25-1-60 Motor Racing BRABHAM WINS LADY WICRAM TROPHY Brillian tRace ByMcLaren Borrowed Car In one of the easiest victories of his career, the world motor racing champion, Jack Brabham, gave the British Cooper Car Company its second win in New Zealand in two weeks when he won the sixth Lady Wigram international trophy race on Saturday. Brabham was in complete control of the situation from start to finish of the 150-mile classic, and had he not slowed considerably towards the end, would have finished far ahead of the rest of the field. Brabham set up a new race record of 1hr 40min 4Zsec (about 90 miles an hour) and also broke the lap record held by Ron Flockhart (B.R.M.) at 1min 22.2sec with a scorching lap at 1min 20.8sec (about 94 miles an hour). If New Zealand's Bruce Mc- Laren has ever had cause to be proud of a race in which he has driven, then Saturday's event must rank high. MeLaren's own car was eliminated from the race on Friday evening when a connecting rod tore a huge nole in the crankcase, and it was only a sporting gesture by W. M. Gill, of Auckland, who lent McLaren his Lycoming Special, which allowed the New Zealand champion to drive on Saturday. In this car, NicLaren rose far past the heights which one would reason- ' ably expect even from one with his international experience. It was McLaren's first race in the Lycoming, and although the reliability of this aero-engined special is outstanding. it was hardly the car to challenge the factory-built machines of Brabnam, Piper and Burgess. But challenge them it did, in spite of the added difficulties McLaren encountered in the form of fading brakes and a broken rev counter needle. McLaren Brilliant McLaren's fastest lap in the coming was lmin 26sec-and this was done at a stage when the brakes were giving him little assistance. The aero-engine was given it head from start to finish, and McLaren's display to keep the special high up in the feld earned him generous praise from Brabham and the other two Englishmen. Ilandicapped by the broken rev. counter needlewhich meant he had to guess when he had reached peak revolutions in each gear-the New Zealander never relaxed for a moment, and he had high praise for the car when the race was finished. McLaren drove for a good deal of the race using his failing brakes only at the sbend and the hanger bend, but towards the finish, they were almost useless. Second place was taken by David Piper, and although his car was no match for Brabham's works Cooper, he kept close to the tail of the Australian for half the race. Piper was unfortunate to be involved in a slight collision with another car, and although the only damage was a leaking radiator, he lost a good deal of time and only drew back near Brabham towards the finish. Ian Burgess, the chief instructor for the Cooper Car Company,. was driving under similar handicaps to McLaren. Burgess damaged the gears of his Cooper in the New Zealand Grand Prix at Ardmore, and with no substitute had to drive gearbox available, carefully on Saturday. Even so, he was close to the leaders in the early stages and only dropped back when the pace was increased. Disappointing Trend Saturday's race was disappointing in many ways. After the first iew laps had been completed, there were only 13 cars left in the running, and none of these was, in a strong position to challenge Brabham's lead. David Piper and! the other English Cooper driver, lan Burgess, were close behind Brabham in the opening laps, but it wis quite plain that Brabham was taking things as easily as possible. His lap times were remarkably slow, and it was only half way through the race that he began to lower his lap times and draw away from Piper. Burgess dropped back from the leaders as he nursed the damaged gearbox of his car. The Australian racing chardpion, Len Lukey, who had looked forward to Saturday's race a great deal with the chance of a major placing, was relegated to the side-i line before the race commenced. Lukey's Cooper had developed big-end trouble in practice on Friday, and although the engine was stripped down overnight, found that repairs could not be done in time for the race. The front of the grid was occupied by Brabham, Burgess, Piper and P. M. Hoare (Ferrari). Bur-l gess got the best start, and with the rest of the field