New Zealand Grand Prix

Pukekohe, 4 Jan 1969

All cars are 2.5-litre Tasman unless noted.

Notes on the cars:

1. McLaren M4A ["14"] (Graeme Lawrence): Graeme Lawrence acquired a F2 specification McLaren M4A after he left the Chequered Flag F2 team which was identified in its logbook application and NZ registration papers as chassis number 'M4A-14', implying it was chassis 200-14. Raced by Lawrence from Pukekohe in November 1968, appearing in the 1969 Tasman series and winning the Singapore and Selangor GPs in April. The car passed to Frank Radisich later in 1969 and was raced by him in the 1970 Tasman series. Then owned by Wayne Murdoch in 1971-72 but not raced. To Neil Heney in August 1972 and raced by Doug Heney in club events in 1973, then to Jon Warring for hillclimbs in 1974 and then to Ross Calgher (Waitara, New Zealand) for national racing from 1975 to 1977. Sold by Calgher to George Begg in March 1977 and he sold it to Andrew Cunningham in 1983. Retained to 1990 and then may have passed to Australian ownership until acquired by Peter Herbert (Auckland, NZ) in 1999.
2. Brabham BT23C [7] (Roly Levis): New to Frank Williams Racing Cars for Piers Courage to race in F2 in 1968. Also raced by Jonathan Williams to win at Monza in June. To Roly Levis (New Zealand) and raced in the 1969 Tasman series and at Singapore, Batu Tiga and Fuji in the following months. Raced in the opening rounds of the 1969/70 New Zealand season and then sold to Baron Robertson who raced it Pukekohe in early December. Levis then tested the car for Robertson in practice for the Bay Park International at the end of December but crashed heavily at Rothmans corner, effectively writing off the car. Robertson acquired a replacement frame from Racing Frames in England and built a car which used a different chassis number. The original BT23C/7 frame was rebuilt as a Formula Ford and raced by Peter Haskett in the 1973/74 NZ season. This car found its way to Martin Smith in the UK in the late 1980s after which it was restored to BT23C specification. Then unknown until acquired by Bobby Rahal in the US and extensively rebuilt by Phil Simkin some time before 2004. With Justin Segel (West Bloomfield, MI) in 2003. For sale in 2006 when said to have been owned by Tom Claridge (Fremont, CA). To Ted Wentz (Villanova, PA) 2008.
3. Brabham BT16 [F2-9-65] (David Oxton): Silvio Moser's F2 car in 1965, entered by Martinelli-Sonvico Racing. Used briefly as a second car early 1966 then apparently to Ken Sager, fitted with a 1500cc Ford twin cam and raced in the 1966/67 season in New Zealand. It was sold to Dave Oxton (Glenfield, Auckland) for 1967/68, and retained for 1968/69, still in the 1500cc class. Enlarged to 1600cc for 1969/70 and sold to Graham Watson. Graham Vercoe's books say that it was owned by Brian Faloon after Watson. According to New Zealand historian David McKinney, it was converted to Formula Ford specification and raced by Ross Atkins from 1971 to 1974, then by Terry Moon, then Davey Waugh in the 1976/77 season, and Warren Elleray in 1978. To David Manton in 1980, and retained by him for some years until restored to 1600cc National Formula spec and run in historic events by Gray Mathias in the early 1990s. Offered for sale in Seattle in 1992, and believed to have been owned by Grant Clearwater more recently. Subsequent history unknown.
4. Brabham BT23C [1] (Laurence Brownlie): The prototype BT23C was used at the end of the 1967 season by Jack Brabham and Frank Gardner and then sold to Frank Williams for Picko Troberg to drive, but not start, at Hockenheim in April 1968. It was then used briefly in F3 by Harry Stiller but wasn't seen again until October 1968 when Piers Courage took it over for the Albi F2 race, his regular BT23C/7 having been "sold to Tasmania" (Autosport 25 Oct 1968 p14). Then to Laurence Brownlie (Kelso, South Island, New Zealand), possibly leased by Williams, and raced in the 1969 Tasman series before returning to Europe for Graham McRae to drive in the 1969 F2 series, entered by Williams again. Last raced in July 1969, then advertised by Alan Grant (Winkfield Row, Berkshire) in August and reappeared in April 1970 when advertised by Bobby Howlings. Sold to Rodney Seow in Singapore but never raced. Traded together with Seow's Brabham BT9 to Mike Truter by 1980 and sold on to Brian Wilson (Australia) about 1983. Wilson imported the cars to Australia, had the BT23C restored and raced it in historic racing for more than 20 years. Sold to Chad Parrish (Sydney, NSW, Australia) early 2014.
