Phil Kerr has passed away

[Michael Clark]

Phil Kerr, one of the three finalists for the first Driver to Europe, passed away this morning.

I am going to try and post the media release.

[Roger Dowding]

Michael, thank you, sad ! a part of McLaren and a legend in Motorsport.

[Michael Clark]

PROMINENT MOTOR RACING PERSONALITY DIES QUIETLY IN AUCKLAND.

One of New Zealand’s most respected motor racing personalities, Phil Kerr, passed away quietly in Auckland this morning.
His wife, Patricia Kerr, said her husband’s passing was unexpected but peaceful. Funeral details will be released later.
Phil Kerr had a long association with Jack Brabham and Brabham Racing in the late 1950s and 60s before joining forces with Bruce McLaren in 1968 and the recently-formed McLaren Motor Racing as joint Managing Director of the highly successful motorsport team that still bears his name today.
Phil Kerr returned to New Zealand in the late seventies. He established the McLaren Group of companies in New Zealand and in recent times established the McLaren Motorsport website, still preserving the history of McLaren and the remarkable legacy he left. Phil Kerr remained in constant contact with motor racing greats, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jack Brabham, Dan Gurney, Bernie Ecclestone and Chris Amon, among others, and retained an avid and knowledgeable interest in Formula One throughout his lifetime.

[Malcolm McLeod]

Absolutely gutted to hear.

I bought his book prior to one of the A1GP's at Taupo, and took it with me thinking I would try and get Emmo to sign it.
So I went into the pits at lunchtime, Emmo wasn't there, but one of the Brazilian team members said to me to leave a note, and he would try and get him to sign it later.
When I went back to get it later, Emmo had signed it, plus put a neat dedication in it, about what a great guy Phil was, and how he had done a lot for Motorsport.
The guy from the team also told me Emmo had spent all afternoon reading the book - to hell with what was going on out on the track!!!
The next weekend, there was a anniversary dinner celebrating Denny's F1 World Championship win, and knowing Phil was going to be there, I took my book to get him to sign it.
When he saw what Emmo had written about him, he was speechless....completely blown away!!!!
His book is one of the best Motorsport books I have ever read, if you haven't yet read it or bought it, then do so - you won't regret it.

God speed, Phil.

[Grant Sprague]

woooooow .... yes always a sad time to hear these things ......sorry to hear ... RIP Phil.......

[ERC]

Totally agree with Malcolm. One of the best motoring books I have ever read too. We'd hoped to have him as a guest speaker at our awards dinner last year, but sadly, he was unable to make it.

RiP indeed.

[kiwi285]

RIP Phil. Another of the great NZ motorsport people has passed on. I agree with Malcolm too - it is a really great read.

[John A]

Sad news indeed. Phil was one of the good guys and will be greatly missed.

[khyndart in CA]

I mentioned Phil in my "Old Programmes" thread back in March. I hope you do not mind me entering these comments again here.

"Yes, Phil Kerr was one of the main reasons that the McLaren Team remained such a strong team after Bruce died."
Here is a brief biography from "Grand Prix .com "

PEOPLE: PHIL KERR

Name: Phil Kerr
Nationality: New Zealand



Born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1934, Phil Kerr first met Bruce McLaren at a hillclimb event in 1951 both were racing Austin Sevens. While racing Kerr also studied accountancy and business management and when he left college he joined the New Zealand Forest Service before moving to work for a small engineering business in Auckland. This handled the sale of Buckler cars in New Zealand and Kerr was soon racing these and at the same time moved up through the ranks to become the secretary of the Auckland Car Club - the biggest automobile club in New Zealand - and a member of the board of the New Zealand International Grand Prix Association. In 1958 he was one of the names put forward to be New Zealand's Driver to Europe but was beaten to the prize by McLaren. In Europe McLaren mentioned to Jack Brabham that Kerr might be the man to run the Australian's businesses and in 1959 Kerr moved to England to help Jack establish a headquarters in Chessington. This consisted of a petrol station and offices but in the years that followed expanded into a big racing car manufacturing business in the earlly 1960s. One of Kerr's major contributions was to bring Denny Hulme to Brabham's attention and he managed Hulme's career until Denny won the World Championship in 1967. The pair then moved to McLaren where Kerr became joint managing-director with McLaren. After McLaren was killed in 1970 Kerr played an important role in holding the team together and he continued to be a major player at McLaren in the early 1970s, although he was edged out of the team to run the semi-works Yardley operation in 1974 after Marlboro came in as the team's chief backer. At the end of that year Yardley withdrew and Hulme retired and Kerr decided to head back to New Zealand, where he established and developed the McLaren Group of companies, initially as a specialist automotive engineering frim but more recently as a business consultancy, project management and IT firm.

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Phil Kerr at Silverstone. July. 1973. Listening with Jody Scheckter as Jackie Stewart explains his methods of driving through Woodcote Corner.

29919


(Ken Hyndman photo )



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I found this site on Phil Kerr also that leads to parts of the wonderful documentary "Trio at the Top" (TVNZ 2001)which I can watch over and over about a wonderful era in New Zealand motor racing regarding McLaren,Hulme and Amon.

http://www.sportingmemoriesnetwork.c...pole-position/


( I hope he had an opportunity to see this in TRS.)

