New Zealand Grand Prix

Pukekohe, 4 Jan 1976

All cars are 5-litre F5000 unless noted.

Notes on the cars:

1. Lola T330 [HU8] (Ken Smith): To Haas/Hall and developed by Jim Hall with revised bodywork, radiators and rear wing for Brian Redman in the 1973 US series. Then to Rogers Racing for Larry Harley in the 1974 US series. To Ken Smith (New Zealand) for the 1974/75 season, the New Zealand and Australian Internationals 1976. To Chris Milton (South Australia) and raced in Australia from Sep 1977 to Sep 1978. To John Blanden 1978, and driven for him by Rob Butcher from 1979 to 1982. To Bib Stillwell 1988 for Australian historic racing. To Noel Robson (Melbourne, Australia) 1993, and raced in Australian historic racing for many years. More information about Lola T330 HU8
2. Lola T332 ['HU22-2'] (Bruce Allison): Effectively a new Lola T332 built for Kevin Bartlett to replace the T330 crashed at Pukekohe in January 1974. Raced by Bartlett in the Australian Gold Star from August 1974 onwards. To Bruce Allison for 1975 and raced in Australian Gold Star 1975, and New Zealand and Australian Internationals 1976, but crashed and heavily damaged at Oran Park 1 Feb. Rebuilt again on another T332 tub and raced by Allison later in 1976. Sold by Allison to Martin Sampson of Magnum Wheels, and raced for him by Kevin Bartlett in the 1977 Australian Internationals 1977, by Alan Jones at Surfers after he wrecked his T332C HU61, then by Johnnie Walker in September 1977, and in Australia in 1978 and 1979. Sampson retired the car after 1979, and it was displayed at the Birdwood Museum until sold to Bob Minogue in 1987. Raced for Minoque by Barry Ward in 1987, then sold to Paul Cromarty (Aus), then Adrian Whapham (NZ) in 1994 or 1995. To Stan Redmond (Christchurch, NZ) by 2001 and raced in F5000 Tasman Revival series. To Peter Sundberg (Auckland, New Zealand) 2009. To David Banks (Auckland, New Zealand) and raced by him in the 2017/18 Tasman Revival series. More information about Lola T332 'the Kevin Bartlett car'
3. Lola T400 [HU1] (Kevin Bartlett): See full history: Lola T400 HU1.
4. Chevron B29 [29-75-30] (Brian Redman): Built as a works development car, and tested by Brian Redman. Then entered by Jörg Obermoser's Team Warsteiner Eurorace for Hans Binder to drive in Formula 2 with a Rosche BMW engine, when it was reported to be chassis 32. Brian Redman drove it in the 1976 New Zealand Internationals, still with its 2-litre BMW engine, this time as part of the Fred Opert team. Sold in New Zealand to David Oxton, fitted with a Formula Pacific BDA engine and raced in the New Zealand Formula Pacific series in January 1977. Then to Eric Morgan for Gold Star and International races from 1977 to 1981. Sold to Chris Read for 1982. Later history with the car indicates that it was sold by Read to Kenny Smith in 1991, then to Brian Sampson in 1992, then Peter Whelan in 2000, and Miles Jackson in 2008.
5. Begg [018] (Jim Murdoch): First raced by Jim Murdoch in the New Zealand Gold Star in late 1974, then in the 1975 Tasman series, finishing second in the New Zealand Grand Prix, the 1975-76 Gold Star season, and in the 1976 NZ Internationals. The car was then retired to the Queenstown Motor Museum, where it remained when it was sold to Gavin Bain (Christchurch) in the late 1980s. It was later sold to Phil Mauger (Christchurch) and reappeared in 2004 when raced by him in the F5000 Tasman Revival series. Then to Noel Atley (Invercargill) who raced it in the Tasman Revival series from 2005 to 2009. Sold to Calven Bonney for 2010, and raced by him in the Tasman Revival series until sold to Scott O'Donnell (Invercargill) in 2017. The car will be on display on a regular basis at Bill Richardson Transport World in Invercargill.
6. Lola T400 [HU3] (Paul Bernasconi): See full history: Lola T400 HU3.
7. Elfin MR5 [5722] (Baron Robertson): New to Max Stewart in time for the start of the 1972 Tasman series. Also raced by Stewart in the 1972 Australian Gold Star. Entered by Stewart for John Leffler in a few raced in October/November 1973. Then sold to Baron Robertson and raced in the Tasman series in 1974 and 1975, and in the New Zealand and Australian Internationals in 1976. History then unknown until bought from David Davidson (Melbourne) by Gavin Sala. By 1994, this car was with Adrian Tweedle (Victoria). Subsequent history again unknown, but reported to be with Max Pearson by 2012.
