Wheel lifter Neil Allen scored two wins, a second and a fourth to be third in the Tasman series with his McLaren M10B
Tasman Champion 'Cassius' McRae
Surging through on the inside at Wigrams rolling start, John Cannons McLaren M10B snatched a slender shortlived lead from those of poleman McRae and Frank Matich.
Fireproofed Allen and helpers readied the McLaren M10B on the dummy grid, preluding a levin second.
McRae in the winnig McLaren gave Cary Taylor in his Brabham BT21A a close view as he doubled him at Levin
McRae made winning talk when the race was over; Allen kept his thoughts to himself before it started; A Fair spectator watched for the action; 'now hear this, Chrissie.." Vince Granetelli chatted to pilot Amon.
Teddy Pilettes McLaren M10B had a minor complaint remedied in the clinical VDS Team Mercedes transporter; John Cannons received more comprehensive treatment in the paddock; A sun worshipper sunned; Chris Amon hammed; A pretty girl laughed; and STP staged a sit in.
Best Tasman placing for the torque-lacking march 701 was the Levin 3rd gained by Amon using all his experience.
Never missing abeat, the Bartz-Chev McLaren M10B carried Allen to a 107.896mm.p.h. record breaking N.Z.G.p. win.
Finish flagman seemed flummoxed, but allen assured helpers that he had got the message; "if it moves fine it, if it stops tax it" Muldoon and Transporter Gordon pondered; Race grimed hand of first NZ finisher Graham Mcrae clutches the Bruce Mclaren memorial medallion.
Sarginson took a wide eyed view of the Pukekohe scene, which included a mini clad Rusky circus lass, McRae with the Leonard Lord Trophy, and a bonneted beuty who preferred the midi.
Frank Gardner in the bounding Lola T192 made 4th spot, five places better than Bob Brown in the T190, and happier than Mike Eyerly whose hopping Surtees TS8 had a spin-up crash before the start.
Winner mcRae was all smiles.
For his first finish in 8th Wigram Starts, 1970 Tasman Champion Graeme Lawrence was rewarded with 3rd place in the Ferrari.
Race and lap records at Teretonga Park enhanced Neil Allens Tasman chances, but luck deserted him and the M10B in Australia.
A wobbling wing delayed Graeme Lawrence before the misbehaving Dino V6 put him right out of the running; Pilette and Cannon chatted under the watchful eyes of the Belgians patron, Baron van der Straten; give away teeshirts barely made mini frocks; Don o'Sullivan had trouble extracating himself from a shrunken McLaren.
Driven by Chris Amon (at the wheel here) and David Oxton, STP's March 701, probably the best 2.5 Tasman car entrant, was not the horse for the courses and did not make Australia.
3 places from 6 starts, including a Warwick Farm win, was Frank Gardner's lot in the lovely Lola T192.
The yellow Surtees TS8 of U.S. Formula B champion mike Eyerly looked better than it went and was seldom seen ahead like this, of John Cannons McLaren M10b, which also disappointed.
Teddy Pilette, in the immaculate VDS McLaren M10b, improved as the Tasman series progressed and was rewarded with a lucky 2nd spot at his last appearance at Sandown Park.
McRae was early Pukekohe pacemaker, but Allen and Matich kept him in sight and Eyerly was prominant, Pilettes M10B provided the smokescreen.
G.P. gave Eyerly in the Surtees TS8 his best Tasman place a 4th.
Lightwieght wing on McRaes M10B scaled at 7lb compared with 20lb standard fitting.
Reliable Repco power for his McLaren M10b helped Frank Matich to a win, three seconds and a third, which gave him runner-up position in the Tasman Championship, 4 points down on Graham McRae.
5th Warwick Farm finisher, Pilette led Geoghegan, Cannon and McRae, all of whom were unplaced, through the esse's in lap 1.
poleman Allen led out from winner McRae, Matich, Pilette and Gardner from the Sandown Park start but retired in lap 19.
An all the way record speed win in the Lola T192 was Frank Gardners happy lot at Warwick Farm.
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