Article: Begg FM5

[Steve Holmes]

Mondello Park would be the last race in which George Begg would see his car compete in the British Isles. He'd made the decision that Silverstone, which followed Mondello Park, would be the last for the team before heading back to New Zealand. But he'd made a commitment to take his family on holiday through Europe, and so would miss Silverstone. Oxton was the fastest qualifier for much of the session, before being pushed back to fifth. There was reason to be optimistic. But the race never happened. Heavy rain saw the circuit soaked, and the organisers declared the event cancelled.

The Begg was shipped back to New Zealand so it could be prepared for the upcoming Gold Star and Tasman Series events over the summer of 1973/74. However, George Begg would not be the entrant. He'd made the decision to cut back on his motor racing commitments, and agreed a deal to sell the FM5 to Oxton.

The New Zealand Gold Star began at Pukekohe on 4 October, 1973, and Oxton won at a canter. After placing runner-up to Graham McRae in Round 2, he won both Heats in Round 3, followed by another victory in Round 4. Australians Kevin Bartlett and Johnnie Walker took the top two positions in Round 5, as they sought to gain some experience on the new Manfield circuit ahead of the upcoming Tasman Series. Oxton was third. A new motor caused problems for Round 6, where Oxton could do no better than fourth, but he was back on top again for the final, taking a Heat 1 victory, and runner-up spot in Heat 2 to comfortably claim his third Gold Star Championship on the trot.

Once again it was an impressive entry for the Tasman Series, kicking off with the Levin International in January 1974. Oxton qualified and finished seventh. For the Pukekohe International, he lined up an impressive fourth, going one better to take a podium in the race.

Due to the Commonwealth Games being held in Christchurch in 1974, the New Zealand Grand Prix switched from its regular home at Pukekohe, to Wigram. Oxton qualified seventh, but was battling for a podium spot throughout the race. Neither he nor the Begg name had ever been on the podium at the New Zealand Grand Prix, however, a flying Peter Gethin, who'd pitted early in the race to replace a punctured tyre, stormed through the field to pass Oxton for third with two laps remaining. At Teretonga, Oxton qualified eighth, but finished only tenth after a couple of punctures.

The Tasman Series moved across to Australia for Round 5, at Oran Park, where Oxton qualified ninth, but suffered engine failure in the race. At Surfers Paradise he qualified tenth and finished ninth, before qualifying tenth once more at Sandown, this time coming home eighth. The final Tasman Series round, held at Adelaide Raceway, produced a better result, where, after qualifying eleventh, Oxton finished a strong fifth.

Incidentally, a second FM5 tub had been partially constructed in the Drummond workshop, intended as a spare for the Oxton machine. This was never used, and indeed, was purchased by Alan McCully, who constructed a slightly longer wheelbase FM5 in 1974, with a Bartz built Chevrolet motor. With this car, McCully debuted the car in Round 3 of the Gold Star, qualifying and finishing second to Oxton. He finished second in Heat 2 at Manfeild, one place ahead of Oxton, and won Heat 2 at Levin.



The McCully FM5 claimed an impressive second place in the Levin Tasman Series race, failed to finish Pukekohe, placed seventh at Wigram, and sixth at Teretonga. McCully didn't take the car to Australia.

The Adelaide round of the Tasman Series would be the last race for Oxton in the Begg. He sold the car to Frank Bray, who contested the 1974/75 Gold Star, against the latest (and last) race car to carry the Begg name; the 018, so named because Fred McLean was no longer working with Begg, and because this was the 18^th race car to carry the Begg name. The Begg 018 would be driven by Jim Murdoch, who was also heavily involved in its design and construction.

For the former factory team Begg FM5 of Frank Bray, this was to be a less successful season, as new technology had raised the bar. Highlights were fifth in the Manfield International, which featured several top overseas teams preparing for the upcoming Tasman Series, and fourth for the Gold Star race at the same event. Bray borrowed Bill David's Brabham BT29 for the first two rounds, as the Begg was not ready, and he skipped the final two South Island races. Bill David drove the car during the 1975/76 Gold Star, but by now it was largely uncompetitive against the latest machines.