Bruce McLaren

This week for reading we are learning about Bruce McLaren. He is a racing car driver. Bruce was born in Auckland in 1937. He lived till he was 32. When Bruce was nine years old he got Perthes Disease. He got taken to Wilson Home for Crippled Children. Perthes Disease left Bruce with a life time limp but he still raced cars. Bruce won lots of local races. In 1958 he got into the Grand Prix. Bruce didn't win but he did earn a scholarship that gave young New Zelanders a chance to drive racing cars in Europe. As part of the scholarship, he was invited to join the famous Cooper racing team in England. When Bruce got to his car company he was given a space to work and a car, but his car didn't work because it was in pieces. Bruce had to make his car. In 1959, Bruce entered the United
States Grand Prix at Sebring, Florida. On the final lap Bruce was in the lead but a french driver was catching him but Bruce still won. Bruce had won the Grand Prix. It was his first try as well. He was 22 years old, the youngest driver ever to win the Grand Prix. It took 44 years for anyone to beat his time. On the 2nd of June 1970 Bruce was practising his driving and he lost control and crashed. He was instantly killed at the age 32.
This is a quote that Bruce said “It would be a waste of life to do nothing with one’s ability, for I feel that life is measured in achievement, not in years alone.” This quote means that Bruce had lots of achievements and you don't have to live long if you want to achieve something.
I learnt lots of stuff about Bruce. Like when he was born, when he died, how he was the youngest driver to win the Grand Prix.