AUCKLAND CAR CLUB
ROLL OF HONOUR 2019
Craig Baird (MNZM) is a legend
in NZ motor racing having won over 25 New Zealand championships in both single
seaters and touring cars including Formula Ford, Formula Pacific, 2 litre
saloons, TranzAm and NZV8s and Porsche GT3s. In Australia he is also a winner
in Australian V8 Supercars, Porsche Carreras, GT Sports Cars and is a former
Bathurst 1000 race winner. Among his most outstanding successes were three
consecutive New Zealand Grand Prix victories and a three-time recipient of the
Jim Clark Trophy. Craig continues his involvement in motor racing as Driving
Standards Observer for the Australian Supercars Series and is also a Member of
the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Peter Bruin is one of
the unsung legends of Kiwi motorsport. Having competed in various club and
invitation events at the wheel of a single seater humorously nicknamed "Bruin’s
Ruin” he set about designing and building his own immaculate Targa-Fiat in
which he contested sports car racing with some success. So impressive was the
presentation of this car, he was offered a job at the McLaren Formula 1 team
where he spent three years as a mechanic and fabricator. On his return to New
Zealand he continued his design and construction of hugely successful speedway
midgets, go-karts and classic racing cars including the historic ex-Denny Hulme
Cooper Climax T45, a Lotus 11 and beautifully built C-Type replica. Peter was
also a member of the Club’s executive committee for some time.
Owen Evans hails from
a motorsport background founded by his father Laurie. Having been involved with
Laurie’s trials, rallying and racing exploits as a lad, he eventually moved
into competing in such events from the early 1970s and quickly established
himself as a competitive rally driver. However, it was in motor racing he was
to become a success at the wheel of touring cars then Porsche racing where he
became a dominant figure. Having set the New Zealand Land Speed record in a
potent Porsche 911 Turbo, an accident saw him retire from driving then
concentrate on team management specifically mentoring his son Mitch who still
holds intentional recognition on the professional Formula E World Series.
Ken Flashman was one of
the many members who contested every form of club and motorsport event
possible. Although a keen competitor in car trials and early rallies, Ken
became a legend at the wheel of his Cooper Vincent 500 in which he enjoyed
considerable success in hillclimbs and club race meetings. He also became an exponent
of production car racing, particularly in Datsuns and Holden Toranas in long
distance events where he enjoyed several class wins. Ken’s successes were also
matched by his willingness as a volunteer when not competing and through his
notable sense of humour.
Roger Freeth achieved
success through three different mediums of motorsport, firstly as a top motor
cycle racer in which he gained championship victories including the Bathurst 6
Hour enduro. Secondly as a top rally co-driver for such top drivers as Alan
Carter, Reg Cook, Neil Allport and internationally with Possum Bourne as part
of the Subaru World Rally Team. Thirdly. as a circuit racing competitor
achieving considerable success in Sports Sedans and Production Touring Car
Racing together with setting a New Zealand land speed record. His career as one
of the country’s top astrophysicists also enable him to advance racing motor
cycle technology and revolutionise computer rally pace note systems.
Steve Gillard was a
tireless behind the scenes contributor to motorsport. Having come into the
sport vis rallying, he embarked on various racing campaigns in saloon car
racing and Formula fords. He then became a regular administrator, firstly for
the Formula Ford Championship and spent time on the Motorsport New Zealand
Racing Board. His involvement in the BNT NZ V8s Championship particularly as a
board member saw him receive numerous accolades for his down to earth practical
guidance.
Des Gulland was another
of the quiet unsung heroes of the Auckland Car Club. Although a regular
competitor in hillclimbs, sprints, rallies and trials, it was as a working
volunteer in which he became synonymous with club activities. Whether is was
doing check points on trials, control marshalling on rallies, supervising crowd
marshalling or track crossings at Pukekohe, there was never an event in which
Des was not seen volunteering. Des also served time as a member of the Club’s
Executive Committee and a former Club Captain.
Judy Hanbury is one of
the trailblazers of New Zealand rallying. Along with her husband Roy, she entered
motorsport contesting club hillclimbs, sprints and race meetings at the wheel
of a standard but rapid Fiat 850 Fastback. After contesting some early trials
and rallies she obtained an ex-works Morris Marina TC and established herself
as a force to be reckoned with in both International and National events. She
was the first woman to seriously contest rallying which opened the door for the
many women competing in rallying today.
