Bruce Pidgeon Memorial Classic

Timaru International Motor Raceway, 11 Feb 2007

All cars are 5-litre F5000 unless noted.

Notes on the cars:

1. McRae GM1 [015] (Stuart Lush): Longer wheelbase car built for Graham McRae and raced in the 1973 British season. To Ian Ward Racing early 1974 and modified as "Ward KS1" but not raced in this form. It was then sold to Chris Featherstone and raced by him once at the end of 1974, then through the 1975 and 1976 seasons. After a single race at the start of 1977, the car was raced by Keith Holland in four races later in the year, and then by Featherstone in the Australian Rothmans series in February 1978. To Gary Dumbrell (Australia) 1978, then to Bob Tomlinson 1978, and then to Salt Walther 1979 for the 1979 Rothmans series, but it may be that Lee Seaton of Thomson Motor Auctions owned it though this period. Sold to Ray Gibbs (Australia) September 1979 and kept by him until sold to Stuart Lush (Auckland, New Zealand) 2000, and raced at Historic Sandown that year and in 2001. Lush raced it in the Tasman Cup Revival series from 2003 to 2015, during which time it was also raced by Chris Hyde in the 2009/10 season and by Greg Thornton in the 2012/13 season. Lush also raced the car in England during the Kiwis' visits to the UK in 2005 and 2008, and at Road America in 2014. Lush sold it to its former driver Garry Dumbrell in 2016, and after Dumbrell died in October 2021, it was sold to Peter Brennan (Melbourne, Australia) in December 2021. More information about McRae GM1-015
2. Talon MR-1A (Aaron Burson): Michael Brayton (Newport Beach, CA) acquired a Talon Formula 5000 car for 1977, but previous history of the car is unknown. During 1977, he rebodied the car for SCCA A Sports Racing, and then raced the car, as the "Wolf-Brayton 001" in Can-Am from 1978 to 1981. The car was later acquired by Mike McComas, who was then under the impression it was the Wolf-Dallara WD1. He sold it to Tony Roberts and Duncan Fox in New Zealand in 2003, where it was restored to F5000 specification. Raced by Roberts in the F5000 Tasman Revival from 2003 to 2005, when it was sold to Aaron Burson, then raced by him from 2005 onwards.
3. Lola T332 ['HU22-3'] (Stan Redmond): Effectively a new Lola T332 built for Kevin Bartlett to replace the T330 crashed at Pukekohe in January 1974. Raced by Bartlett in the Australian Gold Star from August 1974 onwards. To Bruce Allison for 1975 and raced in Australian Gold Star 1975, and New Zealand and Australian Internationals 1976, but crashed and heavily damaged at Oran Park 1 Feb. Rebuilt again on another T332 tub and raced by Allison later in 1976. Sold by Allison to Martin Sampson of Magnum Wheels, and raced for him by Kevin Bartlett in the 1977 Australian Internationals 1977, by Alan Jones at Surfers after he wrecked his T332C HU61, then by Johnnie Walker in September 1977, and in Australia in 1978 and 1979. Sampson retired the car after 1979, and it was displayed at the Birdwood Museum until sold to Bob Minogue in 1987. Raced for Minoque by Barry Ward in 1987, then sold to Paul Cromarty (Aus), then Adrian Whapham (NZ) in 1994 or 1995. To Stan Redmond (Christchurch, NZ) by 2001 and raced in F5000 Tasman Revival series. To Peter Sundberg (Auckland, New Zealand) 2009. To David Banks (Auckland, New Zealand) and raced by him in the 2017/18 Tasman Revival series. More information about Lola T332 'the Kevin Bartlett car'
4. "Lola T332" (Tony Richards): Effectively a brand new car advertised by Michael Sheehan (CA, US) in 2002. This was "a 100% rebuild" of an old, crashed, car but the identity of the crashed car was unknown to Sheehan. According to later owner Marc Rauchfuss, it was built by Mel Spillman (San Antonio, TX) in the late 1990s using T332 parts acquired from Evan Noyes team. Marc saw this car raced for the first time by Spillman at Road America in 1999. The car uses the chassis number "HU 32B" but no connection to HU32 has been demonstrated. To John Mann (New Zealand) 2002 and raced in the Tasman Revival Series. To Tony Richards (Christchurch, NZ) 2005. Raced by Richards in the Formula 5000 Tasman Cup Revival at the Australian GP meeting 28 Mar 2009, and appeared regularly in Tasman Revival races until February 2014. Advertised by Richards as "HU32b, ex Evan Noyes" in 2015, and sold to Marc Rauchfuss (Simi Valley, CA). Repainted in Noyes' livery and advertised by Rauchfuss in February 2016.
