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 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

Discussion with our professional advisers, our responsibilities as Cooper Olds, started in the Players 200 at 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 – The Tourist Trophy on rd the 3 August and another win and fastest lap.

In the background however, the first McLaren 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 at Mosport for the Pepsi- Cola Trophy. Bruce finished 3 rd 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

SAE Workshop Evening Visitors to Our Museum

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, , UK, several currently has is our association with the Auckland from the as well as the ‘locals’. University Engineering Department and the F:SAE:47 These visitors are all asked to sign our guest book which Team. We again visited their Tamaki Campus workshop evening in late July - a fascinating look into the creativity includes comments like ‘awesome’, ‘incredible’, ‘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 since the move from the flat next door brought into the closer to Auckland University main Campus. 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 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. I have to admit, I do not remember Bruce appearing in advertising for Masport rotary mowers back in the 60’s, but then I was still at school and probably more interested in cars and girls than motor mowers!

Masport have kindly allowed us to use one of these historic advertising images in this Newsletter. The photo is dated 1964, so it is fitting to include in this th the 50 anniversary year of racing by Bruce and his team.

For more information on the Masport book, if interested - click here .

Allan Horner

‘Years Gone By’ July - September July 6, 1963 – & won the ‘Motor 6 hours’ at Brands Hatch, in a Jaguar MkII 3.8, beating favourites & Jack in a (9 th ). The race was run in very wet General News conditions. McLaren – The legend lives on

July 9, 1972 – Howden Ganley wins memorial ‘Interserie Round 4’ sports car race at Zeltweg, Some further word on the article from Bruce McLaren

Austria in a BRM P167 . Intermediate, under General News on p6 in the June 2014 issue of The Orange Times: July 14, 1973 - scores his first Grand Prix victory by winning the British GP at with his The term “Engineers Institute” used in that article refers to Yardley McLaren-Ford. The race was marred by a multi- The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand car opening lap conflagration triggered by rookie Jody (IPENZ). Scheckter's McLaren that took out nine cars .

July 16, 1955 - wins the at Aintree from pole position, nipping his Mercedes-Benz teammate by two-tenths of a second, a victory Moss has long regarded as a gift from Fangio. The involvement of young engineer Andre Cowan for this

Bruce McLaren Intermediate project stems from the IPENZ July 24 th 1965 – wins Silverstone ‘Martini “Futureintech in Schools” initiative which brings Trophy’ 50 lap sports car race in the BMMR McLaren M1A, ambassadors from industry to a school. They do not just from Peter Revson and David Piper. assist with a project but, through their involvement, August 15, 1960 - First overseas win for Denny Hulme, promote technological learning and awareness of careers in a Cooper T52-BMC at Pescara, Italy in technology and engineering. (Gran Premio de Pescara). The bonus in this case is not just that Andre is a highly September 6, 1964 – Denny Hulme scores a class win qualified young professional mechanical engineer but that (0-1000cc) at the Nurburgring 500 Kilometres in the he also has a number of years of motor racing experience, entered new S600 sports car. Needless to say, driving (with considerable success) in the BMW Race Honda were ecstatic! Driver Series.

4 Bruce McLaren Trust

THE BRUCE McLAREN TRUST REGISTER for This restored car is currently to be seen in Western Australia McLAREN CARS – August update with Leo, who drove it in the Perth International Historic Challenge, November 2012. The last issue of The Orange Times contained some questions for you, about the only M4C to be built. Just Our thanks to Jim Barclay for the following photo from that as for many of the pre-1980 (M30) McLaren cars, the event: answers are not “one liners” and are to be found in the history unique to this car. Briefly, it goes like this:

The story begins with Bruce McLaren Motor Racing producing their first F2 car, the two original M4A team cars entered for the 1967 European F2 season – one driven by Bruce and the other by driving under (who, by the way, passed away just one year ago and had a long history in British motorsport – as outlined for example in the following excellent article: 'click here' )

After an early season crash by Piers, at Brands Hatch, there was insufficient time for mechanic Roland “Roly” Law and his crew to repair the severely damaged chassis tub, so they hastily procured a new replacement from

Trojan (who had commenced building the M4B production cars for BMMR). Significantly, the damaged Just one activity in sourcing information for adding to or tub was consigned to a “pile” at the rear of BMMR at updating the Trust’s McLaren car Registers is following the Colnbrook. international marketplace for historic race cars. This not only

The next significant event in the M4C story, begins with alerts us to a possible change in ownership for a McLaren the M4B car equipped with a 2.2 litre BRM engine but sometimes also identifies a car for which the Register (instead of the 1.6 FVA or Lotus Twin-cam, F2 history is somewhat blank (although we have to be unit) which Bruce debuted in the Race of Champions at painstakingly careful to somehow verify the information, not

Brands Hatch, March 1967. Alas, this car was taking it at face value, before we modify our Register).

