Photos: The Graeme Bennett Collection - Part 2

[Steve Holmes]

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Its been a while since I uploaded Part 1 of the Graeme Bennett Collection (http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?1118-Photos-The-Graeme-Bennett-Collection-Part-1) of historic New Zealand motor racing photos. Graeme's collection is BIG, and as such, I'm splitting it into several parts. Part 1 contained Saloon Car racing photos, of which there are more to come in a future chapter. But for Part 2, I wanted to concentrate on single seaters. Or, to be more precise, Formula 5000.

Graeme managed to snap some great Formula Atlantic/Pacific photos which will also be shown at a future date, but there are more than enough photos to separate F5000 and Atlantic/Pacific completely.

The F5000 pictures shown are from the last few seasons of the formula being run in New Zealand, so you won't see any Lola T142's or McLaren M10's. The dates are a bit mixed up, but thats OK, just enjoy them for what they are. The pics are from Pukekohe and Manfeild, and appear to be at the major Tasman Series races, so there is a great mix of cars.

[Steve Holmes]

Graeme Lawrence campaigned this Lola T332 from the 1973/74 season, right through until the demise of F5000 in New Zealand. Initially the car was painted blue, with the tall air-box and exposed motor. For the 1975 season, Lawrence picked up Marlboro backing, and ran the car in the new red and white colour scheme of the cigarette company, initially with the same bodywork as the previous season, and eventually with a more curvaceous air-box and engine cover. This shot shows the Lola in its second guise.

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[Steve Holmes]

Here is Frank Bray, in the ex-David Oxton Begg FM5 which is now in the Southward Car Museum (http://www.southwardcarmuseum.co.nz/). Bray raced the Begg during the 1974/75 season, though without a great deal of success, although he did score a good 5th place at the Manfeild International event, finishing one place behind Jim Murdoch in the new Begg 018.

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[Steve Holmes]

Another shot here of the Lawrence T332, while in behind are the two Begg FM5's, of Bray and Graham Baker, Baker in the ex-Allan McCully PDL car.

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[Steve Holmes]

And speaking of Begg's, here is the last one built, Begg 018. Much of the construction work was done by Jim Murdoch, who also drove the car, but rather than include his initials in the designation, as had been the case with the Fred McLean Begg's, this cars designation related only to the fact it was the 18th Begg built, and George Begg knew it would be the last.

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[Steve Holmes]

Here is Graham McRae in the McRae GM2, at the 1974 Pukekohe International (not the New Zealand Grand Prix, as that was held at Wigram in 1974). McRae qualified on the front row at most NZ rounds that season, but failed to win a race in his homeland. I believe the rights to the GM2 design eventually came to be owned by Jack McCormack, who built a small number of cars under the Talon name.

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[Steve Holmes]

This is Teddy Pilette, in one of two Team VDS Chevron B24's that ran the 1974 Tasman Series. Pilette finished this race in 4th position, while his team mate, Peter Gethin, was the victor.

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[Steve Holmes]

Here is Max Stewart in the Lola T330 with the distinctive rear wing that always looks like its falling off. For some reason the end-plates, which themselves are quite deep, are angled backwards, although the centre aerofoil is set to the usual attack angle. Maybe it was originally set up for a very high downforce track, where it was tilted further forward? Stewart won the 1974 Teretonga International with this car.

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[Steve Holmes]

In my opinion, one of the very best looking of all F5000 cars; the Allan McCully Begg FM5. This car differed to the FM5 run by George Begg for David Oxton, although its most notable difference is the air-box which is significantly taller and narrower. This car now competes regularly in historic F5000. For quite a few years it was painted blue, but more recently has been repainted in the correct PDL pink. I wish I had a photo of the car to hand as it currently looks, as its rear wing is mounted VERY high, compared to this period photo. I assume its current set-up is an attempt to grab more clean air away from the bodywork?

Something I was told once was that this car was never officially termed a 'Begg' by McCully, as he and George Begg had had a falling out, so he only ever referred to it as an FM5. Does anyone know if this is true?

