Article: Begg FM5

[Steve Holmes]

Formula 5000 had quickly grown from its inception in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) competition in 1967, to a formula that was being contested throughout the world just a few years later. However, its demise was nearly as sudden. The last New Zealand national championship in which F5000 cars were eligible, was the 1976 Gold Star, held during October and November of that year, before the new international 1,600cc Formula Atlantic cars were ushered in for the 1977 Tasman Series, held in early 1977. To that end, all the old F5000 cars were deemed ineligible, and had nowhere to race. Australia continued with the formula, long after the rest of the world had given up on it, and several New Zealand owned 5000 cars were sold across the Tasman.

The Begg FM5, however, was eventually purchased by Len Southward, and added to his vast collection, where it remains on display at the Southward Car Museum, just north of Paraparaumu. On occasion it is brought out to run demonstrations, but it hasn't raced in anger since 1976. Its painted black, as it had done in the 1974 season, and remains a legacy to George Begg and Fred McLean, and of Kiwi ingenuity; of building race cars in New Zealand, and taking on the world, a concept that, even by 1972, was fast becoming a dieing art.

End.

Thanks to Terry Marshall, Peter Hanna Collection, Graeme Bennett for the photos that appear here. These are just a small sample of those featured in the book.