GIVE 3-58 LOCAL DRIVERS A PLACE LESSONS vital to the 4.-motor sport should international races that They are lessons for pro alike. New Zealand drivers have had their best season ever. The Aucklander, Ross Jensen, notched up wins at Dunedin and Invercargill and finished second in the Auckland and Christchurch races with his ex-Stirling Moss Maserati. Made Amends Dogged by mechanical troubles in Auckland and Christchurch, the other young Aucklander, Bruce McLaren, made amends and proved himself a good cut above the average driver by taking conclusive second place at Dunedin and Invercargill with the works 1750c.c. Cooper-Climax. The efforts of many other local men in the international series were most praiseworthy also. For the first time the overseas monopoly on success in the classic races was broken. Certainly the _ Australian, Jack Brabham, had a good win in the New Zealand Grand Prix, and ine englishman, Archie Scott Brown, had things much his own way in the Lady Wigram Trophy here. But taken by and large the New Zealanders were the ones who shone this season. Expensive Maybe the overseas contingent, looking back on the palmy days (for visitors), took the opposition a little lightiy. Certainly as soon as the overseas drivers and their cars were named late last year, it was evi dent that local drivers would have their best chance ever. There is no doubt that overseas competitors have proved a big dramcard for New Zealand in motor sport just as they have in all other sports. But now it mEst be obvious that unless they can continue to produce the goods their value must diminish. Motor racing is an expensive business, and overseas drivers have been liberally treated by promoters in this country as far as expenses are concerned. Wake Up! Judging by the results achieved by New Zealanders this season, it would appear that a number of them could, with all the justification in the world, consider themselves eligible for a larger proportion of expenses money than they have received in the past. It should also be remembered NOS e future of New Zealand be learned from the four have been held recently. omoting clubs and drivers that many of the local drivers who did so well this season received no expenses at all. To put it bluntly, the day has gone. when overseas drivers could expect to come to New Zealand with "raced-out" cars, collect some expenses and some stake money, and then sell their cars locally. The sooner clubs running the International events realise this, the better it will be for New Zealand motor sport. Reasonable Of course, the proven driver with the proven car who embarks upon the New Zealand series should receive fair treatment. But it would be reasonable for him to expect his expenses to be more in accordance with his actual race performances than merely his appearance. Although the Christchurch Motor Racing Club has never made anything of it, and by the very nature of the men' who are members of the club, never mould, there is no doubt that every. one was most unhappy in last Jear's Lady Wigram Trophy when the English. man Reg Parnell retired his Super Squalo Ferrari from the race after completing only a few laps. He explained that to change a set of oiled-up sparking plugs would have taken so long that he would have had no chance of •• • SAYS PETER GREENSLADE in the first of two articles or the future of motor racing in New Zealand. contesting the major places at the end of 150 miles! There is also no doubt that from a promoter's point of view they were the most expensive laps ever completed on a New Zealand circult! The local driver is the life blood of New Zealand racing and he is entitled to some favourable treatment, for without him no one coula hope to promote ar international event here. Brabham and Scott-Brown gave value and they reaped their just rewards. But it was obvious to anyone who knew anything about motor sport that those two fine English Roy Salvadori and drivers Lewis-Evans, were not Stuart likely to do more than make up: felds with their unreliable Connaughts. This, in effect, did happen. The drivers, as such, were blameless. If any blame could be attached it was to those responsible for engaging the drivers and cars in the first place. Be Fair The stage has been reached where there are cars and drivers in this country capable making up first-class fields. In fairness to them promoting clubs should look to their interests before engaging overseas men who demand exorbitant expenses to the detriment of the locals. 