The Orange Times

Bruce McLaren Trust March/April/May 2017, Issue #17

As this Orange Times goes to press we are in the final stages of the McLAREN documentary process – working with the Australasian distributor and General Film Corporation on the previews and the releases. Whilst the official Premiere is on Tuesday 30th May in Auckland, the public release worldwide will be on 1st June.

However the first pre-release Private Previews in New Zealand will be held by the Bruce McLaren Trust on the week commencing Monday 15th May.

These “McLAREN - see it first with the BMT” previews will be held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and will be by ‘invitation only’ to members and supporters of the Trust. Invitations will be emailed to all with dates and details as soon as they are confirmed.

It is our understanding that other private previews will be held in the UK and the USA and we will endeavour to keep our overseas members and supporters informed of any dates and locations.

There are exciting times ahead and I do have to report that the documentary is excellent, emotional, with lots of photos and film that I have never seen. Roger Donaldson, Fraser Brown and Mathew Metcalfe have done a wonderful job. I was privileged to be flown to Melbourne to attend one of the first VIP screenings (a very small audience) and, in the company of McLaren Old Boys Jimmy Stone and , and from McLaren UK, the 90-odd minutes just flew by. I can’t wait to see it again, and again, and again. Jan McLaren

In this Issue…

McLAREN Movie Update P1 Vale, P2 Years Gone By, Trust Visitors P3 Trust Register Update P4 Shield Logo History, Trustee Report P5 General News, Current Calendar P6 General News, Events Calendar P8 Bruce McLaren Trust

Vale

John Surtees, CBE 11 February, 1934 – 10 March, 2017

John Surtees passed away at St Georges Hospital in London

of respiratory failure, aged 83. He was very much a

contemporary of Bruce, Denny and Chris. John raced here

in New Zealand in the early 60’s winning the Grand Prix at Pukekohe in 1963, one of nine Formula 1 World Champions to compete in New Zealand.

The son of a motorcycle dealer, his first race was a grass

track event at age 15. He switched from bikes to cars in 1960 driving for Lotus. In 1965 he had a life-threatening accident at Mosport, that left one side of his body

four inches shorter than the other. Doctors set most of the

breaks non-surgically, in part by physically stretching his shattered body until the right-left discrepancy was under an Book Signing - Kenny, with Michael Clark inch – and there it stayed. while Max Rutherford chats with a young fan John in the winning Lola at Pukekohe, 1963

Famously, John remains the only man to win World Championships on both two and four wheels – four times 500cc World Champion and Formula 1 World Champion in 1964

Angus Hyslop, Jim Palmer and John Surtees, Pukekohe, 1963

Surtees won the inaugural Can-Am series in 1966 driving for Lola. He continued to participate in classic motorcycle Jan’s last catch-up with John at the Rolex Drivers Club, meetings with bikes from his collection and we often caught Goodwood Revival, September 2015. Photo: Mark Donaldson up with John at various meetings at Goodwood. Black & White Photos: Jack Inwood, BM Trust Collection

Kevin & Jackie TO DRIVE McLAREN M23 AT MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION McLaren ambassador Jenson Button will delight fans when he gets behind the wheel of ’s iconic 1974 world championship -winning McLaren M23 at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion in August. For the full story, ‘click here’.

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Bruce McLaren Trust

‘Years Gone By’ March, April, May Visitors to the Trust It continues to be both a pleasure to welcome people to March 1997 the Trust and a surprise to find out where their journey This was the date without which you would not be reading started from. this item, because it was 20 years ago in March 1997 that the Bruce McLaren Trust was launched at the Whenuapai Over the last few months our visitors book has included

‘Wings and Wheels’ event. Switzerland, Canada, , , United States (California, Colorado, Texas, Iowa), Japan, The Czech March 1958 Republic and, of course, many from all over New Zealand and those who live just down the road. The Visitors Book Bruce, having won the inaugural “Driver to Europe” and Mick & Jody contains many amazing comments and frequently we see accompanied by Colin Beanland, flew the first leg of their the words ‘wonderful’, ‘excellent’, ‘what a privilege’ and trip to Sydney and then boarded the P&O Orontes, a 664ft ‘fabulous’. th passenger liner. She sailed on March 18 , making eleven ports of call before arriving at Tilbury, London, on April 26th. The chance to share the stories of Bruce and NZ

