Wigram TrophyMotor racing at Wigram airfield · Christchurch · 1949–2000
Home › Archive › 1971 › Leading administrator and car racing competitor dies
← 18 Jan 1971All 1971 pages31 Dec 1971 →
Scan of the clipping page, 26 October 1971
↗
Drag to move · scroll or pinch to zoom
news

Leading administrator and car racing competitor dies

Obituary of Pat Hoare, a leading New Zealand motor racing administrator and competitor, who died suddenly in Christchurch on 25 October 1971 aged 54. He was 1960 national hill-climb champion, won the Gold Star the next year, was a founder of the Motor Racing Club and drove in or helped run every Lady Wigram Trophy from 1949 onwards.

Facts

  • Pat Hoare was a founder of the Motor Racing Club, formed to run the Lady Wigram Trophy Race, and drove in or helped run every Wigram event from 1949 until 1971.
  • Pat Hoare, driving a Ferrari, was twice the first New Zealander home in the New Zealand Grand Prix at Ardmore.
  • Hoare was reputed to be the only person to buy a single-seater Ferrari outright from the factory.
  • Pat Hoare helped found the Canterbury Car Club and the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs, now the Motorsport Association of New Zealand.
news

NZ motor racing personality dies

A second obituary notice for Pat Martell Hoare, aged 53, well known in business circles through motor firms. At Wigram, his home track, he made about seven starts and finished no higher than fourth. Motor Racing Club president Jack Brewer said he brought in overseas opposition even though it lessened his own chances.

Facts

  • In about seven starts at Wigram, Pat Hoare's best finish was fourth.
  • Pat Hoare was one of the first people in New Zealand to build an effective racing car, at a time when such cars were almost impossible to buy.
Read the OCR text
26-10-71 Leading administ car racing rator® dies One of the leading administrators and competitors in New Zealand motor racing, Mr P. Hoare, died suddenly in Christchurch yesterday. He was aged 54. Mr Hoare played a leading people in New Zealand to part in putting New Zealand build an effective racing car. motor racing on a firm foot- Mr Hoare was a personal ing alter woria War I. He friend of Enzo Ferrari and is was the national hill-climb reputed to be the only person champion in 1960, and won to buy a single-seater Ferrari the Gold Star championship|outright-these were otherthe next year. wise invariably raced by the He was a founder of the factory. He was the New Motor Racing Club, formed to Zealand agent for Ferrari. run the Lady Wigram Trophy Mr Hoare was the branch Race, and had a long associa- manager and a director of tion with • the race, run on Gibsons Motors, Darfield. 'the airfied circuit. He either He is survived by his wife levery event there from 1949g drove in or helped to run and two daughters. Driving a Ferrari, Mrl Hoare was twice the first New Zealander home in the grand prix at Ardmore. Mr Hoare was one of the ¡founders of the Canterbury Car Club in the years immedfiately after the war and also the Association of New Zea- Mand Car Clubs, now the :Motorsport Association of New Zealand, the controlling body of the sport in the country. He was one of the first NZ motor racing personality dies Mr Pat Martell Hoare. died suddenly today. He was 53. One of the best-known personalities in New Zealand motor sport, Mr Hoare was also well known in business circles through his connection with motor firms. As a competitor and administrator, Mr Hoare played a leading part in establishing New Zealand motor racing on firm footing after World War 2. He was national hill climb: champion in 1960, and won the Gold Star championship-awarded to the country's top driver-the following rear. Mr Hoare, driving a Ferrari., was the first New Zealander Ardmore on two occasions. home in the grand prix at! But the "Lady Wigram" on the Christehurch airfield eircuit was the event with which he had the closest association. Mr Hoare was a founder of the Motor Racing Club, formed to run the Wigram: race. and either drove in or helped to run every event there from 1949 to the present day. Although Wigram was his "home track." however, it was not the scene of his greatest successes. In about seven starts, the highest he finished was fourth. OPPOSITION Mr Hoare brought some of the opposition to New Zealand during his racing days. As the president of the Motor Racing Club fIr Jack Brewer ling body of the sport in this! said today: "He quite happily country. ensaged in the importation of Mr Hoare was one of the first; people in New Zealand to build overseas drivers, even though an effective racing car. in the! they lessened his own chances days when such things were of success. almost impossible to buy. "His own personal successes, But it was the name Ferrari! with which he was most closely associated. Mr Hoare was a personal friend of Enzo Ferrari, and IS reputed to be the only person! ¡to buy a single-seater Ferrari! loutright-these were invariably raced by the factory. This 350 horsepower V12 was! the car he later converted for road use by fitting a beauti fully finished sports car body. Mr Hoare's association with Ferrari continued until his death. He was New Zealand agent for these famous Italian cars. Christchurch-born Mr Hoare! was a director and branch manager of Gibsons Motors, Darfield. He is survived by his wife Mr Hoare and two daughters. while a matter of great pride to him, never overshadowed! his feeling for the sport." Mr Hoare was one of the founders of the Canterbury Car Club in the vears immedi-l ately after World War 2, andi also the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs. now the: Motorsport Association of New Zealand. which is the control-

Summaries and tables are machine-read from the scan and may contain errors: the scan is the record.