featureSporting notebook: beach championship not truly national
The columnist argues the NZ beach racing championship held by the Motor Racing Club in July 1958 could hardly be called national, since all twelve entrants came from the province, mostly Christchurch. He suggests a national event would attract better fields in summer, near the international road-race series, and notes Duncan Rutherford's well-earned win in his Lycoming Special.
Facts
- Twelve entrants, nearly all from Canterbury, contested the 1958 NZ beach racing championship; the Canterbury Car Club had abandoned the event and the Motor Racing Club took it on at the request of the NZ Racing Drivers' Club local section.
newsGood response to Town Hall appeal
Town Hall Promotion received a good early response to an appeal to Christchurch sports clubs and organisations, including 25 pounds from the Motor Racing Club.
Facts
- The Motor Racing Club donated 25 pounds to the Christchurch Town Hall appeal in 1958.
newsLady Wigram Trophy to be renamed Archie Scott-Brown Memorial Trophy
The Motor Racing Club planned to ask Mrs Scott-Brown, mother of the late Archie Scott-Brown, whether the Lady Wigram Trophy won by her son in 1958 could be awarded to the first sports car driver to finish in the trophy race in future, renamed the Archie Scott-Brown Memorial Trophy. The club also hoped to have Ron Flockhart's BRM start in the Lady Wigram Trophy as well as the NZ Grand Prix.
Facts
- Archie Scott-Brown, winner of the 1958 Lady Wigram Trophy, had died by October 1958.
- The Motor Racing Club proposed renaming the Lady Wigram Trophy the Archie Scott-Brown Memorial Trophy.
newsLocal race meeting near Little River
The Motor Racing Club had a local race meeting lined up for early December 1958 near Little River.
advertMotor-car racing at Birdlings Flat Air Field
Advertisement for motor-car racing at Birdlings Flat air field, on the Christchurch-Akaroa highway, on a Sunday in December 1958.
race reportW. Darrell wins racing trophy
W. Darrell, Canterbury's most consistent driver, won the Waitangi Trophy, a six-lap handicap, at the first race meeting held on the disused RNZAF airfield at Birdlings Flat before about 3000 spectators. The meeting raised money for the Little River School Committee's filtration plant for the school baths, but the circuit is unlikely to be used again because of dust and flying stones.
Facts
- The Birdlings Flat grass track meeting in December 1958 used a disused RNZAF airfield for the first time and attracted about 3000 people.
- The Waitangi Trophy was presented by Mrs J. O. Coop.
race reportDust and stones hazard at Birdling's Flat races
About 3000 watched saloon, sports and racing cars on a one-mile grass circuit at Birdlings Flat, organised by the Motor Racing Club to raise funds for the Little River School Committee. Stewards of the Association of NZ Car Clubs were unhappy about drivers racing blinded by dust, and the toll included chipped paintwork, two broken windscreens and shattered lamps. Saloons reached close to 95 mph on the back straight, and W. Darrell won the Waitangi Trophy, his best success.
Race 1 (scratch)
| 1 | J. B. Satterthwaite | Hillman | 3min 59sec |
| 2 | R. Watson | Morris Minor | |
| 3 | V. R. Blackburn | Anglia | |
Race 2 (scratch)
| 1 | W. L. Harris | Ford Special | 3min 17sec |
| 2 | J. Jones | Austin 7 | |
Race 3 (scratch)
| 1 | H. J. Heasley | Humber 80 | 3min 58sec |
| 2 | F. E. Sprague | Zephyr | |
| 3 | B. G. Kinzett | Vanguard | |
Race 4 (scratch)
| 1 | W. Darrell | A.C.E. III | 3min 24sec |
| 2 | R. S. Rutherford | Zephyr Special | |
| 3 | R. S. Grant | Austin-Healey | |
Race 5 (scratch)
| 1 | R. Silvester | Chevrolet | 3min 51sec |
| 2 | F. E. Sprague | Zephyr | |
| 3 | V. R. Blackburn | Anglia | |
Race 6 (scratch)
| 1 | R. S. Grant | Austin-Healey | 3min 28sec |
| 2 | W. Darrell | A.C.E. III | |