However, Bruce left the ship at Aden and flew to England motorsport history and heritage is invaluable to the Trust, so that he would arrive in time to compete in his first race as well as great for me. Here are people who may have seen Bruce, Denny and Chris race or have even worked in the UK. for the Team. That was the case of a recent Swiss visitor – he was Denny’s mechanic in F1 for McLaren. His March 1972 signature now graces the ‘MOB’ (McLaren Old Boys) wins the South African Grand Prix in a section of the signature wall. These stories are always McLaren M19A. interesting.

April 1958 McLaren owners, past and present, are regular visitors. Bruce McLaren competes in his first race in the UK at One recent visitor from the USA has owned a works M1, driven by Bruce, since 1999. He brought along some Aintree driving a T45 F2 Cooper. Charlie Cooper insisted pictures and more history of the car which have gone that the car was insured which cost £50. Bruce received £60 starting money and so was £10 up for his first overseas into the M1 archives. race. He finished 13th overall and 9th in the F2 class. A visitor from California remembered being at Sebring in 1967 when he was working on the Ford Mustang as part April 1967 of the 12 hour race – he also lent a hand with the GT40s Bruce and win the Sebring 12hr race in a with Bruce and Mario’s car needing blocks on the pedals Ford GT40 so the drivers could reach them. Bruce, he said, was and win the 1000km of Monza very impressed with the GT40. driving a 330P4 For many visitors their partner comes along but often

May 1962 does not have the same level of interest. A couple from

Bruce wins the driving a Cooper T60 Colorado was a perfect example. When a trip to Australia to judge dogs came up she asked her man what would he like to do in Australia – the answer was to visit us in New Zealand. So they did, and stayed for three hours taking many pictures including the treasures from the safe. Again it was great talking to them about what was going on in the States and comparing the housing prices in Auckland and Colorado.

I enjoy engaging with people and finding out who they are and what stories they can share with me and increase my knowledge. So to everyone that takes the time to find us and spend some time around the trophies and memorabilia – thank you. Interaction with our visitors is an extremely important part of the Trust philosophy and I have great pride in being able to welcome visitors and share the stories behind the memorabilia that we display. It is a pleasure and also

very humbling to be able to be a custodian of our collections. David Rhodes

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Regarding the later 1970’s F1 , I especially enjoyed being able to take a close look at the M26 which was in NZ early this year, from the UK, for some Historic race events. Whenever In the first Register article which I wrote, published in the second I look over a pre-1980 McLaren one of the first details I look for issue of The Orange Times (June/July 2014), I said that at that (I just can’t help it!) is the “tag” plate, as in the picture. time we had ownership and/or other details which we are It’s not a reproduction one either! Yes, it is the first M26 built, to completely confident about for 200 pre-1980 McLaren race cars. replace the very successful M23 for the coming 1977 season. On top of that, there were about a further 40 cars which we were not completely confident about and which required more To round off on the later 1970’s F1 cars, I cannot resist a little investigation or information. teaser for readers: How many M27 F1 cars were built by BMMR to replace the M26? The question of course is: How many pre-1980 McLarens, up to the M30 F1 car, were built? Unfortunately, we do not know the precise answer to this, primarily on account of variances arising with the numbers of complete (as opposed to just a replacement chassis/tub for an existing race car which had been severely damaged) customer cars built by Trojan for BMMR. However, we think that the actual total lies somewhere between 300 and 330.

We are aware also that there are some particular cars which just do not exist anymore, having been completely destroyed. Just one example of this is the one and only M2A F2 car to be built, which was mentioned in our TOT Issue numbers 8 & 9.

