12-4-52 19-4-52 MANY WATCH CAR RACING AT HORORATA A crowd of more than 2500 had gatnered at the Hororata Racecourse beiore lunch to-day to see сатracing meeting organised by the Motor Racing Club in aid of the Hororata War Memorial Fund. They were treated to some exciting driving on the one-mile grass track. About twelve or fifteen drivers practised for about half an hour, and then a series of scratch races was run to decide handicaps for the main events during the afternoon. Fastest time of the morning was made by Jack Brewer, driving Hec Green's car, an R.A. Vanguard. He completed one lap at 69 miles an hour and appeared to have considerable speed still in hand. The grass circuit required a different technique to that on a sealed surface, and some drivers found themselves difficulty on the fairly sharp bends. The speedway star, Les Moore, brought the crowd to their feet when he spun his Kieft on the bend before the start-finish straight. - He narrowly missed the safety fence before bringing the car to a stop. Results (all races of three miles, and all drivers from Christchurch unless otherwise stated):- Race 1—D. Drewery (Singer special) 1; K. Roper (Morgan), Nelson, 2; B Sparrow (T.D. M.G.), 3. Time3min 15sec. Race 2-J. Brewer (R.A. Vanguard), 1; B. Council (R.A. Fiat). 2; W. Darrell (A.C.E. special), Time--2min 54sec. Race 3P. Hoare (R.A. Vauxhall), I; H. McDonald (Riley Cheviot), 2: K. Ransley (diorris special), 3. Time-3min 2sec. MOTOR RACING ON GRASS TRACK HAS SUCCESSFUL DEBUT Ut sport enthusiasts were treated to something new: L when the Mofor Racing Club conducted a series of shor handicap races on the Hororata racecourse last Saturday. The War meeting, semonial Fund, vas conducted in aid of the Hororata was in the nature of an experiment, but if the club had any doubts as to how the public would receive car racing on a horse racing track, its fears raust have been dispelled after the first race. A crowd of about 4500 révelled in the racing, and it would pe no exaggeration to say that in Canterbury mofor-racing had never been better received before. The grass surface required rather spectacular, but he worzed his way a . different technique than the sur- through some tough fields with ease laces most drivers are accustomed. was probably for that to register two wins and take sevreason that some drivers who have eral places. The Morgan, which ran to, and it not been conspicuously successful carrying full equipment and with in the past had a day out at Horo-out any special preparation, ap rata. for the most Peared to have much more power Handicapping was, than either of the TD M.G.'S of Bert part, excellent, and there were some Sparrow and Gordon Wheeler. exciting anisnes. Speeds were bigh From the point of view of spec Jack Brewer driving the R.A. . Vanguard lapped the mile course at 71.2 lator appeal, car racing on a horse racing track has much to commend miles an nour-a phenomenal speed short it. Ine racecourse, according to taking into account the reports, suffered no damage, and straights and the tricky bends. there is no doubt that car clubs will Brewer had quite a day out with be turning to racing clubs to run the R.A. Vanguard while his part- levents in the future. ner, Hec Green, viewed proceedings from the sideline Making up big handicaps. Brewer drove quickly and steadily and showed himself tol be one of the better drivers in competition to-day. (Rare and doubt that some drivers opportunity to snow nis paces. who have put in many more racing hours than he, could learn a lot from him. Natural Ability A comparative newcomer to rac ing, W. ("Bluey") Counsell, showed that he has natural ability when it comes to handling a fast car. Driving the t.A. Fiat in which Alec Ferguson finished sixth in the 100mile road racing championship on the Waimairi circuit, Counsell hurried along into a place in a number of races, and gave a good driving exhibition. It was interesting to see Heci Green's old Wolseley • Special. now owned by W. Darrell, and powered with a Vauxhali motor, painted light blue, and running as the "A.C.E Special," taking a fair share of the prize money. Darreli drove steadıiyi and the car gave of its best on thei grass surtace. Not Spectačular An interesting feature of the meeting was the speed of the new Plus 4 Morgan of the Nelson driver. Keith Roper. Roper was not at all 30-7-52 No Car Racing on Airstrips Parlamentary Reporte: As it has been shown that the use of airstrips at Wigram and Obakea for national racing car championships seriously interfered with essential training activities the sporting