2015 Inductees

AUCKLAND CAR CLUB

ROLL OF HONOUR 2015

Eric Mallard (MNZM) is a living legend of New Zealand Motorsport owing to his contribution to the administration of motorsport especially with the Auckland Car Club. He served in many administrative and voluntary roles form the early 1950s to the present day. Having served as Club President for several years during the 1960s, Eric was employed full time as General Manager of the NZ Grand Prix Association and latterly Motorsport Auckland for over 30 years together with serving on the Motorsport New Zealand Executive for many years. Together with his outstanding administration duties, Eric also assisted many up and coming racing drivers in a mentoring role. He also worked as Rally Manager of the Rally of New Zealand and in later years as a Competitor Relations Officer. Eric was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s honours list for his services to motorsport.

    

Paul Fahey is recognized as one of New Zealand’s foremost touring car drivers having won five New Zealand Championships in a variety of historic cars including a Lotus Cortina, Shelby Mustang, FVA Escort, Boss Mustang and Cologne Capri. Always a Ford man, Paul and his team had a reputation for meticulous preparation and professionalism to the point where he is credited with introducing corporate sponsorship into Kiwi saloon car racing. After retiring from driving, Paul became a circuit promoter at Bay Park Raceway, an international tours leader and also served as an executive committee member of the club.

Ron Brown spent his career working in motor trade industry and spent several seasons contesting club and national sprints, hillclimbs and race meetings at the wheel of a potent Mini Cooper S. After retiring from driving he immersed himself in administration duties as Clerk of Course and Assistant Clerk of Course at national and club race meetings at Pukekhoe Park Raceway. Ron simultaneously served as a Club Captain and then President for nearly 20 years including (with wife Raewyn) editing and producing the club’s Bulletin over that time.

Raewyn Brown is one of the unsung heroes of the Auckland Car Club. After supporting husband Ron throughout his motor racing days, she assisted Ron and many other club officers in a huge variety of administrative duties including secretary for a variety of events including hillclimbs, race meetings, socials, trials and rallies. Her willingness to help anybody with any club administration activity was appreciated by all. One of her finest and most difficult achievements was as typist and co-editor of the club’s Bulletin for almost 20 years.

    

David Oxton came to prominence racing sports cars as a teenager during the 1960s but progressed to single seater racing where he quickly established a formidable reputation. Over the next two decades he became dominant in various formulae winning the Formula Ford Championship followed by five Gold Star Championships driving Formula 5000 and Formula Pacific cars. He also scored victory in the New Zealand Grand Prix and is a recipient of the Jim Clark Trophy. David also contested many long distance touring car races and competed in the USA and the UK in single seaters.      

Blair Robson initially came to the fore in car trials during the 1960s when he won three Gold Star Championships before turning his hand to special stage rallying. Eventually driving in the legendary Masport Escort Team for his friend and former trials navigator, Doug Benefield, Blair immediately showed himself to be a quick driver, especially in rough conditions. Over the 1970s he won the 1974 RPA Championship and the 1978 New Zealand National Rally Championship and scored a resounding second overall in the 1979 WRC Rally of New Zealand in a field of top international drivers.

            

Bruce McLaren is a legend of New Zealand and World motorsport. Having commenced his early competition days in a Austin Ulster and assisted with officiating at early Auckland Car Club events and Grands Prix at Ardmore, he soon found himself at the wheel of various competitive sports cars and then single seaters. Having been awarded the NZIGP Assn Driver to Europe scholarship, he went on to establish an international reputation with the Cooper Formula One Team before setting up the now legendary McLaren Racing Team. His cars also dominated the North American Can-Am Championship which he won as a driver twice. He also finished runner-up in the 1960 Formula One Championship and was third in 1962 and 1969. During his Formula One career he tasted victory in the Unites States, Argentine, Monaco and Belgian Grands Prix and was also the winner of the 1964 New Zealand Grand Prix, the year he won the Tasman Championship. Bruce is also former Club Captain of the Auckland Car Club.

Laurie Powell had a life-long association with motorsport dating from the 1940s. Having raced speedway midgets and stock cars, he eventually joined the Auckland Car Club and contested various club race meetings and hillclimbs in a variety of cars including a Chev B4 Coupe and Ford V8 Special. He was asked to be the race starter at Western Springs Speedway which he did for some years before taking over race starter duties at Pukekohe. For nearly two decades, Laurie was the dedicated race starter at all International, National and Club meetings. Laurie was also a Motorsport New Zealand Steward and served time as the Auckland Area Chief Steward for which he received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Laurie also served time on the Club’s Executive Committee and was made a Life Member of the Club.

Peter Batten arrived in New Zealand in the mid-1960s having contested motorsport events in his native United Kingdom including the RAC and Scottish International Rallies. He immediately joined the Auckland Car Club and for many years contested race meetings, hillclimbs, gymkhanas, trials and the Heatway Rally of New Zealand. As his driving career wound down, Peter became involved in the administration which included serving on the Executive Committee together with roles as Vice-President, Club Captain; Membership Secretary and Documentation Officer over a 30 year period. He was also an experienced trials navigator and was a part of Doug Bone’s trialling crew when they won six Gold Star Trials Championships. Peter is also a Life Member of the Club.

Bob White and his wife Lynn arrived in New Zealand from the United Kingdom at the start of the 1970s and immediately joined the Auckland Car Club. He initially competed in minor club events including hillclimbs, sprints and gymkhanas but soon turned to assisting in the running of events and general club affairs. He served many years on the Executive Committee and as Speed Committee Chairman before ascending to Vice-President and President – a position he held for several years. Bob was also a Competition Licence Examiner and Clerk of Course at National and Club race meetings but was always involved as a volunteer on any event involving the club. His efforts were rewarded when he was made a Life Member of the Club.

