Born into a small, loving but fiercely competitive family motor racing was not initially in Heather’s blood although it was a sport of interest to her father (Alan) & older brother (Steven). Both were enthusiast’s working as flag marshall’s in England during arguably the greatest era of motorsport, the mid 60’s.
Heather and her younger brother Ian, would have to wait until the family emigrated to New Zealand before they got their first taste of motor racing when the family were spectators at the New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe, Auckland in 1972. Little did they know at that time that Heather would finish 6th in the same race 20 years later…
Heather’s competitive nature initially emerged in athletic’s & cross country running. She proved to be an accomplished long distance runner earning accolades in a number of high profile events and earning a place in the New Zealand Junior Team training squad. At times her training partners included such names as John Walker (former 1,500m world record holder) & renowned coach Arthur Lydiard. Alas it was not meant to be and a serious knee injury curtailed her running career.
Turning her attention to other sports Heather was soon competing at regional & National level in Indoor Basketball and Womens Soccer before more knee problems saw her change her focus and follow in her father & older brother’s footsteps into flag marshalling. It wasn’t long before she realised the ‘other side of the fence’ looked more exciting and she started preparing her Mini Clubman GT to go racing. A Lotus Seven sports car followed before advice from a close family friend, former New Zealand Formula Ford Champion Mike Finch, pointed out that if an incident happened on track she would not have transport to get to & from work. His advice “Get a real race car…”.
She located & purchased an old Formula Vee race car, bought a brand new chassis and proceeded to build her new Formula Vee learning such skills as welding, folding & forming aluminium (bodywork), spray painting and most importantly building & tuning her race engines & gearboxes.
An Elden Mk 8 Formula Ford soon followed widening her range of race car preparation, knowledge & skills and it was in this car that younger brother Ian, after a successful foray in karting, made his motor racing debut taking pole position and his first ever race car win on his 15th birthday, the entry & meeting costs being a birthday present from his big sister !
Both have gone on to claim numerous podiums, race wins, championships and World records and they take pride in being the first ever brother sister team in the world to fill the front row of a starting grid by qualifying 1st & 2nd for a national class race.
Heather’s father & mother (Molly) have always encouraged their children to ‘reach for the stars & never give up’ and both nervously followed Heather’s & Ian’s careers through the high’s & low’s of their chosen sports. This, along with eldest son, Steven’s, career in the New Zealand Air Force where he successfully represented his country in numerous international military events & competitions has been a great source of pride & has certainly provided many diverse & interesting discussions around the family dinner table.
One of Heather’s niece’s (Nicole) has also competed in both car & truck racing before motherhood & a new business venture (Truck Collision Repairs) with husband (Terry) took precedence but Nicole has every intention of returning to the drivers seat ‘one day soon…’
Motor racing is without doubt in the Spurle blood lines though and with many nieces, nephew’s and even great nieces on both sides of the Tasman (New Zealand & Australia) approaching karting age – watch this space…
Heather Spurle 