Of all the great motorsports figures to emerge and have their lives tragically shortened on the track during the 1960s and 1970s, Bruce McLaren’s name always looms large. The man was a force of nature and a brilliant one at that. He had come onto the world scene with his own team in the middle of the 1960s and by the end he was recognized as one of the best race drivers on Earth and the cars that wore his name were innovative, fast, and capable of winning anywhere at anytime. He was a man consumed by racing and that ultimately consumed him.
On June 2nd 1970 Bruce McLaren was killed in a crash at the Goodwood course in England. The greatest twist in the man’s life is that his death did not extinguish the flame of creativity and innovation at his company but instead it touched off an obsession with it that has left the McLaren brand one of the most exclusive and successful in the world.
From the jaw dropping and supercar game changing F1 model that became a modern day icon to the Formula One racing empire the company has built, the latest innovative road cars they are making, and all of the other projects that they’re working on, we bet that if the man himself had lived, even he would admit that the scope of the company was beyond even his expansive vision.
This is very special today, as Jeremy Monett has just lost his life in an aircraft accident. Two peas, same pod.
Once again I’m conflicted . On one hand again its great to revisit even if just for a moment the legend that Bruce McLaren was . On the other … seeing what Ron Dennis and company have turned McLaren into of late … I get PO’d just thinking about it
Sigh …..
Jesus fuck are you ever happy?
sorry somebody can edit that^^^^
Assuming your 1st may be edited .
Conflicted – A psychological state of mind where someone feels both positive and negative about something or some one at the same time .
Which is to say in response to your rather rudely worded reply … which by the way should of been done via the REPLY function [ will y’all never learn ]….
Yeah .. I’m happy most of the time . But unlike most I’m willing to admit when I’m not as well as when I’m … conflicted .Not to mention completely willing to call a spade a spade no matter which side it falls on .
In other words … I’m consumed with a sense of honesty and integrity .. even when it comes to little online diddys such as this
Gotta tell you though … by the tone and wording of your REPLY … I’d take an educated guess your answer to your own question would be a resounding .. NO !
Oh you may play the part . But deep down ? Holy ___ .. there’s some serious resentment hiding in your emotional basement just waiting to be let out .
wow your right. Thank You !
almost all New Zealanders are very proud Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme and everything they did, yes a great loss, but it is what it is, and Kiwis all over the world look at McLaren and smile a little when they see the logo on the front of some of the best cars on the planet
I’d agree with the last statement right up to the original Gordon Murray designed F1 road …. [ which was an automotive revolution that has still yet to be equaled ] … as well as the F1 race cars right up to Hamilton’s 1st world championship .
Everything since then having gone down the Rabbit Hole of ludicrous conspicuous consumption …. [ the MP4-12C rebadged now five times including the idiotic and irrelevant hybrid wanna be P1 which by the way is getting its __ kicked left and right .. with each and every variation being as boring to drive as the MP4-12C they started as ]… as well as the relegation bin … [ the F1 team that cannot get out of their own way to save their lives lately ] …
Which is to say .. unless you’re wearing Rose Colored Glasses and ignoring the obvious ..
There isn’t a whole ___ of a lot to be proud of these days when it comes to McLaren .. road or race .
As far as any Kiwi connection ? Errrrr … sorry my antipode site mate … there hasn’t been one for decades … most of the Kiwi’s I know having accepted that reality and moved on
BWTM – Ever seen one of the current McLaren road cars after a mere 100 miles or so of use ? Suffice it to say .. quality … and the best cars on the planet … they are not !
Yep, Its amazing how many people in New Zealand don’t realize the McLaren logo is a silhouette of the native NZ Kiwi.
By the way CK, there were a few Kiwi’s that were involved in the development and construction of the new P1, so I’d say there’s still a connection there. And in the end if it wasn’t for Bruce, McLaren would never of existed.