BEGG SHOW THE START OF SOMETHING BIG
George Begg’s contribution to motorsport in New Zealand is now being recognised in a new exhibition and a new annual event
Southland is ramping up its claim to being the motorsport capital of New Zealand by launching a new event, the George Begg Speedfest 2020, at Teretonga Park Raceway from 15-17 February 2020.
While George and his cars are wellknown in Kiwi motor racing circles, an all-new display of Begg cars and memorabilia is being gathered together and put on display at Classic Motorcycle Mecca in Invercargill, from Thursday 13 February. It will help fix his star in the firmament alongside other Kiwi motorsport luminaries, including fellow Southlander, Burt Munro, and give Invercargill another motoring drawcard.
But it wouldn’t be fitting for George without some proper racing, so the first-ever George Begg Classic Speedfest, to be held in conjunction with the Southland Race Car Club, is taking to the track at Invercargill’s Teretonga Park on 13-16 February. It will make the pilgrimage south doubly attractive for petrolheads as it follows hard on the heels of the Burt Munro Challenge (5-9 February).
AMBITIOUS VISION — WORTHY OF BEGG HIMSELF
Sponsorship from another great Invercargill motorsport attraction, the Bill Richardson Transport World — also the team behind the exhibition venue, the Classic Motorcycle Mecca — has been confirmed for the Speedfest for the next 10 years. That gives organisers a solid footing from which they can now create a memorable event.
Transport World director Scott O’donnell, himself a keen motor racing participant, would love to see the Speedfest event develop along the lines of Goodwood Revival motoring celebration in England. He and his wife and business partner Jocelyn went to Goodwood this year, saying: “It was amazing — 100,000 people over three days and as Joc said, this is the way to go.”
Those coming to the Speedfest are encouraged to bring their classic, custom car or motorcycle along and dress up to match the period of their vehicles, a feature that adds so much to the atmosphere at Goodwood.
“Not everyone will want to dress in period like they do at Goodwood but we are hoping quite a few will.”
GEORGE BEGG BUILT 18 RACING CARS BETWEEN 1963 AND 1974.
George began his business in 1957 making farm equipment at his workshop in Drummond, Southland. He began his competition career racing motorcycles before he built his first car, the Begg 650 single seater. He finished with 018 which was built for the F5000 formula. This Chev V8-powered car was designed and built by George in 1974. His cars twice won New Zealand’s premier single seater series, the Gold Star Championship,. The 018 car was designed on his return from racing FM5 in Europe and driven by New Zealander David Oxton in the European Gourdes F5000 series of 1973.
The story of George Begg and his cars is an incredible one of ingenuity and perseverance mixed with success.
It is testament to the skills and tenacity of a local craftsman in true Burt Munro pioneering fashion. With his interest in motorcycle racing at challenging circuits such as the Isle of Man TT, beach racing and his later involvement in classic motorcycle racing, George’s interests often paralleled Burt’s.
George died in April 2007, aged 76 a few months after the timely tribute to him at Teretonga Park Raceway. The George Begg Speedfest is a fitting tribute to a man and his vision.
LOCAL BOY MADE GOOD
George Begg, from Drummond in Western Southland, built race cars that made their mark nationally and in European motor racing. He followed a path set by the likes of Bruce Mclaren when he moved to Europe. George had even worked for Mclaren at one point, but once back in New Zealand in his Southland workshop, he adapted many of his and designer Nigel Beresford’s ideas into his own cars. This was to a point where they could match most competitors. The name George Begg is now intrinsically woven into the narrative of New Zealand motor racing history and Scott O’donnell of Transport World said he wants to honour that. “As a tribute to George Begg, we are aiming to get at least 16 of the cars he built along for the display and the Speedfest,” he explained.
Not all of the cars are available for the Speedfest displays. Some will be doing what they were designed for, and racing at Teretonga. Just prior to Christmas 2019, nine cars had been confirmed as attending the Speedfest. “The aim is to get as many of the Begg-built cars back in Southland as possible and to keep them here,” Scott said.
KEEPING IT LOCAL
Scott O’donnell also has some ‘skin in the game’ and has now taken over from Noel Atley as the owner of the final Begg car made, the Begg 018. Another Southland local and Southland Sports Car Club patron, Barry Keen, has the first car, the Begg 650.
Another local keen to drive the success of the event and create a centre of gravity for the Begg cars in Southland is Ken Muir. He owns the Begg-daimler and recently purchased the Begg twin-cam from Barry Clearwater. This car is now also ready to run under its own steam. “It really is thanks to the efforts of Noel Brumby and Grant Clearwater that this car has been saved,” says Ken.
The Begg Daimler is now Chevrolet V8-powered but Ken also has the original parts.
“I also have a Daimler V8 engine along with the four twin-choke downdraught carburettors which George originally used, to save a few dollars. The idea is to get it back to the original Daimler configuration just as Lindsay Tosh drove it,” Ken explained.
In keeping with the local Southland emphasis, Invercargill’s Dave Mckenzie, a regular competitor in classic events with his immaculate Begg FM3, will be there along with Graham Dickie’s FM3. Lindsay O’donnell also has the Begg FM5.
Even though George Begg has passed away, a big plus for the event is that many former drivers and people who were involved with him will be there to help celebrate this golden era of New Zealand motorsport.
A big plus for the event is that many former drivers and people who were involved with him will be there