarty
G'Day Mate
I read your post about Gordon Mitchells sprite with great interest, however I think that perhaps you left out a small, but very important detail. Firstly, please don't think that I do not appreciate the efforts of your dad in building the sprite, but it must be noted that from about 1972 on, the car was prepared by a chap by the name of Mike Risebrow. He constantly worked on the sprite til it virtually became a member of his family, sometimes as much as 7 nights a week. Any way he could help Gordon shave another tenth off a lap he did. By the early 80's the sprite would lap around 67secs per lap at wanneroo park. Once I clocked him unofficially at 66secs dead. Mike put his heart and soul into that car for many years and rarely got the recognition he deserved. (Not that he wanted it). Mike passed away in Sep 1991 from a brain tumor aged 59.
As to how I know this, it is quite simple, Mike was my dad. I was the young boy that was there every meeting with him, cheering Gordon on come rain hail and shine, especially rain. Dad would say that he really knew how to peddle in the wet.
Any way, just a note to say that there was someone else that helped that sprite to become the quickest in the country. My Dad.
Regards
Mick Risebrow
