AUCKLAND CAR CLUB
ROLL OF HONOUR 2017
Alan Boylewas active in club activities and competed in a variety of events but
eventually established himself as one of the country’s leading saloon car
circuit drivers. His performances in the "Coke” Mini Cooper S and the "Coca-Cola”
Vauxhall Viva GT saw him achieve success in both the 0-1000cc and 0-4200cc Saloon
Car Championships. His executive position with the Coca Cola Company saw him
introduce high level corporate sponsorship to Motorsport which he continued as
a sponsor of various events after his retirement from racing.
Doug Bremnercompeted in most forms of motorsport but was legendary for some amazing
performances in his Porsche powered VW Beetle. Over several years, Doug won
hillclimbs, sprints, grass track championships and contested early car trials
and rallies with some success. His long term partnership with Ralph Emson also
saw him as force in racing, particularly long distance touring car races.
Dave
McMillan came to prominence in early Formula Ford racing after
he returned to New Zealand from the USA where he worked for notable team owner
Fred Opert. He progressed from winning the Formula Ford Championship to Formula
Pacific (Atlantic) racing where he won international titles in New Zealand and
the USA including the New Zealand Grand Prix. Dave continues his involvement
today as a notable team owner and manager in the USA.
John Woolfwas one of New Zealand’s hottest prospects on the international rallying scene
before his life was tragically cut short. Having contested in every motorsport
format including long distance saloon car racing, John settled into rallying
where he became a frontline competitor in a Mazda RX3 and Ford Escort RS2000
before embarking on a successful campaign in the USA where he became a works
driver for the Peugeot Team.
Grant
Whittaker was rally co-driver for John Woolf and also ventured
to the USA to continue co-driving for John. Having started out partnering John
from the very outset he established himself as one of the country’s finest
rally co-drivers before he too was lost at a young age.
Garry
Pedersen (MNZM) contested a variety of races, hillclimbs and sprints
before focusing on racing where he established himself as a considerable force
especially in long distance saloon racing. He then became a front running
racing driver in the GEMCO Oldsmobile sports car followed by the Begg and
McLaren Formula A single seaters. Garry concluded his illustrious racing career
with group A Touring car racing before managing son Mark’s championship winning
touring car campaigns and constructing cars for other drivers. His work in the
sport’s administration also contributed to his being made a member of the New
Zealand Order of Merit for services to motorsport.
Willard
Martin is synonymous with New Zealand rallying and also the
earlier trials competitions, having contested club hillclimbs and circuit
races, he established himself as a front running competitor in trials together
with organising Gold Star events. His organisational skills saw him progress to
modern rallying organisation as a director and organiser of the Rally of New
Zealand where he became a highly influential figure for over two decades.
Willard was a recent recipient of the inaugural MSNZ Rally Heritage Award and
is a former Vice-President and Secretary of the Club.
Ross
Montgomery came into motorsport from Speedway where he was a
national steward and the race starter at Western Springs. After contesting and
organising trials he soon became involved in racing then rally organising
including several years as Clerk of Course for the Rally of New Zealand and a
multitude of national and club rallies. Ross also served as a MSNZ Steward and
Executive Committee Member and contested several rallies as co-driver for top
driver Gary Smith. Ross is also a former Club Captain.
Phil Kerris one of this club’s international legends having been an active competitor
over a variety of events during the 1950s. Phil formed a keen association with
Bruce McLaren and Jack Brabham before he went on to the UK where he acted as
Team Manager for the Brabham Formula One team. He then moved over to the newly
formed McLaren team where he served as Joint Managing Director for several highly
successful years before returning to New Zealand.
Steve Millencame into motorsport sharing a Hillman Cob "surfie wagon” with his brother Rod.
Although he contested hillclimbs and rallying, it was circuit racing where he
was to establish himself internationally through Formula Ford and Formula
Pacific (Atlantic). Having won the New Zealand Grand Prix and International
Championship, Steve headed to the USA where he performed with distinction in
the American Racing Series and as a works Nissan driver in the IMSA
Championship and at the Le Mans 24 Hour race.
Bryce Plattstarted contesting club events in an MGB sports car and a Holden Torana XU1
then progressed to circuit racing firstly in a rapid Austin A40 followed by a
rapid Escort twin-cam. After forming a friendship with engine supremo Randell
Edgell, Bryce rebuilt the Escort and went on to win the inaugural Shell Sport 2
Litre Saloon Car Championship. He continued racing over several years then
focused on rallying where he also served as a long standing zero car driver for
the Rally of New Zealand. Bryce is also a former Vice-President of the Club.
Jim Boyd was
an adventurer who raced a variety of sports cars and single seaters including a
Buckler, HWM Alta, Cooper Holden and Valour before establishing himself in the
legendary Lycoming Special. He drove the Lycoming in every event possible
including hillclimbs, grass track and circuit racing while also using it as a
road car winning three Gold Star Hillclimb titles and a national Sports Car
title. He then campaigned the Stanton Corvette before importing a Lola T70 to
win a further sports car title. Jim was also the Club Captain from 1954 to
1957.
