Meyer was there at team McLaren’s very first outing in Formula 1. After spending his first professional years running a Formula Junior team in the ‘60s, he joined Bruce McLaren in building an F1 team. He then took over the team boss position within the team following Bruce’s death in 1970 – at the Can-Am car at Goodwood – and kept it until the late years of that century.
He was then replaced by then-Formula-Two-team-boss Ron Dennis, as a result of primary sponsor Marlboro wanting to change team management. Despite staying with the team until 1982, he wasn’t part of the decision-making process anymore. He finally sold his shares to Dennis in the early 1980s and formed his own Champ Car team with former colleague at McLaren, Tyler Alexander, Mayer Motor Racing.
After 3 years in Champ Car, where he was very close to winning the series in 1984, he returned to Formula 1 as director of Beatrice Haas. The team closed after only one year, though, causing Mayer to make another return, this time in the North American motor racing world, as team consultant for Team Penske.
Speaking about the man who handed him a well-balanced and organized McLaren outfit, Ron Dennis said:
“In 1982 Teddy sold his shares in McLaren, and I'm glad to say we've continued to be successful, and to win world championships, ever since. But the origins of our many and ongoing successes are with Bruce and Teddy. So I would like to pay tribute to Teddy's enormously valuable contribution, and to his immortal legacy, and to extend the sympathies of all at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to his family and many friends at this very sad time,” said Dennis.
Mayer is survived by son Tim – chief operating officer in the American Le Mans Series and IMSA – and daughter Anne.
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