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Marks announced for big motor race

Handicaps for the Southbridge 100 meant John McMillan's ex-Parnell Super Squalo Ferrari, probably the fastest car, had to concede starts of up to 23 minutes. Quirk (250F Maserati, disc brakes) and Hoare (4CLT Maserati) started 1min 25sec ahead of McMillan, with Roycroft's Bugatti-Jaguar given a 4min 35sec start on the back-marker and thought the likely best driver. An average near 100 mph was expected for the fastest man.

Facts

  • Handicaps in the 1957 Southbridge 100 ranged from scratch for McMillan's Ferrari to 23 minutes for the front markers.
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Thrilling 120 m.p.h. car racing to be seen at Southbridge

The new Southbridge circuit of more than four miles, roughly rectangular with two dog-legs and a main straight over a mile long, was expected to see 120 mph. Back-markers included McMillan's Ferrari and Quirk's Maserati, with Roycroft, Freeman, speedway driver Geoff Mardon in the R.A. Vanguard once driven by Hec Green, and Shuter and Hoare. Motor-cyclists included NZ Grand Prix winner R. Newbrook (G45 Matchless and AJS 7R), A. G. Holland (Norton), Tom McCleary and Bruce Benke.

Facts

  • The Southbridge circuit used in 1957 was more than four miles with a main straight of over a mile where the fastest cars could exceed 120 mph.
Read the OCR text
1-6-57 MARKS ANNOUNCED FOR BIG MOTOR RACE CONCEDING starts up men, the Wellington seems to be faced with the Motor Racing Club's Monday afternoon. to 23 minutes on the front 1 racing driver John MeMillan i tough proposition to win "Southbridge 100 " race on McMillan will be driving the jatti is renowned for its reliabilex-Parnell 3}-litre Super Squalo ity, and on form Roycroft could Ferrari-probably the fastest car well be the best driver in the in the race-but there is some fiela. However, last season illtough opposition more handily health made his driving a bit placed in front of him. patchy. Gavin Quirk, of Te Awamutu, On the face of it, the rest with a 250 F Maserati, and the of the field does not have a local driver, Pat Hoare, with a great deal to commend it, 4CLT • Maserati will get away although some of the front- 1min 25sec ahead of McMillan. markers could always set Hoare's car is not re- the handicappers calcalanowned for its reliability, but tions awry. Quirk's 250F model, The best of the rest fitted with disc brakes, is would exceptionally last and appear to George Palmer Quirk settles down quickly (Cooper Bristol), and Ian McKel- —he has had virtually no lar (Cooper-Climax), as well as experience with his new car three Mark 9 Coopers, all of -chilan might find it will start about the hard to head him. middle of the field. But the fast circuit should Another local man, Frank suit the " bigger guns " with per. Shuter, must be given a good naps the odds in favour of Quirk chance of finishing well up with and Roycroft. • It seems almost his old 4C Maserati. He certain, whatever actual start min sosec ahead of Mc- result, that an average speed ap- Millan and his car should proaching 100 miles an hour for admirably suited to the very the 100 miles should be well fast, smoots four-mile circuit. within the scope of the man who makes fastest time. Well Placed Alan Freeman, of Wellington, Handicaps also looks well placed to some of the stake money. His Southbridge 100-R. Talbot will start sor 45sec, 30sec ahead of McMillan. W. Darrell But perhaps luckiest man of (A.C.D.), 12min; D. Campbell (Cooper all is the Aucklander Ron Roy-! Mark 8), A McBeath (Cooper Mark! 22: Nell (Cooper Mark croft, who has been given 4min (Cooper 35sec start on the back-marker. McKellar