Racing driver Trevor McLean suffered a double blow yesterday, when he lost his Takanini workshop of 20 years in a fierce blaze which also damaged his prized group A Commodore V8 car.
Last night he was hoping that the car would be repaired and ready for action again torace next month in the six-hour saloon race at Pukekohe. The fire broke windows and the vehicle was left sodden with water.
Mr McLean won the race last year.
He was also hoping to quickly replace his specialist tools lost in the fire and continue his business, Papakura Automatic Transmission Specialists, from a nearby building "in a week or two."
Neither Mr McLean, aged 49, nor his workmate was harmed in the fire.
The blaze spread quickly after solvent ignited on a workbench.
A dozen fire engines were sent to the blaze in Great South Rd at 2pm.
South Auckland chief fire officer Larry Cocker said they had to prevent the fire from spreading to a next-door shop.
Firefighters also removed damaged cylinders as a precaution against leaking gas.
