Contact - The Turn of the Wheel

This Contact documentary explores what it takes to make it as a motor racing driver: from the roar of speed to the ratio of skill, chance, sponsorship and the role of mechanics. Kiwi star Dave McMillan is followed from days of thunder downunder (where a spectacular crash leads to Formula Pacific victory) to leading the Super Vees in US before a near fatal 1980 accident. McMillan bounced back to win the New Zealand Grand Prix in 1981 and in 1982 won the North American Formula Atlantic Championship. He was inducted into the NZ MotorSport Wall of Fame in 2006.

Motor racing nowadays is a pure money game. If you want to go into Formula 1 or any sort of motor sport there’s money involved. My case is that I’ve had to prove myself before I could go and get a sponsor. In some cases with some of the sponsors I’ve had I’d had to go back three or four times until they’re aware that they need me, and they’ve got to have me.

– Dave McMillan

Key Cast & Crew

David Sims

Director

Tom Williamson

Producer

Clive Cockburn

Composer

Kerry Coe

Sound

Judy Rymer

Editor

Brian Cross

Camera