Tasman Cup F5000 Racing Frank Radisich By Jim Barclay jimbarclay@xtra.co.nz - September 2014 Circa 1965 Frank Radisich Humber 80 photo Gene s Photography Radisich Collection Perhaps being better known as father of two-time World Touring Car Champion Paul Radisich, Frank Radisich as a young motor mechanic began his own motor racing at Ardmore, Auckland, at the NZIGP meeting in January 1961 driving his Ford V8 Coupe. Frank then raced a Humber 80, a popular saloon car of the era. In November 1964 he was entered at Levin in the Humber with a nonstandard Ford Zephyr 2553cc engine. By November 1965 he was racing the Humber with a Jaguar 3400cc engine and that would have been quite an unwieldy car to drive! By March 1966 he was racing a Ford Anglia fitted with a twin-cam Lotus engine of 1650cc and he continued to race this car through 1967, the final year of the anything goes Allcomers saloon class the 67 championship was won by Robbie Francevic in his 7000cc Custaxie. 1967/68- Lotus 22 - Frank decided to move into single seaters so he purchased the ex-ken Smith Lotus 22 and promptly fitted the twin-cam engine from his Lotus Anglia. His first race in the Lotus 22 twin-cam was at New Plymouth on 27 October 67 on the narrow streets at Paritutu, adjacent to the Port. He scored a good win at Paritutu ahead of John Nicholson in the ex Dene Hollier Lotus 27 and a young Graham McRae having his first single seater drive in a Brabham BT2 a car that was driven at one time by Denny Hulme. After two further races in November, Frank fitted a 1750cc Cosworth FVA to the Lotus 22. He took 2 nd place at the inaugural Bay Park meeting held on 3 December 67 to Jim Palmer in his McLaren M4A Cosworth FVA. Frank s first tilt at the Tasman Cup came in the summer of 1968 where his best places were 8 th at Levin and 12 th at Teretonga. Jim Clark in his Lotus 49 Cosworth won the Tasman Cup from Chris Amon in his Ferrari 246T and Piers Courage in his McLaren M4A Cosworth 1968/69 HCM Cosworth - In his quest for extra speed in the Lotus, Frank fitted, amongst other changes, a low profile chisel-nosed body. He re-christened the car as the HCM (Henderson Coventry Motors) Cosworth and raced in the very first Formula A (later to be F5000) race to be held in New Zealand the Monaco International Trophy held at Baypark on 29 December 1968. Frank qualified the HCM in 7 th place and finished 4 th behind winner Ron Grable from USA in his Sceptre Chev, Roly Levis in his Brabham BT23C and Rex Ramsay, USA, in his LeGrand Chev. Frank raced the HCM in the 1
New Zealand rounds of the 1969 Tasman Cup with best results being a 10 th place in the NZIGP at Pukekohe. The Cup was won by Chris Amon in the works Ferrari 246T from Jochen Rindt in his works Lotus 49 Cosworth V8, and Piers Courage in the Frank Williams bi-winged Brabham BT24 Cosworth V8 F1. Although Frank scored wins in both Heats at the Easter 69 meeting at Bay Park, the HCM had proved to be somewhat unreliable throughout the season and Frank achieved only 10 th place in the 1969 NZ Gold Star a series won by Roly Levis in his Brabham BT23 from Graeme Lawrence in his McLaren M4A. 1969/70 McLaren M4A Cosworth FVA - seeking greater reliability and more speed from his race car, Frank purchased the ex-graeme Lawrence McLaren M4A Cosworth FVA chassis 200/14 to race in the 1969/70 summer season. In the 1970 NZ Gold Star he finished in 4 th place behind Graham McRae (Begg FM2 chassis 1 and 2, Brabham BT18, McLaren M10A), Graeme Lawrence in his ex- Amon Ferrari 246T and Brian Faloon in the Rorstan Climax. In the 1969 Tasman Cup, Frank was pleased to finish in all four NZ races 8 th at Levin, 12 th at Pukekohe, 13th at Wigram and 7 th at Teretonga. The 1970 Tasman Cup was won by Graeme Lawrence (Ferrari) from Frank Matich (McLaren M10A Repco). 