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Second N.Z. road racing title is to be decided soon

Three weeks before the second NZ road racing championship at Wigram there will be three events: the 105-mile championship, a high-speed one-hour reliability test for standard post-war saloons with a Le Mans-style diagonal start, and a ten-lap Vintage Car Club race for vintage sports and racing cars. Fifteen probable entries include Australians P. J. R. Steele's 2.3 litre monoposto Alfa Romeo and Gary Coglan's supercharged TC MG, defending winner Maurie Proctor's Brooklands Riley, Roycroft's Austin 7, Green's three-car team with Pat Hoare and Des Wild, Don Ransley's rebuilt Riley, Halsey Logan's Logan Special and the Jackson built in Miramar.

Facts

  • The 1950 Wigram meeting had three events: the NZ road race championship, a one-hour reliability test for post-war saloons, and a vintage car race.
  • No American car was entered in the 1950 high-speed reliability test for stock saloons; classes were based on horsepower.
  • The vintage race field included two 3-litre Bentleys, several 4.5-litre Bentleys, three Sunbeams and a 30/98 Vauxhall.

Photos

  • Hec Green (left) and Des Wild, standing behind Wild's 1100cc Fiat special, will drive in the New Zealand road racing championship at Wigram. Together with Pat Hoare they will race as a three-car team.
  • The Butcher Cup, presented by the Automobile Association (Auckland), is the trophy for which motorists will compete in the 100-mile national road racing championship at Wigram on February 25. With the trophy are the president of the Canterbury Car Club (Mr H. D. Christie) and the convener of the race (Mr H. Bandy).
Read the OCR text
4-2-50 4-2-50 9-2-50 Second N.Z. Road Racing Be De Title cided is to Soon THREE wee champior Altogether the championship standard post- eks hence, the second aship will be held at ere will be three sel itself, a high-speed -war saloon cars, anc vintage sports and racing cars. The major ereut, ton last yea his reteran Brooklands 1098 e.c.. national road racing Wigram aerodrome. parate events - the reliability test for a ten-lap race for ar by M. Proctor in Riler, in which he averaged more than 6o miles has attracted a smaller but is likelt to provide more th S° tar there are fiteen probable / entries, two of which come from Australia, P. J.• R. Steele (Victoria) bringing a 2.3 litre monoposto Alfa Romeo, which is capable of speeds in excess of 130 miles an hour, and Gary Coglan (Sydney), who is entering his supercharged T.C. M.G., reputedls the fastest car of its type in the world. At the moment, there is some doubt as to whether Steele will be driving the Alfa Romeo himsell. The car may be handled by a New Zealander. Maurie Proctor. _ last year's winner, will again be driving his Brooklands Riley, and it is probable that this year the car will be running with another engine of the same capacity, but of greater power output. Another northern entry is that of R. J. Roycroft. who will be remembered from last year for the phenomena. periormance of the little supercharged Austin 7. and the brilliant way he handled it. Roycroft, who was dogged by bad luck in that event, has been able to rectify the ping trouble and shouid be well to the fore again this vear. Christchurch interest will centre on the three cars prepared under the supervision of Hee Green, who gained fourth place in his Wolseley Special last year. Green will be driving the Wolseley, which has been considerably modified, as a member of a three-car team, the other two being Pat Hoare • (Nanthall Special and Des Will (Fiat Special). Mis Sybil Lupp will again be the only woman competitor in the race. and should be able to keep well up with the rest of the field in her supercharged T.C. M.G. Another entry of particular interest will i be the Jackson built 's an hour for the 105 miles, higher class this rear, and brilling racing. by Albert Jackson, Ltd, Miramar, under the supervision of John Mcifillan, the designer and driver. This car has a 1939 Mercury power unit, which will develop more than 100 brake horsepower, fitted in a light tubular chassis, and should be capable of more than 100 miles an hour. The Jackson is the prototype a New Zealand-manufactured sports car, and its performance will be watched with some interest. Don Ransler, who came third last year in his Riley, has rebuilt the car and must be conceded more than a fair chance. as also must Halsey Logan. of Neison. who will again be driving his Logan Special in which he is now installing a supercharger. The public will be particularly interested in the highspeed reliability test for postwar stock saloon models. the •second time such an event has been held in the Dominion. A notable feature of this event is the fact that no American car has been entered. although most English firms will be represented. The test will be of one hour duration and is divided into classes based upon horsepower, the car covering the greatest distance in each class being the winner. BOTH THESE MEN, Hee Green (left) and Des Wild, shown standing behind Wild's 1100c.c. Fiat special, will be driving in the New Zealand road racing championship at Wigram. Together with Pat Hoare, they will race as a three-car team. Diagonal Start FOR this event. th is to be start are liner up diago side of the track anci door's ciosed. stand on the oppo track. At the starti sprint across the t ne Le Mans style used. The cars onally along the with engines off and the drivers Site side of the ng signal drivers rack. enter their ans of the self- starter. and awar. The other race is that run by the Vintage Car Club for vintage sports and racing cars. The term " vintage"! covers all cars more than twenty years old. and the majority of the entrants are of the make that upheld British road racing prestige in the decade after the First World War. The Tourist Trophy Sunbeam, driven by Roy Cowan, was developed at a cost of over £100,000 by the Sunbeans Company in the 1920's. Other entries include two 3-litre Bentleys, and seTeral 4o-litre Bentleyscars which made a name for Britain during the same period with their wins in the classic Le Mans twenty-four-hour race, There wit also be tito other: Sunbeams and a 30/98 Vauxhall in this erent. The general standard of the vintage field indicates that the performance of these cars will compare more than favourably with that of their modern brothers in the highspeed reliability test. Conditions governing the entry of cars for all events are extremely rigid and clearly defined. Almost every regulation has been designed for the protection of the drivers and spectators. Rules governing the liness of contestants. the clothing they must wear. the preparation of the cars. as well as any work done on them during the races, leare nothing to chance. The national road race championwhich has been allocated by She Association of New Zealand Car Clubs, is being organised by the canterbury Car Club, the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station, Wigram, and the Papanui sub-branch of thei Returned Services' proceeds will get Asse bodies Tha the Air Force Service Institute Fund. TROPHY FOR CAR RACING THD BUTCHER CUP, presented by the Automobile Association (Auckland), is the trophy for which motorists will compete in the 100-mile national road racing championship, which will be held at Wigram on February 25. Shown here with the trophy are (left) the president of the Canterbury Car Club (Mr H. D. Christie) and the conrener of the race (Mr H. Bandy).

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