“completely destroyed” when it caught fire out on the circuit during tyre testing at Goodwood, late in the 1967 On the market place: It will be interesting to see the summer. More “bits” for the pile at the rear of BMMR. outcome at auction at Monterey, mid-August, for an M20

Whilst still working at BMMR, Howden Ganley began to Can-Am car which the present owner has had for many years and is one of just three which were built – for the think about what could be done with all the aforementioned items and was given permission to 1972 Can-Am season, the last with a McLaren team. For those of you who may not be familiar with the M20 and how rebuild the ex-Courage tub, repair the F1 suspension components from the burnt car and use them to build up McLaren fared in 1972, you can find some interesting reading on the Trust website (The Cars/Can-Am). I’ll round another M4 car, assisted by George Begg who was also off with a little teaser: Where would you go now to see the there at the time. Aha – but what about a body? M20 in which Denny Hulme began the 1972 season? Howden was able to take a body off the mould for the M7 F1 car and “miniaturise” it to fit the M4. As for a Jens Fogelberg chassis/tag number, Howden confirmed with Bruce to designate it as an M4C and the car was sold in late 1970 to Jan Bussell (Malaysia) who drove it with success in SE Asian events – including 1 st in the 1971 Macau GP.

Years later, the car was found in a sorry state in the roof of a Malaysian garage by RAF engineer Irwin Lindsey, who shipped the chassis, etc, back to the UK. It was then acquired by the present owner, Leo Wybrott (who was with McLaren for many years) who restored it over a number of years to the same specification as for the original M4A/2 team cars.

5 Bruce McLaren Trust

About the Editor… This is the third edition of “Orange Times” so we thought it Current Calendar as at August 2014 was about time that I provided a bit of background information on who I am and how I came to be involved *Designates probable Trust involvement with the Trust. August 31 st I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s with an interest (my wife says obsession) in cars and motor racing which has lasted a *Annual BMT Coast to Coast run, Auckland. Contact lifetime. The “trio at the top” – Bruce, Denny and Chris us for your entry forms. The featured marque this were my hero’s, in particular Bruce. My formative years year is Morgan were spent on a dairy farm at Ohinewai in the Waikato th th where we drove ‘tractors and horses’, and by the time I was Sept 12 – 14 15 the family had moved to Bucklands Beach in Auckland. Goodwood Revival, UK As an apprentice electronics technician, my first car was an

Austin Cooper purchased in 1966. From the , I moved Sept (date tbc) on to a Mk1 GT Cortina followed by a ‘mint’ 1966 Mk1 Lotus th Cortina, which was sold (to my everlasting regret) to fund *McLaren 50 Gathering – and celebration of the the obligatory OE in early 1971. first win for a McLaren car - M1

Three Years in Britain & Europe flew by, during which time I Oct 9 th – 12 th managed to get to a few of the major events in England, V8 Supercars , NSW including the British F1 GP at Silverstone (1971). Also managed to get hooked and came home married to my th th ‘English Rose’, Patricia, who after 40 years still puts up with Nov 7 – 9 the ‘car obsession’. Big Boys Toys, ASB Showgrounds, Auckland

These days I am semi-retired and an active member of the January 16 th – 18 th & 23 rd – 25 th 2015 Austin-Healey Car Club, owning two 1963 examples; a 3000 *NZFMR Ganley Festival, Hampton Downs MkIIA (big Healey) and a Sprite MkII (little Healey). The Sprite is an active track car, being exercised regularly in recent years in the Auckland Classic Trial Series (#45). If you see me at Hampton Downs, Pukekohe or Taupo in the coming season, please stop by and say hello.

As a life member of the Trust, I decided once I had more time on my hands to become more actively involved, and somehow ended up with this job!

Thanks to all who have provided (mainly very positive) feedback on the new regular newsletter to date. We will continue to welcome ideas and input on how we can improve it. Allan Horner Editor & Cars

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] News Ed: [email protected]

www.bruce-.com

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