55 replies to this topic

[Updraught]

E. E. (Teddy Mayer), founding partner at McLaren, passed away today.

[fines]

Oh, very sad news! He was the "boss" of my favourite team when I fell in love with motorsports - I'll have a drink on him tonight...

[eldougo]

Sad news ...Teddy was a lively person always on the go some were around the pits looking at other teams .

[sterling49]

A great contributor to McLaren, another giants sad passing.

[LOLE]

Indeed a great person who played a major role for McLaren, specially during James Hunts' career.
Rest in peace and thanks for all those nice memories...

[B Squared]

Sorry to hear this news. I as add on the years, 73) doesn't seem to me as very old anymore. He had a very worthy run. RIP

Brian

[DOHC]

Too soon...

[ghinzani]

When I think of a Marlboro jacket in the 1970s I will always think of Teddy. Massive influence on the sport in the 70s for sure. When he finished with his Indycar team didnt he join Haas Force team for a while? Where did he go to after that - Penske/Patrick? Or just off into well deserved retirement?

R.I.P.

[Phil Rainford]

www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73085


www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73087

Kind regards

Phil

[HDonaldCapps]

Thanks, Teddy. You always made it interesting.....

[Jerry Entin]

Teddy Mayer at the front of McLaren Mk 1.
This was at Riverside and Teddy Mayer and Wally Willmott and Bruce McLaren and Tyler Alexander were getting ready to take part in the 1964 Riverside Grand Prix.

photo Kirby Guyer

[B Squared]

photos: B2 Design

Team Penske's Teddy Mayer makes a point. Gateway International Raceway - CART Motorola 300 - 1997. The day before the Indianapolis 500. Below is Al Unser Jr.'s Penske PC26 / Mercedes as it was rolled out moments later. Penske teammate, Paul Tracy would win later in the day. Al broke on lap 181 (transmission) after qualifying 6th.

Brian

[Jack-the-Lad]

Sad news. Condolences to his family and friends.

Jack

[Paul Hurdsfield]

My first GP was Brands 76' when James Hunt 'won' for a short while, and Teddy was one of the men that made that happen. He will be missed by many.

[Jerry Entin]

Colin Beanland on the left and Bruce McLaren and Teddy Mayer
Wally Willmott and Tyler Alexander also in picture.

photo Gary Knutson collection

[Stephen W]

Sad news indeed. I'll be raising a glass this evening.

[wildman]

Coincidentally, I just started reading the esteemed Mr. Ludvigsen's biography of Emerson Fittipaldi, for which Mayer wrote the foreword. As a huge fan of McLaren in the '60s and '70s, Mayer was always one of my racing heroes. Thanks for being a part of so many great racing memories, Teddy.

[fbarrett]

Sad to hear the news. He accomplished so much, often behind the scenes. Wasn't he involved in Porsche's CART effort circa 1989-91?

Frank

[P0wderf1nger]

On reading the news I immediately thought of that iconic image of him holding three fingers up to James Hunt as the Englishman climbed from his McLaren at the end of the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix...
'You finished third, you're World Champion!'

RIP

[kayemod]

Originally posted by wildman
As a huge fan of McLaren in the '60s and '70s, Mayer was always one of my racing heroes. Thanks for being a part of so many great racing memories, Teddy.

For me, Teddy was OK, he held Colnbrook together after Bruce's death. What I remember most is his trousers, always an inch too short, but that's the American way. Not universally popular, but he contributed more than most who didn't like him, RIP Teddy.

[Jerry Entin]

Teddy Mayer 1935-2009

Sunday, February 1st 2009,
Former McLaren team boss Teddy Mayer has passed away at the age of 73.
The American, whose full name was Edward Everett Mayer, was at the helm of McLaren in the 1970s, between founder Bruce McLaren's death and the arrival of Ron Dennis.
Mayer's first involvement with motorsport saw him running a Formula Junior team in the 1960s, before he assisted McLaren with the creation of his eponymous Formula One team.
After McLaren was killed testing a Can-Am car at Goodwood in 1970, Mayer took over the running of the team and led them to the 1974 and 1976 world championships with Emerson Fittipaldi and James Hunt. McLaren were also successful in Can-Am and Indy/Champ Car racing through this period, winning the 1976 Indianapolis 500 with Johnny Rutherford.
When the McLaren F1 team's fortunes declined in the late 1970s, primary sponsor Marlboro arranged for successful Formula Two team boss Dennis to be brought on board. Mayer stayed on initially, before selling his shares to Dennis in 1982 and forming a new Champ Car team with his former McLaren colleague Tyler Alexander.
Mayer Motor Racing's Tom Sneva came close to beating Mario Andretti to the 1984 CART Champ Car title, before Mayer returned to F1 with the Beatrice Haas project. This short-lived operation would not be as successful as Mayer's previous F1 exploits with McLaren, and after the team closed in 1986 he returned to America to work with Penske, staying on as a consultant until 2007.

Mayer passed away at his home in England on Friday 30 January. He is survived by his son Tim, currently the chief operating officer of IMSA and the American Le Mans Series, and his daughter Anne.

