The Orange Times

Bruce McLaren Trust Sept. / Oct. / Nov. 2016, Issue #15

One of the most intriguing projects that we have worked on recently has been the new children’s book about Bruce. Author Dreydon Sobanja and artist Murray Dewhurst approached us nearly two years ago and early November saw a busy week of launches, events and promotion of this wonderful book. First stop was a book reading for the nine year-olds at Meadowbank Primary School (Bruce’s first school). The children were amazing with their knowledge of Bruce and, with TV3’s Shaun Summerfield and film crew on site, there was fierce competition in the classroom to be interviewed and appear on TV.

Then it was the first of the actual launch functions - this was held at the McLaren Auckland dealership and hosted by Sir Colin Giltrap. Our MC for the evening was well- known sporting commentator, and long-time BM Trust supporter, Peter Montgomery. McLaren Auckland is an amazing venue and, along with media, close associates and friends, “Bruce wants to go Faster” was well received with virtually all guests leaving with a copy or two in hand. The following evening we did the second launch at the Remuera Library, again a beautiful location and a Remuera historic building of similar era to the old McLaren’s Service Station, circa 1926. With the library having McLaren family history as well, the location was very apt.

TV and Radio NZ interviews followed, (click here to listen) then a children’s book reading at the Remuera Library. Our final event was at the Bruce McLaren Retirement Village where many of the residents could totally relate to the era of young Bruce’s escapades. Many a grandparent at all of the events purchased the books as Christmas presents for the grandchildren with, of course, the proviso that they had to read it first. Copies of Bruce wants to go Faster are available now from the Trust website. See page 7 for book launch photographs

In this Issue…

Children’s Book Launch P1 Road America Can-Am Tour Report P2/3 Trustee Update P4 Robin Curtis Bequest P4 Trust Register - Chris Amon Special P5/6 Book Launch Photos P7 General News, Events Calendar P8

Bruce in M2B Bruce McLaren Trust

“A Great Tour!” Report by Max Rutherford

On July the 9th I set out for the USA with a group of fellow members of the Bruce McLaren Trust.

The tour group was only 9 people, which for me was great as larger groups tend to have problems with people running late and generally causing mayhem. We were also able to travel in small buses, which meant easier movement in large cities, not to mention hotel lobbies!

The main attraction of the tour for me was a race meeting at Dan is now well into his ‘80’s and no longer works full time due Road America to celebrate 50 years of Can-Am racing. However to poor health, but we met two of his sons who are keeping we first spent three days in California on the way to Chicago. We things going although they are no longer into race cars. Space were met at LAX by a bus that took us up through Los Angeles to and Aeronautical items are now their bread and butter. They Hollywood where we were camped for the first three nights. Our make military drones up to 7 metre wing span for several armed hotel backed on to Hollywood Boulevard so the first evening we forces around the globe, plus parts for SPACEX which make ‘studied the locals’ on this street which is famous for the bronze rockets that are designed for supplying space station and plaques in the ‘sidewalk’ that are dedicated to many famous launching satellites. actors past and present. That was the first culture shock. When last I visited that area around 25 years ago it was clean and tidy. Tour group at Dan Gurney collection Not anymore!! Footpaths, roads, shops and (some) people were filthy. This is or was one of the major tourist attractions for California but to see it you had to fight your way through dead beats and drug addicts with birds on their shoulders (parrots— not what you were thinking!) or snakes wrapped around their necks. Quite un-inviting and a great place to leave!

During the daytime we visited various car collections. First was the Peterson Collection put together by the man who started

“Hot Rod” magazine back in 1948. Hot Rod owners then were considered a “sub culture” of society and gang members, but thoughts changed when the public read about the people behind The parts they make are all in carbon fibre which is what they the hot rod movement (not my thoughts, but taken from a sign specialise in. ForKevin the rockets & Jackie they make the legs that are used in the museum). The collection included some rare and weird when landing. Elon Musk owns the SPACEX business and also vehicles including a motorbike with a 5 litre Dodge Viper motor of the factory that makes Tesla electric cars. Try Googling him, 500 hp. It needed four wheels for stabilisation (See photo). quite a fascinating guy.

On the 4th day we flew to Chicago then the next day travelled by bus for 4 hours up the side of Lake Michigan to Manitowoc which is the closest accommodation Jan could arrange near the race meeting which was a further 40 minute ride by bus the next morning. The track was “Road America” which is near Elkhart Lake where in the early days they used to race on the streets. The race meeting was by far the biggest I had ever been to for car numbers; 420 plus pre- 1980 cars in about 8 classes including the featured Can-Am cars. It is 50 years since Can-Am started, and there were over 60 Can-Am cars there with about 42 of them racing.

