173 replies to this topic

[2Bob]

Elfin 50 anniversary celebrations held this weekend with regularity events at Mallala yesterday and a static exhibition today.

Hopefully others will have better photos but I thought I would start off with these.

A pre Elfin Garry Cooper car, The Cooper Butler:



An Elfin Streamliner (or actually 3 of them). Current owner of the front one standing just to the rear side of it with the red jumper (at least I think it is him). He has been running his age as the number on his cars for the last few years.

[2Bob]

Elfin Formula Junior. Very pretty cars.

Edited by 2Bob, 16 August 2009 - 07:39.

[2Bob]

Elfin Monos, also very pretty, I'm biased but I think the nicest of Garry's designs.



This why I am biased. Me in my Mono circa 1971.

Edited by 2Bob, 16 August 2009 - 07:20.

[2Bob]

Another handsome Elfin, the 360, this one Henry Mitchell's Australian Sports Car Championship winning car. Repco 2.5 litre engine I think.

[2Bob]

MR8A-C F5000. Name the driver in the background, brown trousers no cap. (I think I know but wasn't game to ask in case I was wrong!).

[2Bob]

Lots of other (less amateur) photographers there. I am sure more and much better pictures will come here soon.

[NanningF1fan]

Reading about the Elfin FJ cars reminds me that Phoebe Rolt used to race one in Britain a few years ago in historic events. It was dark blue and quite competitiive from what I remember. I never got a chance to ask her how an Australian FJ car made it to Britain. Does anyone else know or can anyone tell me whether Pheobe Rolt and/or the car are still racing?

[Ellis French]

Another handsome Elfin, the 360, this one Henry Mitchell's Australian Sports Car Championship winning car. Repco 2.5 litre engine I think.

The car to the right (83) is ex Niel Allen and Tasmanian Don Elliot car.
It is probably more recognisable in its Don Elliot colours.



It was recently issued with CAMS 1000th Historic COD.

Don Elliot was the owner of Elfin for a period in the 80's

Tasmanian Lyn Archers Elfin which he has owned since the 60's at the Baskerville 50th Anniv in 2004
This car is making an appearance in Sep 09 at The Baskerville Historic meeting.



Ellis

Edit...Archer car added

Edited by Ellis French, 16 August 2009 - 08:32.

[jeremy durward]

Hi bob, good to catch you out there today. i loved seeing some of these cars out, as i was saying to you i caught the end of the competition careers of some of them and have been missing them ever since, in particular the big sports cars and the 5000... ok and the mono, anymore photos? my camera went flat and i didn't get many

[David McKinney]

I never got a chance to ask her how an Australian FJ car made it to Britain

It was an ex-Johnny Walker 600 that spent time in southeast Asia, though I realise that doesn't answer your question
I last saw it about ten years ago

[onelung]

The mono and its trailer taken on the Saturday run day at Mallala.

[onelung]

And the Cooper Butler from '56, before the Elfin name came to be used.
I didn't know that SU's were sized in "C's & "D's".....

[tania34]

Another handsome Elfin, the 360, this one Henry Mitchell's Australian Sports Car Championship winning car. Repco 2.5 litre engine I think.

This is one of my favourites, and it was fantastic to see it at Mallala.
Please Bob, Henry Michell and Garrie Cooper, spelling is important. Thought I would bring it up before Ray did.
I stood there yesterday and thought what an incredible person Garrie was to have created so many incredible racing cars is such a relatively short time.
Has any other manufacturer made such a wide variety of different models?

[timbo]

This is one of my favourites, and it was fantastic to see it at Mallala.
Please Bob, Henry Michell and Garrie Cooper, spelling is important. Thought I would bring it up before Ray did.
I stood there yesterday and thought what an incredible person Garrie was to have created so many incredible racing cars is such a relatively short time.
Has any other manufacturer made such a wide variety of different models?

And good to see that the Elfin ME5 has been restored to how we remember it when it raced in Australia, although I see the rear wing evolved into something more substantial even when in Australia.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Bob
.....Current owner of the front one standing just to the rear side of it with the red jumper (at least I think it is him). He has been running his age as the number on his cars for the last few years.

Good on him!

Hope he's still running when he gets to the familiar Matich number...

Edited by Ray Bell, 16 August 2009 - 20:40.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by NanningF1fan
.....Does anyone else know or can anyone tell me whether Pheobe Rolt and/or the car are still racing?

From memory the purpose of one of Paul Hamilton's trips to England back in the seventies was to find the ex-Iriawan 600 that was fitted with a BDA or an FVA...

He never found it. Had to settle for a Dino with a Daytona kit and a cracked distributor cap. Right, Paul?

