10-12-60 16-12-60 Record Gate Expected With the galaxy of overseas talent appearing in the 1961 Lady Wigram Trophy the spon- SOT, the Christchurch Motor Racing Club, is preparing for a record "gate. тo cope with the expected crowd the club has arranged to have airfreighted direct from Ardmore after the New Zealand Grand Prix portable grandstand accommodation for about 2500 peopie. The aircraft will land the grandstands at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station, Wigram. Seating For 5000 This stand accommodation will be additional to the club's own stands, so there will be seating for about five thousand people at least. To ensure that the cars of the overseas drivers will reach Christchurch in time after the Auckland race special shipping arrangements have also been completed. The club has also arranged for Jobn Cooper, head of the Cooper Car Company, to be present to control the preparation of Brabham's and MC- Laren's cars and to manage the Cooper-Climax pits. Colin Chapman, head of the Lotus Car Company will be here to supervise the preparation of his drivers cars and control them in the race. Stirling Moss will once again be the lone wolf. He is coming with the brilliant mechanic, Tony, Robinson, who has been associated with the preparation of Moss cars for a number of years. Pit Heavy rain marred the North Island hillelimb championship held at Pukekohe last Sunday and the times suffered as a result. Driving a Cooper 1100 C.C.. R. Sager managed to get within Isec of his own record for the climb. Several interesting entries have already been received by the Motor Racing Club for the sports car race at Wigram on January 21, P. Fafeita, Auckland, has entered an Austin Healey Sprite; E. Tims, of Timaru, an Austin Healey 100S; and C Shaw, of Christchurch Swallow Doretti. Other entries already to hand are § those of E. D. Candy (Timaru) & in his Healey Corvette, and D. G. Young (Timara), Jaguar Ctype. By far the greatest number of entries for the racing at Wigram next month is for the ¿ saloon car race, which nas always ; popular peen one of the most events on gramme. This year the feld is the strongest ever. The Westland Motor Club has a trio in A. R. Batey (Wolseley 1500), A. McPhie (M.G. Magnette), and J. M. Ord (Singer), while i the Marlborough Car Club has ; M. B. Mills (Humber 80) and club president, C. Whitehead (Ford Anglia). North Island entries are A. F. McLeod (Wairarapa) in a Ford Zephyr; W. B. Watt (Palmerston North in an A40 Farina; A Beetham (Masterton), Zephyr Zodiac; M. H. Lawson (Auckland), Ford Consul; R. J. Coppins (Auckland), Chevrolet; and G. f. Bremner (Taranaki), Humber 80. M. S. Elms, of Dunedin, has entered a recent model Aston Martin, but this may be ineligible under the rules of the race. Among other important entrants are R. J. N. Archibald (Citroen L.D. 19), F. E. Sprague (Ford Zephyr), I. J. Heasley (car nominated), and D. Shields (Simca). Stops ... The last major motor race for 1960 will be the Grand Pris of South Africa, to be held in East London on December 27. This event follows the Grand Prix of Cape Towa to be held tomorrow. Two Porsches are highly favoured for these events-Joakim Bon nier with works. car and Stirling Moss in a Rob Walker car, Iwenty-three years ago, Ernst von Delius, driving Auto піод, won the last Grand Prix de Grosvenor ir South Africa. A local racing driver who has always earned praise for the careful preparation and consistently fast times of his home-built car is R. S. Rutherford, whose R.A.- Zephyr is tribute to his engineering skill. Last Saturday, Rutheriord gained fasterest time when the canterbury Car Club held its standing quarter-mile trials at Shands track, Hornby. He has also had several suecessful seasons in track racing and hillelimbs. In a close contest under ideal conditions, the M.G. Car Club was successful in winning both events when the inter-club gymkhana was held at Motukarara last Sunday. Results were:-Club event: M.G. Car Club. 16 points, 1; Canterbury Car Club and Ashburton C r Club, 10 (equal), 2. Team event: M.G. Car Club. 173 points, 1; Canterbury Car Club, 16, 2; Ashburton Car Club, 8, 14-12-60 23-12-60 LADY TROPI SATURDAY WIGRAN Y RACE JANUARY 21st 1961 GRANDSTAND SEATS CONCESSION TICKETS NOW ON SALE DLC BOOKING OFFICE GRANDSTAND SEATS .. 30'= each CONCESSION TICKET 40= each (ADMITS CAR AND UP TO 6 ADULTS) FAMILY TICKET • . • - • 30'= each (ADMITS Z ADULTS AND UP TO 6 CHILDREN) Country Patrons: STAMPED AND ADDRESSED Envelope to D.I.C. Booking Office, Christchurch. Stops In recent years, Roy Nockolds has achieved fame in Great Britain for his motor racing portraits in oils, one of his best-known paintings being Mike Hawthorn in a Ferrari at Casablanca. Christchurch painter has also shown unusual ability to capture the atmosphere of the racing track. He is Mr G. E. W. Sutton, who has produced a fine portrait oi 2. A. Kennard driving Healey- Corvette on the Wigram circuit. A valuable contribution to motor racing literature in this country is "The New Zealand Grand Prix Annual, 1960-61," which has been published in Auckland. This book gives full reports of the New Zealand grand prix meetings since 1954, and has useful descriptions on current Formula I cars The book is edited by D. J. motoring correspon- Mahopelthe "Auckland Siar." dent of and costs 7s 6d. This book is to be an annual publication. If the car is completed in time, M. F. Stanton will be seen in completely new home - built special at the Wigram motor races on January 21. The first of the Stanton specials powered by a ChevIolet Corvette engine dia not meet up with the strict requirements of Stanton and his. brother, Maurice, so a new IeaIengined car was planned. This new car is now under construction, and the brothers have entered it for the 40mile race at Wigram. The brothers stress that the car is largely experimental and will require a good deal of development. In the meantime, their famous old Gypsy aeroengined special is for sale. Tahuna Beach, Nelson, will be a focus of activity South • Island motor enthusiasts over New Year: when the Nelson Car Club hoids two days of racing. line Nelson provincial championship Will be decided on December 31, and on January 2 the New Zealano beach race championship will be heid. This year there are record entries for this popular race meeting, and at least six local drivers will be competing.' The Tojeiro-Jaguar sports racing car formerly owned by F. D. Cantwell, and later A: F. Moffatt, is now in the possession of Flight-Lieutenant W. R. Gardiner, of the R.N.Z.A.F. station, Wigram. This car has not been prominent in recent seasons apart from sprint events, but its new driver intends to compete in the major races throughout the country this season. =*. The South • Canterbury Car Club will be host to two important motor sports meetings next year. The • annual Waimate "50" motor race. which is also the New Zealand Joad race will held on championship" 11. February On Sunday, March 19, the club will hold the South Island hill climb championship at Clelands Hill, near Cave. Several leading Canterbury rally drivers are giving sere ous consideration to entering the Festival Rally being organised in Wellington on March 3 and 4 next This rally is being organised by six Wellington car clubs, and the 18-hour event is expected to draw over 100 etries from the North Island alone. One of the greatest obstacles to South Island competitors taking part is the cost of ferrying 'their cars to Wellington, and inquiries are being made whether some as sistance will be given towards this cost.