New Zealand Grand Prix

Pukekohe, 6 Jan 1973

All cars are 5-litre F5000 unless noted.

Notes on the cars:

1. Elfin MR5 [5711] (John McCormack): New to John McCormack in September 1971, and raced in Australian Gold Star, taking two second places and a win from three races. Raced by McCormack in the 1972 Tasman series, and the 1972 Australian Gold Star, where he won one race. Then raced in the 1973 Tasman series, where he won the NZ GP and the Adelaide '100', and in the 1973 Australian Gold Star, when he won two races and the championship. Raced again in the 1974 Tasman, again winning the NZ GP. Raced by Phil Moore in the 1974 Gold Star. Sold to Glen Nichols December 1975, and entered for the Rothmans Internationals, but did not start a race. History then unknown until bought from Les Swallow by Gavin Sala, and sold to John McCormack for restoration some time before 1992.
2. McRae GM1 [007] (Alan Rollinson): See full history: McRae GM1/007.
3. Chevron B24 [24-72-01] (Steve Thompson): Built for 1972 season. Works for Brian Redman: raced in UK 1972 (debut at Oulton Park 29 May 1972 - 5 races 3 wins) and US 1972 (Redman 4 races 1 win, Gethin 1 race) - Keith Holland for John Player Challenge Trophy at Brands Hatch 22 Oct - Alan Brodie for Steve Thompson: raced in Tasman 1973 and UK 1973. Badly damaged in a severe testing accident at Silverstone on 24 May when a tyre burst at Woodcote at 140 mph, and Thompson was lucky to escape with bruising. The car was written off, and Brodie acquired a brand new 1973 B24.
4. McRae GM1 [005] (Graham McRae): See full history: McRae GM1/005.
5. Begg FM4 (Garry Pedersen): Built for 1970/71 season, and first raced by Geoff Mardon at Wigram in January 1971. Raced by David Oxton in the 1971/72 Gold Star. To Garry Pedersen October 1972, and rebuilt with a wedge body for the 1972/73 Gold Star. Then to Bill David for Robbie Booth to race in the 1974 Internationals, the 1974/75 Gold Star events, and the 1975 Internationals. Then to Gary Love for the 1976 Internationals, but the car's history is then unknown until it was acquired by Allan Hamilton in Australia some time before 1990. Next seen with Graham Brayshaw (Brookby, Auckland, New Zealand) in 2004, and retained to 2006. To the Rush family, and raced by Timothy Rush in the 2007/08 F5000 Tasman Revival series. Raced by Tim but also sometimes by Terry in the 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2011/12 series. Last seen racing in November 2011, but photographed in The Rush Collection in April 2016.
6. March 722 [1] (Ken Smith): The prototype March 722 was sold to Sports Motors Manchester for Gerry Birrell to race in Formula 2 in 1972. At the end of the season, the car was sold to New Zealander Kenny Smith, and fitted with a 1930cc Cosworth FVC engine for the 1973 Tasman series. He also used it at the April 1973 Singapore Grand Prix using a 1600cc Hart Ford twin-cam. Frank Radisich bought it and bolted on the Repco Holden engine and rear end from his McLaren M10B, but this was wholely unsuccessful, and Radisich later tried a Mazda engine instead, also updating it to 1976 nose and sidepods, but again with no success. In late 1977, it reappeared with Dave Saunders who had fitted a Cosworth BDA engine for Formula Pacific, but the reliability problems persisted. According to Graham Vercoe, Dennis Dunbar later raced it, again with the Mazda engine. In the late 1980s, it was bought less engine from Dunbar by Murray Biddick, who restored the car, fitted a BDA engine and did a couple of club events. It was then sold on his behalf by Charlie Conway to Adrian Whapman. David McKinney reported that Whapman was advertising it in 1994. David also noted that it later went to Australia, where it was owned in 2003 by Kevin Miller, and then returned to NZ and was owned by David Heron. By 2008, Heron had restored it in STP livery, and it was being associated with Niki Lauda.
7. Brabham BT36 [12] (Noritake Takahara): New to Noritake Takahara for Japanese racing, first appearing at the JAF Grand Prix in May 1972, when it was fitted with a 2-litre Mitsubishi Colt R39B engine. Raced by Takahara with a 1800cc Cosworth FVC in the 1973 Tasman series, then in a series of Japanese raced for 2000cc cars, when it was said to have a 2-litre Hart BDA. Later to Shigeaki Asaoka in 1975, then Kiyoshi Misaki in 1976 and 1977. From 1978 to 1985, it was owned by a Mr Tomita. To Shigeaki Koshiba in 1986, then to Hashime Tanaka in 1997, then Tom Smith (CA, USA) in 2006.