RIP Phil.



(Ken Hyndman )

[Cooper997]

http://s25.postimg.org/t5i458rdb/Phil_Kerr_2014_01.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
free image uploading (http://postimage.org/)

Going by what Michael has posted above, Phil's passing was unexpected and will have come as a shock to not only me, but many of his friends and enthusiasts alike scattered around the globe as they read or hear he has gone.

I only had the privilege to meet Phil on one occasion - that being the Gold Coast, Qld funeral service for Sir Jack Brabham in June 2014. Both Phil and his lovely wife, Pat had flown over from their New Zealand home to be there with several fellow members of the MRD/Brabham Racing Organisation and family members. He was an absolute gentleman to meet and chat with. So it comes as a difficult thing to fathom that he has now gone too.

http://s25.postimg.org/6i2uz3btb/Phil_Kerr_2014_02.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
upload img (http://postimage.org/)
Pat, Phil and the Brabham cousins, Matthew and Sam. Third generation Brabham racers.

To Pat and the Kerr family, plus the many friends from so many facets of the motor racing community Phil associated with, my condolences

http://s25.postimg.org/e6zpatcb3/Cooper_Team.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
free image uploading (http://postimage.org/)
Almost a complete F1 team in 1959… celebratory photo the day after Jack’s May 10 Monaco GP win. Phil is far right with Bruce at #22, mechanic, Mike Grohmann stands with #26 and John Cooper, Jack Brabham and mechanic, Bill James stand with the winning #24. Masten Gregory isn’t present.

I dare say Bruce, Denny and Jack are now awaiting Phil to arrive with the necessary financial control and sponsorship!

Stephen Dalton

[Trevor Sheffield]

I attended the hillcimb event in 1951 when Phil Kerr and Bruce McLaren competed. It appeared to me that even at that time they were good friends.

Bruce had the backing of a father, money and a well prepared Austin Seven, whereas Phil’s Austin was a wreck. Bruce recorded a somewhat better time, but it was clear in my mind and it remains to this day, as to who was the better driver.

Bugger! It seems only a very short time ago that I discussed my early reactions and continued opinion with Phil. He was very guarded in his comments but it was obvious to me, now a wise old guy, that much more could have been said. Phil was a gentleman.

As a driver, Phil sadly missed out.

Sincerely, Trevor

[Michael Clark]

Interesting observations and comments Trevor - as ever.

At 6 foot 4ish, Phil was just the wrong shape for the way open-wheelers were going in the 60s. Mike Parkes was about the same height, Dan Gurney a fraction shorter so it wasn't impossible...just difficult.

[duncan fox]

Sad news to hear that Phil "Sunny Tours" has left the building.

All at the McLaren Trust will miss him.

Our thoughts are with Patricia and the family.

[Trevor Sheffield]

Interesting observations and comments Trevor - as ever.

At 6 foot 4ish, Phil was just the wrong shape for the way open-wheelers were going in the 60s. Mike Parkes was about the same height, Dan Gurney a fraction shorter so it wasn't impossible...just difficult.

Yes Michael,

In a way very strange, as one of my clear reflections is that as opposed to Bruce, Phil was driving with straight arms. Probably had a bolster rathe than a seat in the little Austin. All so sad. :-(

[Malcolm McLeod]

Any word yet Michael on funeral details?

[Michael Clark]

Yup just got them - 1pm August the 31st at 235 Schnapper Rock Road, Albany

[Roger Dowding]

Very sad indeed, RIP Phil Kerr.

[Oldfart]

Indeed very sad, a real gentleman, and his memory was crystal clear. He helped a huge amount with making our history of Buckler in NZ a whole lot more accurate, and had wonderful anecdotes from the later years. Condolences to all those whose lives he was a part of. The Roll of Honour keeps growing too quickly.

[SPman]

Oh bugger!
Sad news indeed as another wonderful identity slips away into the mists of eternity.

[Kiwiboss]

RIP Phil Kerr

[SPman]

I dare say Bruce, Denny and Jack are now awaiting Phil to arrive with the necessary financial control and sponsorship!

Stephen Dalton

Don't forget Eoin.....

[Trevor Sheffield]

With Phil’s funeral so close, i.e. 1 pm, 31/08/15,at Scnnapper Rock Albany, it is fitting that this sad topic should be awarded precedence within the listings.

[ERC]

Sadly, I'll miss it as we have friends arriving from overseas. I only spoke to Phil a couple of times but I thought him a really nice man. A true gentleman.

[Roger Dowding]

With Phil’s funeral so close, i.e. 1 pm, 31/08/15,at Scnnapper Rock Albany, it is fitting that this sad topic should be awarded precedence within the listings.

Trevor, yes, agree and when I told my Uncle Ed, [ Eddie Dowding of NSCC history ], of the what had happened, he said that whilst not remembering Phil, had been Bruce McLaren's teacher in 4th form at Seddon Technical College,
Living in Australia, have heard / read very little.

[Trevor Sheffield]

RIP Phil. You are remembered.