5. Brabham BT21 (Bert Hawthorne): Bert Hawthorne worked at MRD during 1967 and in his spare time built up his own car using BT21 components. He fitted this with a twin-cam engine and took it to his native New Zealand for the 1967/68 Gold Star series. The car did not arrive in time for the Internationals and Hawthorne made his debut in the car at Timaru in February 1968. He drove it again the following season, from October 1968 to February 1969. Cary Taylor (Amberley, NZ) bought it for the 1969/70 season and he also drove it in the Singapore GP in April 1971. It 1973, it was bought by Frank Bray and used by him to create the Bray SMP2 sports car. Other components of the car were used to build a Formula Ford.
6. Mildren 'Mono' (Frank Gardner): Designed by Len Bailey and built by Alan Mann Racing for Alec Mildren Racing in Australia in late 1968, when it was raced by Frank Gardner using one of 2.5-litre Alfa T33 V8 engines from the team's Brabham BT23D. Raced by Gardner in the 1969 Tasman series, then by Kevin Bartlett in the 1969 Gold Star series. Later in 1969 it was fitted a Waggott TC4V engine, and Bartlett used it in this form in the 1970 Tasman and the 1970 Gold Star. It was sold to Bob Muir at the end of 1970 and raced by him through 1971 and early 1972, both with his 2-litre Waggott engine and with a Ford twin cam engine for Southeast Asian events. Then to Ray Winter and used in ANF2 in 1973 and 1974. Winter used the car again on occasion in 1975 and 1976. Later on, when the new single-cam Australian F2 was introduced, the old Mildren was raced in that category by Greg Ferrall. Then unknown until acquired by Lionel Ayres and restored. The car was retained by Bruce Ayres after his father Lionel's death in 2013.
7. Brabham BT18 (Allan McCully): New Zealander Roly Levis had a new Brabham BT18 with 1500cc Ford twin cam engine ready for the New Zealand Gold Star race at Renwick in mid-November 1966. He raced it though the 1966/67 season, before selling it to Tony Shaw for 1967/68. Levis continued to race the car in Shaw's ownership throughout that season. It was then sold to Allan McCully for the 1968/69 season. It reappeared in 1973 with Russ Noble, who raced it in Gold Star events in 1973/74. It was then acquired by Murray Baker, rebuilt with a Chevrolet V8 and renamed 'Elk'. It raced in this configuration in 1974/75. It was later owned by Tom Donavan and Richard Trewsdale. Some time before 1984, it was bought from Trewsdale by David Currie and Ken White, and was immaculately restored by Currie to Levis's specification. In in April 1986, it was sold to Charlie Conway, who used it in historic racing in New Zealand. Rodin Wootton took over the drive in 1992, until Conway sold the car to Bruce Wootton (Auckland, NZ) in 1997.
8. Brabham BT4 [IC-3-62] (Bryan Faloon): New to Bib Stillwell for the Australian Internationals in February 1963. Used by Stillwell to win the 1963 Australian Gold Star and then, having acquired the 2.7-litre engine from Jack Brabham's BT4, he won the Gold Star again in 1964. Sold to Bill Thomasen in New Zealand and used in NZ Gold Star in 1964/65 before it was sold to Ecurie Palm Court who ran it for Ian Green and John Riley in late-season 1964/65 races and in Australian Gold Star races in August 1965. To Robbie Francevic in time for the 1965/66 NZ season and then quickly sold again, this time to Syd Jensen. Jenson leased it to Jim Boyd for the 1967 Internationals and then sold it to Bryan Faloon in March 1967. Raced and crashed many times by Faloon before he joined the Rorstan team for 1969/70 and the BT4 was finally retired. Sold by Faloon's estate to David Manton in 1981, then to Richard Hook (Auckland, NZ), who restored the car to its original Tasman specification and used it in historic racing in 1990. Then through four other historic racers until bought by the Minshaw family in 2005. Raced by Jason Minshaw from 2005 onwards.
