Formula Atlantic/Pacific

[seaqnmac27]

I understand that Steve bought the car back in the States awhile back and rebuilt it and it is painted that green and he runs it in classic events occasionally, got photo somewhere of car after rebuild.
Yea he had family money and I did notice he was managing Verstappen, so he is still involved and hopefully can assist some young fellow in a career.

Guided him to Bennetton as team mate to Schumacher, had unfortunate collision with Brundle, Irvine and Bernard, he was blamed even though it transpired later that Brundle had broken the driveshaft of the McLaren. He ended up getting ditched and sent of to Simtek by Bennetton, replaced by JJ Lehto. But the mistake aparently from your mate was to sign his lad to Bennetton in the first place, he had an offer to be Hakkinen's teammate, the drive ended up going to Brundle.

[Steve Holmes]

Awesome thread here guys, keep it going!

[David McKinney]

The Millen RT1 was (unsurprisingly) retubbed between its Pukekohe accident and the 1980 Asian races

[Rod Grimwood]

Seaqnmac27: thanks for info, Verstappen was tops in formula 3 before this wasn't he, remember seeing him in some european championship. Good info. What ever happened to him, is he still driving, suppose in that game if you don't get the right break at the time things change in a hurry.

[Steve Holmes]

There was a documentary some years ago about either the Millen bros or Roger Donaldson, in which Steve Millen was interviewed at a historic racing event in the US. He was racing one of his old cars, which I assume was the one above? It was painted a modern bright purple from memory. He said he had to get someone else to go buy it for him, for fear of the price escalating if he went to do the haggling himself.

But boy it sure was pretty in the Chardon colour scheme.

[seaqnmac27]

Didn't Verstappen race in NZ in FVee at some stage??

[Steve Holmes]

This is the 1981 Australian Grand Prix, held at Calder Park. The race features Alan Jones, Roberto Moreno, Nelson Piquet, John Bowe, Larry Perkins, Bruce Allison, Ray Mallock, Jaques Laffite, Andrew Miedecke, David Oxton, Charlie O'Brien, Geoff Brabham, our own Roaring Season member Lucio Cesario etc. By this stage Formula Atlantic/Pacific had become Formula Ralt RT4, and 13 of the 21 starters were RT4s, and all the front running cars.

[video=youtube;dtU74gItU5Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtU74gItU5Q[/video]

[Steve Holmes]

Part 2.

[video=youtube;EgYT0JbG5N0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgYT0JbG5N0&feature=related[/video]

[Steve Holmes]

Part 3.

[video=youtube;A1aoKuRRGnM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1aoKuRRGnM&feature=related[/video]

[Steve Holmes]

Part 4.

[video=youtube;btBa1nt_gqw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btBa1nt_gqw&feature=related[/video]

[seaqnmac27]

In reference to Lyncar, I know its not quite a Pacific, but this may be of interest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQnhERT8mUo&feature=related

[BMCBOY]

I was fortunate to be able to take a good number of shots of these great cars and drivers. Often very good close racing too.

[BMCBOY]

[Michael Clark]

That shot of Kenny and Oxo turning left at Puke brings back memories - what a race! I watched from the bank on the inside of the corner and this was a classic example of two drivers who trusted each other going wheel to wheel. I've spoken to both of them about that race in recent years and both recall it with great affection.

By the way - was there ever a better colour scheme for a Ralt RT4 than the blue Pye livery of #18?

[GD66]

Not so far! That did look good. Pacific/Atlantic had its' detractors (what's new ?) but without it, we may not have been privileged to see The Great Rosberg, Rahal, Fabi, Jones, Berg and co, and a fleet of upwardly-mobile Anzacs. Let alone the squad of mechanics, managers and gophers able to get a toe in the door overseas....

[David McKinney]

That shot of Kenny and Oxo turning left at Puke brings back memories - what a race! I watched from the bank on the inside of the corner and this was a classic example of two drivers who trusted each other going wheel to wheel. I've spoken to both of them about that race in recent years and both recall it with great affection.

I agree with everything you say, except that I spoke to them both immediately after what, for me, had been one of the best races I'd seen (I was in what passed for a press box - the grandstand opposite the pits)

[Michael Clark]

And not forgetting Roberto Moreno GD66...or Danny Sullivan.

David my personal list of great Pacific races would include, in no particular order:

Bay Park January 1978 - Millen v Rosberg
Pukekohe long track - Smith v Oxton
1982 NZGP - Moreno v Millen

[Shano]

And how many know that Tom Blackaller brought his Pacific car out here to drive in 1983 or 84? He was one of the top America's Cup skippers and the one who was responsible for starting the "why would you build a 12 metre in fibreglass unless you wanted to cheat" scandal.

"OOh Dennis, I wouldn't have said that," said TB having led Conner into it then neatly sidestepping, leaving Conner to wade into the muck. Very well done politically and of course a defining moment in NZ's sailing history.

TB died of a heart attack driving a Pacific car in 1989, a sad loss of a great character. One of those people who brought colour into sport and one who loved driving his Pacific car as much as sailing.

[Rod Grimwood]

It bought out some characters alright. One with different coloured hair who liked to play with fire sprinklers, Mr Flux was a hard case. And as you say Shano, Blackaller was a very handy driver as well as a skipper. Another who went on to Formula 1 was Andrea De Cesaris. The Pacific era bought some very talented people to our shores and also gave some of our talent exposure against the best, and this most certainly helped them in later years with career paths, both drivers and mechanics/team people.

[RogerH]

TB died of a heart attack driving a Pacific car in 1989, a sad loss of a great character. One of those people who brought colour into sport and one who loved driving his Pacific car as much as sailing.

I think Tom died practicing for a IMSA race in a Swift DB2 Sports 2000. A very colourful man.