The Cooper Memorial Rally was held on 14 November.
1970 VTC Round 7 – WDCC Cooper Memorial Rally
Geelong’s Rex Lunn and John Hall in their Capri V6 took out the final round of the 1970 Victorian Trials Championship, the Cooper Memorial in fine style.
The rally was very well organised by the enthusiastic team from the Western District Car Club with Trevor Stanley and Ross Middleton as Directors.
Richard Creed and Robin Sharpley ( Torana GTR ) finished in second place ahead of the second Geelong entry of Warwick Henderson and Bruce Ford.
With the Victorian series winner wrapped up, the main interest in this event centred on the minor championship placings, with a number of crews challenging for honours.
Non-competing Renault Team Captain Bob Watson flagged off the competitors from the Geelong Start.
The first three sections consisted of a loop around old Wensleydale and a run through the Otways to Benwerrinand, but presented no problems for most of the field.
Whilst a handful of cars cleaned the next competitive down to Mt Cowley, Mal McPherson / Roger Bonhomme were in trouble when a radiator hose blew. They lost valuable time replacing the hose and fan belt.
Richard Creed was the early leader until they lost a few minutes at the out control for the start of division two. The fabulous Turtons Pass Road was next with the leading group equal with 3 points lost.
Shortly afterwards Graham Alexander was sidelined with steering box problems, leaving Rex Lunn / John Hall and Richard Creed / Robin Sharpley to fight for victory. Lunn was reveling in his “home town” conditions to score lowest in the second Division.
The final Division ran through Horden Vale and Cape Horn with a boggy loop followed by a slippery climb up Blanket Bay Road. Alan Hallifax was going very well and challenging for the lead until his gearbox broke just near the finish.
The final competitive was a fantastic loop up Skenes Creek Road then down Wild Dog Creek Road. McPherson’s Gordini was quickest from Henderson and Wardell.
A full report appeared in Racing Car News.
A report appeared in December Unicar.
