21-1-59 Dang New erous Be Zealand Motor Racing RECORD felds, record speeds, and record crowds lifted motor racing into big-time sport in New Zealand this year. This is all very heartening. But it is going to pose a number of problems that will have to be solved by next season. There is no doubt that promoters of this season's events can thank the young Aucklander, Bruce McLaren, who has raced so successfully, not only in New Zealand but also overseas, Stirling Moss, winner of the New Zealand Grand Prix, and the Owen Organisation -Pyhich sent the B.R.M. and its driver, _ Ron Flockhart, here for most of the success. The omens for the future could not be better, but new thinking on the part of race organisers and drivers, as well as everyone else connected with motor racing, will be needed if the sport is to continue prospering. What the thousands of people who attended the events held in Aucklana, _ Christchurch, Waimate, and Invercargill over the past few weeks do not really realise is that motor racing is about the most expensive New Zealanders indulge soprt • to day. Haere are a number of drivers in this country who have cars worth more than 23000 than can be used on not much more than half & dozen occasions each year. Apart from the capital outlay in which these men are involved there are enormous additional expensestravelling and accommodation to get from one meeting to another, transportation for themselves, their pit crew, spare parts, and fuel. It is safe to say that entry in the four major events in this country means the expenditure of about £400. Frustrated Of course some of the drivers are assisted by the oil companies but, all the same, no fewer than four men who filled major places in some of this year's international events are consic- l ering retirement on the grounds of expense and through general frustration. although there are some higa- This season has proved class cars in this country few of them are capable of heading off the best overseas opposition. Even the most enthusiastic local drivers get a bit fed up when they find they have no chance of a win except in exceptional circumstances and, on top of that, can expect no starting money from organisers. arvest This season the British, light rear : engined Cooper - Climax racers have had a harvest festival. It was only at Wigram that another marque notched up a win. Flockhart managed narrowly when he beat Jack Brabham, who was driving a works Cooper. All these Coopers 100k much the same. But the point is that McLaren's car and that of Brabham had the latest motors. The other cars had older and not so highly-dereloped motors.. It adds up to this: If New Zealand Cooper owners want to keep in the running next season they will need the most modern • Coventry - Climax motors availabie. nds Ahead for Only Two Nothing is developed much quicker than a racing car motor, and this is the thing that New zealanders nave to contend with. A new motor means money. and a lot of money. But drivers cannot keep or. digging into their own pockets. They must have some help. In fact, they need a lot more help than they have been getting. Only two New Zealanders, as tar as is known, received any starting money this season. They were McLaren, winner of two races, and Ross Jensen, last year's New Sealano champion. The rest were dependent upon the bonuses they could get from oil companies and other firms associated with the motor husiness. All that did not add great deal. The answer to this pruviem lies with the organising clubs. They have got to consider giving incentives to local drivers to start. Unquestionably there are local men who are capable of beating overseas drivers of good calibre, provided they have the cars to do it with. lí the organisers pould guarantee appearance and starting money to at least eight or nine of New Zealand's best drivers the standard of racing would go up in leaps and bounds. Drivers could afford the most modern power units available and would be able to race on equal terms with overseas . visitors. Unless the clubs do this, they are going to have the hardest job in the world to attract firstclass felds. Cluttered At the same time the clubs can help themselves by culling the fields. With the notable exception of Waimate every field in this year's series. was cluttered up with cars that were hopelessly outclassed It is true that there weré at least two or three cars that should never have been on the grid in the "Waimate 50." But the South Canterbury Car Club, either by good luck or by good management, had the most evenly matched feld of the series. It is a hard thing to say. But it is true. People do not pay to go along and watch fast cars being unintentionally baulked by the enthusiastic and wellmeanin drivers of siow ones. It is not fair to the spectators or the drivers. Spectacle Motor racing is a spectacle. Perhaps not much more than 10 per cent of those who attend race meeting are genuine enthusiasts. The great majority go to be entertained. They rightiy expect value for their money and if they do not get it they don't often go back again. By now promoters should realise this. But this season has shown that the lesson has not set been learnt. Thousands of pounds were poured into the organisation of the New Zealand Grand Prix at Ardmore and there was a record crowd of more than 80,000 people. But the service most were given was below the standard that could reasonably be expected for the price they paid to be there. Terrible The less said about the organisation at Wigram, the better. It was terrible. The reasons could not all be laid fairly on the shoulders of the Christchurch Motor Racing Club. But after all they organised the meeting and rightly or otherwise must accept the responsibility. In fact it was the youngest and most ambitious club in the country that turned on the best day. That was the Southland Sports Car Club. At its first attempt the South Canterbury Car Club-the only one to stage an event on pubne roads - loomed up, head and • Shoulders above Auckland and Wigram. Fault Part of the fault lies with the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs. It is not good enough for stewards . to lay down the law at the last minute. Drivers and cluns must have everything well and truly sorted out long before race day. This was not the case at Wigram. A ruling from a steward of the association made only on the night before the race nearly Killed the event. If it had • been adhered to Flockhart mould not have started the B.R.J. Fortunately, at the very last minute, the steward reversed nis ruling. But that was something that should never have happened Musts So it all adds up to this: New Zealand drivers must be given financial help by clubs if they are to keep on racing. Clubs must. forget about the "old chums" idea and run their meetings on a businesslike basis and provide value for money. They must also take the bull by the horns and cull the entrants to provide good close racing. At the same time they must provide events for the drivers who aspire to race in the top class. Finally, the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs must give promoters of events plenty of time to comply with requirements and • It also must ensure that those requirements are reasonable while being in the interest of safety. Under the surface in this the most successful season, there had been a great deal of domestic strife. This is not the sort of foundation that will help the sport. If this can be overcome and organisers can get rid of seme their evident complacency the future should be even rosier than it looks now.-Peter Greenslade. 29-9-59 Wigram Entries Two late entries have been received for the Lady Wigram Trophy race on Saturday. They are John Mansell, of Tuakau, who wil drive; a 250F Maserati, formerly owned by Ross Jensen. and M Neill, of Auckland, who will drive a 1966 cc Cooper Climax. Neill has proved himself one of New Zealand's best drivers with only one year's competition. Although his саг may be lacking in power on the fast: back straight he should finish well up in the Wigram. field.