Look back in history Sunday: Bruce McLaren wins the 1964 NZ Grand Prix

Bruce McLaren’s eighth attempt at the New Zealand Grand Prix in 1964 resulted in his first and only win of the home event. It was a pretty good season down-under for the Kiwi, also winning the Lady Wigram Trophy race at Wigram, Christchurch, the Teretonga International in Invercargill and finishing first overall in the eight-round Tasman Series.

*On the start line – #47 Bruce McLaren (Cooper T70/Climax FPF2.5) with Australian John Youl (Cooper T55/Climax FPF2.5) alongside. Youl finished fourth overall* in the GP.

*First resident New Zealander to finish was Jim Palmer (2.5 Cooper-Climax) in fifth spot*

Timmy Mayer (Cooper T70) from from Dalton, Pennsylvania, finished fourth overall in the 1964 Tasman Series. Mayer’s older brother Teddy was one of the founders of the McLaren team, with Bruce McLaren

#2 Australian Frank Matich (Brabham BT7A / Climax FPF 2.5) retired after 27 laps. He’s followed by #48 American Timmy Mayer (Cooper T70 / Climax FPF 2.5) who finished third and #5 Denny Hulme (Brabham BT4 / Climax FPF 2.5) who finished second

*Frank Matich (Brabham BT7A / Climax FPF 2.5) would go on to win the NZ Grand Prix in 1970 driving a McLaren M10A Chevolet F5000*

Kiwi Tony Shelly(Lotus 18/21 /Climax FPF 2.5) finished sixth overall. He competed in Formula One in 1962, participating in three World Championship Grands Prix, and several non-Championship races scoring no points. He also owned a BMW dealership called Shelly Motors in Honolulu and became an America citizen in 1975

https://youtu.be/8I0zDOS8mwk

1964 New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe Park Raceway, Auckland

Result	Driver	Nat	Car	Laps	Time
1	Bruce McLaren	NZ	Cooper T70 / Climax 2499cc 4cyl	50	74m 20.7s
2	Denny Hulme	NZ	Brabham BT4 / Climax 2495cc 4cyl	50	74m 25.1s
3	Timmy Mayer	US	Cooper T70 / Climax 2499cc 4cyl	50	74m 36.4s
4	John Youl	Aust	Cooper T55 / Climax 2495cc 4cyl	50	75m 21.6s
5	Jim Palmer	NZ	Cooper T53 / Climax T45 2495cc 4cyl	49
6	Tony Shelly	NZ	Lotus 18/21 / Climax 2495cc 4cyl	48
7	Andy Buchanan	NZ	Brabham BT6 / Ford 1598cc 4cyl	46
8	David Young	NZ	Cooper T65 / Ford 1473cc 4cyl	46
9	Roly Levis	NZ	Lotus 22 / Ford 1650cc 4cyl	45
10	Dene Hollier	NZ	Cooper T52 / Ford 1475cc 4cyl	43
11	Ken Sager	NZ	Lotus 20 / Ford 1475cc 4cyl	43
12	Rex Flowers	NZ	Lotus 20B / Ford 1498cc 4cyl	42
Ret	Jack Brabham	Aust	Brabham BT7A / Climax 2499cc 4cyl	28	Accident
Ret	Frank Matich	Aust	Brabham BT7A / Climax 2499cc 4cyl	26	Blown Piston
Ret	Chris Amon	NZ	Lola T4 / Climax 2495cc 4cyl	12	Brake Failure
Ret	Jim Boyd	NZ	Valour VP1 / Ford 1098cc 4cyl	11	Engine
DNS	Bill Thomasen	NZ	Cooper T51 / Climax 1960cc 4cyl		Engine
DNQ	Morrie Smith	NZ	Lola Mk2 / Ford 1475cc 4cyl