Jan 16 – Three Generations of a WA Motorsport Dynasty
Posted on January 15, 2017 Tags: Mitchell Family WASCC
The Racing Mitchells – Chris, left, Rob and patriarch Noel. Image: ROB HAGARTY.
A BLAST FROM THE PAST
NOEL MITCHELL is a true legend of motorsport in Western Australia.
And one of the most knowledgeable and nicest guys it’s been my pleasure to have worked alongside.
When I was involved with the WA Sporting Car Club, particularly in my early days, he was always there with advice. It was always sound advice. And, believe, me I needed it.
The pic above was taken by club stalwart Rob Hagarty, back in August 2008 – the year after I left Barbagallo Raceway, after some 10 years. It shows three generations of the Mitchell family – Noel, son Rob and Rob’s son, Chris.
It was Noel’s last run in his Mazda RX8 road car. He’s now 83 and enjoying his retirement.
It was Chris’ first year in Formula Ford. He went on to run second in the State Championship in 2012 and 2013 in his 1993 Van Diemen, running a 1600 Kent pushrod Capri engine, a 4-speed Hewland gearbox, 4-wheel disc brakes, tubular chassis, and a fiberglass body.
He is now racing radio controlled 1/10th scale off-road cars (a sport popular with both racers and ex-racers). He commentates of the sport locally, interstate and overseas. Chris has just returned from the Keillor Invitational in Melbourne and has qualified for the 1/10th Off-road World Titles in China in November.
Rob Mitchell won the 2009 WASCC open sports car Regularity in his Westfield kit car (from the Replica Car Company) which took him three months to build with its Nissan S13 motor, coupled to a 5-speed gear box.
He now campaigns a Laser TX3 AWD in the closed Modern Regularly events thorough the State. “I ran second to Rob Janney in 2014,” he said. “The positions were reversed in 2015, only for them to be reversed again last year!”
Rob is a CAMS scrutineer.
Ends AC
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