Mick & Jody

Added to my pleasure at the sight of 40 odd cars out there was Hybrid cars were featured but not all current versions. One was the fact that I knew two of the drivers and a third was a Kiwi a 1914 Galt built 13 years after the first hybrid built by Ferdinand who had taken his car over there. I got to know him as well Porsche in 1901. There were pure electric and LNG cars from during the meeting. Two of them were very competitive which the early 1900’s as well as the chassis of a current Tesla all was great to see. One of those drivers was Tony Garmey from electric car. We also visited another museum that featured a Auckland who moved to Seattle twenty odd years ago and got Space Shuttle which showed us how huge these vehicles were. into the race car restoration and preparation business. I believe he has the best job in motor racing! He prepares cars for several Next day it was the turn of the Dan Gurney collection. He was rich owners, some of whom pay him to take the cars to a race around F1 in my time so I was keen to visit his facility. meeting where they drive them and he fettles them then takes them back to his base. 2 Bruce McLaren Trust

What makes his work so great is that one of his rich customers We went into town in our bus and walked around amongst the owns a McLaren Can-Am car and is unable to drive it, so Tony cars on the town streets. The large crowds were really does the driving as well! Not only that but he is a great driver to enjoying it all with their beers and hamburgers although we ate boot. I would like that job!! The car is underpowered yet he our evening meal in style in the famous Siebkens Stop-Inn. placed fifth against cars with bigger engines. In his words— “Our When it was nearly dark the Sherriff led the cars back to the engine is 400 cubic inch with 600 odd hp. Competitors with track. Imagine that in New Zealand, or any other motor racing bigger motors have 925 + hp!” country for that matter.

Tony Garmey shows Max his M8C

Siebkens ‘Last Open Bar’ Poster featuring famous motorsport identities

Incidentally, I learnt that the original rules for Can-Am cars The Road America track is 6.5 km long and is claimed to be one were very simple. The four wheels of the car had to be of the world’s fastest permanent road courses, which means a lot covered as in sports cars and there had to be two seats. NO of walking if you want to move around to see all the corners. To solve that problem there are a large number of golf carts on hire RULES about engine size or type, wheels, tyres etc. It would because as we know, Americans don’t do walking if they can drive be great if we could wind back some clocks and make rules for instead! Fortunately the wealthy and friendly owner of the speedway, Formula One and some other categories that simple! McLaren Tony was driving lent us his cart for a couple of hours so fellow member Pat Stephens and myself made the most of it and had a good cruise around. As there were over 400 cars racing there were a lot of events. Racing started at 8.30am each morning with the last race finishing at about 5.30 so there was plenty to see.

Mark and Jan with Bill Heifner’s M8F

Yes I did enjoy that tour! Thanks particularly to Jan and her husband Mark. Max Rutherford

Photos: Max Rutherford, Mark Donaldson and Pat Stephens

There were dozens of ‘concessions’ as they call them, selling souvenirs, books, food and beer so the 75,000 people attending were well catered for. Thanks to our tour leader Jan McLaren’s many connections, we were hosted for the full three days by the Can -Am Association so food during the day and evening functions were well received by us mere mortals. There were about a dozen pre 1980 formula one cars present so I spent a long time looking at and watching them perform. At 6pm on the Friday evening any racing cars that wanted to lined up through the pit area and were led into Elkhart Lake on the public roads, a distance of about 20km, by the Sherriff in his patrol car. Open exhausts and all! Apparently it happens at a lot of their meetings.

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Robin Curtis Bequest Well known motorsport journalist and photographer, Robin Curtis, had worked alongside the Trust for many years. He was always a great supporter with his

wonderful photographs, many of which dated back to the

sixties. Robin passed away last year after a long battle

with cancer and his estate has left a bequest to the

Bruce McLaren Trust. Trustee Report – November 2016

We are pleased to report that great progress has been made over the last few months with the fit-out of the Business Unit at Hampton Downs. The mezzanine floor and offices are virtually complete and we are now waiting on balustrades, floor coverings and the final paint work. Downstairs, the concrete floor has been polished, the merchandise area fitted out and that leaves just the final plumbing and electrical work and, of course, the final clean- up.

