|
|
Max Stewart
Image Descriptions: Max Stewart began his career on motorcycles and was selected to represent Australia at the Isle of Man in 1955 but had to withdraw due to apprenticeship commitments. The period 1957-1961 saw him build and race the then fastest FJ Holden in Australia. From 1961-1964 he took out four State titles at the National Championships in Go-kart racing. From there he moved to a Triumph 2000 and competed in the Bathurst 500 in 1964, 1965 and 1966.
In 1965 he moved into open wheeler racing cars in a Renmax Formula II and then a Mildren where he was runner up in 1965 and winner in 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970 for Australian Formula II. In 1970 Max contested the Japanese Grand Prix in a Mildren, coming second to world Champion Jackie Stewart. In 1972 Max won the Singapore Grand Prix and came second in the Macau Grand Prix. This prompted his move to the ultimate in racing cars - Formula 5000.
In 1975 Max contested the L & M Series in the United States and after six races he was in fourth position overall but had to return home with a fractured wrist. In 1974 he was placed second outright in the Tasman Series and that year made history by winning five of six rounds in the Gold Star Formula 1 Drivers Championship. He also won the Australian Grand Prix at Oran Park in the Sydney Round of the Gold Star, driving a Lola T330.
In 1975 at Surfers Paradise he won his second successive Australian Grand Prix in a Lola T400 under the most appalling conditions. In New Zealand in 1976 he recorded good wins at Levin and Mansfield and also won a round of the Australian Drivers' Championship at Oran Park.
1977 started well for the Orange driver with a number of wins including a Rothmans Series race at Sandown, Melbourne. Unfortunately on 19 March 1977 whilst practising for a race at Calder Raceway, Melbourne he was involved in a collision that was to claim his life at the age of 42.
|
 |
|
