17-9-56 New Zealanders Could be Threat In Car Race New Zealand drivers could be a threat to overseas drivers at the Lady Wigram Trophy race on Saturday, in the opinion of Mr Stan Elsworth, mechanic for Peter Whitehead and Tony Gaze, who arrived in Christchurch during the weekend to supervise the unloading of the Ferrari cars from the Navua this morning. He said that he expected that ! the Wigram race would be the closest race of the tour, certainly ' much closer than the New Zealand Grand Prix. at Ardmore. "All cars are going well and we : have, thank goodness, solved Tony Gaze's problem," he said. Gaze had been reported as striking trouble which had not been traced orior to leaving Auckland. It has now been found to be carburation and Mr Elsworth said that the car was now producing its full 250 brake horsepower at 6000 revolutions Dark Horses Two dark horses among the | New Zealand entrants are Ron Roycroft of Auckland, and Pat Hoare of Christchurch. Roycroft drove his Bugatti- Jaguar at Ardmore but he had since purchased the very fast 4x-litre ex-Rosier Ferrari, and he may race it nere. "He could be › a distinct menace," said Mr Elsworat Hoare's ACLT Maserati has been tuned by Ernie Ransley, and Mr Elsworth said it was "wonderfully prepared." "It is another threat that must not be taken lightly." third possibility is the Cooper Mark IX of Palmerston North's Syd Jensen. "I have never seen a man get a Cooper over such a long distance at such high speed," said Mr Elsworth, referring to Jensen's effort Ardmore, where he finished seventh. "Stirling Moss was amazed." Some concern . had been felt by the visiting drivers as to the Whereabouts of Reg Parnell's spare Aston Martin engine for his specially-prepared monoposto i racer. It has now been located at : Christchurch airport and a city firm has put its garage and team of mechanics at Parnell's i disposal to make the needed engine change. Changed Ratio Based on his experience at Wigram two years ago Mr Elsworth has changed the axle gear ratio of Gaze's car and hopes to prove it at a special practice on Thursday. Both Ferraris will run on alco hol. "We keep coming here to New Zealand because we thoroughly enjoy the tours, but with the : standard of driving and the good machinery finding its way here, I can see that our drivers are in for a shock soon, " he said. New Zealanders are rated as very good drivers Lir Eisworth, who pointed out that the visitors averaged thirty races a year, Whereas New Zealanders were lucky to race in six events. 17-1-56 18-9-56 2nd INTERNATIONAL LADY WIGRAM TROPHY RACE WIGRAM SATURDAY NEXT, JAN. 21, 1956 GATES OPEN 8.30 A.M. OVERSEAS STARTERS INCLUDE R. PARNELL-ASTON MARTIN (Great Britain) P. N. WHITEHEAD-FERRARI (Great Britain) L. MARR-CONNAUGHT (Great Britain) F. O. A. GAZE-FERRARI (Great Britain) T. N. SULMAN-ASTON MARTIN (Australia) D. McKAY-ASTON MARTIN (Australia) - DAY'S PROGRAMME - 98.m.: PRACTICE 350 c.c. Motor-cycle • Lady Wigram Trophy 10 a.m.: Experts' Race. Race. All Powers Motor. Redex Sports Car • Saloon Car Race. eyels Handicap. Handicap. Open Car Handicap @. Day's racing should (for cars not © 500 c.c. Motor-cycle conclude 4.30 р.м. Trophy Race). Experts' Race. (approx.) PRICES: Adults 7/6, Children HOT WATER, TEA, LADY WIGRAM 2/6, Cars 2/6. PACKAGE LUNCH, Adyance Bookings (af D.I.C.): ICE CREAM, TROPHY RACE, 1.30 p.m. Cars AVAILABLE ON 150 MILES Adult Pary Tickets : GROUND. 2/-. Car Tickets 30/-. Grandstand Seats 20/-, PROMOTED BY CHRISTCHURCH LOTORRACTE CAR DRIVERS WOULD LIKE DRAINS SEALED THOUGH they will star some of the overseas Lady Wigram international are not happy about the di forms part of the circuit. tony Gaze, driver of one of the two Ferraris, said to-day that in some respects the circuit at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station, Wigram, had been improved. For example, there was better sealing on half of it, but the apron drains were in the same unsatisfactory condition as when he drove there last. "I consider them dangerous." said Gaze. "They could easily cause a man to smash his car. We are still hoping something will be done about them, for they could make a car leap one foot into the air." 'Chips' Suggested "A load of chips (chipped rock) rolled in would do the trick and they could soon be dug out after the race, ," he said. That problem plus the adverse camber around the hangars made Wigram quite a tricky circuit in his opinion. Gaze arrived in the city, last evening , with Reg Parnell, who will drive an Aston-Martin, and Peter Whitehead. who will drive a Ferrari, as will Gaze. "I am looking forward to Wigram and seeing my old car driven by Pat Hoare, of your city, in action," said Parnel. He said that he had more successes with the Maserati, now owned by Pat Hoare, than with any other car. "Wigram is a better cir• cuit than Ardmore," commented Peter Whitehead, a farmer, of England. "There are not the same number of bends and I think that the race will be more even than Ardmore." Because of the difference in circuits, most drivers have it on Saturday regardiess, car drivers to race in the trophy fixture on Saturday rains on the apron which geared for a top speed of 120 miles an hour, thereby ensuring better acceleration. Of the future of motor racing in New Zealand, Parnel said that he thought there should bel only two international events in each island "Provided New Zealand does not become too ambitious they will find their rightful place in international motor racing." he. said. He said that his experimental Aston-Martin was possibly not as good as it should be although he would be able to hurry Whitehead and Gaze along. The best engine was damaged at Silverstone, in England, ana; the second went in practice at Ardmore. The third engine will be installed for Saturday's race• at Wigram. Cars Arrive Some of the competitors have been worried about a possible delay in unloading their cars from the Navua, which arrived at Lyttelton at 12.30. However, all six cars on the vessel came off this morning, and Leslie Marr's Connaught was in the city before noon, with arrangements being made for the others to follow in short order. The big worry for the drivers has been the allowance of time for maintenance, as Gaze explained today there had been no time to do routine work between the Ardmore Grand Prix and the loading of the cars on to the Navua. He wants to spend a full day on his Ferrari before taking it on to the Wig ram circult. 18 - 1-56 Racing Car Display One large city department store has caught the motor-racing fever which is starting to grip the city. Renowned for its fashion displays, it plans to remove large plate-glass windows so that three large racing cars can be displayed. They will be a Ferrari, an H.W.M., and Connaught. all of which will compete in the Lady Wigram Trophy race on Satur day.