Vandalism Targets Graves of Racing Legend Bruce McLaren and Wife Patricia
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A series of intentional and escalating acts of vandalism have once again damaged the graves of Bruce McLaren, the iconic New Zealand racing driver, and his wife, Patricia McLaren, at Auckland’s Waikumete Cemetery.The ongoing attacks, described by a volunteer restorer as “calculated,” have left authorities and preservationists dismayed and seeking answers.
The damage,first reported in September,extends beyond simple defacement,impacting the final resting place of McLaren – who tragically died in a testing crash at age 32 in 1970 – alongside his wife,who passed away in 2016,and other family members.
Repeated Attacks Frustrate Restoration Efforts
George Stewart-Dalzell from Grave Guardians, a volunteer organization dedicated to cemetery preservation, discovered the latest damage last Saturday. “The McLaren cluster of headstones seems to be a magnet. It’s like Groundhog Day,” she told 1News. Protective polyethene bags placed over the stones during restoration were ripped open, and bleach had been sprayed across the granite surfaces, causing notable deterioration.
“The bleach has eaten through paint and pitted the granite,” Stewart-Dalzell explained. She detailed a especially arduous cleanup effort, stating, “There was sticky, nasty stuff all over Bruce and Patricia’s headstone, it took us four hours to get off. I’ve got no clue what it was, and trying to not use chemicals to get it off was very time-consuming.”
From Paint to Epoxy: A Pattern of Deliberate Damage
The vandalism has evolved in its nature, initially involving gold paint splattered across headstones and attempts to affix toy cars to Bruce and Patricia McLaren’s graves using epoxy. Stewart-Dalzell, who specializes in gentle, non-chemical restoration techniques, noted the repeated setbacks are hindering her progress.
“We have repeatedly arrived to continue work to find the wrapping lifted off and further attempts made on the stones. This hampers efforts to finish the work as we spend an hour or two having to fix the mess that undoes everything we had done,” she said. While initially considering the possibility of misguided cleaning attempts, Stewart-Dalzell now believes the damage is intentionally malicious. “The more it’s happened,the more it feels very calculated and deliberate,” she stated. “Whether they think they have the right to finish what they started, I don’t know. But it’s getting ridiculous.It needs to stop.”
Financial Impact and Lost Restoration Work
The ongoing vandalism is not only emotionally distressing but also financially burdensome. Stewart-Dalzell had planned to re-apply 23-karat gold leaf to some of the McLaren headstones, a project valued at approximately $1000. However, the bleach damage now jeopardizes this delicate restoration work. “If someone sprays bleach over 23-karat gold,it’s knackered,” she lamented.
Police confirmed they received reports of damage to several headstones on November 5 and stated that inquiries are ongoing. Stewart-Dalzell has also received details from multiple witnesses who reported observing individuals “messing around with the headstones.”
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