"I had a habit of grabbing second place from the jaws of victory"

From dreams of yachting glory to the Le Mans podium, via a stint at the top of the motorsport tree, Howden Ganley had quite the career

- RICHARD HESELTINE

Our genial host ushers us to the veranda, past the mother of all bookshelves.

It's rude to stare, but you can't help it. That's quite the library. "Oh, that's nothing. I have thousands of books on motor racing going back to the year dot," Howden Ganley smiles, barely breaking stride. He then sets about outlining a life less ordinary.

He was a Formula One driver, stood on the podium at Le Mans, doorhandled a Citroën SM on the 1973 Tour of Britain rally, manufactured racing cars in significant numbers, served on the board of the British Racing Drivers' Club and more. It was quite the journey for the "dumb kid" from Hamilton, south of Auckland; the one who dreamed of joining the navy.

"My father was interested in motorsport, but sailing was my thing," Howden ponders. "Then I went to watch the New Zealand Grand Prix in January 1955 at the Ardmore airfield circuit.

I went out of curiosity more than anything.

The world was a lot smaller back then, but here were proper cars and star drivers. There was Prince Bira in a Maserati 250F, Tony Gaze in a Ferrari 625, Jack Brabham in a CooperBristol; all sorts. As soon as the flag dropped, everything changed. I was 13 years old and knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life.

I was going to become a racing driver. I knew it with the sort of certainty you only have when you're that age." Warming to theme, Howden adds: "I began competing as soon as I had a driving licence; grass-track stuff, mostly. I held down three jobs and saved everything I earned. Then a fourth-hand Lotus Eleven came on to the market. I was going to go halves with a friend, but he backed out at the very last minute so Mum loaned me the rest. Soon after my 19th birthday, I entered a support race for the 1961 New Zealand Grand Prix and won my class.