McLaren From The Inside - Photographs By Tyler Alexander

Author: Tyler Alexander, ISBN: 9781935007180

Motor racing and photography have been twin passions for Tyler Alexander for more than half a century. In the book McLaren from the Inside, the two pursuits come together with spectacular results, as Alexander shares some of his best images from his years with the McLaren racing team.

Alexander began taking pictures as a teenager in Massachusetts, where he was also learning about cars and racing from friends competing in Formula Jr. events. After studying aircraft engineering in college, Alexander eventually found work as a mechanic with the Mecom racing team, which brought him to England for the first time in 1963. There he met a young driver from New Zealand who had won three grands prix for Cooper in Formula One. Along with his record at the track, Bruce McLaren's engineering background and quiet charisma made a lasting impression. When the Mecom team returned to the United States, Alexander decided to stay in England and join McLaren, helping him build the first cars to be raced under his own name.

What followed is motorsports history—much of it captured and preserved through Alexander's remarkable photographs. As a key member of the small McLaren team, Tyler was able to document the effort that went into developing cars, as well as
their performance at the track. Many of his most striking images reveal the exhaustive testing and preparation that became a McLaren hallmark. Bruce McLaren is seen rebuilding engines, driving cars with no bodywork, and smiling sheepishly after an off-track excursion at Goodwood. Alexander also goes inside the old McLaren factory to show engineers and mechanics at work on the amazing range of cars built for the team and its many customers.

And at the track, his focus widens to include the drivers and teams that McLaren competed against in Formula One, the Can-Am series, and Indy Car racing.

After leaving McLaren in the early 198os, in 1990 Tyler Alexander rejoined the new and very successful version of the team led by Ron Dennis. Although his cameras remained at home for the next few years, by the turn of the 21 s t century he was again documenting McLaren from the inside. His newer photographs show how time, technology, and money have changed motor racing, but also the teamwork, commitment, and camaraderie that continue to inspire him.

About The Author

Tyler Alexander has spent more than half a century working with some of the greatest names in motor racing. Born in Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1940, Alexander became interested in cars and photography during his teens. After studying aircraft engineering and working for the Rev-Em and Mecom racing teams, in 1964 Alexander became a founding member in Bruce McLaren Motor Racing as a mechanic. He soon became an essential element in the team's success, and was eventually named chief engineer
and a team director. He went on to lead McLaren's Indy Car program, which produced victories at the Indianapolis 500 in 1974 and 1976.

Alexander left McLaren in 1982, and soon joined another founding member, Teddy Mayer, at his new Mayer Motor Racing Indy Car team. This led to the launch of Carl Haas's Formula One Race Car Engineering (FORCE) team, which Alexander helped manage before returning to Indy cars with Newman/Haas Racing in 1987.

In 1990 Alexander rejoined McLaren International as Special Projects Manager, serving in a variety of roles until his retirement in 2009. That year he received the first McLaren Fellowship, which recognizes individuals who have made notable contributions to the team.

Alexander's photographs have appeared in exhibits and other books. His autobiography is planned for release in 2013.