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[Michael Clark]

George called his last car the 018 because it was his 18th car. No.16 was the pink car above - if George didn't regard this as one of 'his', then 018 would have been 017.

According to the 'book' prepared in conjunction with the George Begg Spectacular at Teretonga in February 2007, this car "...started life as a spare" and "...differed from the car George and David Oxton took to Europe in a number of areas..."

George called it a Begg, the current owner, who had worked in the 'Toyshop' as a University student, calls it a Begg - and as a result it featured in a the aforementioned book - I know the author and there was never any question in his mind...

[Shano]

This is the Allan McCully Begg FM5 in its more pink mode at last year's Leadfoot festival. It looked real good. (Note "Begg FM5" on the front).

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[DJMcD]

In my opinion, one of the very best looking of all F5000 cars; the Allan McCully Begg FM5. This car differed to the FM5 run by George Begg for David Oxton, although its most notable difference is the air-box which is significantly taller and narrower. This car now competes regularly in historic F5000. For quite a few years it was painted blue, but more recently has been repainted in the correct PDL pink. I wish I had a photo of the car to hand as it currently looks, as its rear wing is mounted VERY high, compared to this period photo. I assume its current set-up is an attempt to grab more clean air away from the bodywork?

Something I was told once was that this car was never officially termed a 'Begg' by McCully, as he and George Begg had had a falling out, so he only ever referred to it as an FM5. Does anyone know if this is true?

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This is a long running naming story with Allan (AJ) McCully. The tub was a spare FM5 one sold to AJ by George. It is probably fair to say they did not send each other Christmas cards. The car was built in the PDL workshops in Christchurch. The bodywork was created by Robin Officer. AJ ran the unusual PDL liveried car in the 1974 Tasman series, retiring at Pukekohe, finishing as magnificent second at Levin to Johnnie Walker's T330 Lola just fractions of a second behind. A 7th at Wigram and 6th at Teretonga then saw the pink car moved on by Allan. It moved through many different owners both here and Australia until arriving back in New Zealand.
It's current owner, Lindsay O'Donnell initially painted it a light electric blue but has bowed to pressure from old farts like me to re-create the original period livery! It probably looks better these days than it ever did and is on display at the Highlands National Motorsport Museum near Cromwell.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for the replies you guys. Thanks too Shane for posting the pics of the car as it currently appears. You can see how much taller the wing is mounted now.

[Steve Holmes]

Here is Warwick Brown's impressive Lola T332.

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[Steve Holmes]

Great shot here of the unique Garry Pederson McLaren M18, with its side-mounted radiators and sharp nose. This is a really good looking car from this angle. Does anyone know what happened to it?

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[Rod Grimwood]

Steve, did you get photos I emailed (just interested if email worked)

[David McKinney]

The M18B was with Peter Benbrook for a while - he may still have it

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks David. Any idea on its condition?

[Steve Holmes]

Steve, did you get photos I emailed (just interested if email worked)

Yes I did Rod, thanks heaps. Just had to resize them to fit. Here is the first one, which again shows the much taller rear wing position.

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[Steve Holmes]

Graeme Lawrence pounds down the front straight at Puke. Just look at the inside and outside fences. Not the sort of thing you want to hit in a flimsy F5000.

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[Steve Holmes]

Peter Gethin and Graham McRae form up on the grid for the start of the 1974 Pukekohe International.

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[Steve Holmes]

This is the opening shot for this chapter, with the cars sitting on the grid. Behind pole man McRae, and eventual race winner Gethin, are David Oxton in the Begg FM5, and John McCormack in the Elfin MR5. Just in behind Oxton is Gethin's Team VDS team mate Teddy Pilette.

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[Steve Holmes]

And just a bit further down the grid, is Graeme Lawrence in the Lola T332 next to Pilette. On the next row back are Max Stewart and Johnnie Walker in their Lola T330's, followed by Warwick Brown and Allan McCully.

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[Steve Holmes]

Peter Gethin thunders past in the Chevron.

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[Steve Holmes]

Here is Graeme Lawrence in his beautiful Lola T332. I really like this car in this colour scheme.

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[Steve Holmes]

Another shot of Warwick Brown.

