Shannons
Mallala Masters
Classic 1997
Was Proudly part of the RAA Adelaide International Motoring Festival
Promoted by the
AUSTIN 7 CLUB OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
This annual race event was organised by the Austin Seven Club of South Australia and was held in Adelaide on September 13th and 14th, 1997. The race meeting took place at Mallala just North of Adelaide and this year was part of the 1997 Motorfest calendar. A Race Programme and Entry List is available on this site. A summary of the race results for Saturday the 13th of September and Sunday the 14th of September are also posted here.
A feature of the Shannons Mallala Masters Classic race meeting held at Mallala Motor Sport Park on September 13th & 14th , 1997 was the fifteenth running of the Garrie Cooper Memorial race. This year historic racing cars competed for the trophy and quite a number of Elfins attended.
Garrie Cooper owned Elfin Sports Cars, were a very successful racing car manufactured in Adelaide until Garrie passed away in 1982. Since then the Austin 7 Club of South Australia has held an annual memorial race in his honour. Elfin Sports Cars built more than 240 cars from small cheap sports cars up to very sophisticated formula 5000 race cars over a period ranging from 1959 to 1983. Formula 5000 being the premier racing category in Australia at the time. With Garrie at the wheel, an Elfin won the 1968 Singapore Grand Prix and the marque also won the Malaysian and New Zealand Grand Prix several times.
The Garrie Cooper Memorial was awarded to the Historic category and a special Elfin parade was scheduled, quite a few Elfins attended the race meeting. The Elfin MR9 was on display at the meeting. The MR9 was the only ground effects Formula 5000 built in the world, although there was some ground effects F1 cars converted to Formula 5000 specifications. The car is quite impressive being 7 feet wide.
The race meeting, this year was part of the 1997 RAA Adelaide International Motoring Festival, held over two days in September and had a family day atmosphere with events for both modern and historic racing cars and also classic and post classic motorcycles. On Sunday there was a display of Veteran, Vintage and Classic cars, with many of the SA motoring clubs represented.
Want information about our 1999 event......
Mail:
Tony Morgan
Competition Secretary
c/o The Austin 7 Club of S.A. Inc.
262 Tapleys Hill Road
SEATON. S.A.
5023
Email:
Please direct Email enquires to [email protected]