Portrait of a wi In the motor raciag world of today, taere is listle room for anytbing less than total, professiozal dedication Coupled with a determination to win, and the abilty to do so, Dave McMillan 36, • has these attributes to a marted degree. From 1964, when be began his motor racing career as a mechanic for Graeme Lawrence, to the present day, McMillan has • never been content with mediocrity in any aspect of the sport. He stayed with Lawrence until 1968, after which he spent four years as chief engineer and team manager of the top USA stable of "Fred Opert. In 1973, be was a race driving instructor with Fred Opert's driving school, after having bought his first Formula Ford in 197%. HIZEN Formula Ford made 'McMillan's name in New Zealand, taking the cham- Dave McMillan is one of the New Zealand's Pio and 1975-76, 2150 500r- Deuch of bis a racing in the ed en ing the USA Formula Ford championship in 1973. still finished a creditable titles of New Zealand. Other honours to come third overall in the series. USA his way bave been the 1972- During the 1981 For the 1980-81 Super Vee Championship, 73 Driver of the Year, and Zealand seres, McMillan the Robert Bisch Gold Cap, 'runner-up. of Penfold's ran a McMillan finished fifth Driver of the Future award new Ralt RT4. Pacific powered by a factory-pre overall, in spite of five Donpared Nissan-Datsun finishes out of 10 starts, due engine. to engine problems. with minor engine prob He drove an Americanbought his first Rait RTI, lems, lickillan could not built Auto Research can he has won all major tities repeat his . 1980 inter- under the auspices of the for the formula, and in national series win, but did world-wide aluminium 1980, became the first New gain the coveted New Zea- wheel manufacturers Cen Zealander to win the intert- land Grand Prix title in treline. tional series, and also the January 1981 at Pukekohe. first to win the inter- He found the car very national and national series It was a bighlight of his competitive on oval tracks, doubie. career placing his name but Slightly disadvantaged among those of former New in comparison to the Rait In the same year, McMil Zealand Grand Prix RT5's on the road circuits. lan had had an initially winners such as Moss, However, Centreline successful Super Vee season Stewart, Amon and have now bought a Dan i the USA, leading on McLaren. Gurney Eagle Indy car, in points by a margin of more As he came off the track which Mcmillan will do a than 20 until a near-fatal from winning the Grand Rokkie Test at the famous accident at Minnesota. Prix. McMillan became the Indianapolis track, as well In spite of this, he was first driver to simultane as testing at Phoenix. Possiback racing as soon as he ously bold the Grand Prix. bly the start of an Indy was physically able to, and international and national career? Aner 1153: sa t Melian has also maned reader to the team maragement: Held i having brougut Hike Rosen to New Zealand from Abe United States to drive one of the team cars this seaso 21-9-82 saridinan Oxtr New Zealand singleseater champion David Oxton is out to defend his title with all the verve and tenacity he can muster. At 35, the slightly nervy i driver has made it to the ; top of his class, with strong i sponsorship from Pye. Last year he had a change from single-seaters, : and entered the saloon car series with co-driver Garry i Pederson in a Holden Commodore. The duo came i second, behind the Ford Falcon of Leo Leonard and Gary Sprague. Oxton also drove in Australia in the grand prix against top drivers such as Nelson Picquet, Alan Jones, i Jacques Laffite and : Roberto Moreno. Oxton finished sixth, with Moreno first. The 1980 to 1981 season was Oxton's best. He has raced in a variety of machines, from a modified road-going • Daimler SP250 sports car to an elfin Formula Ford, Begg Formula 5000s and a March Formula One. The Oxton road to success began in 1964 when David's father, Steve, handed over the wheel of the Daimier Dart sports car be was campaigning to his 17-year-oid son. The Daimler gave way to another sports car, this time a Lola 1500 with which David won Dip dor its chass in pion The next logical step was a single-seater, and David made • the move in 1968, stepping behind the wheel of a 1500cc Brabham in the then National Formula (the I big-bangers in those days were the 2.5 litre Tasman Formula single seaters). He on defending title also took his first Gold Star, driving the "works" NZ built Begg FM4 F5000. His FF success saw him win a trip to Britain for the World Formula Ford final at Brands Hatch. Driving the oldest car in the race — a hired Merlyn - he captured pole position ahead ol 10 drivers from all over the world and then proceeded to have one of his shortest races ever - he crashed on the second lap But he and mechanic Dick Bennets repaired the car and campaigned it for a season in Britain, taking three second places, three thirds and a win from eight Oxton returned for the New Zealand series to race George Begg's new FM5 Formula 5000, probably the most competitive New Zeasingle seater ever built. He took the Gold Star in it and was first New : Zealander home in three of the international races. Champion David Oxton tackies a They took the car to adjustments on his stripped-down car. Europe in 1973 and had fair inte toughly had instant success. finish- at Sebring." said Mr Bur- fought Formula 5000 chaming runner-up in the series ness. David drove a Lotus pionship, with best placings T70 in illustrious inter- of a fourth and two fifths Graeme McRae's home- national company, eventu- Back in New Zealand built car. ally finishing fourth in the David and the FM5 cap- The following season saw race. The first two placings tured the Gold Star a third the introduction of Formula were taken up by the late time, taking third place il 5000 for the big. American American Formula the Grand Prix and finish V8-engined single seaters. it driver. Mark Donohue, and ing first New Zealander also saw the first Oxton lay. English all-rounder, home in three of the five off from competition. David Hobbs. internationals. For the next New Zearacing for a time because of land international series. another break from comthe cost involved. We were Oxton secured the Lotus petitions for the racing working a limited Oxtons. Costs of running and took fourth place in the Formula 5000 were escalatbudget, and there was no opening event at Levin. But afford to ing, and along with Tom after that. make the transition," he Hooker, David and Steve taken over by the STP team began promoting the idea of for Chris Amon to drive and But for the international David found himself at the Formula Pacific series, David put his train- wheel of the STP team's The Oxtons bought the ing as a mechanic to work. uncompetitive and unreli- over-weight Chevron B29 elping with the prepara able 2.5 litre engined March which Briton, Brian Redion of the colourful Surtees man, had raced against the Formula One car. F5000s in the 1976 inter- TS5 campaigned by Ameri- Oxton was still unable to national series can driver. Mike Goth. high At that stage, expatriate Goth's chief mechanic required in Formula 5000 was Bruce Burness and Kiwi, Alan McCall asked and for the following year, David to drive his Tui car in David persuaded him to let he and his father the Canadian Labatts Forhim have a drive of the instrumental in starting a mula Atlantic series. Surtees during a testing New Zealand series / David did seven races, Formula Ford cars. with the best placings two "He was quite happy with They imported an Aus- fourths. But it was a relathe way I went, and nine traliah built Elfin and pro- tively low-budget show, months later, I got a call ceeded to win the cham- running one engine i from him and found myself pionship for the following proud to be an all-Kiwi in the United States. racing two seasons. In 1972. he crew