Race 7
| 1 | H. J. Heasley | Humber 80 | 3min 40sec |
| 2 | B. G. Kinzett | Vanguard | |
| 3 | K. E. Tucker | Minor 1000 | |
Race 8
| 1 | F. G. Pope | Ford Special | 3min 27sec |
| 2 | J. Jones | Austin 7 | |
| 3 | W. L. Harris | Ford Special | |
Race 9
| 1 | R. Watson | Morris Minor | 3min 55sec |
| 2 | J. B. Satterthwaite | Hillman | |
| 3 | B. G. Kinzett | Vanguard | |
Race 10
| 1 | B. D. Gardiner | TR2 | 3min 39sec |
| 2 | M. J. F. Kenyon | Austin-Healey | |
Race 11
| 1 | K. E. Tucker | Minor 1000 | 4min 1sec |
| 2 | R. Silvester | Chevrolet | |
| 3 | V. R. Blackburn | Anglia | |
Race 12
| 1 | J. Jones | Austin 7 | 3min 36sec |
| 2 | R. Watson | Morris Minor | |
| 3 | W. Darrell | A.C.E. III | |
Race 13
| 1 | F. E. Sprague | Zephyr | 3min 36sec |
| 2 | B. Craw | Morris Minor | |
| 3 | B. G. Kinzett | Vanguard | |
Race 14
| 1 | J. Jones | Austin 7 | 3min 42sec |
| 2 | M. J. F. Kenyon | Austin-Healey | |
| 3 | W. L. Harris | Ford Special | |
Waitangi Trophy - first heat
| 1 | W. Darrell | A.C.E. III | 3min 29sec |
| 2 | B. G. Kinzett | Vanguard | |
| 3 | R. Watson | Morris Minor | |
Waitangi Trophy - second heat
| 1 | W. L. Harris | Ford Special | 3min 15sec |
| 2 | K. E. Tucker | Minor 1000 | |
| 3 | V. R. Blackburn | Anglia | |
Waitangi Trophy final (six laps)
| 1 | W. Darrell | A.C.E. III | 7min 47.4sec |
| 2 | W. L. Harris | Ford Special | |
| 3 | V. R. Blackburn | Anglia | |
Lap times
- W. L. Harris (Ford Special): 1:01 fastest race lap
- W. Darrell (A.C.E. III): 1:04.1 fastest race lap
- saloon cars: 95 mph top speed
Facts
- The Birdlings Flat circuit in December 1958 was one mile around a disused RNZAF airfield.
- About 130 pounds was taken at the gate at the 1958 Birdlings Flat meeting, to buy a filtration plant for Little River School baths.
- Speeds of close to 95 mph were reached by saloon cars on the long back straight at Birdlings Flat in 1958.
Read the OCR text
29-8-58 29-11-58 8-12-58
SPORTING NOT
By no stretch of the imagination could the
New Zealand beach racing
championship held here by
the Motor Racing Club be
considered an international
event. The twelve entrants
all came from within the
province and the majority
of them from Christchurch.
it was no fault of the club
that the levent was not better
patronised. The Canterbury Car
Club had abandoned it and it
was at the behest of the local
section of the New Zealand Racing Drivers' Club that the Motor
Racing Club took it on.
• All the same a national event
should be just that. For it to be
otherwise can do nothing more
than devalue the event.
It is hard to see how any club
can guarantee, if it is allocated
a national title event by • the
Association of New Zealand Car
Clubs, that it will be able to
attract a truly national entry.
One thing does, nowever
seem certain: The chances of
attracting a good field must
surely be better in the summer
than in mid-winter. -™
Although beach Jang and
road circult racing: are poles
apart; It would appear that there
is a much better chance of attracting a good national field
either just before or just after
10-10-58
Good Response to
Town Hall Appeal
A good initial response to an
appeal to all sports clubs, societies and organisatiors of all
kinds in Christchurch, has been
received by Town Hall Promotion.
In the brief period since this
particular appeal was made, a
number of donations have been
made or promised, including the
following: Elm wood Bowling
Club £25, Motor Racing Club
£25, Canterbury A. and P. Association £25, Canterbury Owners'
and Breeders' Association £20,
St Andrew's College Parent-
Teachers Association £10 10s,
St Andrew's College Old Boys'
Association FI0 I0s, Pioneer
Sports Club £10, Tin Hat Club
Es 5s, Returned Servicewomen's
Branch £5 5s, Woolston Tennis
Club £2 2s, Townswomen's
Guild £10, Orpheus Choir £25.
EBOOK
the international series of road
races, which comes early in the
year.