clubs concerned have been advised that the facilities will not be available in future. The Minister of Defence (the Hon I. I. Macdonald) gave this reply to a question in the House of Representatives to-day. 31-7-52 31-7-52 CAR RACING ON AIRSTRIPS Decision On Ban To Be Reviewed MINISTERIAL REPLIES TO QUESTIONS (New Zealana Press Association) WELLINGTON. July 30. After he had said in the House of Representatives to-day that airstrips Royal New Zealand AII Force stations would not be made available for racing car sports,, the Minister of Defence (VIr T. L. Macdonald) yielded to protests from both sides of the House and agreed to ask his service advisers give the matter further consideration. Mr Macdonald's statement that airstrips would not be available was made in reply to a question by Mr Hackett (Opposition. Grey Lynn). Mr Macdonald said it had been shown that the use of these airstrips interfered with essential training. Mr Hackett commented that . one day a year without airstrips would not have any great effect on training. Motor-car racing, he said had a tendency to increase road safet Hackett was supported by Mr W. B. Tennent (Government, Palmerston North), who, on behalf of the Manawatu and Canterbury car clubs, pleaded for the continued use of airstrips for racing. The clubs had done a fine job in educating motorists and reducing the road acciaent rate, said. If the clubs were denied the use of airstrips their existence would be threatened. Mr T. P. Shand (Government, Marlborough) and Mr J. K. Mc- Alpine (Government. Selwyn) also urged the Minister to reconsider his decision. Both argued that the advantages to be gained by encouraging young people to visit the stations would outweigh the loss caused by training deláys. Mr Macdonald said he would ask service advisers give the matter consideration. He i admitten further he said, that he had not been perfectly familiar with the work motor-car clubs. Anything that could be done to improve the standard of driving deserved consideration. Mr Macdocald said he had been guided in his decision by the opinion of those who required the aerodromes for air training. It had not been intended to impose the ban till after the running of two races next year. Increased training activity by the end of next year would mean that the use of airstrips would be required practically every week-end. However. he would ask service authorities to give further consideration to permitting races on the airstrips at Ohakea Wigram. The Ardmore station, where the airstrips were bitumen, not concrete, created a special problem. Maintenance of the strips was expensive. In Parliament Car Racing On 'Dromes Possibility Parliamentary Reporter IMPRESSED by strong representa- tions made from members both sides of the House of Repre sentatives, the Minister in Charge of Civil Aviation (the Hon T. L. Macdonald) promised yesterday afternoon that he would ask the Royal New Zealand Air Force to have another look at the possibility of airstrips at Wigram and Ohakea being made available for car racing car: championships. Earlier, in a written reply to a question by Mr F. Hackett (Labour, Grey Lynn), Mr Macdonald stated that as it had been shown the use of airstrips for this purpose was interfering with essential training activities, sports bodies concerned had been advised that the facilities would not be available in' suwleramanterbury Wigram had been made available to the Canterbury Club in 1949 because there were complaints from ! the police and the Transport Depart. ment concerning the dangers of racing on roads in Waimairi County, i said Mr Hackett. Early in 1949 Mr Holland, then Teamembers Of Oss tion, and other members party, asked the late Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) and Mr Hackett himself as Minister of Transport, to find some alternative place for the club to race. On some occasions the Canterbury Club had held road races, but there were so many attendant difficulties he doubted whether the club would! be able to carry on if the ban on airstrips was retained, said Mr W. B. Tennent (Government, Palmerston North). Safety measures were adopted by: the clubs, said Mr J. E. McAlpine (Government, Selwyn). Most safety improvements on cars evolved from car racing. About 30,000 attended the car racing car at Wigram, and enabled the club to carry on its good work. Anything that could be done to improve the standard of driving on the roads should be studies been Minister agreed. It had not intended to forbid the use of airstrips immediately, but only, after two major fixtures were held next year.