Race Team Mechanics.

[khyndart in CA]

In 1969 John had made his way to England and due to lack of funds he did not race but instead got a job at McLaren's where he used his engine building knowledge to help George Bolthoff build the 1969 Can-Am engines and he also spent some time in the States, based in Detroit. When he came back to England, Bruce McLaren used Nicholson's driving ability to do some of the initial testing of the M8D Can- Am car.
Bruce then needed someone to build the Cosworth DFV Formula One engines and after some brief training with Cosworth, John had the
very important job of being responsible for McLaren's F 1 engine program. This was to lead to John branching out and establishing the
best Cosworth DFV engine business.
Nicholson McLaren Engines (NME) was founded in 1972 by John Nicholson to maintain the Cosworth DFV engines for McLaren Racing.

(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

July 1973. Silverstone.
After the British F 1 Grand Prix had finished their was a brief shower and then the track dried out for the last event of the day which was the Formula Atlantic Championship race. I had met up with a group of fellow Kiwis from the "Trafalgar Club" and I thought I would impress the women present with my knowledge of motor racing and even though there had been the big F1 crash started by Jody Scheckter and the big saloon car crash involving the Dave Mathews Capri that day, I told them that racing was getting safer and to come into the stands that were getting empty, for a good view of the start. Also in the field were 3 Kiwis; John Nicholson, David Oxton and Jim Murdoch. Plus cars built by Nicholson;the Lyncar-Nicholson for John and David Oxton and Alan McCall built Tui BHs for Murdoch and Tom Walkinshaw. The field also included future F1 drivers ;Tom Pryce and David Purley (who just two weeks later would bravely try to save the life of Roger Williamson ) plus John Nicholson.
Anyway we all settled in at the grandstand after the start and as the cars accelerated past us three of the first five cars touched and one cartwheeled past us and pieces were flying everywhere. It was a scary moment for all of us but fortunately no one was hurt. But the girls in our group had had enough and left me to watch the race alone!
It was an exciting race won by John Nicholson that day from Colin Vandervell, Geoff Friswell, David Purley and David Oxton was 5th.
So John Nicholson built engines won the Formula Atlantic race and Peter Revson's F1 winning McLaren M 23 also had a Nicholson built Cosworth DFV engine. This was a good day for John.
Even though the NZ "chicks" deserted me, I enjoyed it also!

A very talented Formula Atlantic field.

(Hyndman scrapbook pics)

(Ken Hyndman )

[928]

Ken,
the lyncar was not built by nicholson but by martin slater of lyncar.

[khyndart in CA]

928,
You are correct.
I think that all Lyncars were powered by Nicholson built engines.
One thing I did have correct is that the girls did get up and leave me in the grandstand that day. (I was shattered !)

At least I have found someone that reads what I enter and I thank you for that.
Ken.

[Howard Wood]

Ken,
the lyncar was not built by nicholson but by martin slater of lyncar.

Martin Slater's Lyncar operation primarily supplied race car components but built around 14 cars in total including Formula 1, F Atlantic and Sports Cars. Martin must have had a soft spot for NZers, after the cars driven by Kiwis John Nick and David Oxton, he invited John Anderson and I to build and race the prototype of his next F Atlantic car which he planned to put into series production.

[khyndart in CA]

2009. H&H Auction information.
Sale Date: 14th March 2009

1972 Lyncar Formula Atlantic

Ex-John Nicholson

Sold For £11,550

Chassis Number: 003
Cc: 1598
Body Colour: White/Green

A talented designer whose career progressed from the building and racing of his own Formula Junior cars to working for Lola, Brabham and March, Martin Slater decided to create a chassis with which to contest the 1971 British Formula Atlantic Championship. Aided by Graham Coaker, one of the original March directors, the resultant machine was named after Slater's wife Lyn and Coaker's spouse Carol (hence Lyncar). Impressed by the results Mike Endean (later of XTrac) achieved with Lyncar 001, New Zealander John Nicholson (of Nicholson-McLaren engine fame) decided to become the fledgling marque's second customer and later collaborated with Slater on a Formula 1 project (Lyncar 006) which debuted at the 1974 British Grand Prix. Still going today, albeit no longer manufacturing cars, Lyncar can apparently help with spare parts.

