Solved NIC#888 - McLaren-Oldsmobile M3A of Patsy Burt

[nicanary]

What is this car, and who is the driver?

[ChanceHuncha]

McLaren involved?

[nicanary]

McLaren involved?

Yes.

[ChanceHuncha]

Is there any info on the driver? And if so is he British?

[nicanary]

Is there any info on the driver? And if so is he British?

The car/driver combination was well-known in the 1950s/60s and there is plenty of information on the internet "if you know where to look" but that's often the problem. British indeed.

[ChanceHuncha]

I looked up McLaren M3A and It was right there 

So this is the Mclaren-Oldsmobile M3A driven by female racing driver Patsy Burt.

You know, I've always been fascinated by racing cars and normal cars that have very unique design or engine combinations, stuff like McLaren-Oldsmobile, Chrysler-Lamborghini, stuff like that. Im just waiting for something super unique like Moskvich-Ferrari or something 

[nicanary]

You're absolutely correct, and another point to your total.

The car was individually made for Patsy after she suggested to Bruce McLaren that she could use a single-seat version of the M1A sports racer. It was extensively campaigned in hillclimbs and sprints (the former name of time attack) and is pictured here at Elvington in 1968.

[Willie McCrum]

And what did Patsy call it ?

[nicanary]

And what did Patsy call it ?

Do you mean "whoosh-bonk" ?

[nicanary]

I forgot to mention that the puzzle photo shows the car prepared for a timed straight run - thus the extended perspex aeroscreen and engine cover. It also has a "Burt strut" attached to the nose to break the timing beam, as used years ago before modern digital systems.

This is the car today in its usual trim, and Patsy Burt's traditional colours.

[Willie McCrum]

Yes. Whoosh-Bonk it is.  I guess the English language - or the usage thereof - has changed since Patsy came up with that.....

[nicanary]

Yes. Whoosh-Bonk it is.  I guess the English language - or the usage thereof - has changed since Patsy came up with that.....

Yes. Probably far more Anglo-Saxon. I believe the term came from Bruce himself - when Patsy asked if it could be done, Bruce considered for a few seconds and then said " Yup, do this do that and whoosh-bonk."