1970/71- McLaren M10A Chev with an eye on a front running Formula 5000 car, Frank purchased the ex-graham McRae Crown Lynn McLaren M10A Chev chassis 300/06. With the M10A repainted in Team Cambridge colours of blue and white, Frank entered his first race in the M10A at the 1971 NZ Gold Star, Round 1, held at Pukekohe on 4 October 1970. He qualified in 1 st place but was forced to retire with gearbox problems when leading in a race won by Geoff Mardon Begg FM2/1 Chev from Dexter Dunlop McRae S2 and Neil Doyle s Begg FM2/2 Chev. 1971 Frank Radisich ex McRae McLaren M10A photo Jack Inwood For Round 2 of the Gold Star held at Pukekohe on 15 November, Frank qualified 2 nd but retired from Heat 1 with engine overheating due to a cracked cylinder head the race was won by Graeme Lawrence (Ferrari) from Geoff Mardon (FM2). With a patch-up job to the head and an eye on the temperature gauge, Frank scored 2 nd place in Heat 2 to Graeme Lawrence and ahead of Geoff Mardon in 3rd. On to Round 3 at Levin on 28 November, Frank qualified 2 nd and finished 2 nd to Lawrence and ahead of Mardon. Round 4 was to have been at Bay Park on 28 November but Gold Star status was denied by MANZ ; but the meeting went ahead, regardless, and although he qualified 3 rd, Frank did not start as he had problems with the engine in the M10A. Graham McRae won the race in his new McLaren M10B, from the Lawrence Ferrari. 2
1970 - Frank Radisich, ex Graham McRae McLaren M10A 300-06 Chev V8 Bay Park 28 Dec 70 - photo Gary Simkin Tasman Cup 1971 The first round of the 1971 Tasman Cup was held at Levin on 2 nd January 1971. Frank qualified the M10A in 12 th pace and finished in a credible 7 th place on 62 of 63 laps. The race was won by Graham McRae in his McLaren M10B from Neil Allen s M10B, Chris Amon s March 701- Cosworth V8 and David Oxton s Lotus 70 Ford. 1971 Levin 2 January - #9 Frank Radisich McLaren M10A (7 th ), leads Dave McConnell (Canada) Lotus 59 Ford T/C (13 th ) and Teddy Pilette (Belgium) McLaren M10B (6 th ) photo Jack Inwood Round 2 of the Cup, this time for the NZIGP, was held at Pukekohe on 9 th January 1971. Frank put the M10A on 16 th place on the grid and drove well to finish 8 th on 56 of 58 laps behind Neil Allen, Frank Matich (McLaren M10B) and Graham McRae. 3
1970 Frank Radisich McLaren M10A Chev 8th place Pukekohe 9 Jan 70 Photo Mike Feisst On to Wigram for the Lady Wigram Trophy held on 16th January 1970 where Frank qualified 10th he finished 13th on 32 of 44 laps in a race won by McRae from Matich and Lawrence. The final round of the 1971 Tasman Cup held in New Zealand was at Teretonga on 24 January 1971 and Frank was 14th fastest of 17 cars; he finished in 10th place on 56 of 62 laps behind winner Allen from Matich and Teddy Pilette in his M10B. 1971 - #9 Frank Radisich McLaren M10A (10th) signals #14 Graeme Lawrence Ferrari 246T (DNF). Teretonga 24 Jan 71 photo Jack Inwood Gold Star Round 4 was held in conjunction with the Tasman Cup race at Teretonga and Frank took points for second place behind David Oxton (March 701). Round 5 of the Gold Star was held at Levels Raceway, Timaru on 30 January 1971 for the Timaru Trophy. Frank qualified 2nd behind Graeme Lawrence and was delighted to take 1st place after 50 hard laps of racing, beating Graeme to the flag by a mere 1 second. In 3rd place was Neil Doyle in his FM2/1 and 4th was Robbie Francevic in the 4
Katipo MJ70A Chev. Graeme Lawrence won the 1971 Gold Star on 34 points from Frank Radisich with 24 in 2 nd place and Geoff Mardon on 22 in 3 rd place. 1971/72- McLaren M10A and McLaren M10B Chev - The 1971/72 season began with the 1972 NZ Gold Star Round 1 meeting held at Pukekohe on 3 October 1971. Frank did not practice the M10A so started at the rear of the grid. He ran well in the race but retired on lap 17 of 20 with overheating in the Chev engine. The race was won by David Oxton, having his first drive in the Begg FM4 Chev, from Graeme Lawrence in his Brabham BT29 Cosworth and Garry Pedersen in his Gemco Chev sports racer. Round 2 was also at Pukekohe, this time on 14 November 1971. Frank qualified the M10A in 3 rd place for Heat 1 and finished 2 nd to David Oxton. Frank started in second place in Heat 2, his last race in the M10A, and finished 2 nd, again to Oxton. Frank then sold the M10A and it was driven in further 1971/72 races by Robbie Francevic. 