Graham Hill is probably
better referred to as "Mr Auckland Rallying” as his organisational involvement
seemed to include most events held around the Auckland provincial region.
Having been instrumental in securing the Maramarua Forest for the Club’s first
special stage rallies he went on to fill roles such as Route Co-ordinator,
Clerk of Course and Assistant Clerk of Course for Club, Invitation and National
rallies for nearly 20 years. Graham also competed in several rallies as
co-driver notably for Quentin Phillips in National Championship events and also
held senior vehicle scrutineering and safety supervision positions. He was also
a long time Executive Committee Member and Rally Committee Chairman resulting
in his Life Membership of the Club. Graham has also been awarded the Motorsport
New Zealand Order of Merit for his contribution to New Zealand Motorsport.
Steve Horne followed
his father George into a lifelong career of cars and motorsport. As a qualified
accountant and superb mechanical engineer, he was able to combine those
management and technical skills to excel in various racing teams and
organisations including Spears Speed Shop (NZ), Cook Motor Racing (NZ), Team
VDS (Belgium and USA), Truesports (USA) and Tasman Motorsports(USA). Drivers he
assisted to success are many but include Steve Millen, Reg Cook, Teddy
Pillette, Bryan Herta and Bobby Rahal. Steve’s experiences included most forms
of motorsport but his major successes came with multiple Indycar titles and
double victory in the Indianapolis 500.
Tony Marsh is another
of a long line of mechanics who became a motorsport technical specialist and
successful racing driver. Having worked as a mechanic and engineer in various
racing teams covering touring cars, single seaters and rally cars it was as a
performance engine specialist he was to become a legend. Tony’s engine building
experience covered two litre touring cars and rally cars, Formula Ford, Formula
Pacific and NZ V8 touring cars. He also hotly contested 2 litre Shellsport
racing in the 1970s and early 1980s culminating in his winning the New Zealand
Saloon Car Championship. Tony still holds a high engineering profile preparing
engines for his son’s top fuel drag racing.
John Nicholson initially
followed his father into powerboat racing where he enjoyed considerable success
before moving to the UK where he joined the McLaren organisation. Although
highly skilled at all forms of mechanical works, it was as an engine building
specialist in which he would become synonymous. Having set up Nicholson-McLaren
Engines, he became one of Europe’s best specialising in all varieties of racing
and rally engines. John also contested Formula Atlantic and Formula 2 racing at
the wheel of a March 702 and radically designed Lyncar. After a couple of
Formula 1 races, he eventually moved back to powerboat racing but retired after
a couple of serious accidents and selling the engine business.
Chris Porter came into
rallying via the Porter family interest in Masport and after joining the
Masport Escort Team as co-driver for Jim Donald was instrumental in the
corporate aspects of Masport’s sponsorship involvement. After one and a half
seasons alongside JD, he moved across to co-drive with Blair Robson and the duo
won the 1978 NZ Rally Championship and claimed an historic 3rd overall in the
1979 Rally of NZ against a top class international field. Blair and Chris also
achieved top ren placings in the 1976 and 1977 Southern Cross Rallies and the
1979 Castrol International Rally in Australia. He was also co-driver for
British Champion Russell Brookes when they won the 1978 Rally of NZ and for
also for Finnish superstar Pentii Airikkala in the 1980 Rally of NZ. Chris was
also instrumental in securing famous names like Hannu Mikkola. Ari Vatanen,
Russell Brookes and Peter Ashcroft to appear at Auckland Car Club Rally Forums.
Frank Radisich initially
became synonymous with Allcomers saloon car racing in the mid-1960s at the
wheel of the now legendary Humber-Jag followed by the rapid ex-David Simpson
Lotus Anglia Fastback. Having been a front runner in saloon cars, especially long-distance
production car racing, he then turned his focus to single seaters. After initially
campaigning a Lotus 22, he moved into the big league driving his self-built HCM
Cosworth followed by a McLaren M4A, M10A and M10B in which he achieved
considerable success. Frank then concentrated on the Castrol GTX saloon series
at the wheel of a potent Escort RS1600 and Mazda RX2 in which he also contested
the Bathurst 1000 in Australia. Attention eventually turned to his son Paul’s
racing career which proved hugely successful particularly in winning the FIA
World Touring Car Championship twice.
