Ardmore and Pukekohe NZIGP Film, 1955-64

[Murray Maunder]

I am seeking the assistance of members here to firstly, try to make contact with the family of Clifford Irvine, who shot and edited the 8mm movie film which we have.

"We" are the Bruce McLaren Trust and I have been a custodian of some of the archive film and video for the trust. A few years ago this film came into the care of the Bruce McLaren Trust and we are uncertain of original ownership etc. If anyone can help me make some connections to Clifford Irvine, or his family if he is no longer alive, it would be appreciated.

I propose to start sharing some of this fascinating material using YouTube, here on The Roaring Season. The Trust and I would like to be able to identify the drivers, mechanics and officials etc so watch this space.

The 1955 and 1958 GP footage in particular looks pretty good for cine of it's time - it's in glorious colour.

[bry3500]

http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?212-!957-New-Zealand-Grand-Prix

[Murray Maunder]

[video=youtube;rNDPRAYIqGE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNDPRAYIqGE[/video]

Here's the first clip - seems like it's the 1958 Ardmore 50 not the NZGP. (EDITED)

[pallmall]

Right car, wrong driver and year. Looks like Ross Jensen winning a NZ drivers race in 1958.

[jim short]

Right car, wrong driver and year. Looks like Ross Jensen winning a NZ drivers race in 1958.

yes was a nz only day not the gp meeting

[Murray Maunder]

Thanks guys for settling that, well before my time.

Jim, I believe you know something of the film's origins....

[David McKinney]

Ardmore 50, 1 March 1958

[Murray Maunder]

Thanks David. It appears that the 75 minutes of film from Clifford Irvine runs from Ardmore 1955 to Pukekohe 1965 and misses the 1956 NZGP. A quick YouTube search hasn't revealed a whole lot of film material of this era of NZGP so far though we have on Bry3500's thread some film of the 1957 event. Are you aware of much coverage of these huge events? I am sure there was plenty of amateur cine film taken and surely some newsreel come the 1960s.

I'm so pleased to be able to get an insight into top level NZ racing pre 1970 when I was old enough to go to Pukekohe for the first time. The GP stars had gone but it was still quite "big".

[Murray Maunder]

Having sorted the actual date of the event and that it wasn't a New Zealand International Grand Prix, I think I need to make amends!

Here's the 1958 NZIGP at Ardmore with Jack Brabham winning from, I believe Ross Jensen and Ron Roycroft. Bruce McLaren qualified 4th but didn't make the start with a jammed gearbox and after the event was named as New Zealand's first Driver to Europe recipient, the dawn of the Kiwis in GP racing.

[video=youtube;TDCarSBnm4U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDCarSBnm4U[/video]

[Murray Maunder]

And here's Clifford Irvine's film of the 1959 NZIGP which Stirling Moss won from the back of the grid. Some interesting footage in the pits, who can help identify some personalities?

[video=youtube;nookFgLJ3gc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nookFgLJ3gc[/video]

[Murray Maunder]

And completing a trio of New Zealand GPs here's the Clifford Irvine coverage of the 1960 Ardmore event won by Jack Brabham from Bruce McLaren.

[video=youtube;ZmCTyQfGzxw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmCTyQfGzxw[/video]