6-11-54 6-11-54 NO MOTOR RACE AT WIGRAM TROPHY MEETING CANCELLED TARMAC TO BE RE-SEALED Resealing of the tarmac at the Royal New Zealand Air Force station, Wigram, has caused the cancellation of the 1955 Lady Wigram Trophy motor race. A statement issued by the club reads: "The Motor Racing Club, promoters of the Lady Wigram Iropay Race, which has been held annually during recent years on Wigram airfield, regrets to announce that the race has been cancelled for this season. "The event, with supporting pro-. gramme, was to be held on Saturday, January 22, 1955. "The club has regretfully come to this decision by reason of the re-! sealing programme now being carried out on the circuit at Wigram. 'The Motor Racing Club Is most disappointed at having to make this announcement. as a vast amount of work has been done in organisation of the 1955 event, and plans were well advanced for the appearance of an outstanding field of British, Continen- Australian. and New Zealand drivers. In addition considerable expense has been already incurred. "The club has always been assisted by support from an enthusiastic public, the motor trade, and the business people of Christchurch; its officials; regret that it will not be run the event this season, possible to Wigram Not Open For Big Car Race in January. Permission will not be granted by the Royal New Zealand Air Force for the Lady Wigram car race, one of the Dominion's premier racing events, to be held on the circuit at Wigram station in January. An Air Department spokesman in Wellington yesterday said that though permission had been refused for next year's race to be held at Wigram, the ban mas not necesasrily general and continuing. The spokesman said a special works programme was being carried out at the station, including the sealing or taxiways. "Though the sealing oi ine taxiways might well be completed before the race," the spokesman said, "the takes somé time to consolidate. Club's Statement The club had regretfuliy come to the decision to cancel the race because of the resealing programme being carried out on the circuit, the club said in a statement issued to-day. "The Motor Racing Club is most disappointed at having to make this announcement, as a vast amount of work has been done in regard to organisation the 1955 were well advanced towards the appearance of an outstanding field of British, Continental Australian and New Zealand drivers. "In addition, considerable expense has been already incurred. "The club has always been assisted by support from an enthusiastic public, the motor trade and the business people of Christchurch and its officials regret that it will not be possible to run the event this season," the statement concluded. The Lady Wigram Trophy: race is run annually by the Motor Racing Club, and has, hitherto always been hela on the Wigram circuit. 17-11-54 19-1-55 Wigram Trophy Race Sir, —1 should like to protest very strongly at the action of the Air Force heads in cancelling the Wigram Trophy car race. Last year the excuse was that the race and its preparation interfered with training, and only an appeal to the Minister of Defence permitted it to be held. This year they are going to reseal the tarmac. I think these are only excuses, not reasons, for blocking the race. Great credit is due to the club which organises the races, to the drivers, and to the mechanics. who spent months in preparation, apart from expense. I write only as an enthusiastic spectator, and hope others will do likewise and enter their protests.— X.K. 120. 24-19-54 Correspondence Wigram Trophy Race Sir,—I too am dismayed at the Air Force authorities' decision to resurface Wigram at such an inopportune țime. They must realise that some thousands of people are to be derived of a grand which need not be if the repairs are day's sport delayed a few days or even put forward. And what of 1956? Do the authorities intend to permit motorracing at Wigram yearly, or is this the thin end of the wedge?-M.G. A similar protest is made by "Nitro- Methane, " who hopes the Car Club will take the matter up with the authorities. —Ed., "Star-Sun." 25-19-54 Correspondence Wigram Trophy Race Sir,—I am in no way associated with the writer who signs himself "Edelbrock," which is the name my racing car has carried for the past two years.