5. Lola T430 [HU1] (David Abbott): VDS for Teddy Pilette US 1976 (6 races; best result 3rd at R3 Mosport Park 20 Jun); used as spare car to Brown's HU2 in Australian Internationals 1977 - Alan Hamilton (Australia): used as spare car; maybe Jon Davison's car Australian Gold Star 1977 (R1 Surfers Paradise 28 Aug 1977 only). Built up after Hamilton's crash at the 1978 Australian GP and raced by Alfredo Costanzo: Australian Gold Star 1978; Australian Internationals 1979 (won at Sandown Park and Adelaide); Australian Gold Star 1979 (won at Sandown 9 Sep); Australian Gold Star 1980 (won at Sandown 14 Sep and Winton 26 Oct); Australian GP 1980 (4th) - Bob Minogue: Australian Gold Star 1981, Arco Graphic 1981/82. Minogue still holds several lap records in Australia, including the Sandown International circuit record for F5000, set on 2 Mar 1986 and the Historic F5000 record at Winton on 30 May 1993. Subsequently sold to Gavin Bain, then to Graham Cameron, who raced it at Historic Sandown in 2000. To David Abbott (Christchurch, NZ) by 2002, and raced in the F5000 Tasman Revival regularly from 2003 to 2008, when Abbott moved over to his newly rebuilt HU2. Then raced by Ken Smith in the series from 2008 to 2010.
6. Lola T142 [SL142/30] (Kerry Anderson): Unknown in 1969 but maybe the car of Richard Negley (San Antonio, TX). Raced by John Saucier (MidWest City, OK) in 1970, 1971 and 1972. To Brad Blankenship (Indianapolis, IN) 1972, then to Duane Smith (Milwaukee, WI) 1973 and raced to 1975. Then to Dick St John's car owner, converted into a supermodified and raced in 1975 by Dick St John (Milwaukee, WI). Still in his livery when sold by Mike McComas (Pampa, TX) to Earl Zwickey (Amarillo, TX) 1995. Sold to Kerry Anderson (Auckland, New Zealand) late 2004 or early 2005, and raced by in the F5000 Revival Series from 2006 onwards. More information about Lola T142 SL142/30
7. Lola T332 [HU28] (Russell Greer): Graeme Lawrence (NZ) for Tasman 1974, New Zealand Gold Star 1974; Tasman 1975; Tasman 1976; Gold Star Oct/Nov 1976; Australian Internationals 1977 - Terry Hook (Aus) Australian Internationals 1978, Australian Internationals 1979; heavily crashed at a club event at Lakeside 21 Jun 1981. Rebuilt by March 1982 by Chas Talbot on a new tub. Sold to Bob Minogue and Pete Brennan in the mid-1980s who sold the rear end to Peter Bick to complete his ex-Davison HU34. The ex-Hook car was then built up with other parts and sold to Manuel Jimenez who in turn passed it to Murray Richards (Murrumbeena, Australia). To David Sharp (New Zealand) 1993. To Murray Sinclair (Hong Kong, and Christchurch, New Zealand) 2001, and raced in the F5000 Tasman Revival from 2003 to 2007. To Russell Greer (Blenheim, New Zealand) 2007, who continued to race it in the Revival series. More information about Lola T332 HU28
8. Lola T190 [190/F1/5] (Poul Christie): New to John McNicol and raced in the South African series in 1970. To Nolly Limberis and raced in South Africa in 1971 and once in early 1972. To Fred Cowell and raced in 1972 and 1973. To Mike Hearn later in 1973 when Cowell bought a Surtees TS8, but then returned to Cowell when he and Hearn swapped cars prior to the 1974 season. Subsequent history unknown, but in 1984 it was being used in drag racing by Barry Nel (Krugersdorp). According to South African historian Ian Hebblethwaite, this car was exported from South Africa in 1988, when it was sold to David McLaughlin in England. A car with this number and said to be ex-McNicol ended up in England somehow under the ownership of Paul Haywood-Halfpenny. Sold to Poul Christie (Auckland, NZ) early 1990s and shipped to New Zealand. Raced by Christie in the F5000 Tasman Revival series from 2003 to 2011, when Christie moved to a recently-constructed McLaren M10B. Sold to Garry Price (Feilding, NZ) in February 2016. More information about Lola T190 190/F1/5
