24-12-60 RED AND GREEN COOPERS HAVE MADE BIG-TIME By Peter Greenslade DURING the 1960 European motor racing season drivers of factory-entered cars time and time again glanced in their rear vision mirror to see Cooper- Climaxes distinctively painted dark red and light green elosing in on them - something of a phenomenon in Grand Prix racing. Although these red and green cars did not succeed in pulling off a world championship race, they took places on a • number occasions and did exceptionally well in Formula II, or 1l-litre class racing. _ By the end of the season European motor racing interests were sitting up and taking a lot of notice. People who knew something about the sport had reached the conclusion that the newcomers were a real power. Yet they had only appeared on the motor racing scene late in 1959. Influential Today anyone who takes real interest in • big-time motor racing knows that the red and green Coopers are from the stable of the leoman Credit Racing Team: an organisation already regarded as one of the most powertul and influential in the sport to-day. Jeoman Credit is the brainchild of three brothers born in Italy, and educated in France and England. They are the Samengo-Turners - Paul, William and Fabian. Their father, a banker descended from four generations bankers and ship-owners, formed the Yeoman Credit finance company in 1954. In 1957 this company was acquired by the Bowmaker Corporation, but the Samengo-Turners retained their interest in the business and became attracted by motor industry finance. Backing Joseph Samengo-Turner had been a member of the organising committee for the Monaco Grand Prix before World War 11 and he and his sons retained an interest in motor sport. A meeting with Stirling Moss's manager, Ken Gregory, In August 1959 led to the estab lishment of the racing team. The idea behind it was te provide backing for the British motor industry by direct participation in international races. Christchurch motor racing fans will see leoman Credit Coopers in the hands of Roy Salvadori and Joakim Bonnier in the Lady Wigram Trophy on January 21. The chances are that these red and green cars will give Moss with the Rob Walker Lotus, and the factory-entered Cooper and Lotus teams a good Fun for their money in the 150-mile classic. First Entry The first Yeoman Credit entry was made in the Oulton Park Gold Cup race in 1959 when the driver, the late Chris Bristow, tan into third place bening Moss and world champion Jack Brabham. Subsequentiy Mess mas engaged to drive this ear and with it be woR the Watkins Glen Grand Prix in the United States. Then, in January this year, Moss brought the car to the line in the New Zealand Grand Prix and kept the large crowd on its toes for twenty-six searing laps as he battled wheel to 24-12-60 24-12-60 16-1-61 wheel with Brabnam, finally to retire with gearbox troubles. While Moss was campaigning, the Yeoman Credit colours were fying high in other parts of the world. In South Africa Bristow had a win with a Borgward engined car following a Formula I1 race win at the Norfolk circuit at Snetterton. Teoman Credit was early on the job in the 1960 sezson, the late Harry Schell finishing fifth in the Syracuse Grand Prix in March and fourth in the Brusselse race a few weeks later. The team had three Formula I cars for championship races this season and Bristow took. a third in a Formula I event at Goodwood in April. Tragedy Tragedy hit the team in May when Schell was fatally injured in a training session crash at Silverstone. Then the brilliant amateur Tony Brooks was retained and he notehed up a fourth for the team in the Monaco Grand Prix. Another driver was alse brought in, Henry Tayier, and he managed a serenth place in the Dutch Grand Prix at his first outing in a Formula 1 car. Tragedy struck agal Belgian Bris: tow was Killed in the Grand Prix. However, Yeoman Credit featured well up with a third place with a car driven by the Belgian champion Olivier Gendebien. Hampered In the extremely fast French Grand Prix, Gendebien and Tay. ior finished second and fourth So it has continued through out season. More oiten than not the Yeoman Credit cars have been among thể placegetters. • It is true that to sonie extent they hare been hampered by the lack of cars of comparable performance: with the moras entered Coopers. Nevertheless the record has been so good that for next year Coopers are providing cars • for the team identical in every respect to their own cars. Immaculate: As : Wigram spectators will see the Yeoman Credit cars are always immaculately turned out. Head of the extensive organ Itation that looks after the cars was esthe a mechanic Tony Robinson, and in the world only to an garded by most people as Francis who prepar the MAS 10CCHOD Walker *Moss's SponsOr As a matter at laterest the Samenga marges there are at marded and cách has three children Althonga Stinance 7 E 1sa theu mai aterest, withy motore ac ing as a sideline, they foliower diverse callings éarlier in their -Paut is a tournalist William an engineer and Fabian a lawyer Spea PREPARATIONS FOR WIGRAM TROPHY RACE ON SATURDAY With only five days until