126 replies to this topic

[theunions]

Saw this in an e-mail news report:

Former F5000 constructor and driver Graham McRae has been hospitalised in Auckland, in his native New Zealand, following an armed siege at his business premises. McRae received treatment for dog bites sustained when police stormed the building, where he was barricaded after an incident in which a neighbour claimed he was threatened with a crossbow. McRae must undergo psychiatric evaluation before the police decide whether to press charges.

Anyone know more details?

[WGD706]

A man who once stood alongside the biggest names in world motorsport is in hospital after a lengthy siege.

The Armed Offenders Squad surrounded the Auckland workshop of Graham McRae on Monday night amid reports a man had threatened neighbours with a crossbow.

They tried to negotiate for several hours before teargas was fired.

McRae, one of the few New Zealanders to race in Formula One, had surgery on Tuesday for police dog bites.

The incident began when bandmates Dave Rhodes and Paul Matthews arrived at their Grey Lynn practice rooms to find everything destroyed, including thousands of dollars of music equipment.

Looking for witnesses, they approached a man they knew as Graham who rented a workshop down the hallway.

"I said 'hey Graham, what's the story, our room has been broken into?' and he turns around with this crossbow, and it was pointing at me," says Matthews.

The pair fled and called police. Their alleged attacker then barricaded himself in a workshop.

After a stand-off of more than three hours, the Armed Offenders Squad fired teargas and stormed the workshop with police dogs.

McRae left in an ambulance a short time later.

In the 1970s, McRae was one of New Zealand's best drivers, competing in Formula 5000, the Indy 500 and Formula One.

In recent years he had turned to building replicas of the Porsche Spyder.

Those who shared the Grey Lynn warehouse he moved to eight weeks ago say they had noticed erratic behaviour from their neighbour.

"He'd said things before about being scared of computers, like they were spying on him and stuff," says Matthews.

Police say they will decide whether to charge him after the results of a psychiatric examination.
http://onenews.nzoom...902-1-7,00.html

[fines]

More bad news...

[theunions]

Originally posted by WGD706
"He'd said things before about being scared of computers, like they were spying on him and stuff," says Matthews.

I guess he won't be paying us a visit anytime soon, then...

[Mr Tomalski]

Saw it on our news, they showed the cops storming the place with tear gas. Seems he went nuts and smashed the band stuff up and lost the plot.

[JacnGille]

[Lotus23]

Smells like Delusional Disorder from here. Strikes most frequently ages 40-60.

But quite treatable -- hope Graham gets the help it sounds like he needs.

[Ray Bell]

I guess the stats are out there somewhere...

He'd be a dab more than 60, wouldn't he? I'd imagine 62 or 63?

Here's a snap I got of him with fellow Sandown AGP winner John Goss, being interviewed by the son of four-time AGP winner Jon Davison. This was at Sandown, November 2001... F5000s were the feature on the Historic programme that day.

McRae, strangely, won every Australian GP he ever entered. Each of them were at Sandown...

[Phillip]

Theres only one side of the story out there at the moment though. Its quite possible he was driven nuts by the crapp music the bands were playing night and day and after taking reasonble action to try and prevent the noise polution resorted to measures that i cant find fault with and destroyed there gear. The band upon discovering the destroyed gear therefore stormed up to Mcrae who felt obliged to defend himself with a Crossbow. The story in my paper yesterday also made mention that he thought he was been spied on by the Police. I think hes about 65 years old.

[Tim Murray]

Originally posted by Phillip
Theres only one side of the story out there at the moment though.

Hear hear.

According to Steve Small he was born on 5 March 1940, so is currently 63.

[2F-001]

Originally posted by Phillip
... Its quite possible he was driven nuts by the crapp music the bands were playing night and day and after taking reasonble action to try and prevent the noise polution...

I must admit, that was the first possibility that crossed my mind when I read the story at the top of the thread. I know that's only supposition, but having suffered in the past from unreasonable attitudes of others it's easy to understand the strains some folk inflict on their neighbours. I've never owned a crossbow though.
What a sad story.

[petefenelon]

Originally posted by 2F-001

I must admit, that was the first possibility that crossed my mind when I read the story at the top of the thread. I know that's only supposition, but having suffered in the past from unreasonable attitudes of others it's easy to understand the strains some folk inflict on their neighbours. I've never owned a crossbow though.
What a sad story.

Nice theory, but (just to offer a counter) most drivers d'un certain age tend to be a bit mutt'n'jeff - ear protection wasn't terribly macho...

[Allen Brown]

The bit about computers spying on him doesn't quite gel with the nice email I got from his daughter saying he'd be happy to help with info on the McRae GM1s.