— FRANK SHUTER. Motor Racing Sir,-So Auckland has just staged what seems to have been a really suc cessful Grand Prix motor racing event at Ardmore. With foresight, an eye to the takings and publicity for their province. they plastered bright posters in most South Island garages, ran decentsized newspaper advertisements, cornered the whole YA. radio system to announce the running: and got every paper to run long previews and photos etc., of the event. Let us hand it to them. The South Island Lady Wigram trophy fizzled for want of Christchurch action when a few Air Force Wigram types said they were going to tar seal at Wigram. The local boys died on the and routine could Lie Motor Cycling Grand ers at use. What effort are the two-wheel enthusiasts putting into New Leaiand posters, newspaper pubiicity, radio coverage and all the other markings of good promotion to increase the takings, "lift" the event and keep for it the rightful name N.Z. Grand Prix? No doubt we will see one 6 inch by 2-column advertisement in the local papers, a 3YA commentary, and results, not much else, here or for that matter elsewhere in the coun try. We, as South Islanders-and I am one, ex the North Island some eighteen years ago-have got to take a realistic view on these happenings. Surely our folk are too conservative and undriving in the approach. Let us sell the story, and get on with the job of boosting the local events of importance.—MAKE A MOVE. 17-2-55 MOTOR RACING MOTOR RACING MOTOR RACING MOTOR RACING RAKAIA DOMAIN RAKAIA DOMAIN RAKAIA DOMAN SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 10.30 A.M SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 10.30 A.M SALURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 10.30 A.M SATURDAY, FOBRUARY 19, 10.30 A.M SEE CANTERBURY'S LEADING CARS AND DRIVERS IN FULL PROGRAMME OF RACES. Ice cream, Hot Water, etc., Available. Admission 2s 6d Cars and Children 1s. Promoted by RAKAIA CAR CLUB AND MOTOR RACING CLUB, INC. C1196X 19-2-55 FASTEST LAP IN CAR RACE TO SHADBOLT Driving his home-made rearengined 500 c.c. J.A.P., A. Shadbolt took the lap record and won the D. W. Wild Trophy at a car racing meeting held by the Christchurch Motor Racing Club and the Rakaia Car Club at Rakaia Domain to-day. His time was 33.2sec. Lap: times were generally high and the circuit was in good condition. About one thousand people watched the racing. Results: Race OneB. Brown (Ford 8 Special Monk (Ford 10 Special) 2, A. Kennard (Austin Healey) 3. Time1min 45}sec. Race Two-B. Womersley (Ford Special) 1, I. Shadbolt (J.A.P.) 2, B. Rutherford (Willys Special) 3. Time -1min 40isec. Race Three-A. Stuart (Riley) 1, Titneriage (V8) 2, i. Stewart (Vanguard) 3. Time-2min 12jsec Race Four-R. Biggs (J.A.P.) 1, Maxwell (Austin 7) 2, Branthwaite (Ford Special) Blackburn (Ford 8 Time min Isec. Race Five-N. Special) 1, P. Hessey (Ford Special) 2.:.. Time Zmin. Race Sti-R. Biggs (J.A.P.) go, I; B. Mont, 8sec, Drewery (Singer), go, 3. Time-2min 85sec. Race Seven-W. Shaw (T.R.2), go; 1; Maxwell, 4sec. A. Kennard (Austin Healey), Asec, 3. Time- 2min 37sec. B. Rutherford, 2sec, 2; B. (Ford 8 Special) go, 3. Time-Zmin 19sec. Race Nine-N. Blackburn, 20sec, 1;A. Gallagher (Ford 10 Speclal), 23sec, 2. Time-2min 44sec. Race I; A. Stuart (Rfiey), 25sec, Tar ratete stee eg Stewart (Vanguard), Bsec, 3. Time -3min 3isec. Race Eleven-W. Shaw, 12sec, 1; T. Hessey, go, 2; Maxwell, Itsec, 3. Time-2min 44sec. Race Iwelve-B. Brown (Ford 8 Special). 10sec, 1: A. Kennard, 80, Rutherford (Willys Special), 128ec, 3. Time-2min 35sec. Race Thirteen - P. Wormersley, 12sec, 1; A. Gallagher, ssec, •. Time -2min 34sec. A. Stuart, Stue Se 2 Aime amin 30e , 5sec, 2. Time-Zmin Sr Pinterou Aori M 5, g , 15sec, 2; Time-2min 54}sec. Race Sixteen-P. Wormersley, 5 sec, I; B. Brown, go, 2. Time—5min 48sec. -- Race Seventeen - A. Kennard, 50sec, 15sec, 1. M. Stewart, go, 2: 4. Stuart, Time.3min 27sec. Race Eighteen-Maxwell, go, 1; D. Drewery, ssec, 4; A. Gallagher, sec, 3. rime-3min 19sec.