As seen on Autosport.com already posted by Phil Rainford

[MCS]

I had no idea he lived in England - always thought / assumed he had returned "home" (although goodness knows where that was for such a well-travelled man).

Ghinzani's comment about the red Marlboro jacket in the seventies just about captures my recollections.

73 is too early - I'm sorry to read this.

Was there ever an autobiography ?

[Miracle Man]

Teddy was a huge influence. Early on we made fun of him and nicknamed him "weiner" after his famous family. Teddy had big plans for his brother Tim who was tragically killed racing down under. Here's a shot of Teddy flanked by Rip Ripley (L) and Bob Bucher ® with brother Tim behind. 1962 Cumberland Nationals

[ghinzani]

Wow I never realised he was related to "Oscar Mayer" of Weiner fame. You learn something every day.

[Doug Nye]

Very sad news - just encountered this very minute, with real shock. Most sincere condolences to his family and friends...

DCN

[Gary Knutson]

I met Teddy in 1960 and either worked with or for him for 24 years, both in England and the U.S. He was instrumental in my early career in motorsports. I considered him a friend and a colleage for those years and am saddened by his passing. My condolences to Anne and Tim.

[Buford]

Welcome to the forum Gary - RIP Teddy Mayer.

[Bjorn Kjer]

My condolonsces , sad to hear.

While reading this thread a name pops up in my memory : Wasn't he involved with Zakspeed at one time ?
Sorry if I am wrong here.

Edit : Sorry , "Senior moment"

[fines]

Originally posted by Bjørn Kjer
Wasn't he involved with Zakspeed at one time ?

I don't think so.

Nice touch of him to name the son Tim - didn't know that.

[MonzaDriver]

Originally posted by fines
Oh, very sad news! He was the "boss" of my favourite team when I fell in love with motorsports - I'll have a drink on him tonight...

Exactly my thought.

I would like to add, a James Hunt's idea, he wrote in his book about 76's season.
After a victory, I dont remember witch one, Hunt wrote that Teddy Mayer was happy just like an enthusiast,
not like a team manager, just like an enthusiast.

This is the manner I would like to remember him.

Ciao to all
MonzaDriver

[Catalina Park]

Originally posted by fines

Nice touch of him to name the son Tim - didn't know that.

Quite agreed.

[Ray Bell]

I'd also agree...

It was basically to further Tim's career that Teddy went with McLaren in the first place. That he stayed shows the strength of the bond McLaren was able to forge with people around him.

I also find it strange that the news report quoted by Jerry doesn't mention Tim's death.

[Nigel Beresford]

I knew Teddy for forty years of my life and he was always tremendously supportive with good, sound, logical advice. There are a lot of people in racing who talk a lot of rubbish, but Teddy was someone you'd always listen to. He was famously abrasive with drivers and journalists, but that's because he didn't suffer fools gladly.

The "weiner" nickname related more to the coincidence of Teddy's physical appearance (small and rounded) and his surname. There was no family relation to the Oscar Meyer brand - the spelling is different. There is another myth that he was related to the Mayer in MGM.

He was proud to be named after the American civil war orator (Edward Everett) who preceded Lincoln at the Gettysburg address.

[vashlin]

Very sorry to hear this news. Teddy was such an icon of 70s Grand Prix racing (the era I loved).

I never really knew him but he was always pleasant to me when our paths crossed.

Below is a picture I took in the pits at Mosport - 1977 - James and Teddy together.




My condolences to his friends and family, especially to his children.

Lin

[Direct Drive]

A true giant in the sport and he will be much missed. Just the responses in this thread indicate how well respected Teddy Mayer is. Condolences to his entire community.

[B Squared]

I see Nigel Beresford's name in a previous post. Welcome to TNF for this veteran Penske engineer. My condolences for the loss of Mr. Mayer.

I hope, as time allows, you'll be able to further contribute to the forum. Your insight and knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Brian Brown

[Jerry Entin]

There also was another Mayer brother, his name was Worthington Scranton Mayer.

Also their father Edward B. Mayer passed away very young at the age of 59 in 1955. This was thought to be from complications following surgery.

A bit of Trivia is before their father was married to their mother Marion Margery Scranton, whose family, Scranton, Pennsylvania is named after, he was married to Benita Guggenheim until she passed away in 1927. Her father was Benjamin Guggenheim who passed away with the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.

research sent to site Gary Knutson

[TrackDog]

Originally posted by ghinzani
Wow I never realised he was related to "Oscar Mayer" of Weiner fame. You learn something every day.

That escaped me, as well...all I had to go on was a quote by Leon Mandel from Peter Revson's autobio SPEED WITH STYLE that attributed Mayer's nickname to an..."unknown origin." I had even been mispronouncing his last name.

I assume Teddy must've downplayed his family ties...


Dan

[Direct Drive]

I believe that was discounted in another thread on Mr Mayer.

[TrackDog]

Originally posted by Direct Drive
I believe that was discounted in another thread on Mr Mayer.

I guess that explains why he might tend to downplay it...


Dan

[Jerry Entin]

Teddy Mayer working on wing of Indy car
Denis Hulme is looking on watching Teddy doing his work.

photo Bill Wiswedel collection.

