5-2-54 INTERNATIONAL LADY WIGRAM TROPHY RACE 100 MILES and Supporting Races SEE ENGLAND'S K. WHARTON P. N. WHITEHEAD (Ferrari) BEST B.R.M.) F. A. O. GAZE (H.W.M.) ALSO OF NEW RON ROYCROFT (Alfa Romeo) FRANK SH (Edelbrock S ZEALAND JOHN MeMILLAN (Alfa Romeo) UTER pecial) Admission: Adults 5/-; Children and Cars 1/6. City Traffic use Vickery's or Middle Lincoln Roads. Gates Open 9 a.m. Racing Commences 10 a.m. CATERING: BY C.C.L FOOD SERVICES. Hot Water, Pies and Package Lunches Available. W Saturd Promoted AM ay, February Gth by MOTOR RACING CLUB 5-2-54 DECISIO P.M. Remembers Wigram Race The Prime Minister (Mr Holland) has sent his good wishes to the Motor Racing Club, Christchurch, for a successful Lady Wigram Trophy race to-morrow. In a telegram this morning Mr Holland apologised for not being able to be present at the big race because of another engagement, and concluded by saying: *Please accept my sincere good wishes for a most successful fixture." NONS BEND IN CAR RACE MAY AFFECT THE result of will ber race which will be depend on a decision the take some time in the mor In previous vears the made up of the taxi-strips Air Force Station. Wigrat bend, but it is possible that for the big race to-morro best at present. not make its final decision until The Motor Racing Club will | cars have practised to-morrow morning and will depend upon the way in which the road surface stands up to high speed. Minor events will be run on a circuit which will include the S bend. New Zealand's classic motor race, the Lady Wigram Trophy has drawn three overseas entries in the field of twenty-two, and it is likely that the Englisitmen Ken Wharton and Peter Whitehead will fight out the finish with Aus. tralian-born Tony Gaze staving off the stronger New Zealand challengers. Wharton will drive the 200miles an hour B.R.M. and Whitehead his Italian Ferrari. If the S bend is eliminated it looks as though Wharton will be left in the position of being able to dictate his own rules, for the B.R.M. lacks the acceler- RESULT mile Lady Wigram Trophy held lo-morrow may well sponsors of the event will "ning • 2.1-mile circuit, which is of the Roval New Zealand m, has included a slow S this bend will be eliminated i as the surface is not the ation of the Ferrari in the lower speed ranges 'and would be at a slight disadvantage in the Lap Record Wigram's lap record of about 81 miles ar hour is at present held by the Wellington driver, Bob Gibbons, who established it with an 1100c.c. Cooper last year, but it is probable that Wharton and Whitehead will push it up to something like 100 miles an hour to-morrow, and the winner of the race should average anything up to 95 miles an hour. Tony Gaze will be driving an English H.W.M. and on paper he should prove to be faster than the best of the New Zealanders, who will be the Aucklanders. Ron Roycroft (Alfa Romeo), and Fred Zambucka (Maserati), the two local men, Hec Green (R.A.). and Maurice Stanton (Stanton Special), and the Wellington driver John MeMillan (Alfa Romeo). Of the rest, Frank Shuter, of Christchurch. with his Edelbrock Special. and the drivers of the only two real sports cars in the race. Aucklander Ross Jensen (Austin Healey) and Christchurch man, Ray Archihald (Jaguar XK120), look most likely to take minor places if the pace set by Wharton and Whitehead proves ton much for the faster New Zealanders and they have to retire with engine trouble. 5-2-54 Lighter Cars The balance of the field will be made up of several light motorcycle-engined racing cars and home-bulit specials, and in view of the fact that Wharton should reach about 150 miles.: hour on the straight and Whitehead should not be far behind'that, these cars must be well and truly outclassed. As well as the trophy race there will be a 25-mile handicap event for 'sports and racing cars. and a 15-mile handicap for saioon cars. Both events have drawn good fields, and these races should make an interesting prelude to to main event, which will start at 2.15 p.m. and end not much more than an hour later in view i oi the expected speed of the, overseas entries.