How did a rugged beach road on the west coast of New Zealand become the spark that ignited a legend? It’s on the Muriwai Beach hillclimb that Bruce Leslie McLaren made his first competitive debut at the wheel of a homemade Austin Ulster.

In 1952 he’d just turned 15 when he competed on the gravel hill for the first time. That experience would eventually take him onto Le Mans, Can-Am and Formula 1. And where is that little Austin today? Restored to its present condition it sits proudly on the boulevard at the McLaren Technology Centre.

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