Elfin MR8C – Cars of the MSC Tasman Revival F5000 Series
“It’s like having a chev engine strapped to your backside” is how car owner Ken James describes driving his Elfin MR8C. His passion for the marque is more than evident and he has a good yarn on how he came to purchase this particular car.
The MR8 is one of three that were built by successful race and sports car constructor, Australian Garrie Cooper. The name Elfin was started after Copper built the Elfin stream liner, similar to the Lotus 11. He built approximately 250 cars, 26 different models from clubmans to juniors, big sportcars to F5000.
Ken explains that this is one of three MR8C’s that were built in the mid to late 1970s.
M = Monocoque
R = Racing
8 = 8th design
C = Chevrolet power
“This was Garrie Coopers personal car which he drove gaining a couple of wins in Australia. The car then was driven by Larry Perkins (just back from F1) who went onto win the 1979 Rothmans International Series. “
“Then in 1980 French F1 driver Didier Pironi drove it in the 1980 Australian Grand Prix, finishing third. The race was won by Australian Alan Jones in the Williams FW07 which he had won the F1 world championship title.”
Ken James is from the Gold Coast and has been involved in racing for over thirty years. So why purchase the Elfin MR8C?
“Well I used to race sports sedans in the late 1970s and early 80s. Anyway we were at Sandown one day and we always went up to the top of Rothmans Rise which is at the end of the back straight to watch the F5000 race. When they came past on their warm up lap Jonny Walker in the Magnum Lola which is the ex Stan Redmond car was on the front row with this very Elfin.”
“I turned and said to a mate of mine ‘they are the best two looking cars I’ve ever seen.' Now this was 1979 or 1980. I then said that I was going to own one of them one day. “
“Soon after I bought this I went to Eastern Creek and was parked next to Stan Redmonds Magnum Lola."
“The F5000 hasn’t attracted the attention in Australia as it has here. Anyway when we were at the Australian F1 Grand Prix last year we came in after the practice session and there were people five deep surrounding the cars. You couldn’t get to the cars, let alone into our pits. There were young kids asking what they were because they had never seen them before.”
"I have always raced sedans including thirteen years in NASCARS and much to the surprise of friends this is the first single seater I have ever driven and it is the most exciting car to drive.”
"This is like having a Chev (engine) strapped to your backside!”
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