Soapbox Racing to the top

Boy wonder Daniel Hefford has some pretty big boots to fill.


The 11-year-old is a student at Bruce McLaren Intermediate, the school named after one of the world's most famous racing car drivers.

Daniel has just won the national soapbox derby and will now represent New Zealand at the All American version in the United States in July.

Plenty of people at the school have drawn parallels between Daniel and McLaren - the youngest man to win a world championship Formula One Grand Prix event.

Teachers are quick to point out that Bruce McLaren pupils also came second and fourth at the national soapbox derby finals.

"They are all following in the traditions of a great racing driver," principal David Crickmer says.

The school holds a special assembly once a year to honour McLaren, who was killed, aged 32, on June 2, 1970, while testing a Can Am car at Goodwood motor circuit in Britain.

It is closely affiliated with a trust set up in his memory and receives regular visits from one of his sisters.

Its orchestra entertained family matriarch Ruth McLaren each year in the resthome where she lived until her death several years ago.

"We're all very proud of our links with Bruce McLaren," Mr Crickmer says.

Daniel looks forward to learning more about the great driver as his year progresses.

But first he's got a race to win.

He'll be heading to the big event in Akron, Ohio, with his father and avid supporter John.

"I'm really excited and I'll be on TV and radio," Daniel says.

The Rotary club of Waitakere City, organiser of the west Auckland soapbox heats, will mint a special metal badge for Daniel to swap with other racers.

It will also be selling the badges to help raise funds to cover travel expenses.

About 350 competitors are expected to take part in the race.

Other members of the Bruce McLaren team were Chayse James (second), Sahrenah Mullin (fourth), Lily Fityus, Stephanie Reynolds, Kyle Crummer, Maiwand Saeedi and Nathan Tauelima.