Orange Times Issue 3
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The Orange Times Bruce McLaren Trust August / September 2014, Issue #3 Goodbye to the M8A It is with mixed emotion that we confirm that a US based McLaren enthusiast has contracted to purchase the M8A. We are saddened to see the car leave New Zealand as we have invested 17 years in this project, but happy that we have saved this car for future generations. The Trust did seek to find an owner here in New Zealand but with the very much increased value of the car, this became difficult. Our Celebrating 50 Years of Patron, Sir Colin Giltrap, even attempted to put together a consortium which ultimately proved futile. A group of well-meaning McLaren Racing members and concerned enthusiasts asked for the opportunity to come up with a salvage plan and unfortunately this offered nothing June – Sept 1964 new and we were still unable to pay even the insurance on the car which had now ballooned out to around $20,000 annually. The re-built ex Zerex Special, now running as the Cooper Olds, started in the Players 200 at Discussion with our professional advisers, our responsibilities as Mosport on the first weekend of June 1964 – Trustees, and in light of our future ideas and plans to secure our future, lead us to endeavour to achieve the maximum return on the Bruce won both heats, and set fastest lap in the sale. Sending the M8A to auction was a risk and gamble that we first heat. could not afford to take. It was decided that it was important to seek out a suitable new custodian for the M8A – a factor that is The next race for the Cooper Olds was back in incredibly important to us all. ( continued, page 2 ) the UK at Brands Hatch – The Tourist Trophy on rd the 3 August and another win and fastest lap. In the background however, the first McLaren sports car was taking shape. The M1 began its life in July in a new location in Feltham. Again Tyler and Wal were tasked with the building of the car, making detail modifications as they went along. The alloy Olds was a 4 litre engine prepared by Traco and put out 315 bhp. The first race for this car was in September at the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport for the Pepsi- rd Cola Trophy. Bruce finished 3 and also set the fastest lap - an historic first race for a McLaren car and its first podium. And so begins the McLaren name as a race car constructor. The new windscreen – photo by Paul Hunter In this Issue… Celebrating 50 Years P1 Goodbye to the M8A P1 & 2 Kartsport Report P2 Museum Visitors, SAE Workshop Evening P3 Years Gone By & Do You Remember P4 General News P4 Trust Register Update P5 Current Calendar, Editor Profile P6 Bruce McLaren Trust Goodbye to the M8A (from page 1 ) Their prize is uplifted once they produce and present a project at their school on the career, achievement and Our purchaser, who we know will give the M8A the very values demonstrated by the driver the award honours, best care it deserves, is a passionate McLaren owner and New Zealand racing great Bruce McLaren. collector already and the M8A will be in very significant company. We look forward to advising you all of further The Bruce McLaren Trust endeavours to attend the details about the new owner and the other McLaren cars actual event, prize giving and then the school in his collection. presentation wherever possible. It is wonderful to watch the up and coming young drivers and follow their The proceeds of the very generous purchase will be used progress through motorsport and the motorsport firstly to extinguish some debt including the remainder of industry. the restoration costs. The balance will then be applied towards a lasting memorial for Bruce McLaren and a Past winning schools are: permanent home for the Bruce McLaren Trust. 2003 - Rangitoto College, Auckland The Trustees 2004 - St Kentigern College, Auckland 2005 - Palmerston North Boys High 2006 - Waimea College, Nelson 2007 - St Kentigern College, Auckland 2008 - St Andrews College, Christchurch 2009 - St Andrews College, Christchurch 2010 - Palmerston North Boys High 2011 - Auckland Grammar School, Auckland 2012 - Palmerston North Boys High 2013 - Burnside High School, Christchurch Jan McLaren Toyota Racing New Zealand 2014 Kartsport NZ National Schools’ Championship This year the KartSport NZ National Schools Championship was held at the Manawatu Toyota Raceway, in conjunction with the Palmerston North Boys High School. The Bruce McLaren Trust has been involved with the KartSport Schools Championship since 2003. A special Kevin & Jackie feature of the popular Schools event is the Bruce McLaren KartSport Awards presented in association with the Trust and, for the first time this year, Toyota Racing New Zealand. The annual schools event is one of the biggest events on the National Karting Calendar and Palmerston North Boys High School is the only school to have won the National Secondary School Schools title four times. Students Dylan Drysdale and Jacob Cranston took out this year’s premier Secondary Schools title and the Bruce McLaren KartSport Award. Each year two awards are offered and this year the awards – and a prize of a drive in a Toyota Finance 86 Championship TR 86 race car – went to the winners of the Photos courtesy of Fast Company / Emilee Wright two most popular eligible classes at the event. 