Small World

Like the IT Industry in Switzerland, Motor Racing is a small world.

I've recently been reading Eoin Young's excellent book about Bruce McLaren; McLaren Memories.

Yesterday I got to the bit about Bruce's first exploits with his own team, involving two Cooper cars with which he was contesting the first Tasman series in 1963. His first team mate, Tim Mayer, was killed when his car left the road and hit a tree at the Longford circuit in Tasmania when Tim apparently failed to get the car in a straight line before braking for a corner.

When Bruce was killed at Goodwood in 1970, Tim's brother Teddy took over McLaren, taking it to two World Championships; with Emerson Fittipaldi in 1974 and James Hunt in 1976. Teddy later handed over the reins to Ron Dennis.

Today I read that Teddy's son, who he named in honour of his brother, has been made CEO of ALMS, the American Le Mans Series. I'd never really heard the name Tim Mayer before, and then uncle and nephew pop up the space of 24 hours. Small World.