8-6-54 The New Zealand beach racing championship may be promoted by the Christchurch Motor Racing Club; provided there is safficient interest in the event on a national basis, according to the club's secre tary (Mr J. Brewer). This event had been allocated to the Canterbury Car Club, but that club has abandoned it because of the heavy over heads intolTed in staging other major racing events in the past season. The Motor Racing Club was approached by the officers of the local region of the Racing Drivers dew Zealand Club . to run the event. If there is suffcient interest, it will most likely hold the race about mid-July on one of the local beaches. 1-7-58 January 24 for Next Year's Wigram Race The Lady, Wigram Trophy race will he beld on January 24 next year. This will be the fifth international motor race for the trophy. The secretary of the New Zealand Grand Prix (Mr F. Perkins) ; is at present in Europe negotia- ¡ting on behalf of the club for overseas drivers to compete. This was reported at the annual meeting of the Motor Racing Club last night. Beach Race The club will organise the New Zealand beach race cham-: pionship at South Brighton oni July 20, subject to the approval Marine Department. Twenty-six entries have already been received, some from the North Island. The following officers were elected: Patron, Mr J. Mathison, M.P.; president, Mr C. H. Croft; secretary, Mr J. A. Brewer; treasurer, Mr P. M. MacShane; vice-presidents, Messrs I. Daikee and J. O. Trevor; committee, Messrs B. Williams, D. Hardy, D. Farr, h. Bandy, W. D. Laing, A. D. Kennara, A. Stuart, W. Halliday, D. S. Drewery. 9-7-58 SPORTING NOTEBOOK The New Zealand beach racing champion, Ron Roycroft, will probably be seen in action here on July 20 with his new car to defend his title at Pines Beach. year, but it asked the motor Racing. Ciub to take it over.. Applications have been lodged with the Kaiapoi Borough Council and the Marine Department to use a circuit consisting of two half-mile straights at the Pines. Roycroft looked the pick of the early entries, but he may strike some tough opposition from some of the faster sports cars, and nippy little Coopers as well as one or two V8-engined specials. * * Roycroft has evinced interest in the event which will be sponsored by the Motor Racing Club, with his new Jaguar Special. This car has a fully independent suspension chassis which was designed for a Christchurch driver, Ron Symonds, a few years ago. It is a fast, light car ideally suited for beach racing. The New Zealand beach rac ing championship was allocated to the Canterbury Car Club this 8-7-58 The local section of the New: Zealand Racing Drivers' Ciub, at whose instigation the Christ, church Motor Racing Club is staging the New Zealand beach racing championship at Pines Beach later this month, has been able to get more than twenty drivers from all parts of the Dominion to take part in the race. Thus it should turn out to be one of the best fields to date with a good mixture of the smaller Cooper-type cars, a num-i ber of sports cars, as well as some specials and pernaps one! or two factory racers. 19-7-58 N.Z. BEACH TITLE R. J. Roycroft May Compete R. J of Auckland, winner of the New Royeroik zealand beach race championship when it was last held at Oreti Beach, Southland, 1s expected to defend his title when the Motor Racing Club in Christchurch sponsors this year's meeting at Pines Beach on Sunday, July 20. The secretary of the club (Mr J. A. Brewer) said last evening that permission has been received from the association of New Zealand Car Clubs for the main race of 30 miles to be a Gold Star event, and count for the national racing drivers' title. Although the time of starting the main race WIl depend On weather, the club hopes to begin the programme about mid-day. Low tide 1s at 145 p.m. 'Three events will be held. Besides the main race a saloon car event of 12 miles and an all-comers' race of 15 miles are included on the programme. Entries for the events close on July 17 19-7-58 Beach Motor Race Title on July 31 The Auckland motor racing driver, Ron Roycrott, is expected to compete at the New Zealand beach race championship to be run on Pines Beach on sunday, July 31. Roycroft won the championship when it was run on Oreti Beach, Southland, last year. Permission has been received by the Motor Racing Club. Christchurch. to run the main race of thirty miles as a gold star event, and so count for the national racing : drivers' title. Three events will be held— the main race of thirty miles, a saloon car event of twelve miles and an all-comers' race of fifteen miles. 12-7-58 CAR RACING CAR RACING N.2. BEACH CHAMPIONSHIP, N.Z. BEACH CHAMPIONSHIP, 40 MILES, 40 MILES, AND SUPPORTING EVENIS. PINES BEACH PINES BEACH SUNDAY, JLLX 20, 1958, 11 A.M. Wet Fine. Promoted by MOTORF S19