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Graham McRae - progress updates

Started by theunions , Sep 03 2003 20:05

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126 replies to this topic

#101 yasmin

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Posted 11 July 2008 - 09:28

Any updates on the website ?? Is it up and running yet ??

Looking forward to it.

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#102 goffer

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Posted 18 January 2009 - 07:48

Website is up - still being developed, but is a happening thing.

www.grahammcrae.co.nz

Graham has been at Ruapuna, Christchurch this weekend assisting Canadian Jay Esterer who is running a GM1. Spoke briefly with Graham - he has been unable to complete the build of a GM1 (based on tub 004) for himself to race due to the absence of some critical parts and is going to make new upright castings in order to support the drivers running these machines. (Stuart Lush (Auckland, GM1/15) had smashed a left rear upright when a half shaft let go early in qualifying yesterday, which put and end to his weekends racing)

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#103 GD66

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Posted 18 January 2009 - 10:23

Thanks for the link, goffer. For whatever crap he's been through, he remains one of NZ's best and most-respected driver/engineers, and it'd be great to see him follow it all through and get back in the car, and out on the track where he does his best work. Hats off !

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#104 Tony Matthews

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Posted 18 January 2009 - 12:25

For your interest...McRae GM1 - not sure whether to post this here or on the cutaway thread, so it's on both...

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#105 delboy59

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 19:19

This is great! Wish I'd known about GM's whereabouts a few months ago. I've just finished a book about F5000 in the UK and Europe and would have welcomed his input! Next time eh? When I do the US and Australian series perhaps! :lol:

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#106 275 GTB-4

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Posted 22 January 2009 - 07:58

Originally posted by Tony Matthews
For your interest...McRae GM1 - not sure whether to post this here or on the cutaway thread, so it's on both...

As many places as you like Tony....lovely work :up:

[PS why not send what you have to Cassius to display on his website :wave:

]

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#107 don hodgdon

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Posted 21 February 2009 - 16:45

Greetings all. Excellent thread...

I found this while going through some old slides recently and thought some of you might like to see it.

CanAm practice session, Riverside.

Posted Image

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#108 Allen Brown

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Posted 22 February 2009 - 17:55

That's the McRae GM9 at Riverside 4 Oct 1981 I believe.

Great picture. Any more where that came from?

Allen

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#109 don hodgdon

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Posted 22 February 2009 - 19:50

Originally posted by Allen Brown
That's the McRae GM9 at Riverside 4 Oct 1981 I believe.

Great picture. Any more where that came from?

Allen

There are more from that event, but no more of that car I'm afraid.

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#110 goffer

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Posted 30 April 2009 - 09:10

just noticed on Graham's website (grahammcrae.co.nz) that he has written a long explanation of his difficulties of the past 20 years - in particular the mistreatment he had at the hands of the mental health system, and, as I understand it, the way he has been 'shafted' by various figures in the motor racing world - very sad that such a talented person should be treated so poorly.

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#111 Giraffe

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Posted 30 April 2009 - 09:50

Just read it and it truly is a tale of woe.... I'd like to think that that kind of scenario could not occur here in the UK, but sadly I believe otherwise.

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#112 goffer

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Posted 02 May 2009 - 02:11

The New Zealand Mental Health Act was significantly revised in 1992 - soon after Graham's involvement with the MH system began - and certainly due to well publicised cases where deaths of innocents occured psychiatrists have tended since then to be conservative / risk averse (though still not preventing the occasional tragedy) in their management (which includes compulsorary treatment) of people believed to have paranoid delusions. The really tricky part in this story for me is "there's no smoke without fire" - and sanity / insanity exists on a continuum, with shades of grey, not black and white certainty or uncertainty re a persons dangerousness to self or others.

But anyway - Graham has contributed a rich heritage of machines and driving performances around the globe, and his continued involvement is to be celebrated. I wonder if he ever gets in one of the machines he is currently fettling for a wee blast ...... ??

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#113 GD66

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Posted 02 May 2009 - 04:16

Yikes ! That makes truly terrifying reading, and if even some of those circumstances, real or perceived, exist, then the poor bugger has had a lifetime of hell. If and when those who are currently incognito, are named to fill out the story, I'm sure it will all seem even worse. Poor Graham has had a long history of blowups and fallouts, and fans like us can only hope that this tortured and talented genius can find some degree of peace with the world, and himself. But Graham, we remember mate.... :up:

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#114 Eshe

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Posted 02 May 2009 - 05:47

Graham in the GM3 at Oran Park, late 70's....

Posted Image

photo thanks to Mitch Holland

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#115 goffer

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Posted 02 May 2009 - 06:12

thanks Eshe / Mitch - great photo
What I love about this car (GM3) is that Graham acknowledged the fans by building something to improve their experience of racing - ie; the clear cockpit surround. God - just looking at that machine makes me shudder how exposed drivers were in those shallow aluminium chassis.