nuzzling close i behind there was a good deal of : jockeying for positions. As the cars streamed out on to the backi straight, Brabham lead, followed by Burgess, Piper, Jensen (Cooper), Mclaren and Hoare. On this very first lap, Mansel's 250F Maserati came a halt near the S-bend with bolts sheared in the universal. By the end of the third lap, the field had settled down, with Brabham, Piper and Burgess running at the head of the field with only few yards. separating them. Brabham quite content to stay in that position and not to push his car further to endeavour to open up a large lead. Sid Jensen was driving his beautifullyprepared 1500 c.c. Cooper Climax fine short distance back. and he was being hotly pursued by Mclaren, who was getting the feel of the Lycoming. Denis Hulme, the son of the World War II Victoria Cross winner, Sergeant A. C. Hulme, was holding sixth place and showed that the New Zealand International Grand Prix organisation had not misplaced their faith him when they selected him this month for the "Drivers to Europe" scheme. Hulme was followed by Jimmy Palmer, driving his Lotus in fine style, and Hoare's sleek Ferrari. Roycroft's V12 Ferrari sounded very rough and was crackling to a peculiar tune of its own, and it was followed by L. Moore-a prerious winner at Wigram on two occasions-and the new Stanton Special of M. F. Stanton. Even at this early stage, Mc- Laren was lapping at about 1min 28sec in the Lycoming and was| drifting it perfectly through the fast corner. With its savage acceleration, the Lycoming was making up a good deal of time out of! the S-bend and the hangar bend. Gilbert's Cooper Bristol and Roy-! croft's Ferrari touched on the hangar bend and Gilbert was through into a spin. Neither car suffered more than scratches to the bodywork. After eight laps, Gavin. Quirk' was forced to withdraw when the! bearings on his 250F Maserati gave up. Moore Withdraws McLaren was soon to pass Jensen into fourth place, Hume Hoare dropped back behind and Palmer. es Moore was apparently one of the most surprised men on the circuit when he found a front. tyre on his R A-Vanguard blowing) like balloon on the back straight. The casing had parted had company with the tread, and Moore! alarning moments before he brought the car into the Dits and retired from the race. By the end of 20 laps Brabham had lapped all the field except Mc- Laren, and he had accomplished this without any pressure whatever. Pipwas still sounding crisp as it talled the Cooper, to feel the but Burgess was now beginning handicap of his damaged gearbox. Brabham and Piper finally lapped McLaren on the twenty-seventh lap. It was now clear that McLaren' was having his problems with the Where McLaren had formerly Lycomins begun braking close to a corner, he now changed down a good ideal earlier in an effort to relieve the drum brakes on his borrowed Jensen was motoring lapping at about lmin 27sec. grand style, post but ground when stopped twice time for new plugs. once for overheating and a second Brabham then dictated a change pattern of the race, and altered the form of the miiltaryprocession little. Reducing his lap times, Brabham drew turther; away Irom Piper, and his work was: assisted by the time Piper lost when he was involved in an incident with Stanton's special hangar bend. Brabham put in a lap at 1min 21.8sec. then on the fiftieth! lap went round in Imin 20.8sec-the new lap record for the circu into The race again settled down a dull period, and at 60 laps Brabham was still leading the field with Piper second, Burgess third, floare, Mc- Laren fourth and Hulme, Palmer, and Gilbert following in that order. The Stantor Special then withdrew with transmission, trouble. Brabham's Tactics Even though Piper was closing the gap over the losing Stages, Brand Brabham was not going to be into doing anything foolish. He had a good idea of how much time he had to spare. 