As things turned out the Culverden farmer, Duncan Rutherford, had a well-earned victory
in the beach race. In point of
fact, the result might not have
been any different if he had
faced stronger oppositlon. His
Lycoming Special went very well
and Rutherford, who is a real
sportsman, for one would have
velcomed being given a real run
for the money.
21-10-58
The Christchurch Motor Racing Club is going to ask Mrs
Scott-Brown, mother of the late
Archie Scott-Brown, she
agreeable to the club awarding:
the Lady Wigram Trophy won
by her son here this year to the
first sports car driver to inish
in the trophy race in the future.
Mrs Scott-Brown is anxious
that the trophy should remain in
competition in Christchurch. It
will be renamed the Archie
Scott-Brown Memorial Trophys
Incidentally, the cinb will
be making every effort
have the B.R.M. start in the
• Lady Wigram Trophy. The
car, which will be driven by
Ron Flockhart, will start in
the New Zealand Grand
Prix.
Flockhart has only just returned to racing. An accident
kept him out for most of the
last European season.,
11-19-58
The Christchurch Motor Racing Club has a local race meeting lined up for early in December. near Little River. == C
MOTOR!
MOTOR-CAR RACING
MOTOR-CAR RACING
MOTOR-CAR RACING
BIRDLINGS FLAT AIR FIELD
BIRDLINGS FLAT AIR FIELD
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1
Turn off Siga Posted on Highway
Christchurch-Akaroa
Hot Water. Tea, Ice Cream, Soft
Drinks availabie
5857
8-12-58
W. Darrell Wins
Racing Trophy
W. Darrell, Canterbury's most consistent motor racing driver, took
the honours when he won the Waltangi Trophy vesterday. The trophy,
presented by Mrs O. Coop,
awarded to the winner of a six-lap
handicap race before about 3000 who
turned watch racing
grass track circult at Birdling's Flat.
The circult, on the disused Royal
New Zealand Air Force Airfield, was
being used tor the first time.
is unlikely to be used again, however, dust and fying stones
added too much danger.
As a result of the meeting about
raised to help the Little
River School Committee buy a filtration plant for the school baths.
Results were (races one to
from scratch)—
Race 1: 1 Satterthwaite
man) 1, R. Watson (Worris Minor)
2, V. R. Blackburn (Anglia) 3. Time.
3min 59sec.
Race 2: W. L Harris (Ford Speclal). 1, 1. Jones (Austin 7) 2. Lime
3min 17sec.
Race 3: H. J. Heasley (Humber 80)
1, F. E. Sprague (zephyr) 2. B. G. Kinzett
(Vanguard) 3. Time 3min
58sec.
Race 4: W. Darrell (A.C.E. III) 1,
* Hutnerford (Zephyr Special) 2,
3min 24sec. R. S. Grant (Austin-Healey) 3. Time
Race 5: R. Silvester (Chevrolet) 1,
Sprague 2, Blackburn 3. Time 3min
51sec.
Race 6: Grant 1, Darrell 2. Time
3min 28sec.
Race 7: Heasley 1, Kinzett 2, K.E.
Tucker (Minor 1000) 3. Time 3min
40sec.
1. Race 8: F. G. Pope (Ford Special) Jones
2, Harris 3. Time 3min
27sec.
Race 9: R. Watson (Morris Minor)
3min 55sec. 1. Satterthwaite 2, Kinzett 3. Time
M. J. F. Kenyon (Austin-Healey) Race 1 Keny Carstin-Healey) 2:
Time 3min 39sec.
Race 11: Tucker 1. Silvester 2,
Blarkburn 3. Time 4min Isec.
Race 12: Jones 1, Watson 2, Darrell 3. Time 3min 36sec.
race 13: Sprague 1, B. Craw (Morris Minor) 2, Kinzett 3. Time 3min
36sec.
3. Time 3min 42sec. Race 14: Jones 1, Kenyon 2, Harris
Waitangi ..Trophy race, first heat:
Darrell 1, s Kinzett 2, Watson 3. Time
3min -sec. Second beat: Harris I,
Tucker 2, Blackburn 3. Time 3min
15sec. Final (six laps): Darreli 1,
Harris 2, Blackburn" 3. • Time 8min
47.4sec.
Fastest laps: Harris 61sec. Darrell 64.1sec.
