MY COLLECTION OF ARTICLES ON MOTOR RACING, AIRFORCE AND PEOPLE

23 Sep

Oscar, The Baron of Maungaraki

In about 1993, Oscar was born into this world as...

Share on:

17 Nov

Merv – My exciting holiday at Ohakea 1987

Gidday. My name is Merv. I’m a Gnome. I was...

Share on:

Feature Bristol Freighter NZ5906 Enroute Tengah To Kuantan

09 Nov

Close Formation Bristol Freighter NZ5906

Here are a few photos taken in 1973 that you...

Share on:

About Jim

Jim Barclay is a former RNZAF pilot who flew a number of jet fighter aircraft including the Vampire, Strikemaster and Skyhawk, as well as the F4 Phantom with the USAF. In his service career, he held responsibility in a variety of positions including Commanding Officer of Number 14 and 75 Squadrons at Ohakea, Base Commander at RNZAF Base Auckland and Air and Naval Attaché in the NZ Embassy, Washington DC. He also served as Project Manager for the purchase of the Aer Macchi 339 jet trainer aircraft, and attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London. After 36 years of service Jim retired in 2001 in the rank of Air Commodore. He was awarded the Air Force Cross for outstanding leadership in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 1986.

Jim spent a little over five years from 2002 until 2008 as CEO of the Child Cancer Foundation of New Zealand. Under his vision and leadership the profile and brand of the Foundation was raised to be the number one children’s charity in New Zealand (Colmar Brunton 2007).

An avid motor sport enthusiast, Jim attended his first race meetings at Levin in 1956 and he has followed the sport nationally and internationally since then. For nearly 30 years until 2024 he owned and raced a 1961 Historic single-seat racing car.