Off The Wall – Miedecke’s March 76B Formula Pacific Car 

Andrew Miedecke has removed his March 76B Ford BDA from his Port Macquarie dealership wall, restored it and will contest the Taupo Historic Grand Prix in January 2025.

Chancing his hand in England, he responded to an ad in Motoring News and bought the largely complete March 763/14 F3 car in bits in early 1977, then assembled it with Bruce Cary and contested two British F3 Championship events in June. Other Aussies running in F3 that year were Geoff Brabham, Paul Bernasconi and Chris Farrell.

‘With no money and Formula Atlantic on the rise, I did a deal with Rothmans,’ removing the Toyota 2TG Novamotor F3 motor and bolting in the Ford BDA engine mandated for the class. 

Success was immediate with the Miedecke March taking third in the November 1977 Macau Grand Prix behind the Chevrons of F1 Ace Ricardo Patrese, and Kiwi, Steve Millen. 

Andrew Miedecke aboard the March 76B Ford for a brief shakedown at Calder Park. Image Mike Borland-Spectrum Cars

Then it was off to New Zealand to contest their ’78 international championship won by Keke Rosberg. In fields that included GP drivers Larry Perkins, Bobby Rahal and Danny Sullivan.

Andrew bagged a pair of fourths at Baypark and Teretonga and was eighth overall.

He failed to finish at Macau in ’78, then broke both legs in a bad crash aboard the Galloway HG1 Ford BDA during practice for the ’79 New Zealand GP at Pukekohe. Miedecke then bounced back to take a fantastic win in the Selangor Grand Prix at Shah Alam that September aboard the March from Ken Smith and Albert Poon.

Andrew Miedecke’s March 76B underwent a complete rebuild under the guidance of Mike Borland at Spectrum Cars – Image Mike Borland Spectrum Cars.

In May 1981 CAMS finally announced – after lots of argy-bargy from both sides –  that Formula Pacific would replace F5000 as Australia’s Gold Star/AGP category. 

Bruce Allison, John Bowe and Andrew Miedecke quickly placed orders for new ground-effect Ralt RT4s, ‘which made the March largely unsaleable.’

“It was put into storage at the dealership and eventually we tided it up and mounted it on the dealership wall where it created a lot of attention!

“Mal Oastler – ex-Reynard designer and current hillclimb/historic racer – is a mate. He’s been racing the ex-John Smith Ralt RT1 Pacific and suggested that I restore the March to have a run in historics.

“Mike Borland (Spectrum Cars) did the chassis and Jamie Larner did the engine. They did a fantastic job.” Confirmed Miedecke.

The Ford DOHC engine fitted to the Andrew Miedecke March 76B underwent a full freshen up at Larner Engines – Image Mike Borland Spectrum Cars

The Taupo event will have a grid of about 25 Ralts, Swifts, Reynard, March and Chevrons with ‘Mad Andy’ Miedecke – the title was bequeathed to him by Steve Millen – sure to give his fellow competitors a run for their money on his return to Formula Pacific competition in New Zealand.