Now here’s a bit of McLaren history you didn’t know.
McLaren Cars ‘entered’ a Holden in New Zealand’s annual touring car endurance classic, the Benson & Hedges 1000 at Pukekohe in 1976.
The four-door Holden Monaro GTS 308 V8 was crewed by Mike Hailwood and Phil Kerr with none other than 1967 World Champion, Denis Clive Hulme as Team Manager.
Phil Kerr ahead of the Dave Winter/Ron Findlay Datsun 1200. DNF in the race won by the Jim Little/Graeme Richardt Chrysler Valiant Charger.
Valiants won the race nine times on the trot from 1970-78. See here: https://primotipo.com/2023/12/18/valiant-charger-r-t-1971-73/
See this Australian Muscle Car piece for more on the B &H race: https://www.musclecarmag.com.au/feature/the-mclaren-monaro-587634
I wonder if Ron Dennis bought the Holden for his museum?
Phil giving Mike ‘the rounds of the kitchen’ after Michael the Cycle crashed his McLaren M23 Ford out of the 1974 Monaco GP on lap 12.
And below enroute to a DNF with a fuel line problem from Q11, Swedish GP at Anderstorp that June.
Credits…
Rex Rattenbury, Ross Cammick, MotorSport Images
Finito…
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