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[EwanM]

Teddy Mayer 1935-2009

Sunday, February 1st 2009, 09:52 GMT


Former McLaren team boss Teddy Mayer has passed away at the age of 73.

The American, whose full name was Edward Everett Mayer, was at the helm of McLaren in the 1970s, between founder Bruce McLaren's death and the arrival of Ron Dennis.

Mayer's first involvement with motorsport saw him running a Formula Junior team in the 1960s, before he assisted McLaren with the creation of his eponymous Formula One team.

After McLaren was killed testing a Can-Am car at Goodwood in 1970, Mayer took over the running of the team and led them to the 1974 and 1976 world championships with Emerson Fittipaldi and James Hunt. McLaren were also successful in Can-Am and Indy/Champ Car racing through this period, winning the 1976 Indianapolis 500 with Johnny Rutherford.

When the McLaren F1 team's fortunes declined in the late 1970s, primary sponsor Marlboro arranged for successful Formula Two team boss Dennis to be brought on board. Mayer stayed on initially, before selling his shares to Dennis in 1982 and forming a new Champ Car team with his former McLaren colleague Tyler Alexander.

Mayer Motor Racing's Tom Sneva came close to beating Mario Andretti to the 1984 CART Champ Car title, before Mayer returned to F1 with the Beatrice Haas project. This short-lived operation would not be as successful as Mayer's previous F1 exploits with McLaren, and after the team closed in 1986 he returned to America to work with Penske, staying on as a consultant until 2007.

Mayer passed away at his home in England on Friday 30 January. He is survived by his son Tim, currently the chief operating officer of IMSA and the American Le Mans Series, and his daughter Anne.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73085

[EwanM]

Dennis pays tribute to Mayer

By Matt Beer Sunday, February 1st 2009, 10:46 GMT


McLaren team principal Ron Dennis has paid tribute to Teddy Mayer, who died on Friday.

Mayer was one of the team's founders, and ran the operation between Bruce McLaren's death in 1970 and Dennis's arrival in 1980.

"Teddy was one of motor racing's few truly great men," said Dennis.

"As far as I and all at McLaren are concerned, he has particular importance, on account of the fact that in 1963 he was part of the very small team of talented enthusiasts who, alongside Bruce McLaren, founded Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd.

"Bruce died tragically young in 1970, having won grands prix but no world championships with his fledgling team, but when I bought into the team in 1980 Teddy had built on the foundations laid by Bruce, Tyler Alexander and himself and had already achieved a lot - two Formula One world championships with Emerson Fittipaldi and James Hunt, as well as huge success in the States.

"Those fantastic cars - the magnificent McLaren Can-Am cars driven by Denny Hulme and Bruce himself and the superb McLaren CART cars driven by guys like Johnny Rutherford, as well as James's and Emerson's iconic McLaren M23 Formula 1 cars - grace the boulevard reception area of the McLaren Technology Centre today."

Although Mayer initially stayed on after Dennis's arrival, he left in 1982, before the team recaptured their title-winning form.

But Dennis emphasised that all McLaren's successes after Mayer's departure had their roots in what he had achieved in the team's formative years.

"In 1982 Teddy sold his shares in McLaren, and I'm glad to say we've continued to be successful, and to win world championships, ever since," Dennis said.

"But the origins of our many and ongoing successes are with Bruce and Teddy.

"So I would like to pay tribute to Teddy's enormously valuable contribution, and to his immortal legacy, and to extend the sympathies of all at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to his family and many friends at this very sad time."


http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73087

[McLaren Fan]

Sad news. Ron Dennis is not stating the usual clichés after somebody dies. After Bruce McLaren died his team could easily have faded away to nothing, so Mayer did a great job of keeping the team afloat and then to achieve a fair bit of success in the medium term.

[texasmr2]

A moment of silence for Teddy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RIP

[bud]

A moment of silence for Teddy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RIP

observed

im glad he saw one last championship before his passing RIP mate!!!

[McLaren Fan]

And for anybody involved with McLaren, it must have come as a right stab in the heart to see what happened at the Belgium last season - when McLaren were robbed off the Grand Prix at which Bruce McLaren won his team's first ever victory forty years before. The result would have been fine a tribute to Bruce.

