LUNCH WITH GRAEME LAWRENCE PART TWO
There was never a works McLaren M4A in the papaya orange of the F1 and Can-Am cars, but Graeme decided that would be the perfect colour for his. That didn’t last long.
“Dad told me one day that he’d arranged sponsorship from Air New Zealand. It was the start of a long and successful relationship, but it nearly didn’t happen because I wanted the car to stay orange.”
Graeme’s nemesis from the National Formula days, Roly Levis, had also imported an F2 car.
“Roly was a great driver and a fantastic mechanic but, after the first few races, it was obvious that his Brabham was a better car than our McLaren, just as [the Brabhams] were in Europe.”
In the first three rounds of the Gold Star, Graeme was runner-up each time to the wily veteran. The 1969 New Zealand Grand Prix marked a turn in fortune; Graeme was the first resident home and winner of a Tasman point for sixth.
A week later, he was fifth at Levin, and again first local driver, but the breakthrough win came on the first day of February, with an emphatic win over the Brabham driver in the Timaru Trophy.
The McLaren was then scooted over to Australia for the final two Tasman Championship rounds, and it was there that a life-changing chance meeting took place.
“We were wandering around Sydney after the final Tasman round in 1969, and came across Chris [Amon]. I asked him what Ferrari was likely to do with the cars, and couldn’t believe it when he said that they’d probably strip them and crush the rest. I asked if there was any chance Ferrari might sell or lease one, and Chris, to his credit, said that if we were serious then he would make enquiries.”
Owning a Ferrari
“About a month