Les Rankin was a club stalwart better known for his high level administrative involvement in the Auckland Car Club and motorsport, particularly circuit racing. In the early days of his involvement, he competed in events such as trials and gymkhanas, especially long distance reliability trials. He was also instrumental organising working bees in the building and fitting out of the Clubrooms. Les was to serve terms as Club Captain, Race and Speed Committee Chairman overseeing hillclimbs, sprints, and club race meetings but his notoriety came with his being Clerk of the Course for many national and international race meetings at Pukekohe. Les was also the Club’s Vice-President for several years and was made a Life Member of the Club.

Barry Phillips commenced his motor racing career contesting various club speed events and progressed to circuit racing where he established himself as a top competitor driving a rapid Lotus Cortina. He went on the achieve Group 2 class wins in the New Zealand Saloon Car Championship before switching classes to Mini Coopers. He continued to be a regular front runner and class winner in championship touring car racing at the wheel of an Arden powered Mini Cooper. Barry was also instrumental in the setting up and management of the high profile Cambridge, Winfield and New Zealand Freighters Racing Teams whilst also serving as President of the New Zealand Racing Drivers Club.

Dennis Hulme is still New Zealand’s only World Formula 1 Champion. Having cut his teeth racing in junior formulae, he followed Bruce McLaren to Europe under the NZIGP Association Driver to Europe scholarship and quickly notched up a series of successes. He advanced to Formula 1 with the Brabham Team with whom he won his F1 Championship before switching the McLaren Team where he remained for the remainder of his career. Denny scored a total of eight Grand Prix victories and several Can-Am victories resulting in two Championships. He also won several sports car endurance races and finished second in the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hour race. On returning to New Zealand Denny contested and won a variety of Touring Car and truck races during the 1980s and 90s.

Ken Smith typifies the words Motor Racing Legend. Having competed in circuit racing over seven decades including 50 New Zealand Grands Prix, he has basically won everything there is to win. Titles he won include three New Zealand Grands Prix, National Formula Championship, five Gold Star single seater Championships in Formula 5000 and Formula Pacific. Ken’s exploits also saw him contesting races in Australia and Asia with notable success. Together with his driving successes, Ken has also served as a mentor and manager for many New Zealand drivers who went on the represent the country in high profile championships on the international scene including Scott Dixon, Matt Halliday and Brendon Hartley. Kenny was awarded an MBE in the Queens Honours for his outstanding contribution to Kiwi motorsport.

Graham Mortensen was another of those unsung heroes of the Auckland Car Club who spent decades behind the scenes conducting administration duties for both the club and on a variety of motorsport events. Graham officiated in many capacities wherever help was needed and eventually filled higher positions at motor racing events, rallies and on the Executive Committee of the club including terms as Vice-President.

Mike Marshall was a regular club member who contested most formats of motorsport including racing, trials, gymkhanas and hillclimbs. After spending a few years campaigning Cortina GTs, Anglias and Mini Coopers, it was at the wheel of a Escort RS1600 he established himself as New Zealand’s first rally star when the sport of special stage rallying arrived. He immediately stamped his mark as one of the fastest and fearless drivers in the early rally scene driving Escort RS1600s and 1800s. His high profile was cemented by a superb second place in the 1973 Heatway Rally and a superb victory in the 1975 Heatway Rally of New Zealand driving the first Mark 2 Escort rallied in the country. Mike also served several years on the club’s Executive Committee and also two terms as Club Captain.

Rod Coppinsquickly became prominent in circuit racing during the early 1960s driving a variety of cars including a Tec Mec front engine single seater and a Chev Coupe. However, it was at the wheel of his brutal Zephyr Corvette that he established his reputation as a hard charging competitor. After progressing to a Ford Mustang during the Group 5 era, he became a crowd favourite and regular race winner. He became joint New Zealand Touring Car Champion at the wheel of the now historic Chev Camaro under Cambridge Racing Team colours before graduating to the might Pontiac Firebird in which he was to complete his career. Rod also excelled in long distance production car racing winning the Wills Six Hour and Benson & Hedges races at Pukekohe multiple times in a Jaguar, Chrysler Charger and VW Golf GTI.

Kevin Lancaster joined the Auckland Car Club as junior member then spent his early years as a club photographer together with organising and navigating in car trials. After switching to rallying, he was invited to join the legendary Masport Escort Team through his friendship with driver and engineer Jim Donald. They went on to win two New Zealand Rally Championships and the Motogard Rally of New Zealand. Kevin also spent two years organising the Sanyo Rally of New Zealand and served seven years on the Executive Committee including spells as Rally Committee Chairman and Vice-President. He was also awarded a Life membership of the Club.

Dick Messenger was a regular racing driver in the early years of Kiwi motorsport during the early 1930s and is the Club’s first President. Having partaken in racing at venues such as Muriwai Beach and Hemmings Speedway, he became deeply involved in the administration of the fledging sport. Hence, in 1932, he became the first President of the newly formed New Zealand Motor Racing Drivers Association which was then renamed the Auckland Car Club in 1949.

Scott Dixon rose rapidly through the ranks of New Zealand motor racing at an early age to become an international sensation. Having been an immediate standout driver in New Zealand Formula First and Formula Ford, he made an impact in the Australian Formula Holden Series. With the backing of some prominent Kiwi business people, Scott embarked on a successful Indylights Championship in the USA before being signed to the ranks of the USA Indycar World Series where he has been a five time champion and Indianapolis 500 winner. He also supplements his Indycar campaigns driving in long distance sports car and GT races such as the Le Mans and Daytona 24 hour races.