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[Steve Holmes]

Now, jumping forward a year, to the end of the 1975 New Zealand Grand Prix, and race winner Warwick Brown is about to receive his trophy.

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

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[Steve Holmes]

You just don't see enough beer crates in modern motorsport podium ceremonies!

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[Steve Holmes]

The winning car, Brown's Lola T332.

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[Steve Holmes]

And now Brown is flanked by second and third place getters Jim Murdoch (Begg 018) and Graeme Lawrence (Lola T331). This was a big day for the small Begg team, and their New Zealand built race car.

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[Steve Holmes]

And now, the parade lap, in the Triumph Stag!

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[Rod Grimwood]

#32, Browns winning Lola.
Think I reckonize the guy in cheaquerd shorts, white T-shirt and red cap. Same moustache but a different colour then and he had hair back then as well.

[Oldfart]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;33177]You just don't see enough beer crates in modern motorsport podium ceremonies!



Just shows.. in NZ it was beer prize not champers!

[Steve Holmes]

Slightly blurry shot here of Ken Smith in his Lola T332. I think this is from the same 1975 race as shown above, where Smith finished 5th.

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[Steve Holmes]

One of the new Lola T400s entered for the Pukekohe 1975 event. This is Kevin Bartlett. Max Stewart was driving the other 400.

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[Steve Holmes]

Here is Robbie Booth in the much-modified Begg FM4.

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[Steve Holmes]

Jim Murdoch heads down the front straight as two cars, the second of which I think is Ken Smith, head to the pits. Further back up the track can be seen the exit of one of Pukekohe's infamous temporary chicanes that were added in an attempt to slow the track following the Brian Faloon tragedy in 1972.

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[Steve Holmes]

Umm, now, I believe this is not from the Pukekohe Tasman Series event, but from one of the smaller New Zealand Gold Star events. These next four photos are from the 1973/74 season. Quite a different angle also these pics are shot from.

First up is David Oxton in the Begg FM5.

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[Steve Holmes]

Garry Pederson in the McLaren M18.

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[Steve Holmes]

Reg Cook in the Lola T300. Can someone tell me who raced this chassis prior to Cook?

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[Steve Holmes]

Baron Robertson in the March 722.

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[Jac Mac]

The Reg Cook car, was it ex Walker? from Australia.

Nope, cant have been as they both raced at same meets? sorry, I'll stick to tin tops:)

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Jac, I've been through Allen Browns excellent Old Racing Cars website a couple of times trying to figure it out. Cook is mentioned in relation chassis HU3 (Graeme Lawrence), HU4 (Niel Allen) and HU16 (Kevin Bartlett). So did he build this car using an assortment of parts from these three cars, or did he start out with HU16 and buy surviving parts of the other cars?

[Marty]

I think it was ex Max Stewart.

[Michael Clark]

Max Stewart never ran a T300 and I can't recall Johnnie Walker racing one either.

I thought the Cook car was ex Warwick Brown - the Target car

[David McKinney]

Cookie's T300 was the ex-Bartlett car, HU16

It was only after its destruction that parts of it were combined with HU3 and/or HU4

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks for this you guys. So there is nothing left of HU16? And by that I mean, this car no longer exists?

[Steve Holmes]

OK, another time-line jump, and back to the 1974 Pukekohe International. Here, negotiating one of the Puke chicanes is Robbie Booth in the Begg FM4.

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[Steve Holmes]

Graham McRae in the GM2.

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[Steve Holmes]

And Garry Pederson in the McLaren M18.

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[Jac Mac]

I see Chassis HU24 on ebay at moment as a damaged car/rebuild project ebay#271276877005

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks Jac, do you have a link?

[Steve Holmes]

Here is another shot of McRae.

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[Steve Holmes]

Here is Graham Baker in the former Allan McCully Begg FM5. This must be from the 1975 season, I think.

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[Steve Holmes]

Here is Graeme Lawrence again in his Lola T332. This is, I believe, the 1975 New Zealand Grand Prix event at Pukekohe, where Lawrence finished third behind Graham McRae and John McCormack.

