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The First Elfin "Works" 1500 Chassis No. 625 Driver Frank Matich

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The First Elfin The First Elfin "Works" 1500 Chassis No. 625 Driver Frank Matich In Late 1962 Garrie Cooper sent a number of Elfin products to the Sydney Motor show to display what the South Australian manufacturer was producing at that time. On the stand were 2 Formula Juniors, one with the normal 1100cc engine the other with 1475cc, a Clubman and a rolling chassis with gearbox fitted. At the conclusion of the Motor Show, Elfin invited all the leading drivers to Warwick Farm to test the 3 cars. The Elfin stand Sydney Motor Show later September 1962 SCW On the Test day quite a few of the leading drivers of the time turned up to sample what Elfin had produced. These included Johnny Martin, David McKay, Alan Ferguson, Charlie Smith, Doug Kelly, Bruce Polain, Arnold Glass, Peter Williamson and of course Frank Matich and others. In the end Garrie Cooper saw that Matich had got the most out of the cars that day and asked him to be their agent for NSW and to use the cars in competition to further expose Elfin to the wider racing fraternity. Elfin FJ 625 becomes the "Works" 1500 Driver Frank Matich After the test day, Garrie left 625 (now fitted with the 1500 engine) in Matich's care to run in the Hordern Trophy race in mid October. 627 returned with Garrie to the factory to have modifications made to it at Matich's suggestion. Apparently Frank had a few tricks he wanted to try in the other chassis and Garrie took it back to Adelaide to incorporate them. 627 then, was to return just in time to NSW for the important Australian Formula Junior Championship meeting at Catalina on the 28th October, but that is another story. It is interesting to note that 727 was the chassis Frank kept, so he must have been happy with his suggested modifications. -------------------- The Hordern Trophy Meeting 14th October 1962 This very first Elfin "Works" entry was at Warwick Farm for the prestigious Hordern Trophy Race. This was held on the 14th October 1962. The green Elfin in Frank's hands was untouchable in its class, and gave the big boys with large capacity Climax engined cars a really hard time. Frank recalls the race in his own column for Sports Car World. The photo shown on the cover of the programme is interesting Go to 200% zoom to read the in that the Lotus 20 shown just Programme right of centre is of Leo Geoghegan in his 3rd drive of that car 20-J-908. Interesting because this Lotus is now the stable mate of Elfin 625. The Lotus finished a fine 5th outright in 1961, but in 2008 now resides in the UK. The programme details left were kindly given to me by John Ellacott, who also took some wonderful photos at this meeting. This photo below is taken moments after the start of the race and Matich gets the Elfin away for an instant ahead of the larger capacity cars. …..From Matich's Column Matich was a resident writer for Sports Car World from November 1962, which coincided nicely with his "works" drive of the Elfin's. Many great stories were to follow from this column, which would otherwise never have been told. And of course, it Elfin no harm either. Above a photo by Paul Cross moments before the flag dropped Below photo from John Ellacott Matich through Homestead corner John Ellacott photo. Catalina 28th October 1962 The next meeting for Frank and his Works 1500 mount, was to be at Catalina for the running of the Australian Formula Junior Championship. This time the 1500 was overshadowed in its performance by its smaller capacity sister car, which beat the best from Brabham and Lotus to record a remarkable win. The 1500 was one of 4 cars that Frank took to this meeting, the other 3 were the Junior as mentioned, the Clubman also a "works" car and of course Frank's famous Lotus 19, which was usually way in front of its competition. This excerpt from Mike Cable's column probably sums up Frank's performance The 1500 this day was part of 2 events. The first was the 8 lap Gearins Hotel Racing and Sports up to 1500cc race, the 1500 won this race setting a new lap record of 1:01.0 on the way. Interestingly, Charlie Smith was also in this race in his Lotus 11 and he also set a new lap record for his class with a 1:05.0 Charlie as we shall see was shortly to become the first owner of 625. In the next event that the 1500 competed, Frank said he obliged Leo Geoghegan's need for a class win for his sponsor, however Frank again lowered his lap record from the previous race to an incredible 1:00.1 A description of these 2 races from Racing Car News