8. Surtees TS15 [01] (David McConnell): New for Carlos Pace to race in the Torneio do Brasil F2 races in October 1972, fitted with a Brian Hart alloy BDA. Sold to Canadian Dave McConnell for the 1973 Tasman series, again using the Hart BDA, and then raced by him in the 1973 Formula 2 season. After the first session of the Nürburgring race in late April, McConnell packed up his car and announced his retirement from racing. The subsequent history of the TS15 is unknown.
9. Matich A50 [001 as '002'] (Frank Matich): New for Frank Matich to win the 1971 Australian GP, then raced in the New Zealand Tasman rounds before being renumbered '002' for the Australian Internationals. Matich won the 1972 Australian Gold Star in this car, and raced it in the 1973 Tasman series. Then to Barry Lewis in 1975 - Peter Roach 1976 - Dave Powell 1976 - John Briggs 1978 and damaged at a hillclimb. Via K & A Engineering to Gavin Sala 1984 or 1985, then to his son Bryan Sala. More information about Matich A50-001/002
10. Lola T300 [HU4-2] (Warwick Brown): New to Niel Allen but crashed in testing. Rebuilt and sold to Bob Muir for 1972, then to Pat Burke Racing for Warwick Brown in 1973, and written off at Surfers Paradise. Some parts of this car to Reg Cook, then to David Manton, then to Frank Lyons. More information about Lola T300 HU4
11. March 722 [37] (Baron Robertson): New to Chris Oates (Kimberley, Notts) and entered by Alida Graham Eden Racing in a couple of Formula Atlantic races in April 1972, but Oates was well off the pace and the car was not seen again until January 1973, when it had been acquired by Baron Robertson in New Zealand, and fitted with a Cosworth FVC for the 1973 Tasman series. It was dreadfully slow, and Robertson traded it to Max Stewart for his Elfin MR5. Stewart entered the March-FVC for John Leffler in the Australian rounds of the 1974 Tasman series. Then fitted with a Ford twin cam engine for Stewart to drive in the Australian F2 races later in 1974. It was later acquired by Paul Feltham, a high-profile Australian Rules Football player who was attempting to break into motor racing, and raced by him at Hume Weir in March 1975. This car remains in Australia.
12. Lola T300 [HU16] (Kevin Bartlett): New to Kevin Bartlett and raced in 1972 Australian Gold Star and 1973 Tasman. Sold to Reg Cook (NZ) 1973, but later burnt out in a trailer fire. Some remains later from Reg Cook to David Manton (NZ) and used in reconstruction of T300 HU3. More information about Lola T300 HU16
13. McRae GM1 [002] (Evan Noyes): Built as Leda LT27-002 for the 1972 season. To Evan Noyes (Cedarville, MI) and raced in UK and US series in 1972, then Tasman 1973, then US series 1973. Via Roy Campbell, "Race Car Drivers Institute" and a bankrupcy auction to Jim Sechser (St Louis Park, MN) by 1975, and used in SCCA racing and a single Pro race in 1976 and 1977. Crashed heavily in 1977, but rebuilt and raced again in 1979. To Fred Schilpin (St Cloud, MN) 1979 or later, and used in minor racing; then retained until 1996. To Roger Williams (Auckland, New Zealand) 1996. Raced by Williams in Australian historic racing from 2001 onwards, and in the F5000 Tasman Revival series from 2003 to 2006. To Alastair Russell (Auckland, New Zealand) and raced in Tasman Revival series from 2006 onwards. More information about Leda LT27-002/McRae GM1-002
14. Brabham BT23C ["17"] (Kelvin Cameron): Built by Baron Robertson using a new chassis acquired from Racing Frames in England and the remaining parts of BT23C/7 which had been crashed by Roly Levis while testing it for Robertson at Bay Park in December 1969. This car first raced at the start of the 1970/71 New Zealand season where Graham Vercoe says it wore a chassis plate '23/17'. New Zealand motor racing historian David McKinney referred to the car as 'BT23C/17' but did not believe it had any relationship to the car of that number that was still owned at that time by Kurt Buess in Switzerland. Raced by Robertson in New Zealand in 1971 and 1972, and then by Kelvin Cameron in 1973. By 1978 the car was with Frank Macskasy and he has confirmed to Andrew Fellowes that it was destroyed in a garage fire. The engine survived and was sold to Lloyd Evans.
