Research says that one of the main reasons why people go to motorsport events is to hear the noise. They wouldn't have been disappointed in the anniversary day meeting 28 January at Pukekohe Raceway as 25 Formula 5000 cars lined up on the grid. Trust CEO Jan McLaren doubts there were as many as that on the grid when the formula was in its heyday. Billed as the Tasman Revival meeting the event attracted over 400 entries including 30 formula junior cars. The Trust again displayed the M12, which continues to attract admiration wherever it's shown. It's hard to believe that such a purposeful car was originally designed and built nearly half a century ago. Well not quite, but getting on for it.

Denny's Dinner

By way of marking the 40th anniversary of Denny Hulme winning the Formula One World Championship in 1967, The Bruce McLaren Trust and Historic Racing Car Club hosted a commemorative dinner in Pukekohe the night before the main events of the Tasman Revival meeting. This event was attended by 380 enthusiasts who included guests from overseas and some members of the original Bruce McLaren Motor Racing team. Denny's MG TF was displayed at the venue along with other cars he drove in different eras of his career. His own restored McLaren M23 Formula One car was there along with an M12 Can-Am car, a 1982 Commodore SS Holden and the BMW he raced at Bathurst in Australia.

As a point of interest, Denny's E30 BMW M3 road car (the only right-hand drive version in existence) will be reviewed in Classic Car #207, on sale 25 Feb 2008.