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Fittipaldi mourns Mayer's loss

By Jonathan Noble Monday, February 2nd 2009, 17:05 GMT

Former world champion Emerson Fittipaldi believes the passing away of former McLaren boss Teddy Mayer is a major loss for Formula One.

Fittipaldi won the second of his two world titles under Mayer's guidance at McLaren in 1974 - before enjoying a successful partnership with him in IndyCar racing.

Speaking to autosport.com after hearing the news of Mayer's death, Fittipaldi was under no illusions about the huge impact that the American had had on F1.

"It was very sad news this weekend about Teddy Mayer," said Fittipaldi. "Teddy was first of all a very good friend of mine; he worked with me 10 years in the States.

"It is a big loss for Grand Prix racing because Teddy was one of the guys who was there when F1 started building up with Bernie (Ecclestone), Ken Tyrrell, Frank Williams, and a lot of people really. Ted was one of the masters that helped Formula One grow bigger and bigger.

"I won my second F1 championship with him; I owe a lot of my results and successes in my career to Teddy. He was the first person to invite me to test at Indianapolis, in (September) 1974 after McLaren won with Johnny Rutherford.

"And then in 1993, I won my second Indy 500 with Teddy as team manager (at Penske). We won the F1 world championship and Indianapolis 500 together, so I have a large amount of gratitude for what Teddy did for my career."

Fittipaldi said that Mayer's qualities as a human being shone brightly throughout his career - and said that the devastation of losing his brother Timmy in a Tasman Series crash in 1964 did not dull his love of motor racing.

"He was always very persistent, extremely competitive, and he had a well organised team," explained Fittipaldi. "He was a very good organiser.

"McLaren, when I joined, was an incredible organisation and Teddy was always there, always giving advice when I needed it. He was extremely committed to succeed.

"And though he lost his brother Timmy in Tasmania, he continued to have the love and the passion for the sport, like not many people in the world have. It's a big loss for motor racing."

[EwanM]

It is a great shame. However he did have a good life and achieve alot on both sides of the atlantic, so his achievements won't ever be forgotten.
Mayer was also responsible for giving Giles Villenueve his big break - although this was after much persuasion from James Hunt!

[7UpJordan]

And for anybody involved with McLaren, it must have come as a right stab in the heart to see what happened at the Belgium last season - when McLaren were robbed off the Grand Prix at which Bruce McLaren won his team's first ever victory forty years before. The result would have been fine a tribute to Bruce.

I bet Bruce turned in his grave the moment that penalty was dished out. The FIA are probably proud of themselves for doing that being the sick dogs they are, and none of this will have happened back in the days when he and then Teddy were in charge of McLaren. (apart from James Hunt's disqualification from numerous races in the 1976 season, particularly the British Grand Prix).

[EwanM]

And for anybody involved with McLaren, it must have come as a right stab in the heart to see what happened at the Belgium last season - when McLaren were robbed off the Grand Prix at which Bruce McLaren won his team's first ever victory forty years before. The result would have been fine a tribute to Bruce.

I bet Bruce turned in his grave the moment that penalty was dished out. The FIA are probably proud of themselves for doing that being the sick dogs they are, and none of this will have happened back in the days when he and then Teddy were in charge of McLaren. (apart from James Hunt's disqualification from numerous races in the 1976 season, particularly the British Grand Prix).

All I can say to that is bulls***!

[EwanM]

By the way, I agree with you 7up, just looking for an excuse to quote that again

[7UpJordan]

By the way, I agree with you 7up, just looking for an excuse to quote that again

There's always a good excuse to use it.

[Gaz]

And for anybody involved with McLaren, it must have come as a right stab in the heart to see what happened at the Belgium last season - when McLaren were robbed off the Grand Prix at which Bruce McLaren won his team's first ever victory forty years before. The result would have been fine a tribute to Bruce.

I bet Bruce turned in his grave the moment that penalty was dished out. The FIA are probably proud of themselves for doing that being the sick dogs they are, and none of this will have happened back in the days when he and then Teddy were in charge of McLaren. (apart from James Hunt's disqualification from numerous races in the 1976 season, particularly the British Grand Prix).

Yeh

RIP Teddy