23-1-63 26-1-63 Brabham Coming Again Jack Brabham, of Australia the worid champion motor racing driver in 1959 and 1960, has no plans for retirement at the moment. For the coming world championship series he will use a new car fitted with a Coventry Climax VS engine. On the New Zealand circuit he has been • using • a car specially designed for conditions in this country, the Brabham Special, and has been "satisfied with its performances". Since he first came to New Zealand in 1954, Brabham has noticed a big improvement in New Zealand driving. Big Part He feels tours by international drivers on the circuit have played a big part in effecting this improvement. "The high cost of import ing machinery to this coun try, however, is holding Neck Zealand drivers good New Zealand said. "The high duties make it almost impossible for New Zealand drivers to get the right equipment to give them experience," he said. Brabham said he would definitely return to New Zealand next year if invited Wigram Event Sir,- My thanks to the Motor Racing Club for such an enjoyable day at Wigram. It was a good show, and I am sure a memorable day for all enthusiasts. However, there was one section of spectators who had to keep "eyes front " while watching events or look directly on to a toilet. At future events could not these buildings be erected further back from the "ropes," and save the spectators and women from embarrassment?-THIN SCRIM. THIS YEAR'S WIGRAM RACING THE BEST.... THE indifferent performances of the majority of the overseas and top New Zealand drivers in the New Zealand Grand Prix and the Vic Hudson Memorial international race at Levin probably caused many of the regular Lady Wigram International Trophy patrons to stay at home this year. Thus it is ironical to have'on the programme Wellington's Tony contested and pro- great satisfaction. progreat satisfadeen cause for Worries Climax) and the 19-year- Shelly (2.5 litre Lotusinternational race to be held vided its power-'and, even if the programme max driver had to fight all old Bulls driver Chris driving circuit was undoubt-took a long time to com- the way, and he drove Amon (2.5-litre Cooperedly the best in the series plete, races were run copybook race. Climax) were forced to on schedule-something Although the public dia Brabham-Climax. abandon tne race with not know it in the latter gearbox troubles. But most exciting events held that has not always been in this country since big. the case at Wigram. stages he demonstrated just! A mon's effort iras a partime motor racing was in-l For the thousands of fol- what a fine driver he is by the lap record down to 1min ticularly valiant one as, so lowers of New Zeaalnd's nursing his car home with 118.3sec—about 97 in an effort to remain troduced a decade or dwindling oil pressure and hour-in the course of his in the contest, he spirited challenge. pushed his car more Just about every eventiLaren the trophy race result at the As a matter of interest. than a quarter of a mile off a withering attack from! Mclaren in the lead, roaring round the control Jack Brabham. to his pit for repairs. The effort came to Record Goes tyre would have worn out. nothing. but it was a demonstration which left followaccording to the tyre ex-. ers of the sport feeling that this was a trophy/perts. this young man, who drives Brabham, at the pace like a veteran, has the determination to climb well up The lap record, established the ladder in international racing. (2.5-litre Lotus-Cimax) and or three laps left in his It was the Kawa Kawa John Surtees (2.7-litre Coo- right-hand rear tyre. driver Lionel Bulcraig who per-Climax) at Imin 20.1sec, put paid to any chance the Hamilton driver Jim Palmwas sions ten deconse the occasions in the course er might have had with his maker Racing Team driver 1500 c.c. Lotus-Ford. Mclaren IF2s the Tony Maggs had been dir-; frst to do it rten he ected by manager Reg Par- Hit was engaged * Battle with Surtees ast Brabham. He brought it As Palmer braked for the down to imin 19.2sec an effort to crack the real hairpin on his tenth tour. Then threats, McLaren and Brab-back straight on the first ham. Brabham replied with Martin shunted the smaller imin 18.4sec on his eighteenth tour. Dividends ¡car and displaced its rear- Delayed about Ficer by a great pity behis pit stop to take on oil! As things turned 'cause, as things turned out, after 43 laps, Brabham was Surtees who was forced Palmer should have finished turned on the sort of driv- ito abandon, although it must among the first six. be admitted, it nearly the cars of Mc- New Lealand drivers drivers worked; had troubles of one sort championship in a vain. ef- Brabham were or another, and in this fort to bridge the gap tofar from perfect at the end group the Joung Auck- The Hastings sheep farm- Hyslop makes lander John Histed once The Australian made up er again showed that. like ground at the rate of 3sec Practice of racing to finish a lap taking calculated risk and once again he demonon the rate of wear of the strate past divide apolicy he, like all the dividends. other top drivers, used. earned him second place i the Grand Prix and a good fourth at Wigram. For my money be still stands head and shoulders above all the New Zeelanders with the exception of McLaren who is; after all, a professional international driver. MaToron Hyslop, he is a man who races to finish. He was labouring under a severe handicap with his under-powered 1500 C.C. front-engined Lola. - Nevertheless his fifth place was a mast praiseworthy effort and one cannot help wondering how Histed would go with a more powerful car. In fact this international season has shown already that New Zealand has some very promising young drivers who will, if they persist, make names themselves within the next year or two. Brilliant Barry Cottle. the Dune din sports car driver. is another who comes readily to mind. He drove a brilliant race in the Motor Racing Club championship in the face of formidable opposition in the shape of Maurice Stanton's record-breaking Stanton-Corvette. Stanton won the race, but lit was Cottie with much smaller 1220 c.c. Lola- Climax who made the fastest lap and finished a respectable second. In the sports car race Cottle secured rictory after a real tussle with Ashbarton's Arthur Moffatt (2-litre Lotus- Climax). There mas little to choose between them, and Moffatt, who recorering from serious illness, put on an exceptionally good show to hold on to the younger and fitter man. Once again Christchurch's Ray Archibald showed that has no peer in saloon car racing. With the greatest ease out-drove fellow 3.8 Jaguar man Athol Mc- Beath of Otaki to win the handicap race. An Englishman. Geoffrey Richardson, has lent a touch of colour to all the meetings so far with his magnificent 3-litre Ferrari Berlinetta, and Wigram proved to be just the place for this Gran Turismo vehicle when Richardson won (the final all-comers' saloon race with consummate ease. Life The Archibald Jaguar could not hold the Italian car on the exceptionally fast circuit, nevertheless the Christchurch man had the satisfaction of beating MeBeath once again. From all points of view this year's Wigram meeting showed that there is still pienty of life in New Zealand motor racing.—PEIEN GRIANSLADE