21/10/2026
We are again saddened to learn of another high-profile club member passing away, in this case the legendary Barry Phillips. Barry would always be seen as a saloon car racing driver who epitomised the Kiwi motor racing spirit of endeavour, success and a humble personality which often sees his name fly “under the radar” when recounting New Zealand’s motorsport history. Born in Papatoetoe, Auckland, during 1937 he became interested in motor racing during his teenage years at secondary school and began attending race meetings and Grands Prix at the Ardmore circuit south of Auckland. His interest was kindled by starting a mechanical apprenticeship at Lees Brothers garage in Papakura where several overseas racing cars were stored and preprepared during Grand Prix time. He also joined the Auckland Car Club of which he remained a member for over four decades.
During the early 1960s, Barry started his own company called Papakura Motors and also went into a partnership with friend Bruce McLean in Papakura Wreckers and from there his success story evolved. He eventually began competition in a standard Ford Anglia 105E, participating in hillclimbs and street race meetings until his first proper circuit racing experienced at the first ever race meeting at Pukekohe in late 1962. After a couple of years competition with moderate success, an opportunity to purchase (second hand) one of the first six Lotus Cortinas imported into the country.
The car was run in pure Group Two form and was immaculately prepared and appeared in what is now the legendary white with blue side flashes colour scheme with two thin blue stripes from front centre to the rear. Business partner Bruce McLean also appeared in an identically coloured Cortina but with an 1598cc pushrod power unit. The two cars were consecutively numbered with Barry No. 86 and Bruce No. 87 although the duo would both drive No. 86 in the long-distance three-hour races.
Over the seasons that the car was campaigned, Phillips won the 1966 and 1967 Group Two National Saloon Car Championship and the 1967 and 1968 1301cc to 2000cc class Saloon Car Championship. This period of New Zealand motor racing was absolutely golden with big fields and more genuine imported and locally built cars making competition really tough. New regulations under the FIA Group Five category saw the end of the allcomers days which were not to Barry’s liking anyway so he decided to sell the Lotus Cortina and enter the hugely popular 0-1000cc class in a locally built Mini Cooper.
These races over 1969 to 1975 were very competitive and although Barry was a regular front runner gaining third overall in the 1968 and 1969 championship, decided the dark Green and gold car he was campaigning was simply not going to bring a championship his way. Over the 1969 “off-season” he acquired the ex-Rodger Anderson Championship winning Mini Cooper S and also imported an Arden prepared engine which had just won the British Touring Car Championship. The 1969 and 1970 season saw the instigation of the Cambridge Racing Team with his car painted in the now-renowned blue and white “cigarette packet” colour scheme. It was a very successful season for Barry as the car was well prepared by Ray Gedye to take several race wins and the 0-1000cc Saloon Car Championship. After another season in Cambridge colours, the team changed to the smaller Winfield Racing Team when he was again a front runner in what was now the most exciting class of racing.
Over this period, Phillips also became President of the New Zealand Racing Drivers Club and spearheaded many advancements in racing administration and safety. He also attended Motorsport New Zealand conferences and NZIGP Board meetings representing the club while his wife Jeanette, formed the Dogbox Club with Kath Fahey and organised many fundraising events for safety equipment, etc. Despite constant improvements being made to the Mini Cooper, more varied opposition came to the fore in the newly restructured Saloon Car Championship in the form of Datsun Sunny, Ford Es**rt Twin-Cam, Hillman Imp and other rapid Mini Coopers.
From 1973 to 1975 Barry was again nominated as Team Manager of the newly created Brambles NZ Freighters Racing Team for whom he contested two seasons always as a front-runner and race winner with John Dale now on the spanners. The new format for saloon car racing saw him race the ex-Rex Hart championship winning Mini Cooper S in the 0-1300cc and 0-4200cc classes. However, with more modern cars coming into the championship, the days of Mini Cooper dominance were coming to an end despite his top three championship placings in the 0-1300cc category. Although then deciding to retire from active racing, he continued his work with the NZRDC and in later years contested some classic racing at the wheel of another Lotus Cortina and a 3.8 Mark Two Jaguar.
While chasing class championships Barry also contested many of the long-distance production car races in a variety of cars including Vauxhall Victor, Ford Falcon, Ford Cortina, Triumph 2.5PI, Valiant Charger and Mazda RX2. His best result came with second place in the Benson and Hedges 1000 race driving a Ford Falcon 600 with Bruce McLean.
It is an interesting footnote that while still working fulltime at his truck sales and parts business located in Drury, south of Auckland, Barry tracked down and re-purchased his original Lotus Cortina which was refurbished and painted in the original No. 86 colour scheme. Also re-purchased by his son Graeme is his championship winning Arden Mini Cooper S which is also being restored to it’s original race trim and painted in Cambridge Racing Team colours. In 2017, Barry was also one of the first intake inducted into the Auckland Car Club Roll of Honour. To his sons and daughter together with his wider family and friends, the Auckland Car Club extends our deepest condolences.
By Kevin Lancaster
for AUCKLAND CAR CLUB