Because the Formula Junior won the Championship race, it was mostly featured in any photos taken this day. However Racing Car News in the top left hand corner of the front page did carry the following photo of Matich trailing Leo Geoghegan on the run up to Craven A. And another photo of the 1500 below The photo below was taken by Noel Conlon Another great shot of the 1500 being wheeled into its resting place beside the Clubman again by Noel Conlon, note the Total sticker on the car's side has been taped over. This particular photo is of great importance to the identity of 625 today. Note a small scratch on the left spoke of the steering wheel. This scratch is the key to the identity of the car as the 1500 and not the Formula Junior from some other photos taken around this time at Matich's garage. The car with this scratch on the steering wheel in these other photos has certain fingerprint type features on photos of the body off chassis that can still be seen on 625 today. Note the scratch on the steering wheel left hand spoke. And so Matich's time with 625 comes to an end. Probably because 627 did so well in winning the Formula Junior Championship race, and Frank had had some input into modifications made to the car after it returned to SA after the Test day, 627 was the car he kept. 625 was sold to Charlie Smith, who recalls paying for it to Matich. #625 was sold to Charlie as a Formula Junior but with a crankshaft and rods to convert it to 1475cc anytime Charlie wanted to go that way. It was green as it had been for both its outings in Frank's hands. __________________________________________________________________________________ Charlie Smith is the New Owner and 625 becomes a Formula Junior The Blue Mountains Trophy for Racing Cars meeting. 28th January 1963 625 now as a Formula Junior driven by Charlie Smith competes against what was the Formula Junior 627 but now with a 1500 in the same race. One of the best coverages of the race was this report by Australian Motor Sports March 1963. Smith competes in an open wheeler in the 20 lap Under 1500 Feature event for Racing Cars at Catalina early '63 and is taken out by Cusack whilst running 6th. In an earlier event, his first ever in an open wheeler, Charlie was hit by Alan Ferguson in an Elfin Peugeot causing Charlie to finish at a reduced pace with upset steering geometry. Ref AMS Mar 63 RCN Mar 63 Below is a youngish looking Charlie Smith entering the Catalina circuit for his first drive in an open-wheeler. photographer unknown --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Australian Grand Prix Meeting 10th February1963 Warwick Farm Charlie Smith competes in the FJ support race. Charlie Smith finishes 4th in the FJ race support race, behind L.Geoghegan Lotus 22, F.Gardner Repco Brabham and G.Cusack Elfin. Glynn Scott finished 5th in a Lotus 20. … Ref Wheels Apr 63, RCN Mar 63 and Charlie Smith Smith on his way to 4th outright in the FJ support race Photo by John Ellacott ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15th April 1963 Mt Panorama Charlie Smith with #625 converted to 1500cc for the first time. Charlie Smith competes with the Elfin for the first time as a 1500 at the Easter 63 meeting where Charlie not only ran the Elfin but an Austin Freeway as well. Charlie won the under 1500cc division of both the Bathurst 100 and the 4 lap support race. In the Bathurst 100 he finished outright 3rd behind 2 the Cooper Climax’s of Lex Davison and Tony Shelley. In the Bathurst Book, by John Medley, Smith's entry is written up as Matich having an interest in the car. Charlie Smith does not recall this. Unfortunately the magazine reports of the day did not show any photos of Smith at this meeting. A little unusual, as such a great result should have meant at least one photo. The magazines concentrated on showing the bigger engined cars. However a photo of Smith at this meeting was used on the cover of the next Catalina Race Meeting Program. ...ref Bathurst Cradle of Australian Motor Racing , SCW Jul 63 , RCN May 63, Modern Motor Jun 63 The results of the Bathurst 100, Smith - Elfin Ford, is also recorded as 3rd in the Grand Prix Racing Facts and Figures 1894 - 1963 by Monkhouse King-Farlow, as a F Libre race .. Above a John Ellacott photo of Smith heading up into the cutting late in the afternoon. Comment [eh1]: A fabulous photo taken by John Ellacott of Smith heading up into the Cutting late in the afternoon The start of the Bathurst 100 with Smith hidden behind Davison Modern Motor June 63 19th May 1963 Catalina Charlie Smith wins the NSW Formula Junior Championship.
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