Mel McEwin Racing

27/02/2026

A few more pics from All Japan Day 2026
Can really notice the blue tinted glass on the Japanese Ke17SL Coupe compared to the Australian Ke11SL Sedan.

25/02/2026

Been a little while now since there was a recent photo of the Mel McEwin Ke17 SL.
Here is a beauty from the final All Japan Day last Sunday captured by a local photographer. I'll endeavour to add a few more in the coming days

26/06/2023

30/01/2023

The ex Mel McEwin racing Toyota Sprinter SL will be a display car at 'All Japan Day', February 26rd 2023 . The event will be held at Wigley Reserve ,Anzac Highway from 10 -3pm . Subject to acceptance of an entry it will also be at the 2023 Motorsport Festival to be held at Victoria Park in march .

30/01/2023

Unsung heroine ; Mel McEwin was at one time married to Norma . Without doubt she was a formidable racer herself making amazing time in a range of cars. Wherever and whenever , she assisted in many ways becoming versed in the automotive parts industry . This rare clipping of her working alongside Mel on one of the cars at the time. I must acknowledge the time and patience she put into assembling a huge compendium of the activites of Mel in his racing career over forty year period in terms of newspaper clippings records made ,photos and his raceday diaries as recorded at the time. I consider such a collection as a treasure trove of a period in time never to be seen again Most of the information on this site has been garnered from that collection and for that i salute you Norma .

11/01/2023

Recent pic that appeared on another site by eagle-eyed supporter of Mel McEwin Racing site ( David Anderson) shows the famous Reg Sparks in a much loved Valiant Pacer with Mel McEwin in his Corolla Sprinter SL next to Reg on the grid . Anymore information re this pic and history of that event is much appreciated along with anymore pics of Mel .

29/11/2022

Big Day on sunday 26th Nov. at all Japan Day . A cruise from Ingle Farm to Birdwood and a display of the Japanese cars . I drove the Corolla Sprinter as raced by Mel McEwin for eighteen years after which it was garaged for the next 35 before he finally relented and passed over ownership to me . It runs like a clock and is quite feisty . Imagine finding a 53 year old -one- owner race in unmolested original condition ! ...roll bar as per and harness all still there in excellent condition !!!...nirvana....

21/11/2022

Mel McEwin Motors was an icon at Murray Bridge in the mid -late sixties through to the late seventies and early eighties . He was a great supporter of the 'Bridge ' Sponsored by the community the Matich formula 5000 ex John Goss Australian Grand Prix car won many events bringing much positive attention to the 'Bridge' and its traders . Pictures is a publicity shot of the Matich and the premises at the time with the Elfin Mono in the foreground

03/10/2022

Big day for the Mel McEwin Sprinter when yesterday i drove it to the Collingrove Vintage annual Hillclimb . A course where Mel drove it to many wins ,placing, and collected many trophies along the way . It was a test for the car as it was its first long run since being re-commissioned after thirty five years in storage . I can report that it ran like a train on rails and returned a very pleasant experience .A few nervous coughs from the carbs were to be expected . An old fuel filter is the culprit,i believe .

13/08/2022

These things take time !!! After some serious thought and a bit of fiddling the Sprinter is now running like a clock. A reluctant needle and seat replaced along with a little creativity on some linkage helped it spring into life once more . Fine weather hopefully soon, will enable a decent run through the hills . Pictured ; Mel McEwin with the author after their successful short run to the Eagle on the Hill and back . An historic day along the road to making the Corolla usable once more .

04/08/2022

An historic pic . Two of South Australia's racing heroes side by side on the grid at the Mallala track for the 1.5 litre Sports Car Championships 1966 . Garrie Cooper (2) front and Mel McEwin (16) ready to battle it out . As i understand it McEwin's Elfin FJ took him onto win by 5 seconds ahead of all comers . He commented recently that Cooper had a whole new level of friendliness towards him after that day .