22-1 Speeding ban led of Wigram race to use circuit Had it not Memorial Trophy been for some concerned Waimairi residen race may have neve When the race was first introduced in 1949 the organisers (the Canterbury Car Club) had planned the race lo be run through the streels of the Waimairi disfrict. Several montlis before the event the Canterbury Car Cub approached the Waimair County Council and the Christchurch Transport Board and gained their approval. With one week to go before the start of the race, a few worried residents who thought that the crowds watching the race would damage leir properties complained to the Ministry of Transport. The result was advice that any driver exceeding the speed limit would be apprehended. The organisers went lo the Wigram airfield, but they could not get permission to use the runway. In 1949 the Returned or been run at the W Services Association was a fairly strong political organisation and it just so happened that the associa-f lion would profit from the running of the race. A deputation from the Canterbury Car Club and the Papanui RSA travelled north and reccived a sympathetic hearing from the Prime Minister (Mr l'eler Fraser), who granted them permission 1o Wigram aerodrome. The car club had under 10 days lo organise the race. A circuit of just over two miles, fashioned from runways and connecting roads, was the first real course to be used for motor racing in New Zealand Five hundred bales of hay were placed on some the more hazardous bends as a safely measure So it was on a fine late February summer day that 22 cars lined up lor the first ever New Zealand road racing championships. Wellington's Morrie • Proctor louk the chequered flag in a time of 1 hour 35 manules for the 105 mile lace before a crowd uf 25,000 spectators, Fortunately, there were no serious accidents. The only incident occurred when a car failed to take a bend, hit the bay bales, rolled a few times landed upside down in a ditch. The driver escaped with only a fut thumb. In 1951 there were major upheavals in the Canterbury Car Club. Several members wanted lo drop the running of the race and a motion was passed to that effect. Because a lot of bard work had gone into organisation in the past a feu members formed Motor Racing Club and look over the running of i the race. Lady Wigram married Sir Henry Wigram in 1885. He was a prominent local ! businessman and Mayor of! Christchurch in 1902. Lady Wigram was member of the Red Cross ts, the Lady Wigram ligram derodrome. for 40 years and she took on many lasks at home during World War 2. The Wigrams owned one of the first cars in Canterbury and Lady Wigram was one of the first woman drivers in the province. As well as cars, the Wigramns had a deep intereil in flying. It was Sir Henry who set up the Canterbury Aviation Company to train young pilots. Lady Wigram presented the trophy • for the first time in 1956, one year before she died at the ripe old age of 96.