H&H are indebted to the vendor for the following description: "John Nicholson began the 1972 British Formula Atlantic Championship with Lyncar 002 but replaced it with this particular example, Lyncar 003, after a heavy crash at Brands Hatch (though, he still finished third in that year's Yellow Pages sponsored standings). For 1973 the New Zealander acquired sponsorship from Bruno Drury of Pitch Plant and 003 was reconfigured with a full-width nose, wider front track and larger rear wing. Despite taking victories aboard 003 at May's Silverstone event (where he also set the fastest lap of 1min 25.9sec) and July's British Grand Prix meeting, Nicholson switched to the narrow track 005 thereafter. The results he achieved between the two chassis were enough to secure him the 1973 BP Formula Atlantic Championship. The car's second owner, Martin Steele, bought it from Bruno Drury / John Nicholson in July 1974 and fitted a Lotus Twin-Cam engine that he already owned. Between 1974 and 1982 Steele ran 003 in forty-five sprints and hillclimbs. While, his substitution of a Ford BDA engine for the Lotus `Twin-Cam' during 1977 saw the Lyncar returned to its `Atlantic' specification. Overhauled by Swindon Racing Engines in 1985, the BDA unit failed on its debut post-refresh outing at Silverstone. Returned to Swindon Racing Engines for another overhaul in 1987-1988, it has not been used since. The car is extremely original and comes with a spare top cover. It has never been damaged in any way. The colour scheme is Jaguar British Racing Green and White which is the same as when it raced in 1973. The car has had only three owners and has been carefully stored over the last twenty-one years".
(One can see the fine workmanship that went into the Lyncars in these two auction photos.)
It would have been a good purchase at that price I would think. This car has some pedigree.

(Ken Hyndman )

[Howard Wood]

Continuing the NZ mechanics (and part time drivers) theme, off the top of my head NZers who drove a Lyncar during the '70s included John Nick, David Oxton, Phil Sharp, myself,and Don Halliday. Plus working in key areas Kiwis John Anderson and Bill Robinson both of whom were ex McLaren's at some point of their career.
Bill ran Emilio de Villota's Aurora series McLaren M23 and Lotus 78 out of a corner of the Lyncar factory in Reading.

[khyndart in CA]

John Nicholson although busy with a very successful engine building business, still found time to enter Formula One in a Lyncar chassis # 006 during the 1974 and 1975 seasons. He did not have much success but you have to admit, it is a good looking car.

John Nicholson at Brands Hatch in 1974 in Lyncar # 006


(Ken Hyndman )

[GD66]

Brambilla chasing...

Ken are you aware of the identity of the kiwi mechanic(s) who worked on Brambilla's car ? Thinking of a tall blonde bloke from Tauranga, possibly named Peter...answers on a postcard....

[ERC]

Recent books I have read include Tony Robinson's (BRP Mechanic); then "Tales from the Tool Box"; plus the book by Di Spires "I only Made the Tea".

Most enjoyable read was Di Spires (who was in hospitality for about 30 years) and sadly, the least enjoyable read was probably "Tales from The Toolbox", which could have been presented so much better, but is a broad collection from many race mechanics. Informative though.

Apparently, the late Geoff Manning had many tales from his days as an F1 mechanic and I'm not sure whether or not Tony Herbert managed to record them for prosperity.

[Oldfart]

Max Rutherford's story is a great read, a must for every true Kiwi enthusiast IMHO

[Grant Ellwood]

Continuing the NZ mechanics (and part time drivers) theme, off the top of my head NZers who drove a Lyncar during the '70s included John Nick, David Oxton, Phil Sharp, myself,and Don Halliday. Plus working in key areas Kiwis John Anderson and Bill Robinson both of whom were ex McLaren's at some point of their career.
Bill ran Emilio de Villota's Aurora series McLaren M23 and Lotus 78 out of a corner of the Lyncar factory in Reading.

I think ex-FVee/FFord driver Warren Ellery also spannered on the Villota team.

