23-1-65 TROPHY RACE PREPARATIONS.-TOP: P. Hill, an American entrant in today's Lady Wigram Trophy Race, being pushed out in his Cooper Climax during the first practice period at Wigram yesterday. He recorded the fourth fastest time. BOTTOM: The Auckland driver. B. MeLaren, sliding into the seat of his Cooper Climas before setting the third fastest time. McLaren won the Wigram race last year and also in 1963. Clark Breaks Wigram Lap lals came out, but 3. Rutherlord's Zephyr special recorded Record In Practice Stanton fastest Walker's Mirage time was of not Imin clocked ocked mid 37.4sec. and 48.6sec. B. Porter's Lotus was The former world champion driver, Jim Clark, of Scot- second fastest with Imit $7.5 sec and the Lycoming was third land, driving his 2.5 litre Lotus Climax, shattered the Wigram lap fastest with Imit 38.7sec. Fourth Fras D. MacDonald's Lola with 1min 44. 6sec. F. Shuter (V8 record by nearly a second in time trials during the practice period Special) and W. Caldwell (Lola) were the others to record yesterday. under Imin 50sec with Imin 47.4 sec and imin 45.2sec. The all-comers were The record for the 2.3 mile circuit, set last year by Bruce timed nest, and fastest was the big Zephyr Corrette of R. Cop- McLaren in a Cooper, was Imin 269sec; and Clark was credited pins, which creditable recorded Imin 45.4 time in ine with a time of Imin 26sec exactly. sports car event. P. B. Fabey's Lotus Cortina was next with G. Lawrence Imin not far behind, Clark's lap time is equal to an average IR. A. Levis, and Francerte clocked Imin 46.2 speed of 96.28 miles an hour. (Brabham 1.5 1 W. Dawson of Wanganui; SeC. J. Nazer's Lotus Angila J. Riley, and was neit fastest with Imin 49.4 The second fastest time for the day went to the young Hamilton driver and New Zealand The track was now almost collins in the champion, Jim Palmer, driving a 2.5 litre completely dry, and times imm- Repco-Brabham Climax. He recorded 1min proved over the morning's 28.6sec. the main race cars came out tras Bruce, varying adhesion offered by nest. On the first lap Clark comers practices was the Third fastest suriace making with Imin 29.4sec; rubber smoke. A roll bar hibitions of passing on curves. things awaward for most of bad been fitted to the Lotus -mite neats or the man tace Team ate Cooper Rickiand (Lotus 2.5 and he had kept the power credited witt bad petrol pote trouble and ¡on around the corner at the! and the 100-mile main erent will were Hill, with electrical troubles, end of the pit straight to see be are will be be drivers completed less than two laps.! "And Iltween Mark, found out," he said later. Hill and possibly Grant, and 1min ClarE's engine was not picsfastest ing up properly and the gear After this preliminary Oficial practice times for the Wellington's change the main clark drivers are:- Grant (Brabham) experi- fastest time without any apenced minor problems. would seem at this stage thati Several of the drivers mere unoticially recorded as break the 100 alien boat esper cag Ruapuna Time break the 100 miles an hour sec: ing broken their practice lap during the race tomor- (ellington), time during additional prac- The previous day Clark had row. If anyone does, how-i Climas tice when the time trials had the i ever, they will finished. McLaren got down Ruapuna circuit for the Can- They will have to 1min 27sec. Grant to imin terbury Car Club, 30.5sec; cooper 28sec, and Palmer to 1min! unofficially 1min max, 27.4sec. Of the 1.5 litre cars, thei (Auckland) J. Riley (Auckland. Putaruru driver, R. Levis, in good one, but there Fere similar triais for Thomasen (Auckland), Brabbam a Brabnam, was fastest oin- , Levin would be better were production (Putaturu), cially with Imin 32.9sec, Buchanan (Masterhe recorded lmin| and it not so rougn. later The all comers saloons were when (Auckland), 31.7sec. A. A. Buchanan, out next on a rapidly drying fastest had or. B. Lang Masterton, was second fastest: (Morris | Imin nuZse Brabham timed at 1min 33sec, and K. with Imin 332sec, later being iand (Zephyr Corvette), being second with Imin Sager, on Aucktand, was nest goins rapid, and i Haves. *Erie for of Invercargil, with an A35. rence, of Wanganui, with a ¡had various engine problems. Garde front onte net bach • srabaam greatly improved his oincial Imin 44.4sec Anglias on the circuit, R. J. Franicevie's car being corded • imin 38sec. one of the fastest. Early yesterday morning rain fell, and when Of Christchurch, heavy practice started about Il a.m. the performances weil in the M.G. Minor, and pectin wacombs light rain was still falling. The track was very wet. mise of a good tussle today. troni when the sports and Drivers generally expressed The sports a liking for the circuit, and were out nest, Boyd, none appeared to have prob-i of Auckland, with the Lycomlems other than things ing, was very fast, but sufmechanical. fered throughout the day from various engine maladies. Bil. Stanton (Stanton Cor- Spun Iwice vette), B. Walker (Mirage), The small saloons were out and R. Rutherford (260M frst on a streaming track, Zephyr) all performed well, and most took things quietly as did B. Porter in the Lotus, because of the conditions. The although the car did not main race cars were out next, seem to be running properly and within a short time Clark at times. spun twice at the end of the After a short lunch break main straight, recovering the main race cars came out neatly both times and motor- for their time trials, ing on. Abernethy (Cooper 2.5), of By this time the circuit Wellington; A. A. Bucharan, nad started to dry in patches with the Brabhani; F. Gard-