As has been said, we only have one side of the story so far.

Allen

[eldougo]

Originally posted by Lotus23
Smells like Delusional Disorder from here. Strikes most frequently ages 40-60.

But quite treatable -- hope Graham gets the help it sounds like he needs.

Iam not to sure about that he had a darkside back in the 70's, P. M----- got on
the wrong side of him years ago. and he still talkes about it.

[Allen Brown]

Hi all

Julie McRae, his niece not his daughter as I mistakenly said above, has updated me on Graham's situation. He has been unwell for six years now and has been diagnosed with paranoid delusions. Like many ill people, he doesn't always take his medication and, as this isn't exactly a vitamin deficiency, this has got him into trouble.

He is in hospital now and Julie hopes that this time he will get his medication sorted out. We can only hope that he responds to the treatment and follows his doctors instructions so that he can resume a normal life. None of us want to see him in the press again for things like this. He will not be charged over this incident.

Please remember Graham and his family in your prayers.

Allen

[Jeremy Jackson]

Good luck and best wishes to Graham. He was a bit of a hero of mine when I watched him in F5000in 70-71 when he raced that (usually) immaculate Crown Lynn M10B. He wasn't bad in the LT27 / GM1s either!

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by Allen Brown
Hi all

Julie McRae, his niece not his daughter as I mistakenly said above, has updated me on Graham's situation. He has been unwell for six years now and has been diagnosed with paranoid delusions. Like many ill people, he doesn't always take his medication and, as this isn't exactly a vitamin deficiency, this has got him into trouble.

He is in hospital now and Julie hopes that this time he will get his medication sorted out. We can only hope that he responds to the treatment and follows his doctors instructions so that he can resume a normal life. None of us want to see him in the press again for things like this. He will not be charged over this incident.

Please remember Graham and his family in your prayers.

Thanks Allen

That's good news that he won't get charged. Please pass on my sincere hope & best wishes that everything will be 'back to normal' as it were, as soon as possible & that we're thinking of him during this difficult time.

[Lotus23]

Thanks for your optimistic update, Allen. My prayers are with Graham and those caring for him.

Having worked in a psych hospital since '80, I can observe that -- at least in our corner of the world -- noncompliance with meds has long been a major issue. The good news is that the newer meds have far fewer nasty side effects than those of just a few years ago, so compliance is improving. The bad news is the new meds are pretty costly, at least until their patents expire and they become available as generics.

Let's hope Graham does well -- I would imagine he'll have to be pretty serious about staying on his meds for years to come.

[Ray Bell]

Indeed, Lotus23, non-compliance with medication is a big issue...

My stepson came out of a childhood burdened with terrible eczema and ADHD to become a full-blown schizophrenic. He was put on medication and that settled him down, but because he felt so well he decided he was past the need for the medication.

Which all led, a year and a half later, to him doing some extremely weird things and finishing up in the psych ward. Fortunately, that experience was enough to convince him that the pills are for keeps.

Talking to Frank Matich on the McRae subject the other night, he said that there was 'always' something strange about Graham.

[Alex Mitchell]

Hi

Not quite on topic, but there is a new series starting this year for F5000 cars here in New Zealand, with one meeting in Australia. The on topic bit is that there should be 3 McRae's running.

Have a look here to find out more http://www.grandprix.org.nz
and here for some photos www.warbirdsovernewzealand.com
I will update the photos as the season progress's.

Cheers
Alex.....

[Vicuna]

Graham McRae update:

Graham is fully aware he stuffed up and is very happy to be where he his now, being well cared for by professionals.

More soon...

[Allen Brown]

Excellent news. That's the best place he can be - for now at least.

Allen

[f1leal]

Is there other , good , news of Graham McRae...where does he live now ?

[Ray Bell]

There's a mention on the appropriate thread that he's going to be at Eastern Creek for the Tasman event in a couple of weeks...

[Michael Clark]

Graham is living in Auckland, is taking his medication and doing pretty well.

Huw Jadvantich and I have lunch with him once a fornight or so. He's doing his best to keep fit (Graham that is, not Huw...) and would love to be involved in some hands on work.

He and I are going to the Tasman Revival and he is looking forward to meeting up with a lot of guys he hasn't seen for 30 or so years.

[Robert Bailey]

Good to here.

[Paul Rochdale]

Good to hear .

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Paul Rochdale
Good to hear .

Good to see

[Catalina Park]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4


Good to see

Here, here.

[Robert Bailey]

Originally posted by Paul Rochdale
Good to hear .