Where are we now, some three years later? In short, the numbers in the first paragraph above are now currently almost 220 and some 45 respectively. However, I am sure that the latter number (45) would reduce by perhaps 50% once we can work through more details. For example, some will prove to be an already known car which has simply changed hands, or which is just being driven by someone else in a particular event and some will be what one might refer to as being a replica as opposed to Chris Amon in M15A. Indy 500 practice, 1970. being the true original. Yes, there are numerous instances where Photo: BMT archive. a damaged car has “multiplied” into two or more with the same chassis #, an example being where in its early racing history a Two years ago, in our TOT Issue #7, I touched on the McLaren particular car might have had the tub seriously damaged and M15A, being the first of the BMMR “Indy” cars. At that time I replaced with a new replacement from Trojan at the time. Then had been working on the Trust Register for these cars and it was later on, the damaged tub is somehow repaired and/or sold, then very much a work-in-progress. It still is, just as with each of our used to create another car which is assigned the same chassis # Registers! Although I have been able to add some ownership (and reproduction chassis # plates are to be found too!). history detail on these cars, the present whereabouts of the first one built, usually referred to as the prototype car, remains to be confirmed. As I wrote last time, it appears that this car may have been the one involved in a tragic accident in 1987. To expand on this, according to reports (and as usual there are th variances in these), on 27 September 1987 John Foulston was test driving his recently acquired M15 at Silverstone in preparation for an event the following month and lost his life when it left the circuit and hit a bank. In those days the provisions for arresting car speed were rather less than they are now. The cause is said to have been that the throttle was jammed fully open possibly when a piece of internal manifold that had been left in place from a previous modification, broke off under vibration.

John Foulston, who at the time owned several other well known M26 -1 chassis plate. Photo: J.Fogelberg British circuits including , was no stranger to race driving. So, the question is: Assuming the car was very severely Even though it is now some 5 years since I began assisting with damaged, what happened with the remains? updating and maintaining the Trusts Registers, there are still some which I have barely touched, especially for the later (after the Jens Fogelberg M26) F1 cars but at last I am beginning to devote a little time to communicating directly with past and current owners about their particular McLaren(s). Aside from being hugely interesting, this is prov iding me with valuable snippets of information and leads on specific McLarens. A recent example, which is very much an early work in progress, is a particular M29 F1 car.

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The original shield logo and sports car design

We are often asked about the distinctive shield logo that symbolises the Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Team and which today is recognised worldwide. Trustee Report

In November of 1963, with a new team, Bruce needed his own March, April, May 2017 badge and commissioned a then relative new-comer to the art world to create it. The phrase that currently comes to mind is “May Madness” as so Bruce wrote home to his parents in 1963 about having an artist much is happening at present and for the ensuing month. design a letterhead, a race car, transporters, and a motif embodying motor racing, Bruce McLaren and New Zealand. The This time 12 months ago we made the decision to purchase a artist was Michael Turner who at that time had been free-lance for Business Unit at Hampton Downs. Whilst some of you were not six years and was attending as many Grand Prix as he could whilst completely in favour of this option, we were very restricted as to developing his artwork. what and where we could relocate to. Many locations were considered, including Ardmore Aerodrome, but none seemed to make any rational sense either financially or as to location. The exception was the Business Unit next to Kenny Smith at Hampton Downs. Not moving was not an option as, due to the development that will be done at the old Remuera Service Station, we have to move out whilst all the renovation and earthquake strengthening is done and this could take about a

year to complete.

