Mount Tarrengower
Vintage & Historic Hillclimb, 20 & 21 October 2007
Text & Photos: Martin Stubbs / Barry Quantrell  

Above: A lineup of Vintage and PVT cars which would gladden the heart of 'real' enthusiasts.

Thats it, last event for me to enter for this year, happy to go to Mount Tarrengower again, but as a spectator or with another race car. This climb doesn’t suit my little red Austin 7, just too slow, takes too long, just not challenging enough. I’m sure with a faster car the corners would be tighter and the heart rate would be up. Weather was superb but a bit too hot for my companions, they wilted and spent Sunday chasing the shade and falling asleep. Helen and I left Melb’ early Saturday so she could drop me off for scrutineering and practice, she then took the RR off to visit friends in nearby Bendigo. Barry and Wendy, friends from Melbourne came later and kept me company for the rest of the day. In the evening we went to my mate Neil’s family cottage at Tarnagulla, checked out the habitation, made up the beds, had a few wines and then into Bendigo for cheap dinner at the RSL.  

Above: John Marriott, ex Athey Austin 7 - 803 cc	Above: Allan Thomas, Lotus 11 - 1500 cc - scrutineering	Above: Dave Gittus, 1925 Indian Scout - 600 cc

Sunday, up early to see what the day brings, and off to the drivers meeting at 8.45 am. Running in Group J, Vintage Cars up to 1500cc., means that any last minute tweeks need to be completed before the drivers meeting because I’m usually in the first group to compete.

Class 1, consisted of Andrew Green and Mark Burns in their Alvis 12/50s, Malcolm Robertson in his delightful Senechal, myself and my nemesis (who always beats me), Allan Tyrrell in the supercharged ‘Ulster’ , both of us representing Austin 7 sports racing.

Class 2, Group J, Vintage Cars over 1500cc., consisted of one of the most regular competitors, Kevyn Brown in the always immaculate Model T Ford and another regular Patrick Ryan in the Vauxhall 30/98 who had the misfortune to lurch off the line, ‘bang’, his car came to a stop with a broken half shaft, the Vauxhall later departed on the back of a tilt-tray for Melboune.

Class 3, Group J, Racing up to 1500cc., was Neill Murdock and the Lombard which suffered from engine troubles, unlike the Vauxhall, it was trailered home. The other driver in this class was Stuart Krug who was happy all day with the way his supercharged Austin 7 was performing.

Class 4, Group J, Racing over 1500cc., were Bernard O’Shannessy in his Chrysler “77”, Andrew Brown (son of Kevyn) in the delightful ‘just found in the back paddock’, Model T Ford. It would arrive at the finish holding area literally with a good head of steam to the comment, “kettles boiled, anyone ready for a cuppa”. Rounding out this group was John Lawson with the AC Amilcar Special.

Class 5, Group K, Post Vintage Cars up to 1500cc., the only entry was the classic MG NA monoposto of Doug Keith.

Class 6, Group K, Post Vintage Racing over 1500cc., again, this was another single entry, and probably the most desirable car of the meeting, Grant Cowie’s ex Penrite Fraser Nash.

Class 7, Group K, Post Vintage Racing up to 1500cc., Warick Anderson had the alcohol fueled MG Offenhauser running better than usual and the others in this class were Austin 7s of Max Robinson, John Marriott and Glen Bishop in the ex Garry Cooper car.

Mount Tarrengower as usual attracts a mixed bag of vintage and historic cars over the twenty five classes, as well as three groups of bikes, far too many to describe. Because of the heat on Sunday many left early, content to do only two of the designated runs, so those of us wishing to complete the last run didn’t have to wait as long both at the start and at the finish at the holding area at the top of the course.  

Above: Malcolm Robertson, Senechal, 1100cc., at the start line	Above: Kevyn Brown, Ford T Model, 2898cc	Above: Grant Cowie, Fraser Nash, 1500cc
Above: Andrew Brown, Ford T Model, 2900cc., returning to pit area	Above: Malcolm Robertson, Senechal, 1100cc., at the start line	Above: Martin Stubbs, Austin 7 Sports Special, 747cc., leaving the start line
Above: Competitors at the finish holding area	Above: Competitors at the finish holding area	Above: Max Robinson, Peter Whaley and John Marriott chatting, Terry White MG TC just arriving at the finish holding area
Above: Max Robinson, Austin 7, 803cc., making adjustments	Above: Glen Bishop, ex Garry Cooper Austin 7, 803cc., supercharged with Allan Tyrrell, Austin 7 Ulster behind	Above: Max Robinson, Austin 7, 803cc., at the head of a lineup
Above: Grant Cowie, Fraser Nash, 1500cc	Above: Grant Cowie, Fraser Nash, 1500cc., with Warick Anderson MG Offenhausen Special behind	Above: John Marriott, ex Athey Austin 7, 803cc