Digby Cooke Insurances

In the late 1960s Cooke trade in his tools for a desk and became an insurance broker. It’s legend that Cooke had most of the 1969 Bathurst eld insured, but it is actually true, as he relates:

“Yes, I had most of the eld covered but it was a distraction during the race. I was going slower and slower in the race thinking about the insurance impact of the big accident (the opening lap pile up at the Esses) and they held out a pit board saying ‘why?’ My underwriter, who had come to Bathurst, was adding up how much it was going to cost the insurers!”

Cooke retired after winning his class in the 1972 Bathurst 500 mainly due to family pressure.

“I gave it up. My ex-wife wanted me to give it up and then my boys chipped in by saying; ‘be

Centre right: Reunited with his ‘71 Bathurst Torana LC XU-1 at an Australian Muscle Car Masters event. Digby and his Jaguar XJ13 Replica (right). careful dad, don’t hurt yourself.’ It came to me going over McPhillamy Park (in the race). It got to me and after the race I said I’m not going to drive any more. Nothing like going out on top. I was driving quicker than I ever had.”

Cooke concentrated on his lucrative insurance broking business that grew to include lease broking and general insurance.

“Once I got into general insurance I stopped working on cars. But being involved in cars I knew a lot of the car dealers and it was much easier to talk to them when you are one of their mates. Frank Matich, British and Continental Motors, Barclay Motors were all clients. I knew a lot of guys down William St where there were good premiums. I had some good truck clients as well. It was easier to talk about diffs and engines rather than insurance. I was involved in insurance for over 20 years (of DRB) he built a magni cent Jaguar XJ13 Replica complete with a V12 engine that he has demonstrated at events such as Speed on Tweed. The Cobras, Ferrari 550 Marenello and Porsche 911 GT3 may have gone but the unique Jaguar is the one car Digby Cooke will never sell.