XI NEW ZEALAND GRAND PRIX
 Location - Pukekohe NZ  Laps - 50  Distance - 175.17 km  Date - 11/01/64  Weather - Overcast/Rain
ENTRY LIST
NO. DRIVER ENTRANT MAKE ENGINE
14 Ian Green Ian Green ? ?
27 Barry Thomas Barry Thomas Barden Ford 1.5
2 Frank Matich Total Team Brabham BT7A Climax FPF
4 Jack Brabham Brabham Racing Brabham BT7A Climax FPF
5 Denis Hulme Brabham Racing Brabham BT4 Climax FPF
12 Andy Buchanan Wilson Motors Ltd. Brabham BT6 Ford 1.6
6 David Young David Young Cooper T59 Ford 1.5
8 John Youl John Youl Cooper T55 Climax FPF
9 Bill Thomasen Corsair Racing Team Cooper T51 Climax FPF 2.0
10 Feo Stanton Carlton Motors Cooper T45/51 Climax FPF 2.0
23 Dene Hollier Dene Hollier Ltd. Cooper T52 Ford 1.5
28 Neil Whittaker Neil Whittaker Cooper T43 Climax FPF 2.0
41 Jim Palmer Jim Palmer Cooper T53 Climax FPF
47 Bruce McLaren Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Cooper T70 Climax FPF
48 Timmy Mayer Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Cooper T70 Climax FPF
3 Chris Amon Reg Parnell Racing Lola T4 Climax FPF
15 Ken Smith M.J. Smith Lola Mk2 Ford 1.5
? Arnold Glass Capitol Motors Lotus 27 Ford 1.5
7 Ken Sager J.H. Sager Lotus 20 Ford 1.5
11 Tony Shelly Shelly Motors Ltd. Lotus 18/21 Climax FPF
19 Frank Turpie Frank Turpie Lotus 20 Ford 1.5
20 John Histed John Histed Lotus 22 Ford 1.5
22 Roly Levis R.A. Levis Lotus 22 Ford 1.6
25 Rex Flowers Flowers Transport Lotus 20B Ford 1.5
21 Lou Stonnell Kendall Oil Lynx Ford 1.5
16 Jim Boyd Jack Malcolm Valour Ford 1.5
Race Winner Bruce McLarenThere were no real surprises in this race. Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd. had a fine day, their second car driven by Timmy Mayer finishing third behind the Te Puke driver Denis Hulme who drove a steady race to finish 4.5 seconds behind the winner. The elimination of Jack Brabham at the half-way mark in a spectacular accident perhaps reduced some of the interest, for McLaren was able to ease up and enjoy a comfortable win.

Weather for holidaymakers over the most popular vacation period was unkind, and for people who went motor racing Pukekohe week there was no exception. The first practice session on the Wednesday was run in gusty, rainy conditions and few were enthusiastic about out-of-door activities. Despite this, there were some very quick lap times, and former records were soon put away.

The second session on the Thursday saw McLaren make the best time of 1m 25.2s in slightly improved weather conditions. Jack Brabham was .3 of a second slower with second fastest time followed by Frank Matich, 1m 26.0s; Tim Mayer, 1m 27.5s; John Youl, 1m 28.2s and Denis Hulme, 1in 28.6s. Rex Flowers in his small 1500 c.c. engined Lotus clocked a very creditable 1m 32.3s lap.

Race day, and the weather, if not perfect, was fine until the last race had been completed, although early morning looked very doubtful. McLaren led from start to finish in the first heat for the G.P. with Youl second. Shelly made an early bid for third position, but was passed on lap 4 by Hulme. Brabham, Matich, Palmer was the order for the second preliminary, while Mayer had a little trouble and made a pit stop. Bill Thomasen after a long run of bad luck throughout the season had the final blow when a rod pushed itself through the engine in his 2-litre Cooper.

Timmy Mayer made a grand start after the drop of the flag for the Grand Prix, followed into the Elbow for the first time by Brabham, Hulme, McLaren, Palmer, Matich and Youl. Brabham soon took over the lead and by the end of the first lap Mayer was second followed by McLaren, Hulme, Matich, Youl, Palmer and At-non. The opening laps were fast and furious. McLaren moved into second position on the second lap while Rex Flowers was already in the pits, his Lotus suffering ignition misdemeanours.

On the third circulation Amon was in the pits with brake trouble. Poor Chris was dogged with trouble all day. A rear wheel hub broke on his Lola in the preliminary heat, and pit stops in the G.P. which showed that no quick repair could be made resulted in his retirement on lap 12.

Soon the leading six cars had drawn a gap on Palmer and Shelly who, in turn, had a considerable margin over the rest of the field of smaller capacity cars headed by Andy Buchanan (Brabham), David Young (Cooper) and Roly Levis (Lotus).

Mayer slipped past Hulme and on the 8th lap McLaren went by Brabham to take a lead he was never to lose. Two laps later Palmer took Shelly and on lap 13 Matich who was well up in third place by this time recorded the fastest lap of the race in lm 26.2s, averaging 92 m.p.h. Mayer and Hulme were dicing for fourth place when the New Zealand driver spun at the Elbow, and lost about 5 seconds. By lap 17 only 4 seconds separated the three leaders.

On lap 21 water began splashing from the Matich Brabham at intervals, particularly while braking, and the Australian began losing ground to Brabham after being close to hand. On lap 26 his motor blew in a really big way bringing a staunch effort to an end.

Brabham was working hard in an effort to keep up with McLaren, and the task was made more difficult as the leaders had to lap slower competitors. On lap 28 the Australian was about to lap Shelly's Lotus while braking for the Elbow corner when Shelly moved to make the usual line through the corner. The Brabham slammed into the rear of the Lotus and up over the car, spinning backwards in mid-air. The front of the car flew off and pieces of bodywork disintegrated as the car landed backwards on its left rear wheel and slid down the escape road. Jack climbed from the car unhurt after his car had very nearly flipped during its mid-air flight in a spectacular accident.

Hulme passed Mayer into second position, while Shelly was forced to make two pit stops before continuing theBrabham leads McLaren into the Elbow race. By lap 31 McLaren had 23.8 seconds on Hulme who was followed by Mayer, Youl, the only cars left on the same lap. The leader eased up the pace, while Hulme increased his, and lap by lap the gap between the two lessened. Other positions remained the same, and Buchanan and Young continued their dice right until the end, the Cooper just not being able to pass the newer Brabham. McLaren received a well deserved ovation from the crowd who swarmed around him after the race. His lap average for the complete race was 1m 29.2s beating his best lap (a record) of 1m 29.5s, set in the 1963 race.
 
RACE RESULTS
POSITION LAPS TIME
1. McLaren 50 1:14'20.7
2. Hulme 50 1:14'25.1
3. Mayer 50 1:14'36.4
4. Youl 50 1:15'21.6
5. Palmer 49 .
6. Shelly 48 .
7. Buchanan 46 .
8. Young 46 .
9. Levis 45 .
10. Hollier 43 .
11. Sager 43 .
12. Flowers 42 .
Brabham 29 DNF:Accident
Matich 27 DNF:Engine FL:1'26.2
Glass 26 DNF:?
Amon 12 DNF:Brakes
Boyd 11 DNF:Engine
Written by Donn Anderson for Motorman Magazine. Article submitted by Milan Fistonic

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