How dodgy fuel crashed Brand New Zealand – victim talks

The boss of an Australian energy company has spoken out about the irreparable damage a fuel debacle has had on historic race car meetings in this country.

Tony Le Messurier, the managing director of Renewable Energy Solutions Australia Holdings, and four other historic race car owners, successfully sued fuel supplier Motorsport Logistics for $220,000 after it provided the wrong fuel at one of the country’s largest international motorsport festivals.

Instead of avgas, cars at the January 2010 New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing were filled with a fuel containing ethanol, which destroys seals and causes detonation and other problems in the Formula 1 engines.

The five men, who included British-based multi-millionaire airline owner Greg Thornton, estimated damage to their expensive vehicles at the Hampton Downs event to be about $60,000 each.

Mr Le Messurier was awarded $16,657 for damage to his Elfin 622 Formula Atlantic.

But he says the cost to fuel supplier Motorsport Logistics was “peanuts” compared to the brand damage to the annual top class tourism event and the New Zealand’s reputation for motorsport overall.

“The irreparable damage that has been done to historic race car meetings in New Zealand is immeasurable,” Mr Le Messurier says.

And he says the disaster was amplified when the Historic Car Racing Club did not take affirmative action.

The festival, celebrating the late Kiwi Formula One driver Bruce McLaren, was of an international standard, but Motorsport Logistics had “trashed the brand” by its flippant delivery of ethanol based fuel and a “she’ll be right bro” contempt and derision of competitors, Mr Le Messurier says.

“These cars are expensive, they are owned by enthusiasts who generally come from success and great influence.

“New Zealand is mocked by these people every time they think about it because in the first time in the 40 years I have been car racing some fuel supplier decides to take a short cut to make money,” Mr Le Messurier says.

“This whole affair is an unqualified catastrophe for New Zealand, New Zealand Motorsport, both economically and for its reputation.

“People were talking about New Zealand with a “tut tut” approach, he says.

“It is now the place to avoid in many competitors minds.

“Looks like Middle Earth might be turning into third world earth, not a good look for New Zealand on the international scene.”

Mr Le Messurier, says he budgeted to spend $30,000 on the festival and was planning on spending two weeks travelling New Zealand after the event.

But he went home early after the event and has not been back except for the court case in September.

The five men are now pursuing Motorsport Logistics, insured by QBE, over the unpaid judgment sum which they claim has increased to $360,049 with the inclusion of interest and other expenses.

Historic race car owners involved in the claim

# Greg Thornton – a UK-based multi-millionaire airline owner who is accompanied by Kiwi mechanics Ben Gilmore and Phil Straverand when he tours the international racing circuit.
Awarded damages of $27,646.


# Neil McCrudden – Owner of the Western Australia Racing Museum. His collection of historic racing cars, which actually race, is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, according to the website of the West Australian Racing Museum, where the cars are registered. Mr McCrudden freighted 13 cars over from the museum for the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing.
Awarded damages of  $A46,701.

# Anthony Le Messurier – managing director at Renewable Energy Solutions Australia Holdings, known as an angel investor in the renewable energy sector and who is developing the EcoWhisper silent wind turbine.
Awarded damages of $16,657.

# Sefton Gibb – Napier-based businessman who started his career as a motor mechanic.
Awarded damages of $35,261.

# Warwick Mortimer – Auckland businessman with an interest in Paeroa Bottling and HorseVans NZ.
Awarded damages of $63,952.

Vehicles involved in the damages claim

1969 Surtees Formula 5000, 1975 Toyota Celica GT 2000
, 1974 Lola T332 Formula 5000
, 1974 Elfin 622, 1969 Macon MR1 Formula 2 single-seater race car
, 1961 Lotus 20/22 Formula 2 single-seater race car
 and a 1971 Surtees TS 11, ex-Sam Posey
.

gbond@nbr.co.nz