16-2-52 LOCAL DRIVERS HAVE DONE WELL IN WIGRAM CAR RACES Orts stare of the prize money has gone drivers since the inception of the Wigram car race in 1919. Although in that year the winner was the happy-golucky Wellington driver, Morrie Procter, who, in the face of strong opposition, brought home his Brooklands Riley in 1hr 35min 56sec; second, third, and fourth places went to Frank Bennett (Invicta). Don Ransley (Riley), and Hee Green (Wolseley Special). In 1950 and 1951 Christchurch drivers won the race-Hec Green, again with his Wolseley, in 1950, and speedway star Les Moore with his Grand Prix Alfa Romeo last year. Race speeds have not gone up a great deal since 1919. Proctor averaged about 65 miles an hour, and last year Moore averaged about 68 miles an hour—a speed just fraction-| ally different from that of Green in 1950. However last year the weather kept speeds down considerably. Drivers were hampered by blinding rain. which inade the corners like an ice rink. Had it been a dry day there is little doubt that Moore would have averaged about the 75 miles an hour mark. High Speeds 'Chancy' motor racing is just about eve" chance" as horse racing and often the man with the fastest car finishes out of the money-if he finishes at all. There are some driv cars. ers running next week with which, although hardly capable of 100 miles an hour, have a good show of being in at there is Des Wild instance there with his RA. III, which, in the hands of David Owen, came home fifth Harold Bandy with the R.A. II in 195 is another, while Pat Hoare's new H.R.G. must be conceded more than a runner's chance on grounds of reliability. Don Ransley should be up with this bunch also in Les Moore's other car-thei 2.3 IItre Alfa Romeo tourer, as also! Should be John McMillan who took fourth place with his McMillan If next Saturday is fine and dry ¡Special last year. • there is little doubt that lap speeds will probably go above the 75 miles The results of the three races an hour mark when the Lady Wig- held so far not only show how ram Trophy is run at Wigram. The Christchurch drivers have played Motor Racing Club has organised the a large part in filling the major in two twenty-five mile heats placings but also illustrate that and a fifty-mile fnal instead of the many of the place-getters have one hundred-mile plus that it has had cars which by no stretch of been in the past. the imagination could be called Under the new conditions drivers the fastest ones in the race. will not be tempted to hold so much To illustrate the point here are in reserve, and each heat and the the results of the three races held at final will be a real race from the Wigram to date: drop of the flag. 1949. Moore's Alfa Romeo was cap- Wellington (Riley), 1hr able of 160 miles an hour in its i. Prinsee 35min 1 hey-day and today it should be F. B. Bennett, Christchurch (Invicta) able to get within 10 miles an Ihr 36min 22sec 2 hour of that speed. Just how C. A. C. Ransley, Christchurch (Riley) 3 quickly Green's B.A. Vanguard Ihr 36min 34sec .. .. • • H. Green, Christchurch (Wolseley will go, no one seems to know, Special), Ihr 37min 4sec bat an estimate of 135 miles az hour would not be far off the 1950 mark. H. Green. Christchurch (Wolseley Special), 1hr 30min 57sec I Ronnie Moore's Kieft, Jack Tut- Mrs A. Lupp. Dunedin (IC M.G.), ton's Jaguar, George Smith's Gee Cee 1hr 32min 43sec . 2 Ess Special, the Coopers of Hec Me- I. R. Logan, Nelson (Logan Special), Lean and A. Stafford, the V8 Special Ihr 40min 03sec of Frank D. Owen, Christchurch (R.A. II), 1hr Shuter, and Mrs Sybili 42min 26sec 4 Lupp's supercharged TD M.G. should all be capable of at least slightly 1951 more than 100 miles an hour. L. Moore, Christchurch (Alfa Romeo), 1hr 27min 41sec •.. 1 I R. Auckland (XK 120 Royrol ins 3lmin I1sec Jaguar) 2 F. Shuter, Christchurch (V8 Special) 1hr 32min 15sec 3 J. McMillan, Wellington (McMillan Special) Hec Green • a first and a fourth. Sulman to Drive - In Race Australian racing driver Tom Sulman will be a definite starter in the Lady Wigram Trophy race, te be held at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station, Wigram, next Saturday. He arrived in Welling ton from Sydney this week, having completed repairs Italian 4c Maserati, which he crashed at Parramatta, New Sout Wales, a few weeks ago. Work was finished the Tasman crossing. This year Sulman will be the only Australian competing at Wig. ram. In the two previous seasons the Australian contingent has not fared well. Gary Coglan could do no better than third in the handicap section_ of the 1950 race, and last year John Nind, Ken Tut man, and • Salman were never in the picture. During his visit last year, Sulman took the New Zealand championship hill-climb record on the Governors Bay-Sign of the Kiwi course in 1min 49.5sec. It was a fine effort, but in less than a month Les Moore in his Grand Prix Alfa Romeo brought the figure down to 1min 48.71sec. 18-2 - 52 SATURDAY NEXT at WIGRAM! Он. * LADY WIGRAM TROPHY RACE * HANDICAP RACE FOR SPORTS AND SALOON CARS - Programme - @ 10.30 o.m. OFFICIAL PRACTICE Luncheon Break • 12.30 p.m. Ist Hear TROPHY RACE • 1.20 p.m. Znd Heat TROPHY RACE • 2.10 p.m. HANDICAP RACE Saloon Sports Cars • 3.15 p.m. FINAL OF TROPHY RACE Bring Your Family! Bring Your Friends! HOT WATER AND LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE. Admission to Airfield: Adults 3/% Children 1/6; Car Park 1/.. Presented by Motor Racing Club (Ine.)