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race report

Hec Green winner of fifty-mile beach racing title

Hec Green won the fifty-mile South Island beach-racing championship at South Brighton in his R.A. Vanguard in 58min 2sec over a mile circuit, his first distance-event victory with the car. Green led from the second lap except for a moment on lap 11 when Frank Shuter's V8 Special led; Sprague blew his motor trying to hold Green, Shuter retired with transmission trouble and McLean with gearbox trouble, so Jack Tutton's XK120 Jaguar took second. Of twelve starters only Rutherford and Darrell were also running at the end.

South Island beach racing championship (50 miles)

1H. Green (Christchurch)R.A. Vanguard58:02
2J. TuttonJaguar XK1201:01:52
3D. RutherfordWillys Special
4W. DarrellVauxhall Special
retiredF. ShuterV8 Special
retiredE. Sprague (Timaru)V8 Special
retiredH. McLeanCooper 1000

Scratch race 1 (four miles)

1H. O'NeillChevrolet-Fiat5:12
2F. SharmanV8 Special5:25
3W. SouthbyV8 Special5:30

Scratch race 2 (four miles)

1F. ShuterV8 Special4:39
2B. WilliamsCooper 10004:43
3J. JacobsenV8 Special5:56

Handicap race (six miles)

1D. W. K. McDonaldJaguar XK120
3J. JacobsonV8 Special

Facts

  • Hec Green's 58min 2sec win in the 1952 South Island beach championship at South Brighton was his first distance-event victory with the R.A. Vanguard.
  • A strong sea breeze blew spray over the cars during the 1952 South Brighton beach race; the meeting was sponsored by the Motor Racing Club.
Read the OCR text
20-12-52 Hec. Green Winner Fifty-Mil e Beach Racing Title DRIVING his R.A. Vanguard, first vietorr with the ear in he won the fftr-mile South championship in 58min 2see over Brighton this afternoon. Hee Green seored his a distance event when Island beach-racing a mile circuit at South Green led from the second lay to the end, except in the elever Christehurch driver, Frank Shut lead with his V8 Special. a and held this position ath lap when another er, took a momentary Steady. and consistent driving he was forced out with gear-box gainea ior Jack lutton second place trouble, leaving the positions then in his x.K.120 Jaguar in a race which Green, Shuter, Sprague, Tutton, and well Illustrated the luck in motor Rutherford. racing. Of the twelve starters, the Sprague, who was three laps only others running at the end were Duncan Rutherford (Willys Special), behind Green, but running in close company, attempted to who completed forty-two of the fifti and Wally Darrell (Vauxhall hold him and blew up his motor Special) who completed thirtyeight in the effort. These two place-getters had So with five laps left to go, Green laps kept going to finish the race, for they were far outclassed by only lead by two laps from Shuter, with two laps to Tutton, and Rutherford number of others who retired with and Darrell a long way back. various troubles in the late stages. seemed that nothing could alter these positions. Then Shuter retired with transmission trouble to let Tut- Jumped Into Lead ton into secona place. well behind, Rutherford and Darrell were flagged Shuter jumped into the lead from off in third and fourth places. the start and as they all came round the first time he was followed by which was sponsored by the motor. Green, J. Jacobson (V8 Special), L. racing club. Moore (Kieft), H. MeLean (Cooper Results: 1000), and H. O'Niell (Chevrolet-Fiat). South Island beach racing champion- Next time round, Green was ahead ship-1. Green (R.A. Yanguard), 58min of Shuter and McLean had moved Zsec, 1; J. Tutton (XK120 Jaguar), 61min up to be fourth in front of Moore. 52sec, 2; D. Rutherford (Willys Special), The first three placings did 38 laps, 12 laps, 3; W. Darrel! (Vauxhall Special), change, and by the sixth lap McLean waş third Scratch Races (four miles)-First race: H. O'Neill (Chevrolet-Fiat), 5min '12sec, With a fifth of the distance gone 1; F: Sharman (V8 Special), 5min 25sec, V. Blackburn (Cooper 500), Moore, 2; W. Southby (V8 Special), 5min 30sec, and O'Niell had retired. 3. Second race F. Shuter (T8 Special), 4min 39sec, 1: B. Williams (Cooper 1000), In the next lap, Shuter took 4min 43sec, 2: J. Jacobsen (V8 Special), the lead from Green, but Green $min 56sec, headed him again, and from that Handicap Race (six miles_D. W. K time on Shuter's car did not McDonald (K120 Jaguar), see 1: appear to be giving its best. Jacobson_ (V8 Special: 120secr 1sec, 3. Times 2: Brewer (RA Vanguard). The strong sea breeze was blow- -They all completed the distance in 9min ing spray over the cars and Shuter 8sec. was troubled by the water blowing on to his engine. Forced Out Tuti had movedy-second be fourt had moved up to be behind Green. McLean, and Shuter. Tutton lost his place to E. Sprague (V8 Special), Timaru, two laps later. McLean now attempted to

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