Honouring a racing legend
MOST of us know the name McLaren through its decades of Formula 1 success and road-going supercars, but what about the man behind the name?
Bruce McLaren was a hugely talented New Zealander who was for decades the youngest ever Formula 1 race winner (1959 US Grand Prix). Also a gifted engineer, designer and inventor, he formed his own race team in 1963 which continues to this day.
Killed in 1970 when testing his new Can-Am car, the accident robbed us of an inspirational driver and team leader.
A documentary film, McLaren, celebrating his life is released in Australian cinemas next week. Directed by Kiwi Roger Donaldson, it was a labour of love for the man also responsible for 2005’s The World’s Fastest Indian.
“It was a personal film to make, and me and my family went back to New Zealand for a year,” Donaldson said. “It was a lot of effort and it means a lot to have been involved.
“When I was young I saw Bruce race in Australia with Jack Brabham against him, and he was impressing everyone as he was so good but so young. Bruce’s father once loaned me the first road car that Bruce built, and I used it in my film Smash Palace.”
“I wanted to make the film because lots of people know all about McLaren cars but not that it was Bruce who started it. The connection to the past is not there.”
Donaldson secured interviews with many racing greats for the documentary, including Sir Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti and fellow Kiwi driver Chris Amon, who died shortly after
the film was made.
It features incredible period footage, Bruce McLaren interviews and the taped messages he sent home to family in New Zealand.
Motor sport fans will revel in the archive film of Grands Prix, Can-Am and the Indy 500, but as a documentary there’s a story here to appeal to a non-car loving audience too.
“My hope is it has more scope than just a niche motor racing audience, and hopefully what I’ve done is make an entertaining film,” Donaldson said. “It is a very personal story that had to be told.”