New Zealand Festival Of Motor Racing (2013)

[wynna7]

Tongue in cheek...

Your tongue might be in yours, mine wasn't.

[nigel watts]

[PhotoSmith]

FJ, F3 + FF

[tonttu]

Was the McBegg running Sunday and if so any photos? Anyone know what the problem was on Saturday?

[Steve Holmes]

Absolutely beautiful photos guys, thanks to everyone who has contributed, both with photos and details of the event. I checked this thread on Sunday night when I reached my motel, and in the 2.5 days since, its had nearly 1,500 page views! Amazing, and clearly hugely popular.

[Murray Maunder]

Steve, do you know how many views on the HMC thread over the last few days? I see the total is sitting on a massive 48K! Seems the musclecars were showstoppers. The HMC YouTube has had a good number of views with quite a few in Aus and UK.

Had to love the impressive F5000 turnout and hope for better support in the future for CanAm. Is Tony's M8E/F going to be running this weekend. Question mark on the McLaren Trust M8A too.

[faminz]

can am runners on Sunday morning... not the best photo but taken from an apartment balcony with an ultra zoom compact Canon!

[faminz]

and whats the history of this old McLaren that was sitting in the pits...??

[kiwi285]

and whats the history of this old McLaren that was sitting in the pits...??

Hi Brett,

I was told that it was the only surviving M8B (one of only two) and that a gentleman in the South Island has purchased it and is getting Duncan Fox to rebuild it for him.

[GD66]

Hi Brett,

I was told that it was the only surviving M8B (one of only two) and that a gentleman in the South Island has purchased it and is getting Duncan Fox to rebuild it for him.

Tell him to get in line until Duncan finishes the McLaren Trust car...

EDIT : I've just spotted on the NZFMR facebook page that the car's done and looks a treat!! Worth the wait.

[Murray Maunder]

Hi Brett,

I was told that it was the only surviving M8B (one of only two) and that a gentleman in the South Island has purchased it and is getting Duncan Fox to rebuild it for him.

This rebuild has been on the floor of Duncan Fox's workshop nearly as long as the Trust's M8A. Duncan and Tony (Roberts) of Group Seven Sportscars took the opportunity to pick up the remains of the car which had indeed been one of 3 McLaren M8Bs in 1969. That opportunity was to be able to build the two cars in parallel. For example the tubs of the two cars were almost identical. In fact the Trust car started life as Denny's CanAm winner in 1968 before becoming the "mule" for the M8B and subsequently the team's spare car. The other M8B (of original 3 which included the above "continuation" car) was trashed, as I understand because of severe corrosion on the salt-laden roads of Nth America on the way back to the McLaren base.

This means of the original 3 (or 2.5!) M8Bs there will only ever be one true M8B - the one pictured in the Trust's garage at the Festival. I can't recall if this was Bruce's racecar or Denny's racecar (the Trust car being at different times an A and the spare B). The M8B high wing car was the most successful of all the CanAm McLarens, winning all 11 races in 1969.

Incidentally the Trust car didn't run again this weekend because of major problems with the starter which is proving a headache in term of sourcing the parts. A less authentic set of internals is now going to be used to overcome the absence of any originals.

[nigel watts]

[nigel watts]

[Steve Holmes]

This rebuild has been on the floor of Duncan Fox's workshop nearly as long as the Trust's M8A. Duncan and Tony (Roberts) of Group Seven Sportscars took the opportunity to pick up the remains of the car which had indeed been one of 3 McLaren M8Bs in 1969. That opportunity was to be able to build the two cars in parallel. For example the tubs of the two cars were almost identical. In fact the Trust car started life as Denny's CanAm winner in 1968 before becoming the "mule" for the M8B and subsequently the team's spare car. The other M8B (of original 3 which included the above "continuation" car) was trashed, as I understand because of severe corrosion on the salt-laden roads of Nth America on the way back to the McLaren base.

This means of the original 3 (or 2.5!) M8Bs there will only ever be one true M8B - the one pictured in the Trust's garage at the Festival. I can't recall if this was Bruce's racecar or Denny's racecar (the Trust car being at different times an A and the spare B). The M8B high wing car was the most successful of all the CanAm McLarens, winning all 11 races in 1969.

Incidentally the Trust car didn't run again this weekend because of major problems with the starter which is proving a headache in term of sourcing the parts. A less authentic set of internals is now going to be used to overcome the absence of any originals.

I was stunned to see this car at the event. As you've said Murray, McLaren built two new M8Bs for the 1969 Can-Am season, and upgraded Dennys 1968 M8A to '69 B specs to use as a test mule and spare. My understanding based on the chassis numbers, would be that the M8B on display was Bruce's 1969 car, and therefore the car which he drove for much of that season. He won the 1969 Can-Am championship, and given the McLaren Trust M8A was the car was Dennys, and he won the 1968 Can-Am, then these are the two championship winning cars from 1968 and 1969. Pretty impressive stuff!

[RacerT]

I was stunned to see this car at the event. As you've said Murray, McLaren built two new M8Bs for the 1969 Can-Am season, and upgraded Dennys 1968 M8A to '69 B specs to use as a test mule and spare. My understanding based on the chassis numbers, would be that the M8B on display was Bruce's 1969 car, and therefore the car which he drove for much of that season. He won the 1969 Can-Am championship, and given the McLaren Trust M8A was the car was Dennys, and he won the 1968 Can-Am, then these are the two championship winning cars from 1968 and 1969. Pretty impressive stuff!

Hi Steve. Not quite correct. It was Denny's car. Denny's M6A and M8A were -2, but Denny's M8B and M8D were -1. Just to confuse the anaraks! I thought this was our best Festival yet. Not a single wet day. We were pleased to get the Mcaren M8E/F going for the second weekend. Still needs a lot of set-up work. Pity about my poor old Corvette war horse! Don't know why it blew. First time a piece of my car has finished higher up the field than me!

TR

[ERC]

I'll try and find out this weekend - unless someone comes up with an answer.

There is a very rare, early McLaren F1 car (in bits), recently imported into NZ too.

[Shoreboy57]

I'll try and find out this weekend - unless someone comes up with an answer.

There is a very rare, early McLaren F1 car (in bits), recently imported into NZ too.

Any idea which model? M7 please

[kiwi285]

I'll try and find out this weekend - unless someone comes up with an answer.

There is a very rare, early McLaren F1 car (in bits), recently imported into NZ too.

Can you give us any clues as to which model F1 it might be. Would love to see an M7 or an M14 in this country.

[Horizon]

Can you give us any clues as to which model F1 it might be. Would love to see an M7 or an M14 in this country.

It's reportly to be the BRM M4B F1. The car was that was burnt to the ground tyre testing for firestone at Goodwoodi n the late 60's.

Howden Ganley told me last November that he was given the suspension of the remains after the fire for another project. Remains to be seen if it is the real deal. Hoping for the best..but unlikely !

[ERC]

It's reportly to be the BRM M4B F1. The car was that was burnt to the ground tyre testing for firestone at Goodwood in the late 60's.

Howden Ganley told me last November that he was given the suspension of the remains after the fire for another project. Remains to be seen if it is the real deal. Hoping for the best..but unlikely !

Apparently it is the real deal... I have seen the bits that were purchased and may be seeing it again Monday.