Recognized as Australia’s first professional racing driver, David McKay died on Boxing Day, December 26, 2004. Starting out racing MGs during the mid-1950s, McKay soon realized that his income as a motoring writer did not support his sport. As early as 1958, he convinced Australian oil company Ampol of the worth of buying him a Jaguar 3.4 sedan to continue his racing. In those pre-advertising days he incurred the wrath of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport by painting the Jaguar in Ampol’s corporate colors. After winning the inaugural Australian Touring Car championship in 1960, Ampol then contributed to an Aston Martin DB3S when McKay became part of the European-based Kangaroo Stable. Partnered with fellow Australian Tony Gaze, he finished 2nd in the Hyeres 12-hour race in the south of France. With the car back in Australia, he went on to win the Australian Sports Car Championship.
With the assistance of various sponsors, McKay went through a series of other cars such as Cooper-Climax, Ferrari, Lola and Elfin. Establishing Scuderia Veloce, Australia’s first professional racing team, he brought to Australia the likes of Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and Chris Amon to compete in various events including the Tasman Series.
David McKay’s list of contacts in the motor racing world both in Australia and overseas was most certainly impressive and he will be sorely missed.
Submitted by Patrick Quinn