There,Their

[sterling49]

Originally posted by Robert Bailey
There,Their

"and Everywhere", good memories of Cassius ;)

[Robert Bailey]

Originally posted by sterling49


"and Everywhere", good memories of Cassius ;)

at Sandown

[Vicuna]

Can you believe MotorSport have never done a feature on him?

David McKinney would bejust the bloke to write it.

[MCS]

Originally posted by Vicuna
Can you believe MotorSport have never done a feature on him?

Yes, very easily, although they may do now.

Great to hear that he's obviously improving though. Thanks for the update chaps.

[Stefan Ornerdal]

Here, There and Everywhere.
(Lennon - McCartney)

Hear, Swear and Despair (about the ultimate F2 site)
(Ornerdal)


Good to hear, here, from there, that Graham McRae is doing better. A Ferrari Dino 166 V6 driver has to be one of my all time favourites.


Stefan
stefan.ornerdal.@minmail.net
www.formula2.net

[Vicuna]

Originally posted by Stefan Ornerdal
Here, There and Everywhere.
(Lennon - McCartney)

Hear, Swear and Despair (about the ultimate F2 site)
(Ornerdal)


Good to hear, here, from there, that Graham McRae is doing better. A Ferrari Dino 166 V6 driver has to be one of my all time favourites.


Stefan
stefan.ornerdal.@minmail.net
www.formula2.net

Stefan are you saying Graham McRae drove a 166 V6?

[Stefan Ornerdal]

Sorry, I mixed him up with Graeme Lawrence...

... who did not drove an 166 V6 either!
Must have been a 2.4 V6 in a Dino 166 chassis. Or, what was it?
Nevertheless, the most good looking monoposto i know of.

Stefan
stefan.ornerdal.@minmail.net
www.formula2.net

[Michael Clark]

Originally posted by Stefan Ornerdal


Sorry, I mixed him up with Graeme Lawrence...

... who did not drove an 166 V6 either!
Must have been a 2.4 V6 in a Dino 166 chassis. Or, what was it?
Nevertheless, the most good looking monoposto i know of.

Stefan
stefan.ornerdal.@minmail.net
www.formula2.net

Graham thought so too Stefan which is why there is a hint of the Ferrari in the McRae twin-cam completed at the end of 1969.

Agree a story by David McKinney would be a good thing for MotorSport to do.

[donharper]

Mr. Clark - which other drivers have you been involved with ?

[Vicuna]

Originally posted by Michael Clark


Graham thought so too Stefan which is why there is a hint of the Ferrari in the McRae twin-cam completed at the end of 1969.

Agree a story by David McKinney would be a good thing for MotorSport to do.

You mean end of 1968 surely.

Why is there not a McKinney column in every issue of MotorSport?

[Keir]

Good to hear that Graham is doing better !! How is his money situation ??

[Michael Clark]

Originally posted by donharper
Mr. Clark - which other drivers have you been involved with ?

Do you have anyone in mind Don?

[donharper]

JR

[Michael Clark]

Jimmy Richards?

No Don I can't say I know JR. I'm in contact with a few blokes but not him.

[Dave Ware]

I didn't hear about it but I read about it. Good to know.

[Michael Clark]

Rick's F5000 photos got me thinking that some of you may be interested in an update on Graham.

Over the past few months he has been getting his hand back in to motor racing - tending the first stages of a novice middle aged Formula Ford driver. He is now completely off medication and doing very well having shed a lot of weight since mid December.

Very shortly we will be launching www.grahammcrae.com. There is a very good chance he could be back in a racing car by mid to late 2008 - and I'm not talking demonstration laps. If everything pans out, some interesting announcements will be made soon.

Earlier this month we attended the Phillip Island historics and he was in great demand from former rivals, TV stations and fans alike. At the meeting he was asked to be the patron of the NZ F5000 Association and gave a witty impromtu speech at the Saturday night dinner.

[Michael Clark]

I should have mentioned - we will be at Watkins Glen for the F5000 reunion meeting in early Sept.

It is not impossible that Graham could be at the Elkhart Lake meeting in July as well.

Back in early January, at the NZGP meeting at Manfeild we had dinner-breakfast-lunch-dinner-breakfast-lunch with Chris Amon.

I said to both of them - 'you two have spent more time with other in the past 42 hours than in the past 42 years!'

Both agreed and got on famously.

[Ray Bell]

That's great news, Michael...

Even though Graham 'stole' a couple of our Grands Prix, we still want to recognise his achievements.

[Richard Jenkins]

Excellent news, Michael - it's nice to have some good news about our heroes of the past for a change.

[Dave Ware]

Thanks for the update. I'll look forward to checking out the site.