Wigram TrophyMotor racing at Wigram airfield · Christchurch · 1949–2000
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Cars they will drive: Cooper and Lotus racers

Of the overseas entrants at the 1961 Lady Wigram Trophy, four would drive Lotus cars and three the 2.5-litre Cooper-Climaxes, which both use Coventry Climax engines and dominated Formula I in 1960. Moss won Monaco and the United States Grand Prix in the Lotus, while Brabham won five races in a row in the Cooper. The 1960 championship Cooper-Climax had 2462cc and 243 bhp at 6800 rpm with two twin-choke Webers.

Facts

  • Cooper-Climaxes and Lotuses with proper gearing and tyres would achieve over 180 mph.
  • The 1960 championship-winning 2.5-litre Cooper-Climax engine had four cylinders, 2462cc, twin overhead camshafts and 243 bhp at 6800 rpm.

Photos

  • The Cooper Climax.
  • The Lotus Climax.
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New Daimler sports and kitset Lotus

Two interesting sports car race entries at Wigram on Saturday: a Daimler SP 250 V-8, said to reach 120 mph, and a Lotus Seven kitset sports car with a 100E Ford engine entered by Blackburn of Christchurch, which had already shown its paces at Ardmore, finishing second in its class in the sports car event.

Facts

  • The Daimler SP 250 V-8 was entered in the 1961 Wigram sports car race.

Photos

  • The new Daimler SP 250 V-8 photographed at the Christchurch International Airport terminal buildings.
Read the OCR text
CARS THEY WILL DRIVE Cooper And Lotus Racers Ol the overseas entrants in the Lady Wigram international trophy race, four will be driving Lotus cars and three will pilot the amazingly successful 2f-htre Cooper Climaxes. T'hese two makes, which are powered by the same Coventry Climax engine, completely dominated Formula I racing last year. Although its reliability with either of the three successes were achieved is not as sound as that engines, the changes on shoe-string resources, of the Cooper, the Lotus wrought merely by mere handlul of (right). designed by changing motors and mechanics compared lo Colin Chapman, is even gearboxes, shock ab- Perarri and B.R.M., and faster and lighter. sorber ratings and tyres. only one draughtsman. In 1960 it won 1he The success of the With proper gearing Monaco and : United Cooper Climax (below) and tyres, these cars will States grands prix with driven by Jack Brab- achieve over 180 miles Stirling Moss at the ham 1o wins in five an hour, and are a wheel and also had grandes cpreuves in a maich for the other many successes in row last year was a re- grand prix contenders Formula II and Formula markable achievement on even the fastest cir- Junior racing. Clever by both driver and car. cuits. Their diminutive designing allows the Even more remarkable size disguises the powersame body to be used is the fact that these ful sting in their tail, The Lotus Climax Champion Car Kitset Sports Lotus For 1960 Specifications of the championship winning 24-litre Cooper Climax 1o1 1960 are.~ Engine: Four cylinders in line, 2462 c.e., twin overhead can* shafts. Compression ratio 12 1o 1. Engine develops 243 b.h.p. at 6800 r.p.m. Two iwinchoke Weber carburet- 18-1- The Cooper Climax tors. plate dry Transmission: Double clutch, five NEW DAIMLER SPORTS speed gearbox. (Nt of the most interesting entries Saturday's sports car race is the Daimler S.P. 250 V-8 shown here photographed the Christchurch International Airport tortinal buildings, This Rexible high performinte Sports Cal 15 capable of 120 miles home and (an accelerate dom 0 to 100 miles honey 111 201sec. Its racing car sahibts ering at spend. coloration both in The astonishing t- the lower 60L1 ranges and nearing top speed, POWERED by a 100F Ford vicing. and low-cost renallyg contributing factor is the engine, the botus 7P Series The reliabilits of the engine lightness of the all foreglass model chr has always been a strong point. 10 has remarkable driven by 1201 ou1classod •. Blackbarn. offand though inpaci. Christehurch. supporting many larger sports cars availhas now changed do races at Wigram on Saturday able in this country. this Lotus is the first of ils tope do comes provides motor racing l'at will lo this figure most persons could country. Offered forgi a hall lilies sale in Ameland in kitset form. afford, 1-41: bro power at the car can be assembled in Mr Blackborn's Car has The price already shown its paces al • let hours and ready to take Now Zealand is L 1960. the track. Ardmore. # was courth in the 'l'he car will he: These cars have proved ex- Ultimate Ekeo race. and Wigram Saturday with tremely popular in England Inished second in its class in standard road equioment. for their cheapness. easy ser-, the sports ear event.

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