Ardmore

Ardmore Aerodrome is a World War II airfield that was opened to station units from the United States Army Air Force. It was still being controlled by the Ministry of Defence in February 1953 when it was chosen as venue for the Formule Libre 1954 New Zealand Grand Prix despite its remote location 20 miles southeast of Auckland. Alan Jones’s father Stan won that day in the Maybach Special and the race remained at Ardmore until it was reclaimed for aviation in 1962. Jack Brabham and Stirling Moss were both three-time winners of the race. The 1957 meeting was marred by the death of Ken Wharton after his Ferrari Monza crashed out of the lead of the supporting sports car race and into the starter’s tower.