Arthur
McWatt was the club’s first top rally co-driver sitting
alongside Mike Marshall when special stage rallying came to prominence in the
early 1970s. Having contested and organised trials for some years, his
navigational skills quickly came to the fore in rallying when the duo
established themselves as the team to beat winning the 1975 Heatway Rally of
New Zealand. Arthur also served as the Club’s first Rally Committee Chairman
and was instrumental in establishing the Club as a major promoter of rallying
for several years.
Brett Rileywill always be remembered as a brilliant talent who should have been in Formula
One but wasn’t. The son of legendary saloon racer John Riley, Brett immediately
became a force in local Formula Ford racing before heading to the UK to contest
Formula 3 where he was team mate to Nigel Mansell in the Unipart Team. He won
many high profile races in Formula 3 and Formula Pacific commanding high praise
from the British motorsport media before returning to New Zealand permanently to
contest touring Car and Porsche GT3 racing. Brett is also a two time winner of
the MSNZ Jim Clark Trophy.
Sir Tom
Clark was one of motor racing’s most enthusiastic
competitors in the 1950s campaigning such historic cars as a Mark 7 Jaguar, Maserati
8CM and Super Squalo Ferrari while also building the Crown Lynn Potteries Corporation
latterly called Ceramco. As well as competing, he was also involved in the
organisation of Grands Prix at Ardmore and Pukekohe but retired from racing
after a serious accident at Bathurst in 1958. His final motor racing
contribution was as mentor and funder for Graeme McRae’s successful Formula A
(5000) career in New Zealand, Australia, UK and USA under the Crown Lynn
sponsorship. Sir Tom later became synonymous in New Zealand sporting circles as
Patron of the successful Americas Cup yachting campaigns and was an initial
influence in the establishment of the Bruce McLaren Trust.
Ross Jensen started
racing and hillclimbing a 1934 Ford V8 Coupe then won the first National Gold
Star Drivers Championship in the 1956/57 season driving an Austin Healy 100S
and Monza Ferrari. He then won it again in the 1957/58 season driving the
ex-Stirling Moss 250F Maserati. He also won the NZ Saloon Car Championship in
the 1960/61 season at the wheel of a Mark 2 Jaguar 3.8. Ross headed to Europe
in 1958 to drive the works Lister Jaguars after Archie Scott-Brown was killed
at Spa and was offered a full Formula 1 season with BRM for 1959 but returned
home to concentrate on his business. He was responsible for introducing BMW
into New Zealand and was the last driver to win an FIA recognised race at the
wheel of a 250F Maserati. Along with Tom Clark, Jan and Patricia McLaren, Ross
was instrumental in establishing the Bruce McLaren Trust. He was also part of
the group which organised the first New Zealand International Grand Prix at
Ardmore and was involved in the establishment of the Pukekohe circuit.
Ian Derbidgehas been involved in both the motor and motorsport industry for over 40 years.
His most notable recognition is as track commentator at both Pukekohe Park
Raceway and Bay Park Raceway where he called race commentaries for many years.
Ian was also involved from sponsorship aspects of the racing particularly with
motor companies he worked for and through his long tenure at Rothmans. He was
also involved in the saloon car career of the late Rod Coppins and more
recently in marketing of Western Springs Stadium including Speedway.
Tony
Teesdale is synonymous with rallying as a three time New
Zealand Rally Champion driving three different makes of car. Having commenced in
the mid-1970s by organising the first rallies held within the forests
surrounding Tokoroa, he then began campaigning a Mark 1 Escort before moving up
to the ex-Masport Escort RS1600 where he established himself as a man to watch.
Tony won his three championships at the wheel of a Mark 2 Escort RS1800, Nissan
240RS and MG Metro 6R4.
Don Hallidaycame into motor racing via drag racing with his brother Rob looking after the
technical aspects. After a couple of seasons, firstly in a Ford Anglia then
slightly modified Escort twin-cam, Don became a force in the 0-4200cc class of
the New Zealand Touring Car Championship in the much modified Escort twin-cam
followed by the BDA powered car in which he was to win three national titles.
He then successfully campaigned a rapid locally build Essex V6 powered Ford
Capri both in New Zealand and Australia. Don also contested several races in
the Shell Sport 2 litre class and Nissan Mobil Group A races driving a Nissan
Bluebird.
Murray
O’Donnell became involved in rallying through his job as
performance parts specialist at John Andrew & Sons where he soon found
himself on Mike Marshall’s rally support crew while also contesting club
rallies in his own Mark 1 Escort. He gradually became involved in organising
and plotting rallies for the club and eventually spent five years as organiser
of the Rally of New Zealand. Murray continued his involvement with plotting
rallies around the Auckland area for many years and still performs lead car and
zero car duties for international rallies in New Zealand.
