FAMOUS RACING CARS AT WIGRAM Maserati And Ferrari To Duel For Honours [Specially written for "The Press"] It was a hot summer day on dogged by suspension and engine June 13, 1833, at the Montlhery troubles since It appeared first at the Buenos Alres Grand Prix in race track outside Paris, Fangio, crowd were on their feet as the trouble seems to have been with lead was belng hotly contested the racè organisation of Maserati, between two red racing cars. for, except in the latter stages of 1956 season, Maserati Never more than a few lengths given the impression of trying to ap tech ther driver the divier let ted space of time and it in? who always wore & bright yellow sufficient race preparation. The six-cylinder 21 litre twin and drove with camshaft overhead gusto, retired with a blown up engine, The winner, Campari, in rpms bois 2a mup t8200 This is, a much a 2.9 litre Maserati: the loser, revving engine than that of the Ferrari. The engine is set slightly Tazio Nuvolarl, in a 2.0 litre to the left of the chassis frame Monza Alfa Romeo, which wus art from the clutch at the end of raced by Ferrari. th• crankshaft, 'the propeller shaft So ended the frst contest be- travels down the side of the cocktween Maserati Brothers, Ipit to the rigidly mounted gearwere then called, box differential unit at the formed Scuderia Ferrari. of the chassis. Here the drive is The rivalry between these two turned 90 degrees by bevel gears stables continued Into the four-speed gearbox. throughout the years, and probably reached its height during the Mechanical Troubles 1956 racing season Just nnisnea, when Stirling Moss for Maserati During the 1954 season Maseand Juan Fangio for Ferrari were rati experlenced various mechanitwo leading contestants cal troubles with their cars. After the champlon driver of the world. strengthening the De Diontube The Lady Wigram Trophy Racet final drive spur gear along today will feld some of the latest with curing the lubrication cooling be built by these two system, the cars had many sucmost recent Moss's convincing Super Squalo Ferrari European Grand Prix at Monza The Super Squalo Ferrari in Italy on September 2. Horace Gould will be driving a known in its frst stages as the 250 F.1. Maserati at Wigram-it type 553 or Squalo Ferrari. First will have the latest factory modi- 57 raced in 1954, this car was very low and squat, and, with the ex- fications for, unlike Ferrari, Maseception of Hawthorn's win at Bar-rati like to give their private celona, the car was unsuccessful owners the benefit of the latest has just -it was continually dogged with factory breakdowns, completed a full season of Grand Gonzales was able to master the Prix racing on. Continent, very dimcult cornering technique where has been reasonably required with these cars. This successful. So far in this Auspeculiarity brought tralian and New Zealand series of about by the concentration of all races, Maserati won with the weight within a comparativoly Stirling Olympic short wheelbase, all the fuel, for Grand Melbourne and example, being carried In tanks on Parnell for Ferrari at Ardmore. cach side of the engine. This had The 250 F.l. Maserati is well the effect of causing the car lo suited to an airfield type of cirlose adhesion on a corrier with- cuit such as Wigram, and cars of out any warning to the driver. this type have been very success- So unless the driver anticipated at similar circuits in the this the car would get out of con- United Kingdom. All the corners For the 1055 season the car was at Wigram except one favour a car with a high cornering power, altered somewhat, taking und this is where Maserati lower and even squatter appear- may score with its superior road ance-it was designated the super holding and high power to weight Squalo or type 565, and it is Fer- Gould, who is a very much rari cars of this type which will rails. in the hands "press on" type of driver, is likely appear at Wigram of Parnell and Whitehead today. to put in some very fast laps. For the races in Australia and The Super Squalo Ferraris have New Zealand, Parnell and White-so far proved to be very reliable, head have fitted the current Fer- both cars started and finished at car Melbourne and at Ardmore, and four cylinder Ihis has a swept volume this may be the chief string to of 3422 c.c. and: it develops ap- their bow. Another factor is that proximately 280 b.h.p. The valves the Scuderia Ambrosiana-Parare actuated by twin overhead nell, Whitehead and mechanic camshafts driven by a train of Stan. Ellsworth-have raced at gears from the front of the crank- Wigram before and know what to shaft, and two vertical magnetoes expect. All things considered it supply current to cight sparking should be interesting motor racing plugs-two to each cylinder. Car- at Wigram today, It may be a buration is by two double choke question of who can last the discarburettors mounted tance, but in motor racing one horizontally. never knows. Famöus Maserati The 250 T.1 Maserati has been described by many aa the sleekest racing car ever produced. Very low and beautifully proportioned, this car is in complete contrast to the Super Squalo Ferrari. .. l Unfortunately, the car's progress has not been as successful as it might have been, and it has been NZ. DRIVER FASTEST AT WIGRAM PRACTICE The Auckland driver, Ron Roy- The high-powered cars. will score today on the straight, but Jensen croft, gave an indication of the will make this up on the corners, keen tussle which should