There may be more big-twin Coopers now running competitively at one time in Australia than there have ever been. Can someone check?
Peter Fagan reports, with great photos thanks to John Lemm

The 2023 Vintage Hillclimb run by the Sporting Car Club of South Australia at Collingrove in early October was attended by four air-cooled Coopers this year, all big-twins. They were made up of three J.A.P 1100’s from the ‘Chas McGurk Racing Team’ plus the Cooper-Irving supercharged Vincent. Chas was present in the pits to keep a watchful eye on things and was handing out timely advice, both tuning and driving tips, when needed.

We were blessed with a magnificent sunny day and 25degC which should have made for fast times, although no one expected to get close to the 35.07 seconds best set by Derry Greeneklee in his Mk9 Cooper back in 1991.

The Sunday morning practice run was pleasingly uneventful except that the Mk9 driven by Brian Simpson failed to fire, only to miraculously come to life minutes later. The issue would plague the car throughout the day until a broken wire was found behind the dash.

Peter Fagan in the Mk6 set a benchmark 38-something-seconds time in practice, but would only better this once as he pushed to discover the limits on multiple corners. Throughout the day he found the grass on the three separate bits of the track. One was the tight right-hander up the top that would prove difficult for all four Cooper drivers as they struggled to get their cars stopped and back to first without under-steering off.

Rod North in the Mk5 Cooper-Irving tirelessly chased a sub 40 seconds run, a target that he was cruelly told he could not go home without achieving. He improved with every run with the supercharged Vincent sounding magnificent and delighting the crowd at his first ever event at Collingrove.

The Cooper Irving, running a supercharged Vincent engine is now being run by Rod North . Originally run by Dick Cobden as a 500,  it went  to Reg Smith, then Lex Davison who had Phil Irving install the blown Vincent .

Brian Simpson managed a fast 39 seconds run before chasing a brown snake into the long grass on his next run. The competitors following him thanked him for clearing the wildlife off the track, but the electrical gremlins had left him short of track time to post a faster time.

Brian Simpsons Cooper Mk 9 JAP 1100 twin is also ex Derry Greeneklee and has an extensive New Zealand history, and its history can be viewed at Loose Fillings, back issues, # 28.

Stephen Denner in his Mk5 JAP was frustrated that his times kept disappearing from the timing screen, so he had no idea if he was improving throughout the day. He was sure there was a conspiracy against him but despite trying, could find no evidence. He did however keep the Cooper on the black stuff and had a successful day.

Stephen Denner in an ex Derry Greeneklee Cooper #2 that came out of  South Africa from Richard Baker, having been raced there by Arthur Mackenzie.  For more on this car go to Loose Fillings, back issues, # 41

Peter Fagan in the Mk6 finally put a clean run together and ended with a 36.50 seconds run to be the fastest air-cooled and second fastest overall, included the fastest overall first split.

Peter Fagan’s Cooper JAP 1100 #126 is also an ex Derry Greeneklee car,  having been obtained from Peter Wright in the UK in 2012. It has history with a supercharger being fitted in the day.

This was a fantastic social event set in the magnificent Barossa Valley and the weekend included organized social dinners on Friday, Saturday and Sunday plus a tour to a winery for Saturday lunch, making the drive from interstate well worth the trip. And to still have the four Coopers running well at the end of the day was a bonus.

Peter Fagan

Post Script: in Loose Fillings # 49 Derry Greeneklee has listed Collingrove times for Coopers over the years.