Can I just urge anyone who has photo's / info re Graham, his cars and his racing career, to get in touch with his web site and offer them for uploading/posting to the 'offical' Graham McRae website - grahammcrae.co.nz

cheers, Goffer (Graham / no relation)

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#116 RA Historian

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Posted 20 July 2009 - 17:09

I was pleasantly surprised to be introduced to Graham McRae this weekend. Jerry Entin did the introductions. McRae was at the Kohler International Challenge at Road America, helping Seb Coppola with his Lola T-192. Interestingly enough, a McRae GM-1 was nearby, but Graham was not with them. I did not know he was coming, let alone in the US, so it was a surprise indeed to find him there and to be able to meet him. Graham also took part in the F-5000 autograph session, along with Brian Redman, David Hobbs, Kurt Reinold, Jerry Entin, Tony Adamowicz, Bob McKee, and Eric Haga.

Tom

Edited by RA Historian, 20 July 2009 - 21:55.

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#117 Jerry Entin

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Posted 20 July 2009 - 19:16

Graham McRae and RA Historian

Posted Image

Seb Coppola and his crew chief for the weekend Graham McRae
The fellow next to them is Gary Urbauer

Edited by Jerry Entin, 28 July 2009 - 01:35.

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#118 goffer

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 08:01

In fact sooner, if all goes to plan!

Any chance you could enlighten us Michael why this did not go "according to plan" ??
Is there a plan B ??
Can we expect to see Graham in a car sometime ??
An M10B at the Bruce McLaren festival maybe ?? :love:

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#119 BritishV8

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Posted 27 October 2009 - 23:03

I had the great pleasure of meeting Graham at Watkins Glen last month, where he was again supporting Seb's efforts. I introduced myself, and found him to be very charming after he had a couple minutes to warm up to me. Not having seen this thread, I was quite surprised to find him at the Glen but it was fortunate for me because I had just completed writing an article about Jim Stengel's GM-1, and it was really cool to get Graham's feedback on the article IN PERSON!!! (Jim's GM-1 is the red car you see in the background of the first photo Jerry Entin posted above.)

One thing I took away from our conversations was a comment Graham made about his driving style: "Nobody braked harder than I did. I ran a ten to one brake pedal when other people were running seven to one, and I stood on it." (The first sentence is word-for-word. The second is paraphrased, but close... I must get a tape recorder!) I think vintage racing is a bit painful for him to watch, frankly, because the drivers aren't and can't be very aggressive. Especially after meeting him, I can't imagine Graham driving in competition again unless it's in a class where he can really push hard. It would also have to be a class with big engines and nothing computerized. (We looked at a Reynard 94D F3000 car together, and it obviously pained him to see the electronics on it... and it's a fifteen year old car.)

If you're curious to see big color photos of McRae GM-1 construction and design details, I invite you to check out this article!
Jim Stengel's McRae GM-1 Formula 5000 Race Car (41 photos!)

example:
Posted Image

Incidentally, Jerry Entin's second photo shows Gary Urbauer. Gary is the crew chief for Rick Parson's ex-Brian Redman Lola T332. I'm writing an article on that car right now. Here's a teaser...

Posted Image

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#120 Jerry Entin

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Posted 28 October 2009 - 01:28

Event host Brian Redman with Graham McRae this summer at Elkhart Lake

Curtis: Welcome to the Forum and your work on showing the McRae of Jim Stengel is very informative and well done.

As you have said, Graham McRae is very accessible and a real good guy. It was very nice that he came to the F-5000 series this summer. We have Eric Haga and Seb Coppola to thank for this coup. Everyone who got to meet Graham enjoyed being with him.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 28 October 2009 - 01:36.

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#121 RA Historian

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Posted 05 June 2010 - 01:02

I have learned from a couple TNF members that, sadly, Graham McRae is not doing well at all. He currently is hospitalized in Vancouver, B.C. and being treated for a number of problems. I understand that at such a time when he is able to be transported that he will be taken home to New Zealand for further treatment.
Tom

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#122 flightlessbird

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Posted 05 June 2010 - 05:35

I have learned from a couple TNF members that, sadly, Graham McRae is not doing well at all. He currently is hospitalized in Vancouver, B.C. and being treated for a number of problems. I understand that at such a time when he is able to be transported that he will be taken home to New Zealand for further treatment.
Tom

Keep us posted on progress

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#123 Redneb

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Posted 06 June 2010 - 23:15

I've been going through some of my old motor racing photos and found some of Graham McRae leading the grid lineup (rolling start) at an NZ GP at Pukekohe. I have a couple of nice photos of the all-black GM2 (and various other F5000s).

Would anyone like to see them up here or is there a more appropriate forum?

I was a great fan of Graham McRae and loved the way a Kiwi engineer could take on the best and beat them.

Also very sorry to hear he is unwell.

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#124 David McKinney

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Posted 07 June 2010 - 05:37

I for one would certainly like to see them, but don't think this is an appropriate place at the moment

There's an F5000 thread running, I think. They'd be good there. Try the "search" button

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#125 philippe7

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Posted 07 June 2010 - 10:00

Sean, there have been many threads about F5000 but I think the best one to post your period pics would be this one
http://forums.autosp...w...283&hl=5000
There have been some more recent ones but they are more dedicated to current racing/demonstration of historical F5000's...which seems to be happening mostly in NZ/OZ or the US lately...

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#126 David McKinney

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Posted 08 June 2010 - 06:12

I have been in touch with NZ government officials over the past few days and have just been advised that Graham is being returned to NZ and will be placed under medical care there