[Lee Nicolle]

It was a very nice display of cars. a couple more noteables would have been lovely but a very nice range of models, some very original and some as updated and being raced still.

The bloke with the Streamliner is Ian Brock who is a pretty fit old bloke who never started racing until his 50s, in the Henry Short Austin 7. His son, garry used to a Gp N Studebaker then a Mustang.

I saw Bryan Thompson there who had his modern Elfin on display. He spent a year or so a few years back in one the Elfin 5000s as historic.

Tania, I saw you there talking with Blowy, I was not sure otherwise I would have said hello.

[2Bob]

Please Bob, Henry Michell and Garrie Cooper, spelling is important. Thought I would bring it up before Ray did.

Tania, sorry about that.

Yes, at the time I couldn't figure out what looked wrong about the names. Glad you beat Ray to it - he has had a few goes at me in the past (not without cause).

One or two more photos:

ME5

[2Bob]

300






400

Edited by 2Bob, 17 August 2009 - 01:45.

[Lola5000]

300






400

great cars,some of the best times of my life were weekends away racing my Mono #6441.

[onelung]

More from the Saturday at Mallala - Form up 1, Form up 2 & on-track, afternoon session.

[onelung]

One more from the form-up area.

[Gordon Graham]

In the pic of Streamliner no. 85, at right rear there's a clubman-style car with a yellow nose and what appears to be a six-cylinder engine. Might this be the Zephyr-engined car that was built on a Streamliner chassis? IIRC it was entered for the 1961 AGP as a Zephyr Special for Noel Hurd but was a DNS.

[eldougo]

The mono and its trailer taken on the Saturday run day at Mallala.

That is Brian Lear standing in his trailer a long time TNF,er.still enjoying him self.

[Lee Nicolle]

In the pic of Streamliner no. 85, at right rear there's a clubman-style car with a yellow nose and what appears to be a six-cylinder engine. Might this be the Zephyr-engined car that was built on a Streamliner chassis? IIRC it was entered for the 1961 AGP as a Zephyr Special for Noel Hurd but was a DNS.

Yes that is the Noel Hurd car, which was rescued and restored by Noel a few years ago but has since changed hands again.

[onelung]

I have a strong suspicion that it's still in Noel's hands - I know it was on the market a good while ago but will get back to confirm or otherwise.







Noel had the doubtful pleasure of driving it post restoration at one of the wettest ever Winton meetings. Not a good experience!

[tania34]

300






400

Bob I can see you share a passion for "big bangers" too. Your pictures are so much better than mine. Will just have to keep going to historic meetings to see and hear them again.

[onelung]

Here's the 300 and a shot of its motor. As well, I've just confirmed with Noel Hurd that the Elfin framed Zephyr is still in his hands.
Offers welcome, I should imagine...

[Lee Nicolle]

I saw the Zephyr Special for sale at Collectable Classics and presumed that it had been sold.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by onelung
Here's the 300 and a shot of its motor.....

Surely that's the 350?

[Paul Hamilton]

Ray Bell Posted Today, 12:34
QUOTE

Surely that's the 350?


No, Ray, its the second 300 built which had a 2 litre Climax engine. It was exported to South Africa when new and had quite a good history there including victory in the 1968 SA Sports Car Championship. It was brought back to Australia some years ago by Ivan Glasby and is now owned by Bill Hemming who is tending to the engine in one of the photos posted.

[onelung]

And here's the body work to go with it.....

[Ray Bell]

Of course... I wasn't thinking of that one...

And further, the 350 had different bodywork, at least in the rear.

Still reckon that the 300 was a real milestone that should have earned a lot more recognition. One of Garrie's real standouts.

[Wirra]

Elfin 300 rebuild.

http://picasaweb.goo...Elfin300Climax#

About 12 months ago I came across what was reputed to be a 300 frame (only) awaiting work. Are they all accounted for?

[nivola]

MR8A-C F5000. Name the driver in the background, brown trousers no cap. (I think I know but wasn't game to ask in case I was wrong!).

2Bob this would not be Stuart Kostera Snr would it??

[Ray Bell]

Were there any 700s present?

They're another nice little Elfin, though I do agree with Bob (and Brian, obviously...) that the Mono was a neat thing for its day and looks positively tiny today. They usually fared better on circuits that were more of the 'point and squirt' variety, but I think the Mk 2 had improved rear suspension.

[jcurran]

G'day all,

Looking at some of the photos it looks like a few 622 or 623 cars were present. Does anyone have any better pictures? Also out of interest I note no Elfin 600 cars.

Regards James

[tania34]

Were there any 700s present?

They're another nice little Elfin, though I do agree with Bob (and Brian, obviously...) that the Mono was a neat thing for its day and looks positively tiny today. They usually fared better on circuits that were more of the 'point and squirt' variety, but I think the Mk 2 had improved rear suspension.

