The Orange Times

Bruce McLaren Trust April / May 2015, Issue #7

Trustee Workshop Austin completes first track outing Thanks to the Waitemata VCC, and VCC driver and Trust member Rhys Nolan, the Workshop Austin completed about 7 laps in the lunchtime parades at the Roycroft Trophy Meeting held at Hampton Downs in March. The Trust has participated at the event over the last few years but with only a static display so it was a special treat to be able to actually “compete” in the event with our own little 1929 Austin.

With a quick polish and a tank full of fuel, she ran without any hitches except for the first lap on the Saturday parade – no one told us the fuel lever was a bit flukey and after locating the problem and four stops on that first lap to reopen same after “conking out”, we pulled into the pits. A quick application of some race tape by Rhys and we were away again. We also got caught out on Saturday morning when the lads started up and went to move her – no one had told us that the gearbox was unique (and according to all the Austin 7 experts present, only made that Rhys and Murray ready to roll. way for one year) and that first gear was towards the driver and down. She doesn’t Photo: Jan McLaren take off well in third!!

All in all a great weekend and much admiration from all for the great workmanship done by Dick Anderson and all the Nelson Team. VCC driver Rhys Nolan also complimented the Nelson boys and said that she handled and drove extremely well. I had the privilege of being a passenger on the Saturday laps – my first ride. On the Sunday we gave the passenger seat to Murray Hislop from Waikanae. Murray is one of our long term members and great classic car enthusiast.

Walking through the pits and display areas is always a delight especially when one sees all the wonderful old cars that inspired Bruce as a youngster – the Northland Special, the Roycroft Bugatti, the Gee Cee Ess and the little racing Austins. I recall them all as well, albeit as a very young spectator and it always stirs my heart to see the beautiful old Charabanc belonging to the Auckland VCC. And why? Grandfather Ben McLaren owned and used to run one as a Passenger Service vehicle in the early 1900’s and the family archives even show a young Les McLaren standing alongside.

As always in the display areas, one can usually find some wonderful treasures, another old book or badge, a new art deco hat and trousers, and one can often even find a potential new driver of the correct stature for our Workshop Ken Smith, the smile says it all. Austin. The photo might give you a clue or two although he is usually found at Photo: Mark Donaldson the wheel of something more powerful, and the odd F5000, these days!

Jan McLaren In this Issue… The Roycroft Trophy Races P1 Melbourne GP Report P2 Trustee Update, Membership Card P3 Register Update, Years Gone By P4/5 Kartsport Accomplishments P6 General News, Current Calendar P7

Bruce McLaren Trust

Melbourne F1 G.P. Report

As in the last few years, there was a small group of Trust members attending the GP - Andy and Dawn Hutson, Graeme and Bev Nuttall, Terry Green and Peter Russell. I must say the attendance of BMT members has certainly dropped from five years ago.

We met at the Kettle Black in Albert Road for breakfast on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings. After a lovely breakfast it was a nice walk to the start/finish straight and the grandstands. There was a great display of historic cars and amongst them was a 1964 Cooper Climax T70 that Bruce had driven in the . It is restored to a high standard and is now owned by Adam Berryman. Cooper T70

During F1 practise the were struggling and severely down on speed. We learned that the engines had been turned down by 160 horsepower as reliability was a problem and, sure enough, on Sunday Kevin Magnussen's car did not make it from the pits to the grid.

On Saturday we met up with Duncan MacKellar (Trust member who has a McLaren M8E Can-Am) and Barry Lock, his engineer, who worked at McLaren in for six years alongside Cary Taylor, Jimmy Stone and others. Barry also built Kaditcha cars which won several championships in , and the Giocattolo road car - a very talented man.

Terry Green

Giocattolo Road Car

On the Saturday night Andy and Dawn, Terry and Lillian and Peter went to dinner at Entrecote in Domain Road and had a very enjoyable meal. Barry Lock

Sunday's weather turned out to be perfect - not too hot - but the race was a procession and quite a number of cars failed to finish. Hopefully the Honda engineers will be able to improve the performance quickly, but Mercedes are way out in front at present. Jenson did make it to the finish in 11th and last position.

Report and photos contributed by Peter Russell

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Trustee Update

After six months of consolidation and with the recent resignation of Max Colman, the Trustees have now settled back to a Board of four Trustees – Duncan Fox, Jan McLaren, Tony Roberts and Paul Hunter. We take this opportunity of thanking all past Board Members for their help over the years, and with many still assisting in other roles, we have an excellent base from which to move forward.

