25-1-58 25-1-58 Fourth International Race At Wigram Today COMPARED with other coun tries, the history of international motor-racing in New • Zealand is a short one, yet in the last three years enthusiasts have seen many of the most famous drivers in action. Stirling Moss, Prince Birabongse of Thailand, the late Ken Wharton, Reg Parnell, Peter • Whitehead Roy Salvadori, and Horace Gould are only a few of the overseas drivers who have been attracted to New Zealand races, and largely because of their presence, New Zealand drivers have been forced into the background. At Wigram today, the threeyear monopoly of the Lady Wigram trophy by an overseas driver could come to an end. Impressive Entry MANY MOTOR-RACING ENTHUSIASTS will remember the international race at Wigram four years ago when the late Ren Wharton drove the famous 16-eylinder B.R.M. Wharton completed the race, but as thé photograph shows, only sueeeeded in doing so by pushing his car over the line for third place. This race was one of many failures of this model. The fourth international race will be held at Wigram today. The entry for today's race is one of the most impressive yet ai Wigram. Stuart Lewis-Evans (Connaught), Archie Scott-Brown (Lister-Jaguar), and Jack Brabham (Cooper), are among the topranked drivers in the world. One of the most encouraging features of today's race is that severai New Zealand drivers have cars capable of catching the fleet Cooper. Connaught, and Lister- Jaguar. Of these, R. J. Roycroft, of Auckland, has a great chance with his powerful V-12 Ferrari while Ross Jensen, in the Maserati, formerly owned by Stirling Moss, will also be in the running. The car in which there will be much interest will be Scott- Brown's Lister-Jaguar. Powered i by a bored-out D-type Jaguar engine and an especially light body, it has staggering accleration. It reaches 30 miles an hour in two seconds, and 100 miles an hour in 11.2 seconds. Many saloon cars take more than 20 seconds to reach 50 miles an hour. The car will be geared down to about 140 miles an hour top speed for the Wigram circuit. One Hand The 30-year-old Scotsman who will drive this car is as notable as the car itself. Scott-Brown has the full use of only one hand-the other is partly crippled. He can race only in the British Commonwealth because of the disability. since the International Automobile Federation will not grant him an international licence. But Brabham in the tiny Formula I Cooper-Climax will be the threat to the other drivers] today. With good wins at Ardmore and Levin, he has shown that it is not the most powerful car which can win races in New Zealand. Cars such as F. Shuter's 200-mile an hour Maserati, although amply powered, are unabie to get into top speed until they reach the long back straight. Together with R. Freeman (Lago- Talbot), Shuter will really have to work hard on the steering wheel on the sharp reverse-cam-/ ber corners at Wigram. The suc-! on whether they can make up time! cess of these larger cars depends lost on the corners when they reach the half-mile straight.l Spectators there w111 see cars! approaching 150 miles an hour. Punctu Frank re Spoils Cantwell's Sports Car Hopes FATE played into the hands of Ken Harris, driving the Monza Ferrari in which Ken Wharton crashed to his death at the 1957 Grand Prix meeting at Auckland. In the fifty-mile sports car race at Wigram to-day, Harris looked well and truly beaten by the Christchurch driver, Frank Caniwell (Tojeiro Jaguar), but in the last lap Cantwell punelured a tyre and Harris came home an easy winner. A large crowd saw the drivers - Restilts: line up on the opposite side of Open Car Handicap (twenty-five Whangarel the track from their cars for (Austin Healey), 3тіп the Le Mans style start. Cantwell was first to show 3min rosec, 2; • B. Brown, Christchurch (Vauxhall Special). 3min out and after a lap he was obvi- Posec, 3; Avan, Christchurch ously outclassing the field. Har- (MG.A.). 1min 50sec. 4. Winner's ris was comfortably in second itime24min 25.S ee. place. 350 c.c. Motorcycle Race (seven- In third place was another (teen. miles)-N McCutcheon, Dun- • edin (A.J.S 7R), 1: 1. Swarbrick, Aucklander, Merv Neil (Cooper- Walau (A.J.S: 7R), 2. R. Newbrook, Climax). Mangaroa (A.J.5 7R), 3; B. Benke, Ashburton (Norton), Winner's The order did not change time13min 50.2ser. a great deal. The first bracket of cars outclassed a group of Austin Healeys and Jaguars, and by • half distance the race pattern had been well established, with Cantwell well in front of Harris. There was a big gap back to Neil who was being hurried along by G. Pierce, of Taumarunui, in an Austin Healey. Then came M. C. Mayo, going amazingly well in a little Bucklér. However, by the twentysecond lap, Cantweil had lapped everyone except Harris. passed him next time round and then Harris hung on behind. Cantell Out Cantweli then punetured a tyre on the control tower bend and spun up. He was out of the race and Harris won easily in 39min 42.9sec. Next was Neil in 40min 51.8sec, then came Pierce in 40min 56.6sec. Mayo was flagged off fourth, having compieted twenty-three of the twenty-four laps. Ine two 3.ł litre jaguars completely dominated the Saloon Car race, taking arst and second placings. Leading from the grid R. J. Archibald held his position until the end. G. Quirk, the second place getter, was lucky to escape without any damage when he spun his car out of the bend leading into the front straight and into a line of hay bales. Hay scattered across the track, but Quirk was able to continue. J. Hayes, of Auckland, in a Zasley in a tonsup was fourin. Neither was troubled to hold his placing after the field • settled down, although they could not ratch the leadora 25 - 1-58 Redex Sports Car Race (fity miles) -K. Harris, Auckland) (Monza Ferrari), 39min 42.9sec 1; * 40mіл Neil, Auckiand (Cooper-Climax), 51.8sec. G. Pierce, Taumaranui (Austin Healey), 40min 56.6sec 20 3; Auckland (Buckier), laps completed,s. Up to 1500 c.c. Class-Vell 1. S. Up to 3000 c.c. Class-HaTTis I Whangarel Pierce 2. Lawton, (Austin Healey) 3. Over 3000 c.c. Class-A Bell, Palmerston (jaguar), A. Kennard, Christchurch Hustin Heales) 2 500 c.ç. Motor-cycle Race (Serenteen miles) -N. McCutcheon, Dunedin (Norton (Norton), 1; A. Holland, Christchurch 2; R. New- 2,%. Swarbrick, Waiau (A.J.S. 7R). Mangaroa (G÷5 Matchless), 2; J. 4. Winner's time-13min 24.3sec. Saloon Car Race (25 miles)-R. Archibald, Christchurch (Jaguar 3.*) Te Amramutu (Jaguar 3.4), Hayes, Auckland (Zephyr) 3; H. J. Heasley, Rangiora (Consul) Winner's time—21min 57.2sec. Veteran Racing Mechanic Here For Trophy Race Wearing scarlet-zippered overalls embroidered with the British racing badge (only awarded after three years spent in international motor racing), Derrick Edwards was out at Wigram today changing the tyres on Dick Gibson's Cooper Climax, Just before the trophy race. Derrick is one of the most experienced racing mechanics here to-day as he has been associated with international motor racing for the past seven years. During this time he has ser. viced Aston Martins, Connaughts and Coopers. Last year he was mechanic to the M.G. which competed successfully Works tear in the Mille Miglia in Italy and on other circuits. Second Visit This is Derrick's second visit to New Zealand. He came out in 1955 as mechanic to Leslie which was Marr's Connaugh here the fastest car for the trophy race, and would have won had it not spun off the track. Derrick said that the Wigram circuit is the best in New Zealand and compares favourably with overseas circuits, "especially now that the drain has gone."