Dust And Stones Hazard
At Birdling's Flat Races
Before a crowd of about 3000,1
saloon cars, sports cars and racing
cars had some interesting tussles
on a grass track circuit at Birdling's Flat yesterday. The circuit, which is situated on a nowdisused Royal New Zealand Air
Force airfield, was being used for
the first time to raise funds for!
the Little River School Committee. The meeting was organised by
the Motor Racing Club.
Altnough the one-mile circuit
was interesting for the drivers.
the amount of dust and stones
fung up from spinning tyres on
the corners makes it doubtful
whether it will find favour with
promoting clubs in the future.
The venue is ideal, with almost
unlimited scope. but the sandy
nature of the soil is not suited to
motor racing.
Stewards of the Association of!
New Zealand Car Clubs present at
the meeting were not happy about
the dangers with drivers racing at
full speed when they were blinded
by the dust of cars in front.
The toll was much chipped
paintwork. two broken windscreens. and several shattered
headlamps and foglamps.
Most Consistent
Honours went to Canterbury's
most consistent racing driver, W.
Darrell. Although he has competed in motor-racing events over
many years. yesterday brought his
best success when he won the Waitangi Trophy, presented by Mrs
J. O. Coop. The trophy was
awarded to the winner of a six-!
lap handicap race.
As a result of the meeting. the!
River School Committee
benefited by about About
£ 130 was received at the gate. but
a percentage of this was paid to
drivers. The school committee
intends to put the money towards
purchasing a filtration plant for
the bath at the school.
In spite of the shortcomings of
the track, the races attracted one
of the biggest entries seen at
a track meeting in recent seasons. Many of the saloon cars had
been specially prepared, and on
the long back straight, speeds of
close on 95 miles an hour were
being reached Drivers requiredi
a fair degree of skill in the use
their brakes, since locked
wheels gave very limited stoppine
power on the slippery grass surface.
One of the best performances in
saloon cars was achieved by the
Rangiora driver, H. J. Heasley. In
a new Humber 80 converted with
special equipment. Heasley outpaced cars with twice the capacity
F. E. Sprague, of Timaru. took
his ford Zephyr into the corners!
with almost reckiess abandon.
Resuits were (races one to six from
scratch):-
Race 1 J B. Satterthwaite (Hillman) I R Watson (Morris : Minor)
2, Y. R. Blackburn (Anglia) 3. Time.
3min 59sec
Race 2: W. L. Harris (Ford
Special) I, J. Jones (Austin 7)
Time. 3min l7sec.
Race 3- H. J. Heasley (Humber 80)
Sprague (Zephyr) 2, B. G.
Kinzett (Vanguard) 3. Time. 3min
sisec.
Race 4: W Darrell (A.CE. IN) 1.
R. S. Rutherford (Zephyr Special) 2,
R. S. Grant (Austin-Healey) 3. Time.
3min 24sec.
Race 5: R Silvester (Chevrolet) 1,
Sprague 2, Blackburn 3. Time, 3min
51sec.
Race 6: Grant I, Darrell 2. Time,
3min 28sec
Race 7: Heasley 1. Kinzett 2, K. E.
Tucker (Minor 1000) 3. Time, 3min
40sec.
Race 8: F G. Pope (Ford Special)
1 Jones 2. Harris 3. Time, 3min
27:ec.
Race 9: R. Watson (Morris Minor)
1. Satterthwaite 2, Kinzett 3. Time.
3min 55sec
Race 10. B. D. Gardiner (T.R2) 1, M
E. Kenyon (Austin-Healey) 2.
Time, 3min 39sec.
Race 1l: Silvester 3.
Blackburn 3. Jucker tamin Isec Time,
Race 12: Jones 1, Watson 2, Darrell 3. Time. 3min 36sec
Race 13: Sprague 1 B. Craw
(Morris Minor) 2, Kinzett 3. Time,
3min 36sec.
Race 14: Jones 1, Kenyon 2, Harris
3. Time 3min 42sec.
Waitangi Trophy race. first heat:
Darrell 1. Kinzett 2, Watson 3. Time,
3min 29sec. Second Seat: Harris 1.
Tucker 2 Blackburn 3. Time, 3min
losec. Final (six laps): Darrell 1,
Harris 2. Blackburn 3. Time, 7min!
47.4sec.
Fastest laps: Harris 6lsec Darrell!
64.1sec.
Summaries and tables are machine-read from the scan and may contain errors: the scan is the record.