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31-10-2008, 11:01 AM
Celebrate with Elfin
The 50th anniversary celebrations of Australia’s Elfin cars is currently in full swing, with a major display and on-track tribute planned at the Phillip Island Classic race meeting from March 13-15, 2009.
Up to 50 of the unique and charismatic race and road going models originally created by the late Garrie Cooper in his minimalistic workshop in suburban Adelaide will be at the meeting. Meanwhile some of the household racing names who achieved success in his cars will be seen at the wheel of a range of open wheeler and sports car Elfins.
However enthusiasts of all makes and models can join in the festivities ahead of time by visiting the new Elfin Heritage Centre museum in Moorabbin, Melbourne for a nostalgic appreciation of the marque – either individually, or with a car club or a group of friends.
Elfin Heritage Centre owner Bill Hemming has thrown open the doors to the two adjacent factories that at any time house around 20 Elfin race and road models alongside archival material of the original factory, rare photographs and other Garrie Cooper memorabilia.
Jigs, body, wheel and suspension moulds and other parts for early Elfin models are also stored in the facility for the benefit of the 400 members of the Elfin Car Club and other Elfin owners.
Hemming and his former partner Nick Kovatch originally re-established Elfin in Melbourne in 1997, but in December 2006 they sold the re-born sports car business to Walkinshaw Performance. Determined that Garrie Cooper’s achievements should remain recognised and appreciated by all enthusiasts, Hemming then founded the Elfin Heritage Centre, which opened its doors in August 2007.
“Garrie Cooper was Australia’s Colin Chapman,” said Hemming. “Elfin in the early 1960s was the world’s second largest racing car manufacturer, but Garrie’s cars were lighter and even faster that the equivalent Lotus models.
“In any other country in the world there would be statues to this chap – he was a true Australian legend, but largely unappreciated today.”
Cooper built 248 cars in 27 different models from 1958, with Elfins winning 29 national championships and major titles in his lifetime.
These included the 1962 Australian Formula Junior Championship, the 1968, 1791, 1972 and 1977 Australian 1.5 litre/Formula 2 titles, the 1970, 1971 and 1974 Formula Ford series, the Australian Drivers’ Championship in 1973 and 1975, five Australian Sports Car Championships and the New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysian Grands Prix.
Winning Elfin drivers include Larry Perkins, Frank Matich, John McCormack, Peter Larner and Cooper himself, while Vern Schuppan, Bob Jane, Kevin Bartlett, Bryan Thomson and Allan Moffat also drove the Adelaide-built cars at different stages of their racing careers.
A further 12 Formula Vee Elfins, 70 four-cylinder Clubmans and around 60 V8-engined MS8 models have been built since Cooper’s death in 1982, according to Hemming.
Located at 29 Capella Crescent, Moorabbin, the Elfin Heritage Centre is designed to cater for groups, with a kitchen and facilities to serve hand-food and drinks. A fee of $250 covers the hire of the facility, cheese and biscuits, tea and coffee.
More details on the Elfin Heritage Centre can be found by visiting www.elfinheritage.com.au (http://www.elfinheritage.com.au/)
More details on the Shannons Phillip Island Classic can be found at www.vhrr.com (http://www.vhrr.com/)
Pics:
1. Elfin cars won 29 national championships and major titles from the early 1960s and were driven by many famous names in Australian motorsport.
2. Some of the most famous of the 248 racing and sports cars built by the late Garrie Cooper are on display at the Elfin Heritage Centre in Moorabbin, Melbourne.
The 50th anniversary celebrations of Australia’s Elfin cars is currently in full swing, with a major display and on-track tribute planned at the Phillip Island Classic race meeting from March 13-15, 2009.
Up to 50 of the unique and charismatic race and road going models originally created by the late Garrie Cooper in his minimalistic workshop in suburban Adelaide will be at the meeting. Meanwhile some of the household racing names who achieved success in his cars will be seen at the wheel of a range of open wheeler and sports car Elfins.
However enthusiasts of all makes and models can join in the festivities ahead of time by visiting the new Elfin Heritage Centre museum in Moorabbin, Melbourne for a nostalgic appreciation of the marque – either individually, or with a car club or a group of friends.
Elfin Heritage Centre owner Bill Hemming has thrown open the doors to the two adjacent factories that at any time house around 20 Elfin race and road models alongside archival material of the original factory, rare photographs and other Garrie Cooper memorabilia.
Jigs, body, wheel and suspension moulds and other parts for early Elfin models are also stored in the facility for the benefit of the 400 members of the Elfin Car Club and other Elfin owners.
Hemming and his former partner Nick Kovatch originally re-established Elfin in Melbourne in 1997, but in December 2006 they sold the re-born sports car business to Walkinshaw Performance. Determined that Garrie Cooper’s achievements should remain recognised and appreciated by all enthusiasts, Hemming then founded the Elfin Heritage Centre, which opened its doors in August 2007.
“Garrie Cooper was Australia’s Colin Chapman,” said Hemming. “Elfin in the early 1960s was the world’s second largest racing car manufacturer, but Garrie’s cars were lighter and even faster that the equivalent Lotus models.
“In any other country in the world there would be statues to this chap – he was a true Australian legend, but largely unappreciated today.”
Cooper built 248 cars in 27 different models from 1958, with Elfins winning 29 national championships and major titles in his lifetime.
These included the 1962 Australian Formula Junior Championship, the 1968, 1791, 1972 and 1977 Australian 1.5 litre/Formula 2 titles, the 1970, 1971 and 1974 Formula Ford series, the Australian Drivers’ Championship in 1973 and 1975, five Australian Sports Car Championships and the New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysian Grands Prix.
Winning Elfin drivers include Larry Perkins, Frank Matich, John McCormack, Peter Larner and Cooper himself, while Vern Schuppan, Bob Jane, Kevin Bartlett, Bryan Thomson and Allan Moffat also drove the Adelaide-built cars at different stages of their racing careers.
A further 12 Formula Vee Elfins, 70 four-cylinder Clubmans and around 60 V8-engined MS8 models have been built since Cooper’s death in 1982, according to Hemming.
Located at 29 Capella Crescent, Moorabbin, the Elfin Heritage Centre is designed to cater for groups, with a kitchen and facilities to serve hand-food and drinks. A fee of $250 covers the hire of the facility, cheese and biscuits, tea and coffee.
More details on the Elfin Heritage Centre can be found by visiting www.elfinheritage.com.au (http://www.elfinheritage.com.au/)
More details on the Shannons Phillip Island Classic can be found at www.vhrr.com (http://www.vhrr.com/)
Pics:
1. Elfin cars won 29 national championships and major titles from the early 1960s and were driven by many famous names in Australian motorsport.
2. Some of the most famous of the 248 racing and sports cars built by the late Garrie Cooper are on display at the Elfin Heritage Centre in Moorabbin, Melbourne.