Race Team Mechanics.

[khyndart in CA]

I do not know how it is today but back in the sixties and seventies many NZ mechanics would finish an apprenticeship and head off to be involved in racing in all parts of the world and most would gain valuable knowledge and then return while others would stay away and do very well. One of those would be John Nicholson who grew up in Wanganui and helped run his father's engine rebuilding business before moving to the Wellington area where he started out in racing at the same time as Graham McRae.
I remember seeing John drive his Lotus 27 around Pukekohe and finish the 1968 NZGP in ninth place and this was only his seventh race overall which included Chris Amon and Jim Clark in their prime !

I have this album photo of the 1968 NZGP grid waiting while Denny Hulme is presented a prize to celebrate him being the 1967 Formula One world champion. The ill fated Laurence Brownlie Brabham is in the foreground and if you look closely you can see John Nicholson's pit area in the background. (Between L.Brownlie and D.Oxton )



(Jan. 6. 1968)


(Ken Hyndman ) p.s. Could any others in this photo be identified please.