9. Elfin MR8A-C [8772] (Bill Hemming): New to Vern Schuppan (Adelaide, Australia) and raced as part of Ansett Team Elfin in 1977 Australian Internationals. Converted to Can-Am form, and raced by Schuppan in the Can-Am series in late 1977, and again in 1978 and 1979. Next seen when advertised by Stuart Bradbury (Phoenix, AZ) in July 1984. Advertised by Chuck Haines in 1990. To John Wales and Ron Gouttman (NSW, Australia) in 1990, and raced by Gouttman in Australia in Can-Am form in 1992/93. To Laurie Donaher (NSW) 1998, then to Aaron Lewis (Cessnock, NSW, Australia) in 2001. Restored to F5000 form, and raced in the F5000 Tasman Revival series in 2003/04. To Bill Hemming (Victoria, Australia) 2005, who raced it in the Tasman Revival series from late 2006 onwards.
10. March "72A" (John Mackinlay): Bought as "a basic unrestored tub and some running gear" from Kenny Smith (NZ) by John Mackinlay (Auckland, New Zealand) in 2001. Restored by Bob Needham into the spec of Cannon's 1972 March 72A-Oldsmobile. It was fitted with a 4.4-litre Aluminium Oldsmobile V8 and 721 bodywork. The car was entered by Mackinlay in the 2005/06 New Zealand F5000 Revival Series, starting at Fielding 12-13 Nov 2005, but first raced in the series at Sandown Park Nov 2006. Raced in selected rounds of the Tasman Cup Revival series in 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10 series, then missed 2010/11 and returned for the 2011/12 series. Taken to Shayne Windelburn in 2014, to fit a 1973-style March body with front-mounted radiator. When investigated in 2021, this car was found to be marked 'Marlo 801-1', indicating that it was the March-based Marlo Formula Pacific car raced by Kookie Ramirez in Malaysia in 1981. Its tub is numbered 'AM72/23', which is consistent with it being built from the ex-Chris Cramer March 723-12, which was reported to have been the basis of the Marlo. More information about March 723/72A 'AM72/23'
11. Lola T332 [HU38 (A)] (Ian Clements): The original tub from HU38 was repaired and sold as a spare tub at the same time as the complete HU38(B). These were last advertised by Tuck Thomas (Edina, MN) in May 1978. The complete car was sold to Gordy Oftedahl (Minneapolis, MN) but the fate of the repaired tub is unknown. It may have gone with the complete car via Oftedahl and Chris Carrell to Chuck Haines. Believed to be the car sold by Chuck Haines (St Louis, MO) to Ian Clements (Christchurch, New Zealand) in 1999. The car was rebuilt in New Zealand, and raced in the F5000 Tasman Revival series from 2003 to 2007. Then sold to Sefton Gibb (Napier, New Zealand), who continued to race it in the Tasman Revival series from 2007/08 to 2016/17. Sold to Tony Galbraith (Te Kauwhata, NZ) and raced in the 2017/18 Tasman Cup Revival, at Monterey in August 2018, then in the 2018/19 Tasman Cup Revival, but was crashed badly in the Skope Classic in February 2019, putting Galbraith in hospital. Car and driver both returned for the 2020/21 season and raced again in 2021/22. More information about Lola T332 HU38(A)

Sources

Note that the identification of individual cars in these results is based on the material presented elsewhere in this site and may in some cases contradict the organisers' published results.

All comments, clarifications, corrections and additions are most welcome. Please email Allen (allen@oldracingcars.com) if you can help in any way with our research.

Individual sources for this event

Main details from Ross MacKay of FAST COMPANY of behalf of the New Zealand Formula 5000 Association, preserved at http://blackbullets.com/content/newsarticle.cfm?id=10069. Results for this race are not recorded on http://www.marktime.co.nz, or on https://speedhive.mylaps.com/