[COUGAR508]

I was very sad to hear this news. Teddy was one of the great characters in F1 during my favourite era, the 1970s.

[wdm]

Grauniad obit...

http://www.guardian....ary-teddy-mayer

[kayemod]

Originally posted by wdm
Grauniad obit...

[/URL]

'McClaren' sic. I think most of us would have guessed what paper that obituary came from without any identification.

[Nigel Beresford]

Originally posted by B Squared
I see Nigel Beresford's name in a previous post. Welcome to TNF for this veteran Penske engineer. My condolences for the loss of Mr. Mayer.

I hope, as time allows, you'll be able to further contribute to the forum. Your insight and knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Brian Brown

Thank you for your kind comments. I have enjoyed reading the forum for a while now, and will try to contribute when I can.

[rdmotorsport]

The loss of Teddy is like the ending of an era,a sad loss.

The obituary in the Guardian (guaniad) I felt was very good,if that is correct to descibe an obituary and I like the way you lot picked up on the McClaren bit but that what makes the paper unique, my eldest son works there as a journalist(I blame the left wing university he attended), but Teddy had a good sense of humour and fun he would have appreciated it.

Rodney Dodson.

[Duncan Fox]

Teddy played, I have grown to understand a major part in the early days of the McLaren organisation without him the Kiwis appeared to lack the negotiating skills he bought to the group when dealing with the big ones such as Ford and GM.

Intrestingly Nigel has talked of the rumour that Teddy was related to the folks at MGM. One of Bruces letters to his father actually quotes " p.s. the Mayer brothers are part of the Metro-Goldwyn set up ,thats how they can afford to go racing" and that was dated early 1966. I wonder when Bruce actually, if ever , realised the real story. Maybe it suited Teddy to leave it as was.

edit ,
I had no sooner posted this than I felt that the date of the letter should be in question. it appears to be an out of sequence odd page with some personal writing from Patty to Bruces Mum with the p.s. at the end, in it she mentions her leg is improving which would make it 63 possibly early 64 .I will date it more accurately later. But the point I made still remains ,Bruce thought there was a connection at the time they formed BMMR.

[jlsintros]

Teddy's death brought back memories of when his brother, Timmy died. I found ta touching story about Tim on the internet and a quote from Bruce McLaren about Tim's passing. I remember well, that Bruce's quote was used by Teddy when Bruce was killed. Still sad and touching, rekindling old memories for me after all these years. http://www.tasman-se...ayer/tmayer.asp

[ErinKondratieff]

From Howden:

May I also add a few words in tribute to Teddy. Gary Knutson’s post is very moving, and I know just what he means.
I first met Teddy when he came to the famous dirt floored tractor shed which was the McLaren Racing workshop in 1964, only a few months after the death of his brother Timmy.
He told me that in spite of the tragedy he had decided to come back to racing and ‘help Bruce’ which he surely did. He had with him one of his de rigueur yellow legal pads (he was a qualified lawyer), was wearing the trousers which always seemed to be at least an inch too short, and the heavy wristwatch which he always rattled when irritated. Teddy helped build McLaren racing into the powerhouse that it became when those orange cars were reaping so much success in three disciplines – Formula One, Indy, and CanAm.
As an employee I came to respect him enormously. He was very tough, but always very fair. He was certainly demanding – if you wanted to pass muster with him you had to have your best foot forward at all times . If he approached with pointing finger and rattling wristwatch you generally knew that you were in ‘trouble’ and needed to lift your game.
When I moved on from being a McLaren mechanic he was very supportive and gave me some sage advice over the years, for which I will always be grateful.
In spite of his small stature he was really a giant of a man. Motor racing is the poorer for his loss. My sincere condolences to his long term associate Tyler Alexander, and especially to his family.

Howden Ganley

[Nigel Beresford]

I attended a private memorial celebration at the McLaren Technology Centre yesterday which was organised and hosted by Ron Dennis. Short addresses were given by Tyler Alexander, Nick Goozee, Tim & Annie Mayer and Ron. Martin Whitmarsh read out Pete Lyons' account of the end of the '76 Japanese race, which was a wonderful piece of reportage when one hears it like that. The tension in the report was palpable even though you knew it would all turn out okay in the end.

In total there were about 150 people in attendance, including Bernie Ecclestone, Jody Scheckter, Wattie, Sir Frank and Sir Jackie. There were, of course, many members of the MOB (McLaren Old Boys) too (Mike Barney, John Thompson, Ray Rowe and so on) and ex-Penske colleagues like Nigel Bennett and myself.

In his address Tim mentioned that Teddy's father had been a stockbroker who had foreseen the Wall Street Crash coming and had got out of the market in time. As I say, I have never heard any mention of a connection to the MGM Mayers, but perhaps they were distant relatives. For sure they weren't the source of any funds.

The event was other-wordly, with all of these guys swapping stories about making acetylene bombs using a bit of pipe Gary Knutson had obtained for a chassis rig, and having to have a whip around when they blew out all of the windows in the Feltham factory. This all in the setting of the MTC boulevard where all the historic cars are arranged. The change of circumstances of the team in the intervening 45 or so years is too much to grasp.