Historic car ace killed in road race
September 20, 2004

A PROMINENT Brisbane historic racing car enthusiast was killed yesterday when his 75-year-old vehicle crashed at a race meeting at Murwillumbah, 31km south of the Queensland-NSW border.

Jon Chippindall, 54, died when he lost control of his 1929 supercharged Austin Seven and slammed into a barrier during the Speed on Tweed festival, held annually in Murwillumbah.

His death cast a pall over the popular race meeting and plunged the close-knit historic car racing community into mourning.

Mr Chippindall was so fond of his British-racing-green Austin that he called it "Baby", Historic Racing Car Club of Queensland Bill Westerman said.

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

very sad.

At least he went out doing what he loved. We all die eventually.....

I was up there, on the Saturday. Very well organised meeting, I thought.

I agree, it's very sad, for his family and organisers of the event, but motorsport IS dangerous.

We can only hope the authorities don't over-react though, and restrict the event in the future. It is a very bright star on the motorsport calendar.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Not good news at all...

As Kev said hopefully the authorities wont overreact and can it, as if often the case when things like this occur.

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[Maverick] 1971 Mini K

Apparently no roll bar/cage was fitted to the car, nor belts.

According to what I've heard, early cars like these which have raced for years without a cage or restraint are prevented by CAMS? Historic regs from retrofitting them.

If this is so, perhaps it's time to change the rules.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Wow that is really sad.

I was there on the sunday and had a great time and definitely thought the event was superbly run. And that's motorsport because there's always a risk that something will go wrong.

My thoughts are with his family and friends.

Dwight.

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dwightgunning.com

no roll bar or seat belts what the
doesnt this seem crazy to anyone else i mean its a race car

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Cheers

You can fit a roll bar and belts to historics but some blokes don't wish to.
You don't have to have a roll bar to race.

but surely they help in preventing driver injurys and deaths
i have never raced but i just always thought that a race car should have a rollcage

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Cheers

These were very old, open cars. Even a simple hoop roll bar may have saved his life.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.