20-1-60 News for Wom WOMEN IN THE en PITS STAND BY Racing Drivers Quiz The Mayor *What is the population of Christchurch, and what is the average annual rainfall?" Loa Kingsley, 71-year-old saloon car driver from Australia, asked the Mayor (Mr George Nanning) at this morning's reception to fire drivers at Saturday's Lady Wigram Trophy meeting at Wigram. "The population is about 150,000 and about 200,000 taking in some of the outlying districts," said NIr Manning without hesitation. "The average rainfall is 26in, though last rear was considerably less." "And is it hard to get mones out of New Zealand?" asked Mr Kingsley. "Yes," laughed Mr Manning. * It's hard enough to get # in New Zealand," put in some. one else. THERE will be cars, dust, and noise at the Lady Wigram Trophy race next Saturday. There will be high exictement and tension welding the crowds about the cireuit. But in the pits, calm, alert—all their anxiety controlled concentration-there will be women— helping. Mrs Ian Burgess, who! "The first few laps are a bit arrived in Christchurch yes- unpleasant," Mrs Burgess said "but when the race settles down terday with her English race I have not got time to worry." driver husband, will be one of She takes down the position them—ice cool, pencil mark- of all the cars and tells ing all the cars, but backing mechanic, who conveys to her husband by Signboard how the Burgess Cooper Climax for many seconds he is losing or all she's worth. gaining. As the cars hurtle one after If her husband loses? "I am very happy the race the other swallowing the 150- is over regardless of what he mile course, positions are apt. has done," said Mrs Burgess. to become a little confusing, but Mrs Burgess is trained in this job and every place will be kept 'For Men' with an accuracy that belies her Swedish, blue-esed blonde glamour. If the car breaks down Mrs For six rears the age of Burgess feels "very despondent." their marriageMrs Bur- But if he wins? tess has done this job of scoring for her hus- "There is not much one can band. say.". replied this understand. ing little wife. "He doesn't take • Although the Burgesses try much notice of you till evening. not to be superstitious and have • he is so busy kalking about the no mascot—"so awkward if it race with the mechanics and lets you down, you don't know other drivers. whether to continue wearing it So you just look at each or throw it away,"—it is easy to other happily and just stand beimagine that Burgess would not hind in case they want you. feel quite as happy and relaxed You don't barge in. if his pretty wife was not there "Racing," added this wise running his pit. girl, "is entirely for men •• except when Jou are No Hardship needed," she added philsophically. This is no hardship to Mrs But all the wisdom in the Burgess-she has always been world is no help when the car interested in racing and drove in doesn't pass the Dits. Swedish car rallies from the age One second late-two-three of 18 -ten . . • Their "driving" interest in cars brought them together in Waiting Sweden. Big time racing is ex- Said Mrs hausting. Eten in the pits Burgess: "Your the race is unreliered in heart goes straight up into your its tension for the momen throat and you just watch the -made bend and hope he has stopped bearable only because they are very busy. because of mechanical trouble. "You keep telling yourself that he has stopped because of mechanical trouble and that soon he'll come walking in-or ing the car into the pits. nurs.; And if he has had an accs- i dent? ! Iin. Well. once he did. In Ber- She explained that in the Mrs Ian Burgess ... ice cool at Wigram looked after TOIL in such circumstances. Burgess has travelle not got any specia ke hest. but there i ance and Italy. Son Keen course Englanı "er S-tear-nid isstring ake Arthn alarlier •.: ' IA 8.... anu froin al =÷3:40a4 ie sron he ir. hi5 ta ner ira:i- Burgess did no: say was going 10 tane PROGRAWVE EXPLAINED TO VATOR THE PROGRAMME for Saturday's Lady Wigram Trophy race is explained to the Major (Mr (rorge Manning) in his room this morning by a group of cheerful competitors. They are (from left Ian Burges (England), Bruce Melaren (New Zealand), Len Lukes (Australia), and Lou Kingsley (Arstralial. Inu King-les, aged 71. is the oldest raring driter in the morld.