Let’s rewind a little. The Schapelli Racing Team, of Bob, Bill and Georgie arrived at the circuit late on the Friday in pouring rain to a leaky and sodden marquee spot. Damp and cold, we were glad to get back to the warmth of the motel room. It was Georgie’s first regularity and her first drive at Winton so the prospect of the wet, plus our two back to back events necessitating pit signals and an early stop in pit lane for Geo to hand over to Dad for his races, was daunting to us both.

The next morning was no better – wet and cold.  Georgie had to drive off to the distant lower grid for her big Regularity experience alone, as Bob and I had to be out in the centre of the track. On her second lap Georgie was already lapping quickly but spun gracefully in front of us, almost on the start line. She soon recovered and continued, looking smooth and quick. After 4 laps we showed her the “IN” sign and next lap I took over as the Lb cars took to the track for qualifying. I had to slow for 2 laps to find some space to get a clear lap. I was getting soaked but the little red car felt good in spite of the rain.

Despite her earlier fears of “looking stupid and slow” the timing sheets showed Georgie was 5th fastest of the 47 cars in her event and I had qualified 3rd for my first event - a fabulous result for us both and my best ever grid spot for a scratch race.

The first event for us both was later that day and the rain was even heavier. Georgie managed to half spin again, but well away from us so we didn’t see her. She was not alone as several others did the same. Again we did the pit signal thing after 5 laps to spoil her fun and change drivers for my race.

The feeling as I gridded up on P3 was great. So few cars in front, but so many behind, including all my usual mates and adversaries. I made a good start, using almost no revs because of the wet track, but Dick Willis’ beautiful “Mildren-Cooper” Climax and Graeme Marks’ (3 litre) Mac-Healey easily gathered me up before turn 1, so I was P5. The little car felt amazing despite the rain as I stalked and crowded, squeezed and massaged my way past Ian Tate’s nimble
Special and the Prad Holden (both also beneficiaries of the wet qualifying) then the Mac-Healey and finally the Cooper.

I had never led a scratch race before and kept wondering when someone would appear on my tail, but I won by a street, screaming with joy and almost in tears inside my helmet. I then found I had also set fastest lap so I was delighted - the spanner man and the racing daughter were just as happy.

Next morning our second events were also in damp conditions, with a wet track. Georgie again went well, but again had her fun curtailed with the now infamous “IN” signal so Daddy could line up stone last for the 5 lap handicap event. I was cruelly treated by the handicappers, with even the Cooper Climax getting 19 seconds start on me, but I was able to catch and pass nine cars, including the Mac-Healey, the Prad and the Prefect Special, before the flag fell. Even more surprisingly the little TC had again set fastest lap for the race.

With a dry track and the sun trying to shine I feared for my newly acquired, fragile reputation as I lined up on pole position for the final 8 lap scratch race. I feared a flood of cars would gobble up the little red MGTC into the first corner, imagining them pulling away into the distance as cries of derision rang out from the spectators for the little car going backwards through the field.

That fear must have worked, for when the flag dropped, as the first five again tumbled into turn One, with the Cooper and the M-H having blasted past, I managed to hold a tight aggressive line across the apex and then headed wide to take the racing line into Two and found myself in P2 behind the Cooper. I held the spot through the sweeper and the fishhooks and began to believe I could actually do OK as I hit the back straight with the Mac-Healey still 10 metres in arrears but closing fast, then… Damn! Red Flag! But the restart was again OK and I managed to again hold P2 until the Mac-Healey stormed up beside me into the sweeper and I was shuffled back to P3. I held it with reasonable comfort until I suddenly saw the familiar “26” on the nose of Derry Greeneklee’s Cooper JAP looming. If Derry had been at the helm I would have been passed on both sides at once within a few seconds, to again submit to the “blatt-blatt” of his 14:1 compressed alcohol and his uncanny ability to balance that car on a knife edge of traction and brute power. But Derry has retired (he couldn’t possibly be an octagenarian, surely..) and his mate Brian Simpson was having his first real crack with the car and had just worked out how to drive it in the dry. So with everything crossed and my fastest lap of the meeting I just held on to the spot with the Cooper JAP closing fast. Another 10 metres and I would have been dusted.

To come home with 4 trophies (1st and 3rd outright and two class wins) is my best ever result from a big interstate meeting. But even better was the banter and sarcastic “adulation” as I was accused of doping, illegal engine mods and even mechanical sabotage by the other competitors. But they all seemed to derive genuine pleasure from my good fortune. Derry was there too, sharing our pleasure and reminding me that (my Dad) Lou would be enjoying it too.

There were a couple of nasty acci

dents – one of our Lb racers had a roll and a BMW sedan barrel rolled then went end for end, bending every panel, with the driver taken to hospital. This did not help Georgie’s preparation for her last event when she saw the car, so she was most circumspect in her last run, fearing for Daddy’s precious car. But she had impressed all her competitors judging by the number of them who sought her out to share a story and a laugh through the weekend. “Parallel parking in front of me” was a phrase I heard used with a smile by one. Well done, Georgie!

I must also thank Bobby for the continuing amazing support with the car and at the track and Georgie for again making me so proud of my family. We had the best weekend imaginable, as did John Payne who also bagged a few pots. He too qualified 3rd for his scratch race and won his class in all three races.

Winton... ya gotta get there!