The Cooper Memorial, organised by the Western Districts Car Club, was held on 21 December.
The Cooper was the final round of the Victorian Club Rally Series for 1996. Event winners were Brain Semmens and Terry Johannesen in a Toyota TE 37, 1 minute and 21 seconds ahead of Ross & Ashley Fraser in a VC Commodore. David Smart and Geoff Floyd in the Datsun 1600 were only 2 seconds behind in third place.
David Smart and Geoff Floyd had already been confirmed as series winners before the Cooper and their third place capped off a fine year for them. The Ford Four Car Club won the award for best club in the 1996 VCRS.
