Wigram TrophyMotor racing at Wigram airfield · Christchurch · 1949–2000
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Scan of the clipping page, 12 December 1958
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Racing grandfather

Profile of Walter Darrell, probably Canterbury's most popular racing driver, whose long run of bad luck over nine years ended when he won the main trophy at Birdlings Flat. He became interested in racing aged ten at Oreti Beach, first raced after the war at Te Pirita in a Studebaker saloon, and later bought the old single-seater Wolseley made famous by Hector Green, refitted with a modified 12hp Vauxhall motor with help from J. A. Brewer. He had a narrow escape at Wigram when his car overshot the S-bend, and was hospitalised after a collision at Pines Beach in 1958.

Facts

  • Walter Darrell won the trophy race at Birdlings Flat in December 1958 after nine years of competition.
  • Darrell suffered two cracked ribs and torn stomach muscles in a collision at the Pines Beach championship in July 1958.
  • Darrell bought the single-seater Wolseley that Hector Green had made famous and refitted it with a 12hp Vauxhall motor.
Read the OCR text
12 - 12-58 Motor Racing Grandfather A long list of failures and ill-! • fortune was brought to an end at Birdling's Flat last Sunday when: Walter Darrell probabiy the most popular racing driver in Canterbury, won the trophy for the main race of the day. In nine years of competition, this racing grandfather has had more! than his share of bad luck, and Sunday's success was applauded by spectators and fellow-drivers alike. Darrell's first interest in motorracing was shown when he was only 10 years of age, and it ws a visit with his father to a meeting held at Oreti Beach, Southland, that convinced him that he would some day race a car himself. Darrell never lost that aim. and shortly after the war raced for the first time at Te Pirita in a Studebaker saloon. First Car He then decided to build his own car, and put many bours into: collecting parts for a car to be powered by a V-4 Wisconsin engine. This venture was never completed, for Darrell bought the famous old single-seater Wolseley with which Hector Green became famous. With the help of Grees and Mr J. A. Brewer (now secretary of the Motor Racing Club) the car was fitted with a 12 horse-. power Vauxhall motor, suitably modified. But the bad luck which was to •come would have disheartened Sara W. DARRELL most people. The Vauxhall and later cars which Darrell butl: either lacked speed or blew up. At Wigram, he narrowly escaped serious injury when his car overshot the S-bend, but suffered facial cuts wiich i but him " 1E hospital. More Bad Luck - Darrell has been a consistent competitor in beach race championships. and seemed set tor nigh placing at Pines Beach this year when he collided with ar other car. The result was two cracked ribs and torn stomach muscles which again required hospital treatment: - This driver's : attitude towar-is the sport is one which deserves the highest praise, for with such large amounts of money involved in racing machinery. fierce competition does exist. among competitors. "I have always tried to play the game with both offcials and other competitors" said Darrell this week. "It is time all drivers realised that it is aot the results that count, but the enjoyment that can be obtained. We are a long time dead."

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