Following on from the sale of the M8A we wish to reconfirm that after settling the outstanding debts, the funds were embargoed until a new strategy was approved. This new strategy involves creating a permanent legacy for Bruce McLaren and motorsport heritage in general – potentially, a Bruce McLaren Heritage Centre. We undertook to come up with a variety of different strategies, test their viability and gain feedback from advisors and members. The strategy will be reviewed by a professional to ensure that the analysis of each has been correctly evaluated. All this work is ongoing. We have had discussions with architects to develop concept designs for various options and locations. We have also identified several alternative parties to aid such development, and much work is still to be done.

We believe a Heritage Centre, properly modelled along the lines of education, interactive and visual displays, would be sustainable into the future. However, all avenues must be explored and be viable from a financial perspective.

We would like to think that we have your support in our endeavours to showcase ’s racing heritage in a more modern and interactive way and we are very open to receiving input from you all. The wonderful support by members for the restoration of the M8A will be a feature of any future development and acknowledgement of that sponsorship will be an integral part of any future permanent home.

The Trustees

Membership Card 2015

This year’s Supporters Club membership card is the fifteenth in our photographic series, and acknowledges a car voted the second most influential of the Twentieth Century - the Sir Alec Issigonis designed Mini. It was in production from 1959 in its many versions and engine sizes. The Almond Green and White Mini raced by Bruce was a 1962 Morris Cooper S. Prepared at the Cooper Works, and with Downton Engineering modifications (engine bored- out from 997 to 1088cc and increased compression ratio of 12:1) this resulted in 83 bhp (standard 55bhp). After early tests at Pukekohe and a cam replacement by Wal Willmott a top speed of 107 mph was achieved.

The car was first entered in the “Sports cars over 1600cc” race at the 1963 Pukekohe Grand Prix meeting. In the feature race, Bruce finished a very creditable 2nd place, with an overheating motor, behind a 3.8 Jaguar and ahead of a highly modified Mk3 Ford Zephyr. The Cooper S is still in New Zealand and its restoration is almost complete.

David Rhodes Wal Willmott, Lenny Gilbert and Bruce in the Mini. Wigram, January 1963 3 Bruce McLaren Trust

 The green M10B driven by owner Frank Karl in the demonstration events, being the very first outing on the track for this newly restored example

which was first owned by Alan McKechnie Racing To round off our Register article in the last issue of The in UK and driven for them by Mike Walker, placing Orange Times I posed a question to challenge your 5th in the 1970 European F5000 Championship. knowledge on the M10 cars: “How many M10A’s were built Mick & Jody by BMMR?”

This was in some respects a trick question, because the M10A was designed as a production customer car to be built for BMMR by Trojan. However, the answer to the question is that one only was completely built by BMMR. This was effectively the M10A prototype, identified by being # M10A - 1 (as opposed to the 300-xx numbering for the Trojan built ones which followed). M10A – 1 was run in the 1969 UK/European F5000 Championship by Church Farm Racing, supported by BMMR and driven by who dominated the championship to win it with this car. So, where now is this somewhat iconic (and it really is just one of many) McLaren? Without going into  The more familiar (to us NZ enthusiasts) detail, yes, it has been in NZ ownership for some years white/green Sid Taylor liveried M10B which was and here’s hoping we will see it on the track here one day. also built at BMMR as with the Ganley one mentioned above, to be driven by Peter Gethin, Further to the above, not all of the M10 production cars winning the 1970 European F5000 Championship, were assembled and completed at the Trojan Works. For and is currently owned and driven by Poul instance: Beginning on page 161 of ’s Christie. “Road to Monaco” (which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading) there is an account of how the Barry Newman nd M10B (driven so successfully by Howden to be 2 in the 1970 European F5000 Championship) was built at BMMR by Howden and others using all the major components from Trojan but incorporating some up to date Bruce McLaren ideas/mod’s, being in effect a “Works” supported car. Some unhappy mutterings from other production M10B customers!

Before running low on space in the last Orange Times, I touched on three of the six (all NZ based) McLaren M10

Formula 5000 cars at NZFMR Hampton Downs. The other Photo: Alex Mitchell 2013 three were: Some of you may ask why some M10A’s are designated,  The McLaren orange M10A #7 raced for the first either by their current owner or previously, as an M10A/B.

time in NZ by Trustee Tony Roberts. This car’s For example, the M10A/B driven in the NZFMR race events heritage derives from the one originally purchased by owner, Grant Clearwater. The reason is that that those and raced by Bob Esseks in the USA from July particular M10A’s have had some of the M10B upgrades

1969 through into 1970. such as with the front suspension.