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[rogered]

I see Chassis HU24 on ebay at moment as a damaged car/rebuild project ebay#271276877005

Yes i saw that. Went and had a look at "oldracingcars.com" and the "history" does not seam to match, which i guess is not unusual. (wonder when it will turn up in nz :) )

[rogered]

Here is Graeme Lawrence again in his Lola T332. This is, I believe, the 1975 New Zealand Grand Prix event at Pukekohe, where Lawrence finished third behind Graham McRae and John McCormack.

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Got the "Correct" (in my opinion) air scoop. Not fond of the one it wears currently

[Steve Holmes]

Yeah I like this one too Roger. It currently wears the more curvaceous scoop it wore in the 1976 season, with enclosed engine.

[George Sheweiry]

This is the car or should I say the remains of that I bought from Kelvin Camerons widow to use for my Detomaso Pantera sports sedan build in 1983. The Tub was bent like a banana as I was told Garry had a big off coming over chinamans hill at Puke.


And Garry Pederson in the McLaren M18.



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[rogered]

This is the car or should I say the remains of that I bought from Kelvin Camerons widow to use for my Detomaso Pantera sports sedan build in 1983. The Tub was bent like a banana as I was told Garry had a big off coming over chinamans hill at Puke.

Did I see the rebuilt tub for sale just recently advertised here in NZ?

[Steve Holmes]

Here is Neil Doyle, former Corvette powered Anglia Allcomer racer, driving the converted Formula 1 Surtees TS9, into which he fitted a small block Chevy. I'm wary of quoting Graham Vercoe's book, but in it he said this car was the ex-Mike Hailwood car? Is this correct? I assume its now an F1 car again with Cosworth power?

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[GD66]

Oldracingcars.com seems to think the Doyle car is the ex-Tim Schenken chassis TS9/006. The Hailwood chassis used in NZ was TS9/002.

[Steve Holmes]

Oldracingcars.com seems to think the Doyle car is the ex-Tim Schenken chassis TS9/006. The Hailwood chassis used in NZ was TS9/002.

Thank you for this. I also posted the image on our Facebook page, and several people said it was the Hailwood car, as to be expected as that is what is written in the Vercoe book, but I also got the following reply from Derek Woods:

"I assisted tony haycock from classic driver magazine nz with some photos and a short history of the car written in book form by the late chris williamson only three months ago it was one of the feature articles about 2 issues ago in that mag, the car now resides in the uk and has more history than most surtees cars. It is chassis number 006 driven in 1972 by tim schenken scoring points only once. Lord hesketh rented the car from surtees for james hunts f1 debut in the 1973 race of champions where mr hunt placed it 3rd , hesketh decided the car was not for them and bought a new march 731 and enjoyed some good results in hunts first year including a second in the usgp. Back to 006 neil doyle bought the car for around 5000 dollars later in 1973 after it had been laying around the factory for a while. Its nz history is well documented so buy the mag on trade me or borrow it and read the article it fills a gap on a nz forgotten f5000 car".

[Steve Holmes]

Here is Frank Bray in the ex-David Oxton Begg FM5.

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[Steve Holmes]

Back to the 1974 NZIGP, and Peter Gethin is just shooting out of the frame in the Chevron B24.

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[Steve Holmes]

And here is pole-man Graham McRae in the GM2.

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[Steve Holmes]

Here is another shot of Max Stewart in the Lola.

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[Steve Holmes]

Another shot of the superb McCully FM5

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[Steve Holmes]

Is this Lola T400 that of Paul Bernasconi? Interesting paint scheme, very similar to the Boraxo colours Brian Redman ran in the US.

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[Steve Holmes]

The field rolls towards the starter for the 1976 New Zealand Grand Prix. Graeme Lawrence on pole, Ken Smith alongside.

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[Steve Holmes]

Here is the eventual winner of the 1976 NZ Grand Prix winner. Ken Smith in the Lola T332.

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[Steve Holmes]

And here is Brian Redman in the Chevron B29. Didn't he cut the chicanes in the early laps?

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[Michael Clark]

Lap 1 - straight through on the back straight. I can still hear the gasp that went through the crowd...