seven of the world's leading professional racing drivers more up to the grid beside New Zealand's best for the Lady Wigram international trophy race, the tempo of activity is mounting fast. The seven drivers are expected to reach Christchurch by Wednesday, with Stirling Moss the last to arrive after flying from Tahiti. to and prix. This car will add Three of the cars driven by the overseas en-! ably passed a great deal of interest to the trants will be unloaded from Wigram entry, since it is one the ost powerful cars елthe coaster Maunganui at Lyt- R. Gibert, telton this morning, and the! ner Wigram four other cars of the Lotus Trophy Maserati 250F threw and Yeoman Credit teams are necting rod at Ardmore, is unexpected to reach the city by Ardmore. derstood to be the centre of Tuesday. The cars in the Maunganui are the Cooper Wigram, hopes to have the car ready Climaxes of the world cham- the e. pion. Jack Brabham, and his last Wednesday. Sydney. ertry had been received team member, Wigram from the outstanzing McLaren, as pell as the Lotus A problem has arisen to be driven by Moss. participation young New Zealander, in his Once tbe cars are unloaded who was fifth Swedish champion and Yeo- own 24-litre Cooper Climax at from the vessel this morning. Credit driver, Ardmore and the first New they will be taken to city Bonnier. Word has been regarages and prepared for sat- Zealander to inish. Hulme is caved that Bonnier's father,!. understood to have had seriuraays event. The Cooper- a professor at Stockholm Un-i Climax of Joachim Bonnier ous doubts about coming south, and the Lotus of Roy Salva- versity, died on Friday. Motor Racing dori. #-hich comprise the Yeo- was anxious to attend thel the is hopeful that a late man Credit team, will reach funeral, but he drove may be forthcoming. the inter-island racing Saturday. Two Christchurch drivers, Lyitelton by Since then his movements are steamer on Tuesday morning. M. Hoare and F. unknown. will drive Ferraris which will ream The vice-president be more suited to Wigram than Complications Motor Racing Club (Mr I. Al Hoare's for the Motor Racing Club in 1 Daikee) said in Christchurch, a grand showing Christchurch result of i model made last evening that no word had at Ardmore. finishing sevent, the entry of the Lotus team received • Bonnier and on the Wigram cars of John Surtees. the world! seeking a release from his con-which backmotor-cycling champion, tract to drive Jimmy Clark. the young Scots wards, his powerful V12 model it was thought he intended to should be in its element. driver. in the Levin races last remain in New Zealand. Saturday. Originally the team Race Preparation cars were to have been ship-! Among the spectators at this From Thursday night of this ¡year's race will be Reg Parped direct from. Auckiand to manager of the Yeoman week there will be little sleep Lyttelton after the New Zea- ¡for the more enthusiastic mem- Credit team and an old cam- bers of the Motor Racing Club. land Grand the New Zealand hastly negotiations after the paigner on circuit of international races. On that evening race the cars were sent to into action Levin. Pamell, formerly the manager club swings. the Aston Martin Racing moment flying is completed Arrangements were then in- wigram vestigated for the cars to bel will be renewing Grandstands will be erected. air-freignted Cook quaintances be made in the built, rope barriers it- Strait and brought by trailer city when he raced here with stalled and about 500 bales of, Blenheim Iony Gaze and the late Peter hay stacked on the corners church. Now the Motor Rac- Whitehead. Already the 2000. grandstand ing Club hopes to also havel All the drivers will be in seats which are a permanent the cars shipped to Lyttelton Christchurch for the drivers', ¡part of the equipment of the on this evening's inter-island reception which is to be held Iclub have been sold and more steamer. Wednesday evening. seats are being flown direct to Christchurch already (Maroral reception will be ac- the Wigram airfield this week been briefly visited by two of Thursday from Ardmore. the competitors in Saturday's morning, and in the evening of the Wigram race. About 7 p.m. on Satur- a function has been arranged track is reported to be in exday, Brabham flew into Christ- by the Jaguar Drivers' Club. cellent condition. «The pro church, International Airport N.Z. Drivers biem of grit at Ardmore was with Bruce McLaren. Accom- Ne Zealand drivers are caused by patches in the track panying the two drivers were also working at fever pitch surface cutting up" said wit T. Wall, Brabham's mechanic. to have their cars ready for Daikee last evening. *At least and M. Grohman, th Ia ce. From Auckland that is one problem we won't mechanic for the Cooper Com- comes th that obn • at Wigram. pany. The four men are having will be driving his have mechanical quick tour of the Manse! new Ier-Mec car which ar- sweeper and the track should Isiand in a Cessna 180 air- rived in Auckland a few hours|be in frst-class ordier for the too late to be driven in thelracing." Wellington. a.m, yesterday the Cessna left f0I 'waving the party farewell was an un-