Last time I noted how historic race meetings can lead us to updates on ownership and/or the current whereabouts of specific McLaren cars up to 1980. Another source of information is unexpected emails with news of a car ownership change or a garage find. The Trust has received a number of these surprise emails lately and they often do really get me going – just ask Jan!

A recent interesting example contained photos of a partially rebuilt M15A (the first McLaren “Indy” car model

to be built) which the current owner has had sitting in a garage since the early 1980’s. Photo: speedcafe.com Continued, next page

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As only three M15A’s were built by BMMR, some of the ‘Years Gone By’ April - May content in this email really did set me going for many hours May 1958 – Bruce McLaren achieves first overseas pole on reviewing our current Register information on these position and first win at Silverstone in an F2 Cooper T45. cars, including exactly when/where/how the Also sets fastest lap abovementioned one came to be wrecked – as often happens, there are conflicting accounts and information, so May 1965 – has first win in a sports car at St this is now another work in progress. We know where Jovite, driving a McLaren M1A another one of the original three cars (now fully restored) is, but the question for all of you is: “Where now is the April 1967 – Chris Amon wins 1000ks of Monza with third one, being the first one built by BMMR – the so-called in a Ferrari 330P4 prototype, becoming their back-up car for the 1970 Indy 500 and being the car which was using April 1967 – Bruce McLaren wins Sebring 12 hours with during practice when a methanol fuel leak from a filler cap in a Ford GT40 led to the fire in which he was badly burnt”. May 1967 – Denny Hulme receives “Rookie of the year th ” and finishes 4 in an Eagle 67 Ford, the “Smokey” Yunick entry.

May 1967 – Denny Hulme has first Grand Prix win at Monaco in a BT20

May 1968 – Howden Ganley wins a heat in F2 race in

Denmark in a Brabham BT21

April 1970 – Chris Amon wins a non-championship F1 race

at Silverstone in a March 701 I think that this car may well be the one involved in a tragic track accident in 1987 (yet another story, for another ‘Being There’ time) but the key to confirming that lies in establishing that The VCC Roycroft Trophy meeting held annually in March at it was definitely damaged beyond repair and/or its Hampton Downs is a great event to see pre 1960 race cars and bikes being put through their paces. Our Austin 7 ‘workshop whereabouts since/now, so I shall eagerly await any advice hack’ even got a run on the track this year (see story next page). our readers can contribute. I was there on the Sunday and was lucky enough to meet my old Finally: Those stories from the January NZFMR? Just one neighbour from Ohinewai, Hugh Anderson M.B.E., who was which really appealed to my imagination came from a truly promoting his newly finished autobiography “Being There”. Needless to say I purchased a copy and have started reading it. interesting chat with a well-known former BMMR mechanic A wonderfully detailed account of Hugh’s life and times, including who amongst other things spent a lot of time working on his multiple motorcycle world championship wins. Taken at the M20 Can-Am cars during the 1972 season. Remember Hampton Downs, the photo is of Hugh and myself along with his cherished Norton 500, bought new in October 1961 and our news and question for you all last October about one of immediately raced at Tubbergen, Holland, winning first time out! them - the original Hulme M20 (now in the National Automobile Museum at Reno, Nevada) which had been sent to the McLaren Engines base at Livonia, Michigan, rebuilt and fitted with turbo-charging for 1973 and sale to Commander Motor Homes? The abovementioned mechanic talked about his involvement in trying to “sort out” the turbocharger set-up, involving a lot of testing on their engine dynamometer. With the particular turbocharger arrangement which they were trying to perfect, they had a number of spectacular failures, filling the test room with smoke as mechanics covered in soot staggered out to clear air – something akin to a scene from This book is an awesome read and is available direct from a disaster movie! the author @ NZ$45.00 plus p & p. - Phone: +64(07)853 2711 There is indeed so much history bound up in stories from - email: [email protected] those BMMR years. Jens Fogelberg Allan Horner 5 Bruce McLaren Trust

Kartsport Accomplishments

As many of you are aware, the Trust has had a long association with Kartsport, their annual Secondary School Championships and, of course, the coveted Bruce McLaren Award. Always held in July during the school holidays, this year’s event will be in Dunedin. We endeavour to attend the Championships where possible and also the actual school presentation by the winners of the Bruce McLaren Award. We have watched many a promising young driver come through the ranks and the names that spring immediately to mind are – Evans, Hartley and Stanaway to name but a few. However, many of the young Kart drivers go on to other things and I am reminded of a trip to Christchurch back in 2008 to attend the school presentation by Andrew Errington at St Andrew’s College. I was hosted by the Errington family who are good friends with Lindsay O’Donnell (Trust Member and owner of a McLaren M4) and Andrew and his team mate, based a lot of their presentation on discussions and observations of the McLaren M10 being restored at that time by another Trust Member, Graham Christie.

