25-9-58 25-1-58 25-1-58 SCOTT-BROWN IN LEAD AT HALF WAY AT WIGRAM HE Englishman, Archie Scott-Brown, was leading the Lady Wigram Irophy neid in his Lister- Jaguar at half distance-75 miles—this afternoon. At that stage he had been racing for 52min 30sec. Second to him was the Aucklander, Ross Jensen (250 F Maserati), who had been racing 53min 11sec. Third was Bruce McClaren (Cooper-Climax). Then a lap back came the • other Englishman, Stuart Lewis- Evans. He was followed by M. Mayo (Cooper-Climax), _ P. M. Hoare (Ferrari), and the Austraiian, Arnold Glass (Ferrari). The race favourite, Jack Brabham, after holding second place a number of laps retired with gearbox trouble in his Cooper-Climax after about 60 miles. The Lad Wigram Tropny was off to a flying start with the fifty-mile Redex sports car race shortly before midday. By then a large crowd had gathered and people were still coming into the circuit as the drivers lined up on the opposite side of the track from their cars for the Le Mans style start. First to show out was Christchurch's Frank Cantwell in hi Tojeiro Jaguar. was obvious that he was outclassing the field. In second place comfortably was Ken Harris, of Auckland, in the ex-Wharton Monza Ferrari. In • third place was another Aucklander, Merv Neil (Cooper- Climax). The order did not change a great deal. The first bracket of cars outclassed a group of Austin Healeys and Jaguars, and by balf distance the race pattern had been well established, with Cantwell well in front of Harris. There was a big gap back to hurried Neil who was beint of Tau- along by G. Pierce, marunui, in an Austin Healey. Then came k. C. Mayo, going amazingly well in a little Buck-i ler. Howerer, twentysecond lap, Cantwell had lapped Hel everyone except Harris. passed him next time round and. then Harris hung on behind. Cantwell Out Cantwell then punctured 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 completed twenty-three of the twenty-four laps. By the time the cars lined up for the first event, the twentyfive-mile open car nandicap, there was a good crowd around the circuit. Although the sky was grey the sun was breaking through. It was a warm, still morning,; and the conditions were excel: lent for motor racing. Driving from the 3min sen mark, Granto his Whangarei, brought austin 1 Healey home in first place from the Wanganui driver, D. Lawrence (1R3 Mistral. Thę Christchurch driver, B. Brown (Vauxhall Special) was third. Final Practice Before the race, Lady Wigram Trophy entrants had an opportunity • for a final practice on the 2.1 mile circuit. Most interest centred on Jack Brabham (Cooper Formula D)- He had not had a practice before and was relegated to the sixth row on the starting grid for the trophy event this afternoon. Nevertheless, after three laps he did one at 1min 28sec. That would have earned him a place in either the first or second IoW if he had qualified last night. This morning, the English- Archie Scott-Brown (Lister- Jaguar), Stuart Lewis-Evans (Connaught), and the New Zealanders, Ross Jensen (Maserati) and Bruce McLaren (Cooper- Climax) were set to occupy the front row. Their lap times were, respectively, imin 25. 6sec, 1mın 26.7sec, 1min 21.2sec, 1min 28.2sec. Next to qualify were R. Roy.! crolt (ferrarı), F. D. Cantwell (Tojeira-Jaguar), and P. M. Hoare (Ferrari). By the time the cars lined up ¡for the first event, the twenty. five-mile open car handicap, there was a good crowd around the circuit. Although the sky was grey the sun was breaking through. It was a warm, still morning, and the conditions were exceilent for motor racing. N. McCutcheon, a member of the 1957 New Zealand Tourist• Trophy team, moved from third/ place at the end of the first lap: to lead next time round and run: away with the 350cc seventeen' mile motor-cycle race. Riding 'an A.J.S. 7R, his time' was 13min 50.2sec. The minor places were decided after a close duel between Swarbrick, R. Newbrook, and B. Benke. Gibson Not Fast Enough British racing driver Dick Gibson was not fast enough to dodge tiro parking tickets issued to him yesterday by Christchurch traffic officers who found his English methods of parking a little disconcerting. Gibson received his first ticket outside the D.I.C. build. ing, and from there moved to the "Star-Sun" area, where he was "trapped again." He parked outside two other cars and while he was away they moved away, leaving his vehicle stranded well out on the road. Gibson, who later complained of the lack of parking places in Christchurch, discussed the matter with the traffic officer, who politely büt very firmly took the ticket from the window, folded it, and gave it to him. The officer also gave him a booklet with traffic regulations. This will be added to the collection that Gibson acquired in the North Island. Newbrook actually led at the end of the first lap but at the end of the fifth lap had fallen back to fourth place behind McCutcheon and Swarbrick. Swarbrick and Newbrook improved their positions at the end of the next lap while Benke fell back to fourth place. At the chequered flag McCutcheon had a long lead but the next three were bunched. Second Win N. McCutcheon registered his second win in the 500 c.c. motorcycle race. Mick Holland, of christchurch, who did not ride in the earlier race, reached top form to come within 0.7sec of the winner. Holland fell while practising this morning but received only a slight shake. R. Newbrook, who finished third in the earlier race, led for half the distance but fell back through the field in the latter stages. He just managed to beat J. • Swarbrick, who was riding a 350 c.c. machine, into third place. Results: Open Car Handicap (twenty-five miles) - G. Lawton, 25sec, Whangarel (Austin-Healey), 3min 1; D. Lawrence, Wanganui (TR3 Mistral), ' 3min lUseC, Brown, Christchurch (Vauxhall Special), 3main 10sec, Ryan, Christchurch (MG..A.). Imin 50sec, 4. Winner's time-24min . 25.3sec. 350 c.c. Motorcycle Race (seventeen miles)-N. McCutcheon, Dunedin (A.J.S. 7R), 1; J. Swarbrick, Waiau (A.J.S. 7R), 2; R. Newbrook, Mangaroa (A.J.S. 3; B. Bense, Astron (Nortony, 4. Winner's time 13zain 50.2sec. Reder Sports Car Race (fifty mies) rari), Harris, Akand 022a Fer, 39min N. comin Auckland |51.8sec, 2; Pierce, Taumaranui (Austin Healeckland (Buckler), 40min • M. Mayo, .aps completed, 4. Class-Neil 1, Mayo jo to 1o c.c. 2, A. Motat, Christchurch (Mistral), Up to 3000 c.c. Class-Harris Whangarel : Pierce 2. Lawton,. (Austin Healey) 3. Over 3000 c.c. Class—A Bell, Palmerston (Jaguar), A. Kennard, Christchurch (Austin Healey) 2. 500 c.c. Motor-cycle Race (Seventeen miles)-N. McCutcheon, Dunei din 1; A. G. Holland, , Christchurch stchurch (Norton), 2; R. New- Mangaroa (G45 Matchless), 195. Swarmick, Walau (AJS. TE), Winner's time13min 24.3sec.