[khyndart in CA]

Yes, I talked to Brian Redman at the Monterey Historic Meet 2 years ago and he still laughs about doing that. It certainly
did put a gasp through the crowd as we remembered other incidents on the back straight involving Hulme one year
and Bryan Faloon in 1972.

[Steve Holmes]

So did he skip the chicane just because he didn't like the chicane, or because he thought it was a stupid place for a chicane, or because he didn't take the race too seriously, or because he knew he didn't stand a chance again the big capacity cars............? He has a good sense of humour does Brian.

[khyndart in CA]

I think at the time it was because he knew it was the only chance to "have a go" against the big capacity cars on the first lap.

[David McKinney]

That's certainly my understanding

[Carlo]

That's certainly my understanding

Agree with David it was his only chance of running near the front for a few laps

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks guys.

[Steve Holmes]

Bit hard to see here, but this is Brian Redman leading the F5000s at the end of the opening lap. Pretty good sized crowd!

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[Steve Holmes]

Here is Graeme Lawrence in his T332. This is the final guise for this car, and the one it retains today in historic racing.

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[Steve Holmes]

I think this is Kevin Bartlett, having switched back to a T332 from the T400 he'd previously campaigned.

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[Dale Harvey]

That is the T400. It just has a few things changed, like the airbox and the rear of the bodywork removed.
Dale.

[Steve Holmes]

Oh yeah, you are right! Well spotted Dale.

[Steve Holmes]

Bruce Allison, who qualified 5th and finish 2nd in the Lola T332.

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[Steve Holmes]

Max Stewart in the Lola T400, being attended to by his pit crew. Stewart retired from the 1976 NZGP, but I'm unsure if this was taken during the race or during practice. Either way, a fantastic photo.

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[Steve Holmes]

Maybe someone can help me out here. This is prize giving at the 1976 New Zealand Grand Prix event. Ken Smith won the race, from Bruce Allison and Kevin Bartlett. Pictured here is Smith collecting his prize. Standing next to him, is this Bruce Allison? The third driver pictured appears to be Jim Murdoch, who finished 5th. Where is Bartlett? Can anyone help with this?

Or was this prize giving from the POSB Gold Star race that preceded the GP?

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[Howard Wood]

Maybe someone can help me out here. This is prize giving at the 1976 New Zealand Grand Prix event. Ken Smith won the race, from Bruce Allison and Kevin Bartlett. Pictured here is Smith collecting his prize. Standing next to him, is this Bruce Allison? The third driver pictured appears to be Jim Murdoch, who finished 5th. Where is Bartlett? Can anyone help with this?

Or was this prize giving from the POSB Gold Star race that preceded the GP?

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Middle driver looks like Graeme Lawrence to me.

[Rod Grimwood]

That it is Howard.

Maybe as you say Steve, POSB Gold Star prize giving.

[Steve Holmes]

Thanks guys, yes at first I thought it looked like Lawrence, but he doesn't appear to have featured in any of the results. Although he took pole for both the Gold Star and NZGP races, he stopped on lap 1 of the Gold Star, returning towards the end. He dnf'd in the NZGP.

[Steve Holmes]

Nice photo here of Ken Smith, having won the NZGP, taking his victory lap alongside Len Southward (of the Southward Car Museum) in Len's beloved 1915 Stutz Indy 500 racer.

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[Steve Holmes]

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[graham donaldson]

thanks .what a great series that was.I was so lucky to be working for VDS and on Peters car.this web site is so great to bring back the memories

[graham donaldson]

the F5000 series in the tasman was great that everyone got along with other team members

[graham donaldson]

[QUOTE=Steve Holmes;32733]Here is Graham McRae in the McRae GM2, at the 1974 Pukekohe International (not the New Zealand Grand Prix, as that was held at Wigram in 1974). McRae qualified on the front row at most NZ rounds that season, but failed to win a race in his homeland. I believe the rights to the GM2 design eventually came to be owned by Jack McCormack, who built a small number of cars under the Talon name.

yes you are right.I worked with jack when he was at AAR for a while