In November 2013 I received an email from Andrew with the following news:

“I thought you might be interested in an update from this point and a little feedback on an obscure outcome in which the Bruce McLaren Trust contributed! I have continued karting, but have been focused on University study. I am about to complete a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechatronics, and am thrilled to have recently been offered a place in a Masters programme at Cranfield University in the UK. (A post-graduate-only University near Milton Keynes, well known for its advanced courses in Motorsport) I am enrolled in the Master of Science course in Advanced Motorsport Engineering. More details of this course can be found at http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/courses/masters/advanced-motorsport-engineering.html

The course starts in starts in October 2014 but I am required to do a 5 day introductory course in August 2014.

The course has a strong applied content and has strong linkages with the UK motorsport industry, and I’m hoping that with my skills and qualifications, this will lead to a career in the engineering side of top level motorsport. So the karting background, and a contact with the Bruce McLaren Trust, has had a real impact on my career choices. I have no idea where or when our paths may cross again, but Kiwis do end up in some strange places in motorsport! Look out for me when you next visit McLaren UK.”

Andrew has since been in touch with us to let us know of his safe arrival and the start of work on their first proper module and has promised to update us as he progresses through Cranfield. The Trust is familiar with Cranfield having followed another student through its hallowed doors some years ago. Auckland University Engineering student, Mark McKenzie (and son of our past Trustee, Graham McKenzie) was a very successful graduate from Cranfield, including winning their McLaren Award. After working his way up through the motorsport ranks he now works with Red Bull. Mark has also been very supportive of Andrew and this is hugely appreciated.

Jan McLaren

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Travel News #1 General News / Links Don’t forget to get in touch with your nearest House of Travel if you are considering joining Bob A bit of Nostalgia McMurray on his tour group to Monza &

This old film of the Monaco GP of 1965 has been ‘restored’ and Goodwood Revival in September. Places are digitised by Ultimostile. The quality is not bad and a driver filling fast and bookings close within the next interview at around 20 minutes includes Bruce McLaren with couple of weeks. and John . Worth a look when you have a bit of spare time, click here to view.

Goodwood Members Meeting 2015

Held in March, this event included the “Bruce McLaren

Trophy” race for 60’s Can-Am cars. GRRC has made this race, among others from the event available on YouTube via their website. Click here to view the race highlights (just over 2 minutes), or click here to view the entire race (just over 34 minutes).

UoA Formula SAE Team Update

The team is finalising the design for 2015 and moving into the manufacturing stage. Basically the design is an improvement on the successful 2014 car. Click here to Current Calendar as at May 2015 view the 2015 design overview video. *Designates probable Trust involvement Driver Training… May 18th-28th 1. Posted on the Goodwood website, this ‘hot lap’ by Indy 500, Indianapolis, USA in a M6B small block Chev around Road

America is worth a look. Click here, and make June 28th sure you have the volume on high, with the biggest speakers you can find to get the full Goodwood Festival of Speed, UK

effect! th July 11/12 tbc *Kartsport Secondary school Champs, Dunedin 2. This is how to drive a Mini Cooper around

Goodwood, and how!! St Mary’s trophy, and this July 18-19th guy is driving the wheels off it, click here. This video has sound too, but not quite in the same CRC Speedshow, Auckland

league as the small block V8  August 13-16th Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca Travel News #2 August 30th Your Editor and Mark Donaldson are off to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 99th *BMT Coast to Coast Run. Register you interest. th running of the 500 on 24 May. Look out for th th a full report in the next issue of Orange Sept 11 - 13 Times. *Goodwood Revival, UK – Bruce McLaren Tribute

Pity they don’t run cars like they used to, eh! Contact Us 590 Remuera Road, Remuera, Auckland 1050 PO Box 109 050, Newmarket 1149 Phone: 09 522 8224 Mobile: (Jan) 027 289 7850 Office: [email protected] OT Editor: [email protected] www.bruce-.com

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