Northern Sports Car Club - the early years.

[Roger Dowding]

Dawson Donaldson - known as Daws Donaldson had acquired the Bruce McLaren 1930's Austin Seven Ulster Sports Car by 1957.

Bruce had sold the car in August 1955 for 280 Pounds to buy the Bob Crips Standard Ford for 310 pounds, borrowing the 30 pounds he was short - according to his book " From the Cockpit ".
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Is there another owner between Bruce and Les and Dawson Donaldson ?.
Yes !!, according to the article posted here - below. The owner is not named.

By 1956 Bruce was competing in the Les McLaren Austin Healey 100. ex Seabrook Fowlds [ driven by Ross Jensen ]

Peter Donaldson his, [ Dawson's Son ] has these images and is seeking more information on the cars exploits.

He placed the images on the Bruce McLaren Tribute Facebook page.

Here a photo of Daws competing in a Hill Climb and also a typed article, which is believed to be for the NSCC Club Torque magazine of the time 1957.





The Austin Seven when Bruce had it. He used to drive the Seven to School - Seddon Tech.



Car has the 1951 - 56 Number Plates and Bruce looks very Young - would have turned 15 in August 1952 - [ the 30th ] Bruce had owned the Austin for 3 years in August 1955, so had the car as soon as he could hold a drivers licence - maybe even before - it was the 1950's.

A bit more about Dawson Donaldson and the Austin Seven Ulster.
The car was with Herb Gilroy before Les and Bruce McLaren, according to the Vercoe books and in his book " Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand [ page 20 ] ...Dawson Donaldson later took it over but was fatally injured in the 1958 Ostrich Farm [ Road ] Hill climb ".

" Ostrich Farm Road " was an NSCC Hill Climb venue for several years - from 1957 I believe, [ as they were still using Wairamarama, Onewhero in late 1956.] until 1962 at least.

Hopefully more to come on the car. Was it ever rebuilt after the Hill Climb event in 1958 ?.