Then will start the major work of setting up the new displays and offices, hanging all the pictures and getting out many of the wonderful items of memorabilia that have had to be in storage for so long due to the cramped space at the old Service Station. By coincidence, the footprint of the new building is almost identical to the size of the old

McLaren’s Service Station, and this feels rather special and it will be great to see the first McLaren vehicle to be driven in and that, of course, will be the old McLaren’s Service Robin Curtis with his citation award at the 2013 Station Workshop Austin 7. The building is to be called the Motorsport Awards Dinner. Photo – Motorsport NZ “Bruce McLaren Trust Heritage Centre” and we look forward to inviting you all to come and visit as soon as the site is These moneys will be used to further develop the Trust’s signed off to welcome visitors. photographic collection and in our new Heritage Centre he will be recognised and remembered by the naming of Early November saw the launch of the children’s book, our photography room as the “Robin Curtis Room”. “Bruce Wants To go Faster” (see story, P1) and this is an ideal Christmas present for all ages from nine to ninety. It We are most grateful to Robin for leaving us this is available for purchase through our website. wonderful bequest. Most importantly, we are all looking forward to the “Future Legacies” dinner at the end of November, which will launch the special partnership with the Giltrap Group, McLaren Auckland, McLaren Automotive and The University of

Auckland. The partnership will give Students and

Researchers from the University’s Faculty of Engineering an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Bruce McLaren. It is hoped that this unique opportunity will give future engineering students experience in leading technology and innovative industry and an appreciation of Bruce’s skills as an engineer, designer and leader in his chosen field.

The Trustees

‘Tony Roberts’ Laundry Express. Photo: Pat Stephens

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th  20 March 1965 - Silverstone: Perhaps the first time Chris was entered (race #22) at a race

meeting by BMMR, to drive a white/green Elva Mk7 with the

BMW 2 litre engine. However, for some reason they did not The last edition of The Orange Times (which was #14) contained arrive at the event. (on p5) a brief tribute to Chris Amon, who had died just as  19th April 1965 – Goodwood: publication was being completed. At that time, we wrote that the Driving an Elva Mk8, colour red/grey with race #45 and still next issue of TOT would contain “an extended tribute to Chris, his using a BMW 2 litre, Chris Amon achieved P8 on the Start friendship with Bruce and his links with BMMR.” Grid. Whilst Bruce McLaren was on Pole in his Oldsmobile V8 powered McLaren Elva, of significance is that Chris was ahead of John Coundley on Grid 12 in his 4.5 litre Oldsmobile powered, Trojan built (Howden Ganley can tell a story about his having to later work on this car!) McLaren Elva M1A. The nd Amon driven Elva was running 2 in its Class but was forced to retire after three laps when a brake locking problem sent the car into a bank.  1st May 1965 - Oulton Park Tourist Trophy:

Driving the above Elva Mk8, this time as #10, Chris achieved Grid P7 for Race #1, once again, ahead of John Coundley on P9 in his McLaren Elva M1A Olds. Bruce was on Grid P2. After a DNF due to engine overheating, for Race #2 Chris had to be last on the Grid at P18 but then suffered another DNF due to a valves problem.  15th May 1965 - Silverstone International: Entered (as car #15) with an Elva Mk7 and, whilst Chris did race in that event, at the time of writing we are yet to find the results. th  7 June 1965 - Elva Trophy at Crystal Palace: rd A 3 place for Chris in the BMMR entered (car #31) BMW 2 Since then, a number of excellent and comprehensive articles litre Elva. (such as those contained in the October edition of NZ Classic Car  30th August 1965 - Guards Trophy at Brands Hatch: magazine) have been published, so the Bruce McLaren Trust Chris started Race #1 but not Race #2 in an Elva Mk8 BMW decided that a most appropriate further tribute could be based 2 litre (car #31). upon the McLaren cars which Chris drove and raced, his by no means inconsiderable achievements with them and what Chris Amon’s legendary driving ability and at times misfortune happened to those particular cars – where they are now. From beyond his control is evident from the above results alone, the outset, I should say that whilst I have taken a lot of care to bearing in mind that he was also in a 2 litre car and not a ensure the following information is both complete and correct in McLaren, at that! detail, there may be discrepancies and any TOT reader feedback Additional to the above, in later 1965, with BMMR having also which can add to or correct our information records will be greatly been contracted by Ford to develop an open car version of the appreciated. There is quite a bit of detail in what follows, because in my view this is necessary to truly illustrate just how talented GT40, known as the Ford GTX, Chris also drove a McLaren