1971 Frank Radisich McLaren M10A 2 nd place, Pukekohe 14 Nov 71 photo Mike Feisst Just before Round 3 of the Gold Star, held at Levin on 19 November, Frank took very late delivery of the ex-frank Matich McLaren M10B Repco V8. The car had been significantly modified by Frank Matich such that many referred to the car as a McLaren M10C not that Bruce McLaren ever made a M10C. The car was cleared by NZ Customs on the Friday afternoon and by Saturday morning Frank was racing it at Levin. With no chance to test the M10B/C he was, nonetheless, able to qualify 6 th on the grid - but the brakes locked in the warm-up lap for the main race that turn meant he achieved only 4 laps of the 25 laps. Lawrence won from Oxton and Francevic (in Frank s former M10A). Round 4 of the Gold Star was at Bay Park on 28 December 1971. Frank qualified the M10B in 3 rd place for Heat 1 - he finished 3 rd in the 12 lap race to Graeme Lawrence in his brand new Lola T300 Chev, from David Oxton s Begg FM4. Frank was delighted to win Heat 2 from Oxton and Ken Smith (Lotus 59/69 Hart), and to take the aggregate win from Oxton and Lawrence. 5
1971 Bay Park 28 December - #5 Frank Radisich McLaren M10B leads #111 Robbie Francevic McLaren M10A photo Jack Inwood Although he missed the final Round 5 of the NZ Gold Star, as he was competing in the Tasman Cup in Australia, Frank finished in 3 rd place in the Gold Star on 15 points behind David Oxton (Begg FM4) on 27 points and Graeme Lawrence (Brabham BT29 and Lola T300) on 19 points. 1972 Frank Radisich McLaren M10B/C 400-10 Repco V8 Pukekohe 8 Jan 72 photo Mike Feisst 1972 Tasman Cup New Zealand - Round 1 of the Tasman Cup was held at Pukekohe on 8 January 1972 for the NZIGP. Frank qualified in 15 th place of the 20 starters and was very disappointed to retire after 40 of the 58 laps with engine problems. Frank Gardner in his Lola T300 Chev won the GP ahead of Mike The Bike Hailwood in his Surtees TS8 Chev, and David Hobbs in his McLaren M22- Chev was third. This race saw a fatal crash where Bryan Faloon in his Stanton-Porsche was killed and Graeme Lawrence driving his Lola T300 was very badly injured. 6
1972 Levin 15 Jan 72 #50 Frank Radisich McLaren M10B, leads Evan Noyes $7 McLaren M18, Baron Robertson Brabham BT23C and Garrie Cooper Elfin MR5 photo Jack Inwood Round 2 was at Levin on 15 th January 1972 and Frank qualified 15 th, again. After a steady race he completed 60 of the 63 laps and was placed 9 th behind winner McRae in his Leda/McRae GM1, Frank Matich in his Matich-Repco A50 and Hailwood. The Lady Wigram Trophy was Round 3 of the Tasman Cup and held at RNZAF Base Wigram on 22 January 1972. Down in 14th place of 16 cars to face the starter, Frank was delighted to finish 6 th on 45 of 47 laps behind McRae, Hailwood, Kevin Bartlett M10B, Evan Noyes McLaren M18, and Oxton. Round 4 of the Cup was held at Teretonga on 30 January 1972 where Frank qualified 12 th of 16 starters. In very wet and cold conditions, Frank had a spin on lap 22 of 62 laps and with damaged steering, he retired the M10B. Bartlett won from Pilette and Oxton. To Australia for more of the Tasman Cup - Round 5 of the 1972 Tasman Cup was at Surfers Paradise, Queensland, on 6 February and with a qualifying position in a semi-familiar 14 th place, Frank drove well to finish 10 th on 45 of 50 laps. McRae won from Gardner and Matich. On to Round 6 at Warwick Farm, NSW, and after 13 th place in qualifying, Frank finished in 14 th place at the chequered flag having done only 16 of 45 laps Matich won from Gardner and Bartlett. Round 7 was for the Australian GP and held at Sandown Park, Victoria, on 20 February and once again a 14 th place in qualifying was the best that Frank could manage. Only 26 of 52 laps were completed by Frank in the race and this resulted in a 13 th placing the race was won by McRae from Gardner and Hobbs. The final round of the Cup was at Adelaide, South Australia, on 27 February and another 14th place in qualifying. A very fine 7 th place at the flag after 55 of 70 laps was a good result for Frank. Hobbs won the race from Hailwood and Pillette. Eight punishing rounds in eight weeks four in New Zealand and four in Australia! Frank finished the 1972 Tasman Cup in 14 th place on one point McRae won with 39 points from Hailwood 28, Gardner 27 and Matich 22. 1972/73 Frank did not race in any of the 1973 NZ Gold Star races in late 1972. His first race of the season was Round 1 of the 1973 Tasman Cup for the NZIGP held at Pukekohe on 6 January. In the prelim race before the GP, he collided with David Oxton in his works Begg FM5 and such was the damage to the suspension in the M10B/C, Frank did not make the start of the GP. The race was won 7
