MANFEILD has been renamed ‘Manfeild: Circuit Chris Amon’ to honour a motorsport and motoring legend whose ties with the track go back to its genesis.
The announcement was made at Manfeild at 11am yesterday, with the Amon family in attendance.
“We are extremely honoured Manfeild is recognising Chris in this way,” said Tish Amon.
“He would be humbled the circuit is to carry his name.”
Manfeild was a huge part of her husband’s life and very dear to his heart.
“He gained enjoyment both behind the wheel and as a spectator.
“Chris was passionate about the ongoing development of Manfeild and it becoming the home of the New Zealand Grand Prix.”
Gordon Smith, chairman of Manfeild Park Trust, and venue chief executive Julie Keane said the renaming of the 3.03km main circuit as ‘Manfeild: Circuit Chris Amon’ will be further celebrated at the next New Zealand Grand Prix, on February 11-12. Activity details will be announced closer to that period.
They said New Zealand and the global motorsport world lost one of its great heroes and Manfeild also lost a special friend when Mr Amon passed away at age 73 on August 3, 2016.
“Chris was a key figure in the Manfeild story. That is why we say ‘with us from the start. With us always.’
“He was instrumental in our track’s design, he spent countless hours here developing Toyota road cars for New Zealand conditions and he was such a powerful figure in Toyota New Zealand’s motorsport programmes, especially the Toyota Racing Series that currently contests NZGP at our venue.
“Chris was also a steadfast friend of Manfeild –he loved the track and never failed to champion its qualities, often on our behalf.
“We were deeply honoured when Tish and the children agreed to our request to rename the circuit in his memory.”
It was especially right the circuit he loved so much should also honour his memory during the period of NZGP tenure, Mrs Keane said.
The renaming proposal has been months in the making and had progressed with wholehearted support from Manfeild Park Trust and supporters including trust settlor the Manawatu Car Club, which had sought Mr Amon’s advice when it built Manfeild in the 1970s.
The one sadness was that circumstance precluded Mr Amon being told what was in the wind.
“Ironically, we had held off talking to Chris because he was so famously modest man we knew we’d have to mount an especially persuasive argument to win his acceptance. Tragically, he was lost to us just before this was to happen.
“We determined to proceed so long as we had the support of the Amon family and were delighted when Tish instantly gave her blessing.
“We are also thrilled that two of their children, James and Georgie, have joined our working group for the February celebration and that the family was here yesterday to celebrate that we are now and forever ‘Manfeild: Circuit Chris Amon’.”
Mrs Keane and Mr Smith enforce the renaming is motivated wholly by desire to honour an emotional connection with a man “who meant so much to us all.”
“The Manfeild perspective is simple: Chris was a man of special character. We will miss him tremendously. We intend to never forget him.”
Yesterday’s naming ceremony was also attended by representatives from Toyota New Zealand, the Manawatu Car Club and the Southward Museum.
Also in attendance were Bruce Wilson and his son, Rolf, who have just published a book about Bruce Wilson’s time as a mechanic for Chris Amon during the early racing years, including the period when they ran the Maserati 250F that is now held by the Southward Museum.
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