Chris Amon was as a race car driver. entered Ford GTX-1 in some US events, beginning with a DNF at Mosport in late September, followed by a 3rd place best result at We know that Chris’s many drives in a McLaren car began with Riverside on 31st October. Lower placings were achieved at the Bruce McLaren Motor Racing (BMMR) in early 1965 with their last two events. Firestone tyre testing contract, using the first McLaren race cars, especially the M1 Group 7 sports racing car which spearheaded Now to those McLaren cars driven by Chris and their the future highly successful McLaren Can-Am cars. whereabouts today. McLaren M1 (Chassis #64-2): However, some care is necessary to pinpoint, with certainty, the Not to be confused with Bruce’s Cooper-Oldsmobile, nor the first very first time Chris Amon competitively drove a car built by M1A which followed (see below), this was the “one off” McLaren

BMMR. car using some Cooper components which NZ’s Howden Ganley had a hand in building in 1964 at BMMR’s new Feltham premises. From the earlier part of 1965 and with Bruce McLaren Motor Racing as the entrant (BMMR was already in process of developing The M1, with a Traco built Oldsmobile 4.5 litre engine, was driven a business relationship with Elva Cars), Chris was on the entry list by Chris for tyre and other testing during 1965, especially at for a number of British events, driving an Elva Mk7 or sometimes Goodwood where he regularly set unofficial record lap times. Mk 8 with a 2 litre, 4 cylinder BMW engine. It is not clear to me Testing included development with an automatic transmission whether or not it was always in fact the same car but I think not. and Chris bettered the outright lap record held by Jim Clark by Those events include: one second, and the sports car record by some six seconds. 5

Bruce McLaren Trust

Importantly, the M1 was also the first McLaren built car to be

driven competitively by Chris.  29th May 1965 - Mont Tremblant , St Jovite, near Montreal: With Bruce committed to the Monaco GP that weekend, Chris was able to take the M1 to St Jovite to comfortably come 1st in the Group 7 sports car race. Posting a best lap time averaging 154.77 km/hr and finishing 2 laps nd ahead of the 2 placed car, Chris Amon not only M1B #65-1

demonstrated his own driving ability but also portrayed things to come from BMMR.  8th April 1966 - Scott-Brown Memorial Trophy at th  6 June 1965 - Guards Trophy at Mallory Park: Snetterton: Whilst Chris was entered by BMMR, with car race #17, to Entered with this M1B as race #2, using a now 4.9 litre drive a “McLaren-Elva Mk1(sic) Oldsmobile”, records state Oldsmobile engine, Chris qualified to start from Grid P2 that they did not arrive at the event. for Race #1 with 1m 34.4 sec (just 0.2sec slower than Graham Hill on P1 in a Lola, and ahead of Denny Sadly, to the best of our knowledge, the McLaren M1 (Chassis #64- Hulme on P3 in his Lola, then Bruce on P4 with his 1m 2) does not exist today and may well have been dismantled after 37.0 sec). Chris then came 2nd, 25 seconds behind 1965. Denny. Bruce was 3rd, a further 35 seconds back. nd McLaren M1A (Chassis #64-3): And, again beginning from Grid P2 for the 2 race, nd This was the first M1A to be completed at BMMR Feltham, initially Chris also placed 2 behind Denny and with Bruce just behind in 3rd. The Kiwi trio to the fore! as a Show car, in late 1964: and Howden Ganley was a principal builder of it.

 24th July 1965 - Martini Trophy at Silverstone, M1B #65-1 Round #6 of the British Sports Car Championship: Snetterton, April 1966 1st place for Chris Amon after stepping in, without any practise, for Bruce who had neck burns from a fuel fire on practise day, and having to start, as car #35, from the rear of the Grid. It took Chris just four laps to carve his way through the field to 2nd behind John Surtees before inheriting the lead three laps later when Surtees had to retire. Chris, in the McLaren, was the first of only two cars who completed the full 50 race laps.

It was just days after this race victory that Chris survived (but

spent a short time in hospital) a serious crash during tyre testing at  14th May 1966 - Silverstone International:

Brands Hatch when a rear suspension component failed under Starting from Grid P4, as car race #29, Chris finished

acceleration at speed on the straight, causing the car to veer 2nd, just 1 second behind the Denny Hulme Lola and 1 sharply right and be virtually destroyed after hitting a bank then a second in front of Bruce. Another close Kiwi trio finish! concrete structure. I think, but need to somehow confirm, that this  29th May 1966 – Labatt 50 at Mont Tremblant: happened in this M1A, as opposed to the M1 Chris qualified on Grid P2 with 1m 42.4 sec. Bruce, now running with a Chev engine, was on P1 with 1m 41.6 The Trust does not know of the present whereabouts of this first sec and Chris posted the 2nd fastest race lap time McLaren M1A (Chassis #64-3). before suffering a DNF after 63 out of the 75 race laps.

