Begg FM2 car-by-car histories
The two Begg FM2s at Pukekohe in January 1970. Copyright David McKinney 2009. Used with permission.
Built by George Begg in 1969, the Begg FM2 was the first Formula 5000 car built in New Zealand. It was not competitive at international level but took several race wins in the New Zealand Gold Star series.
Fred McLean and George Begg met in their native New Zealand in 1964 before making their way separately to England to work in the booming motor racing industry. McLean worked for Charles Lucas on the Titan F3 cars, while Begg took a job at McLaren. At Begg's suggestion, they returned to New Zealand in 1969, where McLean designed a Formula 5000 car for Begg, to be called the Begg FM2. It was a relatively unsophisticated design, with fashionably wedge-shaped bodywork. Graham McRae agreed to drive the car until his new McLaren M10A was delivered, and raced it in New Zealand Gold Star events at Pukekohe in September 1969 and at Bay Park two weeks later. The Bay Park International at the end of December drew drivers from American Formula A, and a second Begg FM2 was rapidly put together for American visitor Pierre Phillips to drive. Geoff Mardon took over the ex-McRae car. Both were well off the pace of McRae's McLaren and the other leading runners.
Mardon and Phillips drove the two cars in the New Zealand rounds of the 1970 Tasman series, but were not competitive. When the New Zealand Gold Star resumed, McRae agreed to a drive in the newer FM2 and took a shock win at Timaru. Mardon also won a round at Pukekohe in October, improving the tiny team's morale. An improved Begg FM4 design was ready in time for the 1971 Tasman series.
If you can add to our understanding of these cars, or have photographs that we can use, please email Allen at allen@oldracingcars.com.
Neil Doyle in his Begg FM2 at Wigram in January 1971. Copyright Ted Walker 2021. Used with permission.
Stuart Lush's Begg FM2 at Pukekohe in 2006. Copyright Marcus Pye 2006. Used with permission.
Built by Begg Engineering for the New Zealand 1969/70 season and raced by Graham McRae in 1969/70 Gold Star series, and later by Geoff Mardon in New Zealand Tasman rounds. Then sold to Neil Doyle (Ashburton, NZ) and used in New Zealand Gold Star races in 1970/71, 1971/72 and 1972/73. Sold to Peter Rhodes, then bought by George Begg for spares. The chassis was sold to John Gobbe (Christchurch, NZ), and its history thereafter is unknown. The website f5000.co.nz says the car was owned by Peter Rhodes and Colin Thompson from 1974 to 1995. Acquired by Stuart Lush (Auckland, NZ) in 1993. Fully restored by Lush and first seen at a Lady Wigram Trophy memorial meeting in November 1998. Presumably the car raced by Stuart McDonald in the first Tasman Revival race in late 2003. Raced by Judy Lyons in the Tasman Revival series in January 2006. Also driven by Stuart at the 2007 Classic Speed Fest at Teretonga Park, then sold to Kerry McIntosh (Auckland, NZ). Raced by McIntosh at Phillip Island in March 2008, and in the Tasman Revival series in 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, but crashed at Hampton Downs in January 2012. Next seen when raced by McIntosh at Taupo in January 2017, and then in the 2017/18 series. On display in Bill Richardson Transport World in July 2020. The car was next seen in September 2024 when new owner Lachlan Thomas drove it at Baskerville.
Driven by: Graham McRae, Geoff Mardon and Neil Doyle. First race: Pukekohe (NZGS R1), 21 Sep 1969. Total of 17 recorded races.
Leo Leonard in the Begg FM2 at Ruapuna in 1971. Copyright Ted Walker 2021. Used with permission.
Built by Begg Engineering for Pierre Phillips to race in the Bay Park International in December and in the New Zealand Tasman rounds. Then used by Graham McRae to win a Gold Star race at Timaru, then for Leo Leonard at the last 1969/70 Gold Star race. It was retained by the Begg team for the 1970/71 season when it was raced by Geoff Mardon. Then sold to Peter Hughes (Auckland, NZ) for the 1971/72 season. According to Graham Vercoe's book 'Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand', Hughes' car "fell off a hoist, breaking the chassis". Vercoe adds that it was owned by Peter Kidd "for a time", and at the time of writing, 1991, it had been with Colin Thompson (Wanganui, NZ) "for many years". Subsequent history unknown.
Driven by: Pierre Phillips, Geoff Mardon and Peter Hughes. First race: Baypark Raceway, 28 Dec 1969. Total of 7 recorded races.
Acknowledgements
George Begg's book 'A Classic World & When the Engine Roars' gives a detailed account of the gestation of the Begg FM2.
If you can add to our understanding of these cars, or have photographs that we can use, please email Allen at allen@oldracingcars.com.
These histories were last updated on .