Post 21 I think Ray is a 700. Have seen it a few times at Collingrove, looks an sounds great.
It was a great weekend you should have been there.
Tania

[jcurran]

Post 21 I think Ray is a 700. Have seen it a few times at Collingrove, looks an sounds great.
It was a great weekend you should have been there.
Tania

G'day Tania,

I'm happy to be corrected, but I beleive post 21 is a 623 wearing an Elfin 792 nose rather than the 623 / 700 wide type.

Regards,

James

[Ray Bell]

Where is the Peter Scott car?

I guess Tania would be interested in that one too...

[tania34]

G'day all,

Looking at some of the photos it looks like a few 622 or 623 cars were present. Does anyone have any better pictures? Also out of interest I note no Elfin 600 cars.

Regards James

Hi James
Yes there were 622 and 623's. I have a couple of photos but not very good, hopefully someone else may have some good ones.
It was a shame there were no 600's there, I thought there was one at Mallala.
There are so any 600's around and what a versitile model it was.
Tania

[Lee Nicolle]

There was a couple of 600s there. One in formula Ford guise and one i think with a twincam in it. F2?

[fredeuce]

Another handsome Elfin, the 360, this one Henry Mitchell's Australian Sports Car Championship winning car. Repco 2.5 litre engine I think.

Can anyone explain the evolution of this car? My recollection,is that it started life with a rather different style front end. Rather more like the ME5 .


Also with the 50 anniversary celebrations etc is there any talk of doing a reprint of the Blanden/Catford book?

[Ray Bell]

Not so much like the ME5, but like the ME5 if it had a conventional slope forward and no built in wing...

It was very much an evolution of the 300/350 with 'squared off' lines.

Edited by Ray Bell, 19 August 2009 - 02:16.

[tania34]

Where is the Peter Scott car?

I guess Tania would be interested in that one too...

Ray, "Scotty's"car is not relevent to this thread. He only had the Stag, that I remember. I have photo of the rebuild Colin did will e-mail it to you.
I do remember seeing something about his V a couple of months ago but can't remember where.
Looking at those cars brought back a lot of memories. I guess you haven't found him yet.
Catch up with you at Lobethal. I drive some of those roads regularly now, what an amazing race those drivers must have had.
I bought a DVD about Longford, that too must have been good, another of your favourite places.
Tania

[Ray Bell]

Tania, Scotty ran a meeting or two in a Formula 2 car...

Now that I think about it, it might well have been a 792, like John Bowe drove.

I found him about eight or so years ago, then lost him again, then found him maybe two years ago. I really should try and keep track. He's living in California and out of racing now, IIRC.

[tania34]

Tania, Scotty ran a meeting or two in a Formula 2 car...

Now that I think about it, it might well have been a 792, like John Bowe drove.

I found him about eight or so years ago, then lost him again, then found him maybe two years ago. I really should try and keep track. He's living in California and out of racing now, IIRC.

That must have been after April 81.
The last I heard was California too. Why not try through the forum, you never know something might come of us talking about him here. There must be someone out there that spends time on this forum.

[2Bob]

Can anyone explain the evolution of this car? My recollection,is that it started life with a rather different style front end. Rather more like the ME5

It didn't look like I remembered it either.

There are quite a few photos on the autopics site http://www.autopics.com.au/ do an advanced search for elfin 360

2Bob this would not be Stuart Kostera Snr would it??

Quite possibly - as I said I didn't want to say anything in case I was wrong and I wasn't thinking of Mr Kostera and my memory for anything let alone faces was never any good and it isn't getting any better!


Tania, I think you might have to post your photos even if they aren't up to the usual TFN standard (lets face it some of those photographers are bloody professionals, or should be, and make it damn difficult for some of us!).

[Lee Nicolle]

It didn't look like I remembered it either.

There are quite a few photos on the autopics site http://www.autopics.com.au/ do an advanced search for elfin 360



Quite possibly - as I said I didn't want to say anything in case I was wrong and I wasn't thinking of Mr Kostera and my memory for anything let alone faces was never any good and it isn't getting any better!


Tania, I think you might have to post your photos even if they aren't up to the usual TFN standard (lets face it some of those photographers are bloody professionals, or should be, and make it damn difficult for some of us!).

Bob I looked on there for MS5 pics and found Phil Moores 360, Garrie and Stuart Kostera in the MS7, Henry Michell [spelt Mitchell so you have an excuse!] even Jim Doigs ASP in 1972 but no MS5. It must have been very incognito!

[Ray Bell]

MS5?

There was an MS7, but the Niel Allen car (as above in various hands) was the ME5.

For more original shaping of the 360, perhaps you should look for Kerry Horgan's car?