McLaren M1B (Chassis #66-Test): M1B #65-1 Although I have not so far been able to set my eyes on any detail St Jovite, May 1966 history for this early M1B, I imagine that it would have been driven by Chris Amon, at least for testing purposes.

The current ownership detail for this restored car is known to the Trust.

McLaren M1B (Chassis #65-1): The late Tyler Alexander began the build for this M1B at Feltham in mid-1965 and it was completed after BMMR’s August 1965 move Editor’s Note: To be continued. Jens Fogelberg, our Trust into their new premises at Colnbrook. It was raced by Bruce in the Roger Wills and a very dapper Scott Dixon. Photographer unknown Registrar, has excelled himself this time and written so much later months of 1965. about Chris and his BMMR drives that the second half of his

article will have to wait until next issue!

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‘Bruce wants to go Faster’

A selection of photographs taken at the recent book launch events

1. 3.

2.

1. Meadowbank Primary School classroom. Dreydon and Jan entertain the children. Note the ‘papaya orange’ table.

2. Meadowbank Primary School classroom. Much interest from the class as Dreydon shows them the book.

3. Bruce McLaren Retirement Village. Dreydon and Jan entertain the residents after a sumptuous afternoon tea (it’s a wonder we weren’t all asleep!)

4. McLaren Auckland dealership launch evening. MC Peter Montgomery, Jan McLaren, Illustrator Murray Dewhurst, Host Sir Colin Giltrap and Author Dreydon Sobanja

4.

7 Bruce McLaren Trust

General News & links Current Calendar November 2016 The McLaren story - *Designates probable Trust involvement ‘Making the Dream Machines’ th th Here is a link to an interesting article containing well known January 7 & 8 Tasman Revival Series Round One. Bruce McLaren McLaren history and featuring Bruce’s daughter Amanda McLaren. Published in the Scottish “Daily Record” Newspaper and written by Motorsport Park, Taupo. “Maggie Barry”! click here. th th January 14 & 15 James Hunt is back! Tasman Revival Series Round Two. Hampton Downs Here is the latest ‘Tooned’ from McLaren, featuring James Hunt as Motorsport Park, Waikato. 007 and narrated by Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. Enjoy *January 20th – 22nd NZFMR, Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. Celebrating Kiwi Motorsport icon Kenny Smith.

th th Formula SAE Update January 28 & 29 The University of Auckland FSAE Team have been hard at work all Taupo Historic GP & Race of Champions (F5000 Vs F1). year developing and building their radical new MO16 electric race Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, Taupo.

car in readiness for the International competition in Melbourne in th th December. The launch night is on Wednesday 23rd November and February 4 & 5 we shall report on that in our next issue, along with the results of Leadfoot Festival, Hahei, Coromandel NZ. Rod Millen’s the competition. Here is a link to their last newsletter (August fabulous driveway hillclimb.

2016), which makes interesting reading. February 12th th KartSport Update 44 running of the Intermarque Concours d’elegance, Ellerslie, Auckland. Palmerston North Schools dominated this year’s Todd Energy sponsored KartSport New Zealand National Schools’ Championships held at the Waitara raceway in Taranaki over the weekend of July 16-17. In the Secondary Schools' section students Jacob Cranston and Tom Greig gave their school, Palmerston North Boys' High School, a record-extending fifth title in 12 years. Jackson Rooney and Louis Redshaw, meanwhile, won the Primary/Intermediate/category on behalf of their school, Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School.

This year the Bruce McLaren KartSport awards (for the winners of the two Junior or Senior classes with the most entries) went to Kaleb Ngatoa and Ryan Wood.

Contact Us 590 Remuera Road, Remuera, Auckland 1050

PO Box 109 050, Newmarket 1149 Bruce McLaren Award winners Ryan Wood and Kaleb Ngatoa Phone: 09 522 8224 Mobile: 027 289 7850 Email: [email protected] Roger Wills and a very dapper Scott Dixon. Photo: Mark Donaldson News Ed: [email protected]

www.bruce-mclaren.com

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