9. Brabham BT2 ["FJ-13-62"] (Jack Oakley): Believed to be the "interim" car raced by Denis Hulme at the Boxing Day Brands Hatch 1962. Probably FJ-1-63 but given by recent owners as 'FJ-13-62'. Raced by Roy James in Formula Junior 1963 then to Mike Lawlor 1964 and entered for John Miles in Formula 3. Entered by Speedwell Engineering for Miles in a couple of early 1965 races. To Ray Thackwell (New Zealand) and fitted with a 1500cc Ford twin cam for New Zealand racing in the 1965/66 season. To John Weston for 1966/67 and then to Graham McRae for 1967/68. McRae used the engine and gearbox in his late-1968 McRae twin cam, and may also have used the suspension and uprights. According to David McKinney, the BT2 was rebuilt by Jack Oakley, who fitted with a Ford pushrod engine and VW gearbox. Whether this car was raced by Oakley in 1969 remains unclear, as Oakley also acquired the McRae. The car was acquired by the Southward Museum around 1979 and was restored by John Rapley (Paraparumu) in 1987. The restored car used a new frame built by Peter Bruin, and the original frame remained with Rapley. Used by Rapley in historic events, starting at Manfeild in November 1987 where it was fitted with a 1500cc Ford pushrod engine. Remained in Rapley's hands until 2017, when the car was stolen. It was recovered in September 2018, but in the meantime the original frame had been passed back to the Southward Museum, who were building another car from it. How these two cars will coexist remains uncertain.
10. Brabham BT6 [FJ-12-63] (Brian Pellow): Denis O'Sullivan in Formula Junior in 1963. Retained for Formula 3 in 1964, now entered by Baldyne Engineering. Appears to have moved to Motor Racing Stables after O'Sullivan acquired at F2 Brabham BT10 around August 1964 and was raced by John Tomlinson at Brands Hatch 13 Sep 1964. Sold to Ken Sager and fitted with a 1500cc Ford engine for New Zealand racing in 1965 and 1966. During its time in New Zealand, it was often referred to as a 1964 car, implying a BT9. Sold to Grahame Harvey mid-1966 and retained for 1967. Then to Tim Bailey and fitted with a 1500cc Fiat engine for 1968. To Brian Pellow for 1969, still with the Fiat. Retained by Pellow for 1970, but now with a 1600cc Ford. By October 1970, Peter Mahoney was driving "the old Pellow" Brabham in Formula Ford. This car was sold to Frank Gilbert (Auckland) and raced as a Formula Ford for two seasons. Graham Vercoe's book 'Historic Racing cars of New Zealand' claims that the car was a BT9, and that a replica frame was built by Pellow and that it was the replica frame that became the Formula Ford. Writing in 1991, he said that the original 'BT9' frame was owned by John Wigston.
11. Brabham BT6 [FJ-4-63] (Roy Lyme): Rodney Banting Formula Junior 1963. Then observed by Formula 1 Register member John Thompson to be the car entered by Janspeed Engineering for Clive Baker (Torquay) in Formula 3 in 1964. Sold to Graeme Lawrence and fitted with a 1500cc Ford twin cam for New Zealand racing in 1965 and 1966. To Laurence Brownlie for 1967, then Tony Batchelor for 1968, then hillclimber Roy Lyme for the 1968/69 season. Lyme raced it for the first time in a National Formula race at Pukekohe on 9 November 1968, but hit the fence at Champion Curve on lap 2, and the car was badly damaged. According to Graham Vercoe, it was rebuilt by Warner Collins. It then went to William Smith and was raced as a BT15 in 1970, then Eric Anderson in 1971, then Bernard Milray as a Formula Ford in 1976; and was bought by Wayne Rogers in 1982. Rogers restored it to Formula Junior specification and ran it at Pukekohe in December 1983. It was bought by Paul Higgins in 1988 who retained it until March 2001, when he sold it to Rob Hands in Australia. Bought by Peter Strauss (Armadale, Australia) in June 2002 and driven for the first time in a FJ race at Philip Island in in February 2004. Strauss has raced the car in Australian Formula Junior Association events since then.

Sources

Note that the identification of individual cars in these results is based on the material presented elsewhere in this site and may in some cases contradict the organisers' published results.

All comments, clarifications, corrections and additions are most welcome. Please email Allen (allen@oldracingcars.com) if you can help in any way with our research.

Individual sources for this event

Instead of heats, there was an 'Air New Zealand Feature' support race for 1500cc entries (including some not entered in GP) plus Hughes (Lotus-Daimler); other 2.5s scratched.