TASSIE ACE GENE COOK DIES

One of Tasmania’s best motorsport competitors and 2018 Australian Speedway Hall of Fame inductee Gene Cook, 79, has sadly passed away.

One of many memories was Gene racing at Longford, Tasmania as teenager in the ‘sixties that heralded the commencement of a highly successful motorsport career. His speedway days later commenced at the Carrick Speedway before he made a big name for himself on the mainland.

His talent hit a Speedway peak in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s – particularly at Sydney’s Liverpool Speedway on the pavement when he enjoyed success in the prestigious 100-lap Marlboro Grand National. He was also a member of the Australian Grand National Sedan Test team against the touring Americans.

He was a talented engineer and mechanic. A return to circuit racing in the early 1980s was highlighted with an appearance in the Bathurst 1000 in 1982.

He was heavily involved in Australian NASCAR racing from its inception at Calder in Melbourne.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Gene Cook’s family and friends at this sad and difficult time.

RIP: GENE COOK.