15. Lola T330 [HU1] (Max Stewart): Works car for Frank Gardner at the end of 1972, then to Max Stewart for the 1973 Tasman series, the 1973 US series, 1973 Australian Gold Star, 1974 Tasman, and 1974 Gold Star. In ecember 1974, Kevin Bartlett used the car to win a New Zealand Gold Star race. Driven by David Oxton in the 1975 New Zealand Tasman races, then by Stewart for last two races of Tasman 1975 after he gave up on his Lola T400. Driven by John Leffler, Stewart and Paul Bernasconi during 1975. To Ian Adams (NSW, Australia) 1976, and raced until 1982. Sold by Adams to Darcy Russell (Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia) in 1988, and raced in historic racing from 1992 onwards. Appeared regularly at the VHRR Phillip Island Classic from 1997 to 2016, and in the Australian GP support races in 2009 and 2010. More information about Lola T330 HU1
16. McLaren M10C [400-10-3] (Frank Radisich): New to Frank Matich (Australia) and fitted with Repco's new Holden V8 F5000 engine for Australian racing. Raced for the first time at Warwick Farm on 12 July 1970 but crashed, and rebuilt on a new tub as "M10C". Next raced at Calder on 18 Oct 1970, then at Australian Grand Prix 22 Nov 1970. Raced in the 1971 Tasman series, then to the US for the L&M series before returning to Australia for the 1971 Gold Star series. Crashed prior to Oran Park 27 June and rebuilt on third tub. To Frank Radisich at the end of 1971 and raced in the 1972 Tasman series, the 1972 Australian Gold Star, and the 1973 Tasman. To Keith Laney (NZ), fitted with a Chevrolet V8 and appeared in the Tasman series in 1974 and 1975. Then to Dennis Phillips for hill climbs 1976, then Russel Greer (Blenheim, NZ) and fitted with a 6.3-litre Chevy to win the 1979/80 NZ hill climb championship. Sold to Peter Addison (Australia) but history then unknown until acquired by Max Warwick (Australia) in the mid-1990s. Raced at Historic Sandown from 1998. Sold to Graham Wadsworth (Melbourne, Australia) 2006.
17. Begg FM2 [1] (Neil Doyle): Built for 1969/70 season. Begg Engineering: raced by Graham McRae in 1969/70 Gold Star series (debut Pukekohe Oct 1969) and later Geoff Mardon in New Zealand Tasman rounds. Then sold to Neil Doyle (Ashburton, NZ) and used in New Zealand Gold Star races in 1970/71, 1971/72 and 1972/73. Sold to Peter Rhodes, then bought by George Begg for spares. Chassis sold to John Gobbe (Christchurch, NZ), and history then unknown until acquired by Stuart Lush (Auckland, NZ) in 1993. Fully restored and first seen at a Lady Wigram Trophy memorial meeting in November 1998. Presumably the car raced by Stuart McDonald in the first Tasman Revival race in late 2003. Raced by Judy Lyons in the Tasman Revival series in January 2006. Raced by Kerry McIntosh (Auckland, NZ) at Phillip Island in March 2008, and in the Tasman Revival series in 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, but crashed at Hampton Downs in Jan 2012. Next seen when raced by McIntosh at Taupo Jan 2017, and Pukekohe Nov 2017.

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.

Sources include Autosport, Motoring News, the F1 Register books and Graham Vercoe's books "Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand" and "The Golden Era of New Zealand Motor Racing".

The start point for the 1970 Tasman results was Bruce Sergent's site which contains full reports on all these races. The 1970 results were then augmented by practice times and other information on R1 Levin and R2 Pukekohe (both in Autosport 15 Jan 1970); R3 Wigram (Autosport 29 Jan 1970); R4 Teretonga (Auto News Vol 3 No 14 9 Feb 1970 and Autosport 29 Jan 1970); R5 Surfers Paradise (Auto News Vol 3 No 15 23 Feb 1970 and Autosport 19 Feb 1970); R6 Warwick Farm (Auto News Vol 3 No 16 9 Mar 1970 and Autosport 26 Feb 1970); and R7 Sandown Park (Auto News Vol 3 No 16 9 Mar 1970 and Autosport 26 Feb 1970). Additional qualifying times have been provided by Milan Fistonic.

Individual sources for this event

There were no preliminaries for this race. Qualifying times provided by Wolfgang Klopfer from Motoring News.