Johnny Reid is best
described as one of the new, young breed of racing drivers who came to
international promise during the early 2000s firstly in Karting then Formula
Ford where he won the NZ Championship. The following years saw him highly
competitive in the Australian Formula 4000 Series, American Indylights Series
and European Formula 3000 where he was a race winner. He was also a race winner
in the International A1GP Series driving for New Zealand before returning to
race Porsche GT3s and V8 Supercars with some success. More recently, Jonny has
been a prominent front runner in GT racing both in NZ and Australia.
Brian Rice has been a
motorsport identity over six decades in which his activities commenced as a
mechanic for the likes of Sir Tom Clarke (Ferrari), Ross Jensen (Maserati,
Jaguar), Jim Boyd (Lycoming, Cooper Holden, Valour) and Greg Lancaster (Tranzam
Mustangs, Volvo). He also contested many races as a driver including cars such
as Cooper-Holden, Volvo and Mini 7s. Brian was also prominent in administration
having been an Executive Committee member for several years. He was also the
Race Starter at Pukekohe and served as Assistant Clerk of Course at some club
rallies together with co-driving in several rallies.
David Simpson burst onto
the motor racing scene in the mid-1960s during the halcyon days of allcomers
salon car racing with one of the newly created Lotus Anglias and after notching
early race wins added the now historic fastback body modification to win the
1965/66 NZ Saloon Car Championship. After taking a couple of seasons off to
concentrate on business interests he returned to Group 5 racing with the potent
Team Lexington Escort Twin Cam in which he was a regular class winner. David
then took another hiatus from the sport but returned to contest the rally scene
firstly in a Skoda after which he became prominent at the wheel of the ex-Mike
Marshall Escort RS1600 with a new Brian Hart 2 litre engine and scored several
top three positions. Earlier this year David was honoured by Motorsport NZ with
an Historic and Heritage Award for his contribution to motorsport.
Heather Spurle entered
motorsport at a time when it was difficult for women to become accepted but she
was soon to become a force to be reckoned with. Her career included Formula Pacific
racing in which she finished 6th overall in the New Zealand Grand Prix. She
further cemented her reputation contesting the Bathurst 1000 and Sandown 500
races together with Bathurst 12 hour and 24 hour events. Heather also contested
other classes including Peugeot Sport racing and some Tranzam events before
becoming a multiple land speed record class holder. However, it was setting two
new World Women’s Water Speed records in power boats and hydroplanes which saw
her achieve international acclaim. Heather has also received a variety of
awards including the New Zealand Commemoration Medal (1990), Motorsport Person
Of The Year Award (1996) and an MBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours (1991).
Ray Stone was at the forefront of New
Zealand motorsport technology for five decades in his roles from general
mechanic to a top Team Manager. Initially as a helping hand for Ron Roycroft
the aspiring race mechanic then worked around the country as a mechanic on cars
for legendary drivers such as Roycroft, Johnny Mansell, Bill Thomason. However,
it was as mechanic and engineer for Paul Fahey that he established himself as a
leader in his field having engineered cars for Paul such as the Lotus Cortina,
Lotus Anglia Fastback, Shelby Mustang, Escort FVA, Boss Mustang and Cologne
Capri. With the rising popularity of rallying, Ray moved into team management
for the likes of the Mike Marshall, the Woolmark Ford Team and most notably the
Masport Escort Team which won both the NZ Rally Championship and the Rally of
NZ three times. Ray also spent considerable time as a technical advisor to
Motorsport New Zealand and to Ford with their competition involvement together
with liaison duties with the Ford Competitions Department in Europe.
Ralph Watson is often
described as the Burt Munro of Auckland owing to his outstanding practical
engineering skills. Having built and raced his own car (called a Watson BSA) to
5th place in the 1954 Ohakea Trophy race, he set about designing and
constructing a radical racing car. The result was one of the most loved and
famous cars in New Zealand motorsport history – the Lycoming Special. Ralph
contested races around the country and achieved 4th and 5th placings in the New
Zealand Grand Prix at Ardmore in 1957 and 58 respectively. Together with the
success of the Lycoming, he also designed and built a rotary valve aero engine
using a small selection of tools and parts available. Ralph is so highly
regarded that his workshop has been intricately recreated in the Wanaka Warbirds
and Wheels museum.