After unexpected delays, due to a problem with our polished concrete floor, we are pleased to report that the fit-out is now complete. Accordingly we can now invite you all to come and see the progress we have made on Stage 1 of our new Heritage Centre and how moneys from the sale of the M8A have been utilised to financially ensure our future. Our business advisors are

pleased with our endeavours and have been most complimentary The result has been described by some journalists as a Kiwi being about the current status of the Trust. run over by a race car or even a flat-footed wood pecker being run over by a race car. However the shield logo combined the We plan to have our Gala Opening of the Bruce McLaren Trust elements that Bruce wanted - New Zealand, motor racing and with Heritage Centre (also known affectionately as Shed 47) in August the chequered flag design, winning. and combine this opening with celebrations to celebrate Bruce’s 80th birthday. In the meantime we have some very busy months In 1965 Bruce and Michael were in Monaco. Michael, in his book, says “During the course of the morning Bruce asked me if I would ahead with the release of the McLAREN documentary, packing up design the body for the M1A successor, which was to be more all our treasures from Remuera, moving to Shed 47 and of compact and due for completion in eight weeks time. Bruce course, relocating and rehanging all the wonderful photos, described the sort of thing he had in mind, and on our return posters, and artworks that have accumulated over the last 20 home provided me with a set of engineering blueprints. years.

The car had not yet been built, but he had approved a sketched And it is with a wonderful sense of karma that we realise that our proposal and, not being set up as a stylist, I set to work to move to Hampton Downs and Shed 47 just happens to be in the produce the necessary dimensional projections on large sheets of 47th year since Bruce lost his life at Goodwood. graph paper on the studio floor. Tyler Alexander supervised the transposition of my drawings into metal, and the semi-painted The Trustees prototype was wheeled out of the Colnbrook factory the morning it was due to be air-freighted across the Atlantic for the opening race. Apart from the simplification or elimination of some of my

styling embellishments which were omitted for practical production reasons, and the enlargement of some cooling vents for practical operational reasons, the result was surprisingly similar to the concept.”

In the ensuing years, many a Michael Turner painting featured on Christmas cards from Bruce McLaren Motor Racing and many wonderful McLaren car artworks have been painted by him throughout McLaren racing history. Roger Wills and a very dapper . Photographer unknown

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General News & links

Amanda Interview Here is a link to an interview with Amanda McLaren where she talks about the past, the present and the future of the brand on road and track.

Current Calendar st 1 May 2017 *Designates probable Trust involvement

th th Lapping Sonoma May 6 & 7 *Viewing of Shed 47, Stage 1, BM Heritage Centre and celebrate Nothing to do with McLaren, but this video of Scott Dixon lapping 20th Anniversary. Hampton Downs Sonoma in his current Indycar is quite good to watch. These new ‘helmet cams’ employed by the Indycar series give a great May 15th impression of the speeds and stresses experienced by the drivers. *Documentary release/BMT Preview, Auckland

May 16th *BMT Preview, Wellington

May 17th Mika Hakkinen rejoins McLaren *BMT Preview, Christchurch On 16th March McLaren announced that double world champion Mika Hakkinen, who drove 130 Grands Prix for the McLaren team, May 30th will take up the position of Partner Ambassador with immediate McLAREN Documentary Premiere effect, in a multi-year deal. Read more about this announcement here. June 1st Michael Turner Reminisces McLAREN Documentary Public Release Elsewhere in this issue of Orange Times we have an article on June 29th-July 2nd Michael Turner, the man responsible for the design of the original Goodwood Festival of Speed, UK shield Logo and the body for the M1B. In this McLaren video he talks about how he created the shield design. July 28th-30th Silverstone Classic, UK. The world’s largest classic race meet

August (date TBA) Gala Opening of BMT Heritage Centre Hall of Fame August 17th-20th We are very proud to announce that Bruce McLaren has recently Monterey Motorsports Reunion – Jenson Button to drive the been posthumously voted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame at the McLaren M23 iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Bruce, along with Dario Franchitti, was chosen by a panel of auto racing journalists, August 30th participants and historians from a ballot of sixteen nominees, Bruce’s 80th birthday seven of whom received at least 50% of the vote. The full story is th th available here. September 8 –10 Goodwood Revival

Contact Us

590 Remuera Road, Remuera, Auckland 1050 PO Box 109 050, Newmarket 1149 Phone: 09 522 8224 Mobile: 027 289 7850 Email: [email protected]

Roger Wills and a very dapper Scott Dixon. Photo: Mark Donaldson Editor: [email protected]

www.bruce-.com

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