15-7-58 Although the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs has awarded Gold Star status to the 40-mile New Zealand beach razing championship which will be conducted by the Christchurch Motor Racing Club at the Pines on Sunday, the result of the race cannot effect the issue. The Auckianders Ross Jensen (250F Maserati) and Bruce Mc- Laten (Cooper Climax) are assured of their first and second placings already. * * 19-7-58 CAR RACING CAR RACING NZ. BEACH CHAMPIONSHIR. NZ. BEACH CHAMPIONSHIP. 30 MILES.. 30 MILES, AND SUPPORTING EVENTS. PINES BEACH PINES BEACH SUNDAY, JULY 20. 1958. 11 A.M. Wet Fine. Promoted by Admission: Adults 2/-. Cars and Children Free. MOTORF RACING 2706 19-7-58 CAR RACING CAR RACING BEACH BEACH CHAMPIONSHIP: NZ: AND SUPPORIING EVENTS. LES BEACE INES BEACH SUNDAY, JLLY 20, 1958, 11 A.XI. Wet or Fine. Promoted by MOTOR RACING CLERY 19-7-58 Roycroft To Beat in rdest Beach Race Championships H TARDEST man to beat in the New Zealand beach racing championship at the Pines tomorrow will be the Auckland racing driver Ron Roycroft, provided his new Jaguar Special comes up to expectations. and an XK120 Jaguar, as Roycroft is the present title- Blackburn's holder and there is only one well as Bot Mistral. The Mistral is the other driver who has bettered only New Zealand-built car his record. That is another in production to day. Auckland veteran, George Smith. Blackburn will race it in the Smith will not be racing to-mor- championship, the saloon cal row.. race and the all-comers race. Between races he will have to re- The event, which has been move or replace the roof of the organised by • the Motor Racing car, so he will have a busy day. Club with the help of the local branch of the New Zealand Racing Drivers' Association, has Newcomer drawn an attractive field, the thirty-mile championship should provide some exciting A newcomer to South Island duels, because there are at least racing will be Brian Tracy, of three categories of fairly evenly Auckland, who will be running his Cadillac-Allard. This is a matched cars competing. acceleration and As one lap will • be one mile car with good there will be less than half-mile it should be well up at the straights and the winner will finish. need flashing acceleration be- Of the rest of the field— tween the flags, The Jaguar and there are nineteen Special should have that as it is starters — Duncan Ruthera real sprint car, but all the ford (Lycoming Special) same, it would not be surpris looks in the best position to ing to see one of the small take a major placing. Coopers give Roycroft some thing to think about. But beach racing is a tricky form of motor sport and the actual condition of the beachi Threat can affect different cars in different ways. Dick Campbell, the national nill-cimb champion, seems the most likely man to do that. His is a late entry and his Cooper 500 is one of the quickest of the marque seen in this country: There is a good sprinkling of Ford Specials, some powered with V8 motors and others with the 10 horsepower motor, and these cars have had their share of success in fairly short beach races. Sports cars will include Austin - Healeys, Arthur Kennard's Corvette - Healey, 19-1-58 Nineteen Cars In N.Z. Beach Race The New Zealand championship beach race over a 30-mile course will be held tomorrow at Pines Beach. Among the 19 starters will be Ron Roycroft driving a locallybuilt chassis with Jaguar engine, A. Kenard with a Healey- Corvette, W. Harris with V8 special, and W. Doweli with his Ace 3. The course will be half a mile between pegs, a mile to the lap and a total of 30 laps. 20-1-58 Car Racing Aero-Engined Special Wins N.Z. Beach Event CHRISTCHURCH, July 20 (PA).—In a race of changing fortunes a Culverden sheepfarmer, D. H. Rutherford, drove his Lycoming aero-engined special to victory in the New Zealand beach race championship, held at Pines Beach, Christchurch, this afterдооп. Rutherford, who has competed ¡ in beach races since the last war without a major success, returned a time of 34min sec 10r the 30 miles. Two other drivers, W. Harris (Ford) and Campbell (Cooper) led at various stages, but both were forced to withdraw with engine trouble when they were challenging Rutherford. Results:* N.Z. Beach Championshlp -D. H. I he fucker comer, 37mm sisec. 34min sec. Tucker (Riles). F. G. Fisner (Ford 10 Special). R. Watson (Austin Healey), 39min Saloon Car REce ‹12 miles).-D. Young 15mim бес. 1; Kinsett 17min 21sec, G.1472sec. 3: B.3 Sprague 17min F: Keny or (Ford Kenyon Anglia). 18min 24.4 sec. ‡. 29-7-58 RUTHERFORD'S EASY BEACH LE WIN The New Zealand beach racing championship turned out to be national in name oniy when twelve cars faced the starter on Pines Beach yesterday afternoon for the 30-mile event. The non-appearance of the 1957 champion, the Aucklander, Ron Roycroft, took a great deal of interest out of the event, but the large crowd went home pleased that the Culverden farmer, Duncan Rutherford had annexed the title, after driving a heady race in his Lycoming Special. Wet sand and water took its toll. Only five cars were running at the end of the thirty miles and as spectacle the race left a lot to be desired. At the drop of the flag it was Arthur Kennard in his Corvette- Healey who showed out first, but he was closely followed by, Bill Harris (V8 Special), Dick Campbell (Cooper 500), Rutherford. Leaders Retire Not sparing his car, Harris grabbed the lead and held it eleven laps, only to retire with a failing motor. Rutherford. who had moved up to second place, took over the lead, but did not appear to be much concerned about a strong challenge from Campbell, and dropped back to second place after a lap. conceding the lead to the Cooper driver. Campbell, who was pressing his car very hard also. stayed in front for four laps and then retired when bis clutch burnt out. It that Rutherford only had to keep going to win and he eased up considerably. In fact, all the excitement was out of the race, but it was not to conciude without an incident which was to change the! fortunes of the minor place-getters. Collision At the far turn on Kennard's twentieth lap, he was just about to pass Darrell who was a lap behind him, when the latter, apparently blinded by the sand, slithered in front of him. The two cars collided side-on and both were out of the race. Neither driver was hurt but the cars were extensively damaged. Rutherford caked in saind, came home an easy winner in 34min 42sec and was followed it by Tucker, Fisher and Watson. 'Fiasco' The saloon car race was a fasco. In fact, the general tone was set when the starter (Mr W.W. Laing) raised the flag and the stick broke! Driving a Jaguar convertible, the 18-year-old Timaru driver, D. Young immediatelv went into the lead and soon bulit up an unassailable margia. B. G. Kinzett (Standard Vanguard) and another Timaru driver Sprague (Ford Zephyr), were second and third throughout the race. Eight of the ten starters finished. Results: New Zealand. Beach Race Charapionship (30 miles).—D. H. Rutherford (Lycoming) 34min 42sec, 1; R Tucker (Riley). 37mit 57.1sec. 2; F. G. Fisher (Ford 10) 38min 16sec, 3; R. Watson (Austin Healey) 39min 4.9sec, 4. Saloon Car Race (12 mnilles).— D. Young (Jaguar XK 120C) • 15min 9.6sec. 1: B. Sprague (Ford Zephy) zmin 47.2 sec, M. J. •F. Kenyon (Ford Anglia) 19min 24.5sec, 4. Admission: Adults 2s, children and cars free. 19