Ford a mir Manse! Roycroft's Jaguar-engined Bug-[Ford), and M. : Stants (stanton (cooper Bristor Palmer (Cooper Roycroft and A. T. Freemar G. Mardon Maria Vanguardn (Talbot mine ser Shuter (Maserati 20min D. I. Caldwels (Alta Romeo, and D. (Alta Romeo), Hoare (Maserati 4clt), and G. Quirk (Maserati 250F) MeMillan (Ferrari), Saloon Car Race-B. R. Blackburn S Dudley Ransley (Skoda 1min 40sec; J. Mullins 50sec; D. Campbell (Simca), Heastey Sims * Hauschid McKellar (Armstrong Siddeley), 6min Consul) Coupe), 5min (Ford Coupe), (Jaguar Pickney (Jaguar XK 140), J. Blackburr Edmiston (Morgan), 2min; P. BRAILE and J. Tutton 120 C), 3min. "SOUTHE SOUTHBRIDGE. RIDGE 100" MONDAY, June 3re PROGRAMME: Practice, 9.15 a.m. suricada Saloon Car Race, 10.15 a.m. 350 c.c. Motor @ Sports Car Rac • Motor Cycle O "SOUTHBRIDGE Cycle Race, Il a.m. e, 11.50 a.m. pen Race, I p.m.. 100" 2 p.m. REFRESHMENTS HOT WATER, PIES, SOFT DRINKS, ICE CREAMS AVAILABLE AT RACE. TRANSPORT BUSES LEAVE DAYS MOTORS 9 G.M. RETURN TO CHRISTCHURCH, Departs 4.30. ADMISSION: ADULTS 5/°, CHILDREN 2/- CAR PARK 2/• LIMITED NUMBER of GRANDSTAND SEATS at 7/6 per seat, exclusive of Admission. CHRISTCHURCH PATRONS FOLLOW MAIN ROAD THROUGH LINCOLN MEETING WILL BE HELD WET OR FINE. PROMOTED BY HOTOR RA 1-6-57 Thrilling 120m.p.h. Car Be Seen at WHAT romanes to l h New Zealand will h when the Motor Racing Cl races and conclude the da for some of the fastest cars The new course is of through the township of S R. Newbrook Southbridge the fastest car-racing circuit in ave its first try-out on Monday, ub will hold a series of handicap y with a 100 mile invitation race and best drivers in the country. more than four miles, and runs outhbridge. The course roughly rectangular, but dog-legs on two sides will prove a test of skill and a hazard for the unwary. The main straight is more than a mile long and the fastest cars should wind up to more than 120 miles an hour on it with ease. As well as a 100-mile invitation race, there will be two motorcycle events and races for sports and saloon cars. The 100-miler and this has drawn a good field. Back-markers are likely to be John McMillan, of Wellington, with the ex- Reg Parnell Super Squalo Ferrari, and Gavin Quirk, of Te Awamutu, in a 250t Maserati. Then there will be Ron Roycroft, of Glen Murray, with his very fast Bugatti-Jaguar; Alan Freeman, of Wellington, with a Lago Talbot; and the speedway driver, Geoff Mardon, who will drive the R.A. Vanguard. This is a car well-known to local fans, for it was driven Racing to for some years by Hec Green, and Jack Brewer. Pre-war Grand Prix Alfa Romeos, the fast 4C Maserati of the local man, Frank Shuter and the 4CLT Maserati of another local driver, fat Hoare, as well as several specials and some Cooper cars, will make up the rest of the field. Although the ultimate result must depend to a large extent upon the handicapping, every. thing else being nearly equal, it looks as though McMillan and Roycroft will fight out the finish. The other possibility is a late entry from the Aucklander, Tom Clark, who also runs a Super Squalo Ferrari-the ex- Peter Whitehead car. Motor-cycling Good entries have been received for the saloon and sports car races, and also for the senior and junior scratch motor cycle events. Among the motorcyclists will be R. Newbrook, Wellington, winner of the New Zealand Grand Prix at Cust. He will bring his G45 Matchless and also a TR A.J.S. he will meet ser sen or rosit strong opposition from the local star, A. G. (Mick) Holland, with his 500c.c. Norton. Other well-known riders will include Tom McCleary, Bruce Benke, and the Invercargill veteran, Bert Junro.

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