8. Elfin MR5-B [5723] (John Edmonds): Works Elfin Sports Cars entry for Garrie Cooper in the 1972 Tasman and Australian Gold Star, the 1973 Tasman and Australian Gold Star, the 1974 Tasman and Australian Gold Star, and the 1975 Tasman and Australian Gold Star. Rebuilt in August 1975 as the MR5-B. Sold to John Edmonds for the last race of the Australian Gold Star, then the 1976 New Zealand and Australian Internationals, the 1976 national season, and the 1977 Australian Internationals. Then to Phil Ward 1977, and then with Mike Pope from 1980 to 1986. History then unknown until bought from Geoff Munday by Gavin Sala. Sold by Sala to Ken Smith in Nnew Zealand, and reportedly with Barrie Flett in 1994. The car is said to have spent time in a museum in NZ, before being bought by Smith again, and sold back to Geoff Munday some time before 2014.
9. Lola T332 [HU28] (Graeme Lawrence): Graeme Lawrence (NZ) for Tasman 1974, New Zealand Gold Star 1974; Tasman 1975; Tasman 1976; Gold Star Oct/Nov 1976; Australian Internationals 1977 - Terry Hook (Aus) Australian Internationals 1978, Australian Internationals 1979; heavily crashed at a club event at Lakeside 21 Jun 1981. Rebuilt by March 1982 by Chas Talbot on a new tub. Sold to Bob Minogue and Pete Brennan in the mid-1980s who sold the rear end to Peter Bick to complete his ex-Davison HU34. The ex-Hook car was then built up with other parts and sold to Manuel Jimenez who in turn passed it to Murray Richards (Murrumbeena, Australia). To David Sharp (New Zealand) 1993. To Murray Sinclair (Hong Kong, and Christchurch, New Zealand) 2001, and raced in the F5000 Tasman Revival from 2003 to 2007. To Russell Greer (Blenheim, New Zealand) 2007, who continued to race it in the Revival series. More information about Lola T332 HU28
10. Lola T400 [HU2] (Max Stewart): See full history: Lola T400 HU2.
11. McLaren M4A ["14"] (Ross Calgher): 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.
12. Brabham BT29 [23] (Peter Hughes): Entered by Fred Opert Racing for Evan Noyes (Cedarville, MI) in the 1971 Tasman series, where it was fitted with a 1.8-litre Cosworth FVC. This was not the same BT29 that Noyes had used in Formula B in 1970, as that car was later advertised by Opert in the US. Sold to Graeme Lawrence (New Zealand) after the Tasman series, fitted with a Hart twin cam and used in races in South East Asia in early 1971, then with the FVC again for races in New Zealand and Australia. To Leo Geoghegan for SE Asian races in 1972, then to Ken Smith in New Zealand. Next seen when advertised by Bill David (Taupo, New Zealand) in June 1974, still with its FVC and twin cam engines. Raced by Frank Bray and entered by David in 1975, then to Peter Hughes and fitted with a Fiat engine for 1976, then a BDA for 1977. Observed by David McKinney in 1977 to be chassis BT29/23.
13. Begg FM5 [2] (Graham Baker): Built new in 1973 by Fred McLean for Allan McCully for the 1973/74 New Zealand Gold Star, and regarded by McLean as a FM5, not a Begg FM5. To Graham Baker 1974 and raced in Tasman 1974, the 1974/75 and 1975/76 Gold Star, and the 1976 NZ Internationals. To Charles Talbot (Australia) 1976, and raced by him in the 1977 and 1978 Rothmans Australian Internationals. Presumably the car raced by Allan R. Nitschke in Australia from 1979 to 1982. Then unknown until acquired by Bryan and Graham Sala about 1990. Bought at auction in Australia by Gavin Hicks (Auckland, NZ) about 1991 and sold by him to Lindsay O'Donnell (Christchurch, NZ) 2001. Raced by O'Donnell in the F5000 Tasman Revival from 2003 to the 2012/13 season. Returned two years later for the New Zealand Festival at Hampton Downs in January 2015. More information about Begg FM5/2
14. Begg FM4 (Gary Love): 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.

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.