'and had he wished Icould have finished many minutes ahead of Piper. But his race tactics cannot be questioned-it was this same sparing of his cars which , took him to the world champion-i ship last season and over the highly-favoured Stirling Milory Moss. There was no need for Brabham to punish his car to win on saturday.t and he did the same as most other experienced drivers would have done! in the same position. The race finished with Brabham first, followed by Piper and Burgess. Hulme was extremely unlucky to lose the oil pressure in his en-! ! gine only a few laps from the finish! and forgo fifth place to Hoare. Open Car Race The Hastings driver, A. N. Hystop, had to work hard to win the open car race over 42 miles. For most of the race Hyslop's D-type Jaguar was harried by the tiny Lotus of J. M. Windelburn and the C-type Jaguar young Timaru competitor, David Halfway through this event the motor Young's overheated, and then that Windelburn moved up challenge Hyslop. Considering that Windelburn was slow away in the Le Mans start, his driving to get within seconds of the big Jaguar with three laps to the finish effort. Windelburn continued to close the was only 1}sec behind the faguar at the inish. D. Lawrence,! Wanganul. drove his Cooper Climax into third place. Palmer, of Hamilton, drove fauitlessly win the sports car race in his Lotus. aiter poor (start. Gilbert took Cooper *'aristol into the lead the start followed by W. M. Gill (Lycoming) and A. Hyslop (Jaguar D-type). Win for Heasiey After the anti-climax of the trophy spectators found the saloon race, race quite the car most exciting exhibition of racing during the day Several late model saloons were entered, and the win of H. J. Heasley. of Rangiora, was brilliant. Driving a Humber 80 specially tuned for racing Heasley was travelling at more than 90 miles an hour on the straights and was taking the comers in the style of a sports car. A 3.4 Jaguar driven by F. Dow, lof Geraldine, spoiled its chances of ia major placing when • it soun at the hangar bend. F. D. Cantwell's Triumph Herald coupe showed a For prospeed and finished to E. Sprague, must have caused consternation in mation in the Jaguar camp when he held off the 3.4 model with his Ford Zephyr. Sprague's driving has always been forceful, but he made no mistakes on Saturday and deserved the win in his class. Results were:- LADY WIGRAM TROPHY RACE (71 laps, 150 miles) Brabham (Britain), Cooper Climax, 1hr 40min 42sec, 1; D. Piper (Britain), Lotus. 1hr 40min 53.4sec, 2; I. Burgess (Britam), Cooper :Chimax, Ihr 42min 43sec. в. Мс- Laren (Britain). Lycoming Special, 1hr 44min 30.4sec. 4; P. Hoare (Christchurch), Ferrari, Inr 44min 58.9sec, 70 laps, 5; J. Palmer (Hamilto Gilbe amiltosec Cooper Gilbert (Hamiton). Cooper Bristol, 1hr 45min 27sec./ 67 laps. S. Jensen (Palmerston Cooper Climax, Ihr 44min worth). 53 .asec, 66 laps, 8. MOTOR RACING CLUB TROPHY (20 laps, 42 miles) Hyslop (Hastings). Jaguar Dtype, 32min 18.8sec, 1; J. . M. Windelburn (Maungaturoto), Lotus, 32min 20.4sec, 2; D. Lawrence (Wanganui), Cooper. 35min 14.2sec, 3; A. Holrosd (Invercargill), samin 14.3sec, 4; Blackburn (Christchurch), Citroen Special, 35min 28.7sec, Rutherford (Christchurch), R.-A. Zephyr, 36min 35.3sec, Class Winners.-Up Windelburn 1. Lawrence 2. 1501 3000 c.c.: Blackburn Rutherford 2. 3001 c.c. and over: Hysop Candy (Timaru), Healey' Corvette, SALOON CAR RACE (10 laps, 21 miles) Heasley (Rangiora), Humber H20 mn 1; C. Knight (Kaigaia 2, Standard 10, 20min 3ec, 2; 1 Cantwell (Christchurch), Triumpr Herald, 20min 50.3sec, 3. Class to 1100 C.C. Knight 1. i. Canel 2 Cantwell 1101 C.C. td 1550 c.c.: Heasley 1, J. Mullins (Lees- Simca, 2. 2301 c.c. and over/ tonE. Sprague H. Kingsley (Austra (Timaru), Zephyr, I; L lia), Holden 2. SPORTS CAR RACE. (20 laps, 42 miles) , 30min 25.6sec, Palmer w mi oil truc (Auckland), Lycoming Special, 30min 29sec. 2; A. Jaguar D-type, Hysop (Hastings), 31min 25.3sec, L. Gilbert (Hamuton). Cooper Bristol, Simin 40.4sec, W. Thomason (Huntly),. Monza Ferrari, Class' Winners.—Up to 1500 c.e.: D Lawrence (Wanganui), Cooper, 1; M. Windelburn • Lotus: 1501 c.c. (Maungaturoto, palmer! 3000 c.c.: I, Gilbert 2, Thomason 3. Over 3000 c.c.: Gill 1, Hyslop MOTOR-CYCLE RACES 500 c.c. (eight laps, 16.8 miles): Newbrook (Norton), 13min 38sec, 1; B. Benke (Norton), 13min 39sec, Thompson (Norton), 13min 53sec. S. Burt (Norton), 4; D. Bums (A.J.S.). Pool petrol section: V. Rush (B.S.A.). 1. 350 c.c. (eight laps, 16.8 miles).- R. Newbrook (Norton), 1; J. Thompson (Norton). 2; B . Benke (Norton), 3; M. Daniels (Norton), 4. Time, 13min 35sec. 250 c.c. (eight laps, 16.8 miles).re. Mc- Cleary (Velocette). BrOWn (Triumph), 3. Time, 2sec.