[Michael Clark]

Two gems from Geoff Manning that instantly spring to mind -

First that he was fired and re-hired in the space of an hour by Graham Hill one morning, but more significantly for me was his advice 'If you want the good stories, ask the mechanics'

[khyndart in CA]

Thank you gentlemen for mentioning Geoff Manning. Although I never met him he must have been a fine man and an excellent mechanic and was a major reason for the location of Hampton Downs.
This photo is from his collection in the "50 Years On Track" book.
(Check those in fashion bell-bottoms...Hey I still have a pair for the kids to laugh at !)

(Looks like Geoff is doing all the work. I think the guy on the counter should have been the one fired by Graham Hill ! )




(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

Speaking of good NZ race mechanics, I was looking at two photos I had taken at a F5000 race at Silverstone in August 1973.
In the background are two gentlemen who I believe to be Joe Wright and a young Dick Bennetts. They were part of the David Oxton crew that day.
(Please correct me if I am mistaken... )

(Ken Hyndman photos )

[ERC]

Barbara Manning donated a Corgi Model of the Graham Hill car to us, which I purchased in the auction, and also a couple of other bits of memorabilia.

Geoff was a lovely guy and yes, he was the one who really found the site(s) for Hampton Downs, whilst walking his dog, 'Connaught'!

What many may not know, is that the original HD site as discovered by Geoff, was closer to the dragway and the river, but was scuppered at the 11th hour when the Maori elders wanted a clause that gave them the right to have the land reinstated to as it was, in 70(?) years time, at which point, they moved on to the current site.

I may have the facts a little wrong, but that is basically as I understand it. Sadly, Geoff passed away before the vision was realised, but he'll never be forgotten and Barbara presents the 'Volpini Trophy' to the winner of the Classic Trial series, annually.

HD deserves a corner named after Geoff. 'Manning Mount' sounds so much better than 'Turn 3'.

[khyndart in CA]

Allan McCall was another NZ mechanic who went to England and did very well in motor racing. Two things that I have in common with Allan is that we both attended the 1959 NZGP at Ardmore and we both applied for jobs at Team Lotus in Hethel,Norfolk, England. There the similarities end as Allan was hired by Lotus and I was not. He like Graham Donaldson served his apprenticeship in NZ.(John W Andrews in Auckland ) before heading overseas by ship in 1964.
With his typical Kiwi welding skills and phoning Colin Chapman direct ! (I never tried that !)
Allan was hired by Lotus to work on the Lotus Cortina in 1965 for Jim Clark to drive. There are many images of Jim driving the wheels off that car which is what happened at Brands Hatch when a wheel did come off one time and that did not please Mr. Chapman !

Note the stress on the wheels !
Jim Clark at Brands Hatch.1965. Lotus Cortina. ( JTW 497C )
(Photo from Allan McCall collection )


(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

In 1967 Allan was part of the Lotus Team that produced one the best Formula One cars of all time with Jimmy Clark and Graham Hill driving the Lotus 49 powered by the Ford Cosworth DFV engine. It was a winning combination from it's very first race at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Later in the year Jim Clark won the USGP at Watkins Glen where Allan was his mechanic.

Allan preparing the Lotus 49s for the 1967 USGP at Watkins Glen.

The Lotus Team celebrating after Jim Clark's win in 1967 USGP.
Allan McCall at lower right.






(Ken Hyndman ..scrapbook )

[khyndart in CA]

I was familiar with Allan McCall's work for Lotus and when I went to Baypark at the end of December 1967, with a female friend and being full of knowledge, proceeded to tell her that the driver there that day racing was Jim Clark's own mechanic and cheered him on until a nearby spectator stated; "You dumb s..t, that is Allan McCully from Southland driving that car !" Once again Hyndman is humbled and has to shut up !

Here is the other Allan who was also an excellent driver.

(Allan McCully at Teretonga. 1968 )








KJH

[Grant Ellwood]

Ken, I have an Allan McCall-built Tui BH3 in my workshop, prepping it for sale. The monocoque is a real work of art, typical of Allan's fastidious engineering.