A new era, new beginnings.
After more than half a century as a cornerstone of Ranfurly, McLaren Machinery Ltd closed its Mitchell St doors on July 12.
"For over 50 years we have been an integral part of the business community and it has been such a vital part of our lives,'' its owners said in the community newsletter Positively Maniototo!
Six months earlier, its sister company McLaren Transport Ltd had been sold to the Richardson Group. The prospect of McLaren's closing for good jolted the local business community.
"I did my apprenticeship at McLaren's for five years before I bought this business up the road,'' Auto Super Shoppe Ranfurly owner Richard Smith said.
"Pretty sad demise, really, of what was a significant company in Ranfurly.''
But the McLaren story continued after the site was purchased about two months ago.
Soon after the company called it quits, talks began behind the scenes as McLaren director Paul Stumbles approached Maniototo councillor, farmer and businessman Stu Duncan.
"They came and offered it to me, as the family wanted out of the business,'' Mr Duncan said.
He then assembled an investment group and found a lessee for the business.
"The business side of it is good.
"They [Stumbles family] were keen for that to happen so it stayed as the status quo.''
"We found a good young guy ... an aircraft engineer and he employs all the staff.''
It enabled the handful of staff members to remain employed and two further workers had been added to the roster.
"These guys are busy.''
McLaren was originally owned by Denis Stumbles, including both the machinery and transport arms, alongside the former Case IH sites, which would later be sold to Agricentre.
The machinery and transport firms splintered off about five years ago, Mr Duncan said.
McLaren's Machinery includes a mechanic, warrant of fitness certifications and occupies an engineering bay.
Letting go of a family business, one which had served the community for five decades, was inevitably an affecting thing for the family, Mr Duncan said.
"It was a pretty emotional time for them.''
Although there was another automotive service provider in the town, McLaren's retained a substantial following.
Development of the retail area was also in the pipeline, having been an important component for farmers in the area, Mr Duncan said.
"This is the part [retail area] which was important to a lot of the farmers.
"Having o-rings, nuts, bolts, tines, filters - all the stuff they needed at the drop of a hat.''
"It left people wondering where do we go for the range of tyres and spare tractor tyres.
"People got a bit tetchy about it.''
Even though Mr Stumbles had handed over the McLaren reins, the family legacy prevails.
The newly-formed group which purchased the site, J D Pat Investments, is named after a racehorse Denis Stumbles trained over the years.
Mr Duncan described Denis Stumbles as a stalwart of the Maniototo community.
"He is a magnificent community person. He and his family are very community orientated.''
"He was very happy that we named it after his racehorse - just to add a touch to it.''
"The town needs it [McLaren's].''