develop where the tiny car runs as If cn for the Lady Wigram trophy, to- rails day when he established a fast- First N.2. Driver est lap time at the Wigram cir- The Kennett Challenge Tropay cuit in practice last evening. Roy. for the first New Zealander to croft's time of imin 27sec Is only finish is likely to be hard won. .3sec outside the Wigram lap it Roycroit can use lis Ferraris record. speed to full advantage and get Not only Roycrott showed thal through the without pit the New Zealand drivers are now stop, then he has the brightest able to meet overseas competitors chances of success. However, che on more equal terms, for at least driving of Gibbons, in the D-type SiX others were within 10sec Jagual, Ross Jensen in the of his time. Two of the most Monza Ferrari. T. Clark in the favoured drivers to take the H.W.M. and S.. Jensen in the trophy, Peter Whitehead and Reg Cooper Climax was of such Parnell, Britain, put their standard in their practice laps fastest laps at 1min 29.2sec and last evening that all of them will 1min 30.8sec respectively. start equally favoured. One of the favourites for the Grid position for the race cold event, Horace Gould, of Britain.' not decided last evening, as was not present for the practice, several entrants had to bring their and unless he puts up a good time cars from the North Island on the In the practice before the main steamer express. These drivers, race today he will run the risk together with Gould and others being placed at the back of who did not practise last evening. the starting grid. His Maserati will be given an opportunity has been in ' Christchurch for sev- establish lap times this morning. cral days, and late last evening The fastest lap times establishcd were still working by competitors last evening were: mechanics (Ferrari), 1min 27 busily to have the car ready lor R. Roycrolt чес; P. N. Whitchend (Super the race. than ever this year, the Squalo Ferrart), 1min 29.25CC; More New Zealand drivers will have Parnell (Super Squalo Ferrari),' their chance to gain major plac-, 1min 30. 8sec; Jensen 1 Cooper, A most important factor of Climax), 1min 31sec; R. Gibings. (D-type Jaguar), 1min 32sec; the increased compelition from bons New Zealanders is that the ovet- Brabham (Cooper Climax), forced to Shuter R. Jensen seas drivers will be Forrerati T. Clari drive harder. Wigram is notori- (Monza Ferrari), E. (H.W.M.), all 1min 33scc: P. M. ously heavy on tyres, and il Pat- Hoare (Maserati), Imin 37sec; R. nell. Whitehead, and Gould are McCutcheon (Normac), 1min 40 pressed too much today they may Moore (Coopri Climax), well be forced to make pit stops sec: R. Imin 4isec; A. McKay (Cooper for new tyres. Last year, Parnell, Whitehead, and Gaze only just Climax), 1min 42sec. managed to Anish the 150-mile racé without stopping for refuelling and new tyres. Arrangements Fastest Lap Time The fastest lap was returned by For Traffic Roycroit, with 1min 27sec, or about 87 miles an hour. This is outside the lap estab- Special arrangements to handle only .Зеес of spectators who lished by Tony Gaze, of Britain, the thousands Ferrari last year. Roycroft will be travelling to Wigram for in appeared to be at ease with his the motor-racing today have been the made by the Christchurch City car during whole practice, and be could well lower the lap Council's traffic department record if he is pressed today. The the Motor Racing Club. Special buses will l'un from Cathedral Ferrari was Aring perfectly. and had a slight edge on the cars Square as required during the day. the To gain to the circuit Parnell and Whitehead on should easily, speciators back straight. have the correct change ready for Whitehead and Parnell both the gatekcepers, TraMc officers drove steadily, but said later thes will patrol the roads around 1,he had been concerned about oil en aerodrome and endeavour to keep the track. Parnell recorded a best the traffic moving. time of 1min 30.8sec; with White- Motorists wishing te vlew the head more than a second faster in cars travelling along the back 1 min 29.25CC. tWO There was little hetween the cars, and the straight should approach Wigram way Lincoln and Middle drivers were content to follow. Lincoln roads. each other during the practice This entrance ran laps. accommodate 10 lines of cars at An excellent time of Imin 3isec) a time, and as many cars as possible should use this route. was set up by. S. Jensen, of Palm- In previous ycars, the main erston North, In a Cooper Climax. stream of traffe has used the Main South road, and cal's from Christchurch should turn left imediately after crossiug the Sockburn railway line. A large entrance gate on this route can udmit five lanes of traffic at once. Motorists from the south are advised to use the Wigram entrance Knic, but if this becomes congested-it is only a single lane entrance-cars will be directed on to the entrance being used Ly trame from Christchurch. Pedestrians and Cyclists The Simes' road entrance is strictly for pedestrians, cyclists and bus passengers. The gates will open at 9 a.m., ;and the first a 350 c.a. motor-cycle race, will begin at 10 a.m. The gatekeepers are volun. tary helpers from the Papan!u i Returned Servicemen's Associa- , tion, and the money they earn vill 180 towards their, association's funds. Officials of the Motor Racing Club have appealed for care with cigarettes and matches during the day. Although the grass is not as dly as in previous ycars, a fre could easily gain a hold. - --