by John McCormack in his Elfin MR5 Repco from Allan Rollinson s McRae GM1 and Steve Thompson s Chevron B24. Round 2 was at Levin on 13 January 73 and Frank qualified the M10B/C in 13 th place on the grid he finished 8 th on 59 of 63 laps in a race won by McRae in his GM1 from Matich in his A50 and Warwick Brown s Lola T300. On to Round 3 at Wigram on 20 th January and Frank qualified 15 th on the start grid. For the second successive race, he finished 8 th, this time on 43 of 47 laps behind leaders McRae, Brown and Thompson. The final NZ Tasman Cup race for 1973, and Frank s final race in the McLaren M10B/C, was the Teretonga International held on 28 January 73. Frank was 13 th fastest qualifier of 15 cars but he was disappointed to retire on Lap 19 of 62 laps. Rollinson won from Sam Posey in his Surtees TS11B and Max Stewart s Lola T330. 1973/74 A Short Season - Having retired the McLaren M10B/C, Frank decided to try a little more experimentation as he had done in the past with his Humber 80-Zephyr/Jaguar, Lotus Anglia, HCM Lotus 22 he purchased the ex-ken Smith March 722 F2 car and replaced its engine with the Repco V8 from his now retired McLaren M10B/C. The experiment was not a success!! Frank entered the March 722 Repco V8 in the 1974 Gold Star Round 2 races at Pukekohe on 11 October 73. He qualified 9 th in the 11 car grid, but he did not finish the race as he experienced engine troubles. Graham McRae won in his McRae GM2 from David Oxton in his now black Begg FM5/1 and Gary Pedersen in his white Hi Fi McLaren M18 was third. Frank s next appearance was in Gold Star Round 4 held at Levels Raceway, Timaru on 25 November 73, where he qualified well down the grid in 9 th place again. After only 12 of the 30 laps he was out of the race with ignition problems. Oxton won from Allan McCully (BeggFM2/2), Reg Cook (LolaT300), Dexter Dunlop (McRae GM1) and Robbie Booth (Begg FM4). That appears to have been the end of the March 722-Repco V8. 1975/76 Having had a year away from motor racing, Frank decided it was time to make another foray. He considered the Repco V8 was now past its use-by-date, so he tried yet another experiment he fitted a 2730cc Mazda 13B rotary engine to the March 722. Entered at Ruapuna for Round 2 of the 1976 Gold Star on 19 October 74 he finished 3 rd in both Heats - to Ken Smith s Lola T332 Chev and Graham Baker s Begg FM5/2 Chev in Heat 1, and to Smith and Baron Roberston s Elfin MR5 Chev in Heat 2. Consistency saw him take second place points on aggregate from the two Heats. Although he qualified 8 th for Round 5 at Levin on 7 December 75 he retired from the race, won by Smith from Bruce Allison s Lola T332 and Graeme Lawrence s T332. The next event for Frank was Round 7 at Bay Park on 28 December 75 and a good 4 th place for qualifying saw him well placed for the race but he had yet another did not finish. Graeme Lawrence, Jim Murdoch (Begg 018), Ken Smith and Neil Doyle (Surtees TS9B) took the honours. The NZ Peter Stuyvesant series replaced the Tasman Cup in 1976. Frank qualified 14 th of 14 cars at Round 2 at Manfeild on 11 January 76. He was no doubt pleased the clutch failed in the March 722 Mazda so he was unable to start the race in cold and very wet conditions. Max Stewart won in his Lola T400 from Brian Redman in the 2 litre Chevron B29 BMW and Bruce Allison s Lola T332. The final outing for Frank and his March 722 Mazda was at Gold Star Round 1 at Manfeild on 31 October 76. In Heat 1 he qualified 5 th of 7 cars and finished 6 th after 7 laps, one lap down to leaders Ken Smith and Graeme Lawrence in their Lola T332s and Dave McMillan in his Ralt RT1. Another 6 th place came from the second Heat and that was the end of Franks racing! 8
1976 Manfeild Frank, Robyn and young Chris Radisich March 722-Mazda photo Manawatu Evening Standard 9