teams, mechanics and crews

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Topic review
   

Expand view Topic review: teams, mechanics and crews

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by Michael Clark » Fri Jul 17, 2015 11:22 pm

Johnny Nick splits his life between England and Clarks Beach. I did a story on him for NZCC back in the October 2004 issue - typical of an engineer for whom what is in interesting is 'what happens next?', not 'what happened back then?', he was amazed to think anyone would be interested in reading about him.

I also have a little piece on him in the next NZCC because he was one of three MSNZ heritage award winners this year along with Cary Taylor and Rob Wilson.

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by Andrew Metford » Fri Jul 17, 2015 12:11 am

How about John Nicholson, who used to build engines at McLaren, and is/was the Nicholson in NicholsonMcLaren.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nicholson_(racing_driver)

http://nicholsonmclaren.com/home/1845120

Apparently he returned to NZ in 1978, anyone ever caught up with him? I bet he's got some stories.

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by Grant Ellwood » Thu Jul 16, 2015 10:17 pm

rf84 wrote:Dick Bennetts himself
The Schollum brothers
Steve Horne
Roger Hill
Kevin Ingram
The Porteous brothers (Dale and Roger) and Leo Wybrott (all from Hastings). All 3 worked for both Lotus and Dale and Leo also worked for McLaren.
Alan McCall (builder of the Tui cars and designer of at least 1 Tecno F1 car)
John Nicholson (along with Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon designed, built and raced their own F1 cars).


Regarding Alan McCall, I have one of his Formula Supervee Tuis in my shop now, originally designed for Formula Atlantic then adapted for Supervee which was really taking off in USA back in the early '70s. The monocoque is beautifully built and I'm hoping this car ends up in New Zealand. Haven't much more info as the Tui has just arrived and I'm just starting to research its history.

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by paul lancaster » Sun Jul 28, 2013 9:12 am

Dave lovegrove was another ex pre 65 driver who went on to work in f1, not too sure if he still is, Nigel Barclay is another ex pre 65 er, who worked for Paul morris for years, now running a supertourer team in nz, his old man stu, works for Leo Leonard in timaru

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by paul lancaster » Tue Jul 16, 2013 5:27 am

Hi Jody, glad to see you found the site.I bet you have a few stories about different crews and teams you have worked with.hope you enjoy the site

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by Grant Sprague » Fri Jul 12, 2013 7:41 am

Jody , good to see you here, Tony is ok ....... bounced back & put on weight ..... Paul & Liz got back from North C L .. usa a few days ago [week] reports are [Kiwi] Tony is holding his own........ Talk soon Grant ............

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by Jody Wilson » Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:10 am

Yes Tony did go to the USA to Hendrick's, still up there but has been fighting a battle with cancer. Haven't spoken to him for a while but I do know that Paul Andrews goes up and stays with him a few times a year.

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by ged » Mon Jul 01, 2013 12:23 am

tony rioeden gore worked on inkys Camaro/ capri jac mac would know. went to usa

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by paul lancaster » Sun Jun 30, 2013 4:50 am

Matt Jackson is another local that has worked all over, and a young guy Anderson, who built cars for haydn Mckenzie, and worked on Paul manuels cars.
Don McGregor drove the transporter for Paul morris motorsports, Ashburtons Andy Mcelrea, now a team owner.

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by paul lancaster » Sun Jun 16, 2013 5:20 am

Can't forget Gareth Heywood, another local lad.worked for Lyell Williamson on the gt3s and of late, Toyota racing series, working on Alex Lynn's car.
But, as a commentator, you take notice of teams, crews etc, and one of the cool story's I think sticks in my mind, is the team that was behind Brent'bones' Collins in the first year of the Toyota racing series.
Here was bones, never raced a wings andcslicks car before, his crew was Paul sheddan, a rotary specialist, and john Palmer, who raced pre65s, none of whom had had anything to do with an open wheeler before, and bones put the car on pole, going on to win the first ever trs championship.
A small town team who took on and beat seasoned engineers and crews with heaps of experience.

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by Howard Wood » Wed Jun 12, 2013 4:35 am

John A wrote: Note the simulated NZ flag on the front right.


