Myrniong- April 2006  

Graeme Wright, Regah MG at the start

Unfortunately your contributor has been a bit slow off the mark this year, in fact some would say very. Having missed the Eddington Sprint, not having a suitable car, my Austin sports special is too low geared, and having only a three speed gearbox means you are up to top speed within the first 200 meters. So Myrniong Sprint was my first event and my first outing in the newly acquired 'Tyrell' Austin 7 racing car.
Despite an early start and problems with the tow car, we arrived in good time to allow for a leisurely unloading, only to be interupted by Max Robinson to wish us well and eager to see his old car (Max is one of the previous owners). Myrniong Sprint is held on a public road and the event only exists through the hard work put in by the members of the Austin 7 Club of Victoria. As usual they had slaved away the previous day setting up roped off areas, tents, toilets, timing equipment and signage.  

Austin 7 group, Glen Bishop, John Marriott and Trevor Cole	Kevin and Allan Tyrell, Austin 7	Martin Stubbs being assisted by Terry White and Bob Booth, 'Tyrell' Austin 7
Doug Keith, MG N-Type	MG TC Specials of Chris Farrell and "Mike Killingsworth	Bill Redpath, Redpath Oldsmobile V8 Special
Jim Russell, Ford V8 Special	Competitor lineup for pit return	Derek McLaughlan, Mallock U2

   
By the time scrutineering and the drivers briefing was finished, the low clouds had blown away and the Autumn sun was out, it was time for a practice run to be followed by three timed runs throughout the day. The eighty or so competitors were divided into two groups of forty, with no separate return road, this seemed to be a more efficient way to deal with getting competitors back to the start area, rather than having more smaller groups returning through out the day and interrupting the proceedings.  

Austin 7 group	Bob Cutting, Datsun 240Z	Brendan Dillion, 1926 Minerva Roadster in the display area
Production Sports cars lineup at the start	John Marriott, 'Athey' Austin 7 starts his run	Mark Pitman, MG TC Special
Graeme Wright, Regah MG	Frank Hook, Austin Healey	Glen Bishop, 'Shultz' Austin 7 leaving the start

      The various events were:

GROUP 1
Event 1 Austin 7 Racing Cars
Winner, Glen Bishop, 'Shultz' Austin 7 supercharged, 34.0 secs.
Event 2 Racing Cars to 1930 all capacities Group J
No entries.
Event 3 Sports Cars to 1930 all capacities Group J
Winner, Kevyn Brown, Ford T Special, 45.4 secs.
Event 4 Racing Cars 1931 - 1940 all capacities Group K
Winner, Jim Russell, Ford V8 Special, 28.5 secs.
Event 5 Sports Cars 1931 - 1940 all capacities Group K
Winner, Doug Keith, MG Special, 40.5 secs.
Event 6 Racing Cars 1941 - 1960 all capacities Group Lb
Winner, Bill Redpath, Redpath Olds V8, 29.0 secs.
Event 7 Sports Cars 1941 - 1960 all capacities Group Lb
Winner, Graeme Wright, Regah MG, 30.9 secs.
Event 8 Lady Drivers Sports or Touring Cars under 2000cc By Invitation
Winner, Ruth Norris, MG Midget, 40.4 secs.
Event 9 Lady Drivers Sports or Touring Cars over 2001cc By Invitation
Winner, Andrea Lawton, MG C GT, 36.0 secs.
Event 10 Production Sports Cars 1941 - 1960 under 1600cc By Invitation
Winner, Rob Pitman, MGA, 33.2 secs.
Event 11 Production Sports Cars 1941 - 1960 over 1601cc By Invitation
Winner, Stephen Pike, Austin Healey, 30.6 secs.

GROUP 2
Event 12 Production Sports Cars 1961 - 1969 under 1600cc By Invitation
Winner, John Hardy, Alpine Renault A110, 30.5 secs.
Event 13 Production Sports Cars 1961 - 1969 1601cc -2000cc By Invitation
Winner, Ken Price, Porsche 904 GTS, 28.4 secs.
Event 14 Production Sports Cars 1961 - 1969 over 2991cc By Invitation
Winner, Dan Sprague, AMX, 30.7 secs.
Event 15 Sports Cars 1970 - 1975 all capacities By Invitation
Winner, Bob Cutting, Datsun 240Z, 28.7 secs.
Event 16 Touring Cars 1941 - 1958 all capacities By Invitation
Winner, Garry Poole, Holden 48-215, 32.5 secs.
Event 17 Touring Cars 1959 - 1964 under 1600cc By Invitation
Winner, Russell Mead, Ford Cortina, 30.9 secs.
Event 18 Touring Cars 1959 - 1964 over 1601cc By Invitation
Winner, Norman Beechey, Chev Impala, 31.2 secs.
Event 19 Touring Cars 1965 - 1969 all capacities By Invitation
Winner, Daryl Duff, Chev Camaro, 28.8 secs.
Event 20 Replica Sports & Specials to 1975 Period Clubman under 1600cc
Winner, Franz Bird, PRB-Birkin, 29.1 secs.
Event 21 Replica Sports & Specials to 1975 Period Sports Cars under 4500cc
Winner, Allan Taylor, Austin Healey Sprite, 30.2 secs.
Event 22 Replica Sports & Specials to 1975 Period Sports Cars over 4501cc
Equal winner, Mick Hone, Ford Cobra Rep, 26.4 secs.
Equal winner, Ross Kaigg, Robnell Ford, 26.4 secs.

All together a great meeting, great weather, great atmosphere and great organization by David Lowe and his committee. From personal point of view it was a day of minor frustration with a misbehaving engine that wouldn't rev past 3500 rpm, caused by neglect. But compensated by catching up with lots of old friends, some I hadn't seen for over forty years. Can't wait for the next Myrniong in twelve months.  

Contemplation, Graeme Wright, Regah MG