Cootamundra Sprints 2017

Saturday 3 September

Report by Jeremy Morris, Photos by Tim Shellshear and Glenda Snape

THE RIGHT CROWD AND NO CROWDING

There was a great variety of machinery, it was a really relaxed event, the queues were short and people could have as many runs as they liked.  Matt Snape in fact had 24 runs. Finally, there was the ability to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones.  Read more.

the right crowd and no crowding

The Cootamundra Sprints for 2017 were almost an event that never happened.  

Three weeks out we had 18 competitors, but in the days leading up, and on the day, the numbers rolled in to make it an interesting and varied event.  

Cootamundra Sprints is an event for individuals.

There are a number of broad classes.

The Morgan Class compromised the beautifully restored and quick 1983 Morgan Plus Eight of Stan Jodeikin  (14.830 seconds), Jeff Price in the 1959 Morgan Plus Four (15.195 seconds), Stephen Figgis in his 2013 Morgan Plus Eight (14.378 seconds), John Hurst in his 1960 Morgan Plus Four (17.734 seconds). The difference between the eight and four cylinder cars is not as significant as one might expect…

The Jaguar class comprised Tim Shellshear and his 1965 E-Type (16.214 seconds), Rob Jardine in his 1970 E-Type (19.606 seconds), Cliff King in the 1956 XK140 (18.201 seconds), Jock Grainger in his 1967 E-Type (16.112 seconds), Paul Catt in his 1977 XJS (16.345 seconds), Stuart Saunders in a 1963 Jaguar/Jenson Special (15.737 seconds), Rob Cavanagh in 1960 Jaguar Special (13.962 seconds) and new member Rob Stynes in 1995 Jaguar XJR (14.875 seconds).

The Drag Car Class comprised Andre Johnson in 1968 Holden Rail (12.528 seconds) and Barry Parsons in 1963 Slingshot (14.302 seconds).

The Austin 7 Class comprised Rob Phillips in the Presidential 1924 Austin 7 Chummy (28.611 seconds), Geoff Gay in a 1930 Austin 7 Chummy (28.419 seconds) and Alan Tyrrell in a very historic 1930 Austin 7 Ulster (which has Brooklands, Shelshey Walsh and Donnington history) (21.508 seconds).  

We had brothers Chris Murphey in his 1971 Torana LJ which lit up the track with sub-12 second times (11.901 seconds) competing against his brother, Peter Murphy Jnr in the 1974 Torana (15.957) with Peter Murphey senior who drove his 1924 Ford T Speedster over from Wagga and set a commendable time of 26.281 seconds.

Then there was the Snape Class including Greg Snape in 1928 Willys Special (16.509 seconds), Graeme Snape in the 1955 Zephyr Special (13.374 seconds), Matt Snape in the 1927 Amilcar Willys (17.440 seconds) and the extremely quick Melissa Snape in her first historic event in the 1957 Cooper BMW (14.240 seconds).  When asked how she was feeling, she replied “Adrenaline!”

Finally, there was the Sunbeam Class comprising Phil Guilfoyle in his 1926 Sunbeam 14/40 Super Sports (26.658 seconds), competing against Phil Guilfoyle on his Sunbeam pushbike (49.806) (terminal velocity 20.23 mph).

Outside the classes we had the individuals

James Quinn in a Holden ute (15.203 seconds), Rees Mackay in a 1957 Buchanan (19.398 seconds), John Lackey 1970 Lotus Elan (17.905 seconds) plus two, Todd Barker 1936 MG SA (26.238 seconds), Graeme Louk 1958 Cooper MG (13.785 seconds), Jeremy Morris 1921 GN Sports (27.045 seconds), Norm Bolitho in a 1929 Chrysler 66 (21.282 seconds) and Marc Hodge in a 1965 TR4A (19.671 seconds).

Finally, in a class of his own ...

We had Ray Fowler, racer, engineer and gentleman, who, having problems with his MG, substituted his daily driver with a time of 18.199 seconds.

Thank you

For the eighth year in a row, primary thanks goes to Tim Shellshear who did a splendid job in organising the event. 

Thanks must also go to all those who helped including the ever-present Robert Phillips and John Lackey.

Dinner was a really relaxed affair

There was a very strong show of support from the Victorians (Bill Sheehan, Allan Tyrrell, Mal Church and his mate Ernie),  the Bathurst mob (Paul Catt, his wife Victoria, Barry Parsons and Matt and Gay Windsor) and the Wagga mob (the Murpheys) for this event to be held next year.  

lower numbers of 36 competitors had its benefits

There was a great variety of machinery, it was a really relaxed event, the queues were short and people could have as many runs as they liked.  Matt Snape in fact had 24 runs. Finally, there was the ability to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones. 

In short, “the right crowd and no crowding”.

Report by Jeremy Morris