A little JA trade mark!

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by John A » Wed Jun 12, 2013 4:23 am

Howard Wood wrote:John, Martin (Lyncar) Slater 4th from left and Norman Hossack to his left in front of Graeme?


Correct Howard and Dave Shaw far left, Ray Stokoe back left, Ian Grob front 2nd from left, Ant Brown centre, Ian Bracey far right. Sorry can't recall the other two. Photo was taken after the race where it did not finish thanks to a blown engine after about 19 hours. Note the simulated NZ flag on the front right.

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by Howard Wood » Wed Jun 12, 2013 1:57 am

John A wrote:Thanks Michael. Here is another that he might like. That is Cookie in the middle at the back and another Kiwi Warwick Orr third from right and JA front left.[ATTACH=CONFIG]18792[/ATTACH]This was the Ibec Hesketh LeMans team.


John, Martin (Lyncar) Slater 4th from left and Norman Hossack to his left in front of Graeme?

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by jamie » Tue Jun 11, 2013 9:56 pm

Rf84 will try and find A name for you Jamie A

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by John A » Tue Jun 11, 2013 8:41 pm

Michael Clark wrote:Welcome to TRS John A - I have just forwarded that photo to Cookie - it might encourage him...


Thanks Michael. Here is another that he might like. That is Cookie in the middle at the back and another Kiwi Warwick Orr third from right and JA front left.
Ibec Hesketh.jpg
This was the Ibec Hesketh LeMans team.

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by Michael Clark » Tue Jun 11, 2013 9:05 am

Welcome to TRS John A - I have just forwarded that photo to Cookie - it might encourage him...

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by shellsport » Tue Jun 11, 2013 8:53 am

A great shot indeed when mechanics were just that and actually had dirt beneath there fingernails and on there overalls , real " Hands on " blokes !

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by John A » Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:35 am

Pretty good Howard. From left 2nd Ian Griffiths, 4th Peter Bruin 5th Phil Sharp 7th Alistair Caldwell 14th Graeme Cook and 15th JA.
The car on the left is an M23 F1 and on the right an M16 Indy car. The photo was taken for some press shots on a weekend and shows about half of the staff employed by McLaren at that time

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by fullnoise68 » Mon Jun 10, 2013 5:36 am

Not taking anything away from any of the guys mentioned already, those that were fortunate enough to listen to Denny Hulmes' mechanic Carey Taylor ( not sure if spelt correctly) at this years NZFMR in the paviliion, I`m sure were as impressed as I was at his vivid memory and being able to hear just some of the very interesting times with Denny through all the highs and lows of his peak years. Very much a number 8 wire kiwi mentality against the odds scenario, and it`d be great to hear more from him.

Re: teams, mechanics and crews

by Oldfart » Mon Jun 10, 2013 5:16 am

rf84 wrote:Thanks for that Oldfart. It confirms what I suspected. The Lotus 41 was imported by Roger and Dale Porteous after their first stint at Team Lotus. It had a standard 1500 pre-crossflow Ford in it. It sat in the Ford dealership in Hastings for years before going into storage in a fertiliser factory. Glen McLeod (one of the McLeods of DePelichet McLeod a big stock and station company) bought it but before he could drive it he was very seriously injured when a Tiger Moth he was a passenger in crashed while practising for an air show. He was crippled and from then on he only ever drove an MGB automatic. I looked him up in Vancouver in 1988 where he was a minister in a Baptist church. Glen sold it to Alex who converted it into a Formula Ford. It got pretty punch drunk and the final straw came when Alex "lost it" coming over the hill at Puke and was T-boned. The remains went to Kevin who built a new car using the bits. If I am right it formed the basis of the Keram Currently for sale on Trademe).
Wonder who it is that has the U2? Any ideas Jamie?


Alex told me that when he bought it for $10K, it had a twincam, which he sold off to a friend with a rally car. I believe you are right on the button with the Keram (if that's what it's called). 10 was a fair bit in that time, he let go of a pristine Viva GT to get it. Alex did the deal with the wife while Glen was still in hospital, the story is a long but good one.

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