The financial pressure on the machinery company, caused by an economic downturn affecting the whole country, and sales tax issues, also saw the end of George’s plans to produce some chassis for sale. While their production would have improved the quality of F5000 competition in New Zealand, the cost would have become prohibitive.

The 018’s engine was rebuilt in time for the first race at Teretonga in October 1975 but a test run found that the engine was far from well, a bearing having failed. The day before the race the standby engine was fitted. In trying to match the pace of Ken Smith’s Lola T332 it was evident that the second motor was not going to give 018 much of a chance. Stripping the engine revealed serious trouble and the team was out of the race.

The following weekend, at Ruapuna, the team was able to run the car with the first engine rebuilt. While the car was qualified on the front row of the grid, a mid-race crash due to rain-induced poor visibility eliminated the car from that heat, and the second. Two meetings down for no points.

At Timaru the story was no better. Persistent leaks from the rear main bearing seal coated the brakes with oil. Three rounds and no points. The engine was found to have been incorrectly overhauled, and was rectified in time for the Pukekohe races.

Murdoch was in poor health but pressure of business forced George to hand over the running of the team to Jim for the round. The result however was a tonic. Two thirds in the two heats.

Jim Murdoch was chosen to partner Graeme Lawrence and Ken Smith in a trans-Tasman "test" team, against three Australian drivers.

George again missed the first round, at Levin, due to business pressures but some friends rallied to look after the car, letting Jim concentrate on his driving. After moving up to second the car spun inexplicably as it came onto the main straight, a problem traced to a broken mounting in the chassis. At Manfield the car seemed to have lost its handling edge and managed only two fifths.

The Australians won the series but at the Bay Park Gold Star race shortly after, the combined talents of the volunteers, who included mechanics who had worked with the best in Europe, was reaping rewards.

The car ran second behind Lawrence until a driveshaft twisted, and following a deliberately lacklustre showing in the last round at Pukekohe (unpopularly staged as a support race for the Grand Prix), the team finished a distant third in the Gold Star points. The depleted state of the team (engines, health, luck and more) weighed on George’s mind to the point of considering pulling out altogether. A fifth at the NZ Grand Prix did little to lift spirits.

A crash at the next round of the Peter Stuyvesant Series at Manfield eliminated the car from the starting grid though Murdoch was unhurt, thanks to 018’s strength.

The car was rebuilt in time for Wigram, Murdoch having been ordered to rest in the meantime. Despite being in poor shape Murdoch rallied for the Lady Wigram Trophy and, assisted a little by others’ misfortunes, took a second place in the depleted field. But for the team that had rebuilt the car, it was a victory.

The next round was the last for builder and driver, and it was staged where the whole story had begun with the Begg 650; Teretonga. A flat tyre put Murdoch a lap behind but the car, looking as good as its proud owner could make it, took the chequered flag in fifth place. The points were good enough for third in the series, a fitting reward for the team.

It was over. And, it had to be acknowledged, it was a relief after the strain of the last season.