2 Mick & Jody Bruce McLaren Trust Visitors to Our Museum SAE Workshop Evening The Trust has over the last few months had visitors from One of the most rewarding associations that the BM Trust Brazil, Texas, Singapore, Boston, Australia, UK, several currently has is our association with the Auckland University Engineering Department and the F:SAE:47 from the South Island as well as the ‘locals’. Team. We again visited their Tamaki Campus workshop These visitors are all asked to sign our guest book which includes comments like ‘awesome’, ‘incredible’, evening in late July - a fascinating look into the creativity ‘fascinating’ and ‘thank you’. and dedication of the team of around 30 students. They totally manage and fund the entire operation themselves People make time to come in and experience the history with amazing support from a wide variety of sponsors. and heritage of NZ motor racing and while we do have a This was to be our last visit to the Tamaki Campus where lot of ‘Bruce’ related memorabilia, the racing locations they have been based for the last ten years. They are display gets lots of comments as it covers historic former soon to move to a new workshop located in Khyber Pass at circuits such as Muriwai, Mt Eden and Orakei. We have what was the old Lion Brewery site – which is also much closer to Auckland University main Campus. since the move from the flat next door brought into the front room two big cabinets which are full of a truly Formula SAE was developed in the USA in 1981 by the eclectic assortment of treasures. (see photo). Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to be used as an educational tool to develop university engineering When people come in they are always made welcome students’ knowledge and skills. In 2000 the first Formula and an informal ‘tour’ can be a part of their visit - the SAE was held in Australia and since then the Australian safes also hold other treasured items, the one constant is event has grown to be contested by over 25 universities that all of our visitors have fascinating stories of their from Australia, America, Japan and Europe. Formula SAE own to tell us, and remember being at a Grand Prix, or a events are also run in the UK and Japan. Auckland particular car. University travelled to Melbourne in December last year for the 10 th consecutive year of competition and the Bruce That was true of a Christchurch visitor who remembered McLaren Trust is proud to have been associated with them collecting the autographs of several international drivers for all of those 10 years. at the Wigram race, I worked out that it was in 1961. What made the story even more fascinating was that The year-long competition engages a team of students Graham Hill gave this man, then a teenager, a driving who design and construct a small formula-style race car. lesson in a Ford Anglia, the mantra from Graham was: These cars have specifications to limit physical dimensions Concentrate, Anticipate and Tolerate. An approach to and engine size to ensure that the competition is not just a driving that might even work in Auckland! race, but is run as an engineering competition where students’ knowledge, imagination, creativity and skills are So to those that have visited – thank you, those that all tested. have travelled distances to visit, an even bigger thank you, and to those that have always meant to but have Bruce would have loved this sort of project in his time at not, why wait – but just don’t all come on the same day… Auckland University and he himself received a significant We have even been known to provide tea, coffee and USA SAE award in the late sixties. Since inception the gingernuts… F:SAE:47 car in Auckland has carried Bruce’s favourite #47 David Rhodes and proudly sports the Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Team logo. Involvement in the SAE project has proven to be invaluable to the students involved and we will tell you more in the next newsletter. Front room cabinets SAE 47 3 Bruce McLaren Trust Do You Remember? While visiting the old Masport factory and HQ at Mt Wellington, Auckland recently I was fortunate to come across a couple of great images while browsing through the book “Masport - 100 Years in the making” published in 2011.