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President's message

Motor Racing Club president J. A. Brewer welcomes crowds and competitors to the twelfth International Lady Wigram Trophy, the seventeenth motor racing meeting at Wigram. He thanks the Air Department, RNZAF Station staff and volunteers, welcomes Clark, the BRM team under Tim Parnell, Stewart and Attwood, Alec Mildren's Frank Gardner, Scuderia Veloce (David McKay) with Spencer Martin, and world champion motor-cyclist Hugh Anderson.

Facts

  • The 1966 Lady Wigram Trophy was the twelfth international race and the seventeenth motor racing meeting held at Wigram.
  • Scuderia Veloce, led by David McKay, made its first appearance at Wigram in 1966.
other

Wigram fastest course: previous winners

History of Wigram racing: the Canterbury Car Club ran NZ's first long-distance race in 1949 before the Motor Racing Club took over. The Loop (introduced 1961) slightly lengthened the circuit, but Wigram remained New Zealand's fastest course; in 1965 Clark and McLaren set the lap record of 1:25.9 (96.39 mph). A year-by-year table lists winners and fastest laps 1949-1965, no meeting in 1955 because of aerodrome sealing.

Lady Wigram Trophy 1949

1N. ProctorRiley (Brooklands)1:35:56

Lady Wigram Trophy 1950

1H. GreenWolseley Special1:30:51

Lady Wigram Trophy 1951

1L. MooreAlfa Romeo P31:27:41

Lady Wigram Trophy 1952

1L. MooreAlfa Romeo P339:04

Lady Wigram Trophy 1953

1R. RoycroftAlfa Romeo P338:40

Lady Wigram Trophy 1954

1P. WhiteheadFerrari1:09:51.3

Lady Wigram Trophy 1956

1P. WhiteheadFerrari1:48:08

Lady Wigram Trophy 1957

1P. WhiteheadFerrari1:50:08

Lady Wigram Trophy 1958

1A. Scott-BrownLister-Jaguar1:48:33.4

Lady Wigram Trophy 1959

1R. FlockhartBRM1:41:01

Lady Wigram Trophy 1960

1J. BrabhamCooper-Climax1:40:42

Lady Wigram Trophy 1961

1J. BrabhamCooper-Climax 2490cc1:17:18.5

Lady Wigram Trophy 1962

1S. MossLotus-Climax 2.51:36:38.7

Lady Wigram Trophy 1963

1B. McLarenCooper-Climax 2.71:36:04

Lady Wigram Trophy 1964

1B. McLarenCooper-Climax 2.51:05:00.8

Lady Wigram Trophy 1965

1J. ClarkLotus-Climax 2.51:04:19.3

Lap times

  • F. Bennett (Invicta): 1:52 fastest race lap
  • G. Cogland: 1:40 fastest race lap
  • L. Moore (Alfa Romeo P3): 74.6 mph fastest race lap
  • L. Moore (Alfa Romeo P3): 1:31 fastest race lap
  • K. Wharton (BRM): 1:23.5 fastest race lap
  • P. Whitehead (Ferrari): 1:29.5 fastest race lap
  • P. Whitehead (Ferrari): 1:30.6 fastest race lap
  • A. Scott-Brown (Lister-Jaguar): 1:27.5 fastest race lap
  • R. Flockhart (BRM): 1:22.2 fastest race lap
  • J. Brabham (Cooper-Climax): 1:20.8 fastest race lap
  • J. Brabham (Cooper-Climax): 1:33 fastest race lap
  • S. Moss (Lotus-Climax): 1:20.1 fastest race lap
  • J. Brabham (Brabham-Climax 2.7): 97.63 mph fastest race lap
  • B. McLaren (Cooper-Climax): 1:26.9 fastest race lap
  • J. Clark (Lotus-Climax): 1:25.9 fastest race lap
  • Jim Clark (Lotus-Climax 2.5): 1:25.9 lap record
  • Bruce McLaren (Cooper-Climax 2.5): 1:25.9 lap record

Facts

  • The Canterbury Car Club established motor racing at Wigram in 1949 with NZ's first long-distance race; the Motor Racing Club was formed specifically to promote international racing there.
  • There was no Wigram meeting in 1955 because of aerodrome sealing.
  • The Loop was added to the Wigram circuit for the 1961 race, slightly lengthening it; in 1964 the circuit was slightly altered to 2.3 miles a lap.
  • In 1954 the hairpin at the end of the back straight was not used, making the lap distance 2.073 miles.
  • The Wigram lap record for the lengthened circuit before 1966 was 1:25.9 (96.39 mph), shared by Jim Clark and Bruce McLaren in 1965.
  • The 1961 Lady Wigram Trophy was shortened to 99.452 miles because of rain.
feature

Limit on size

Explains the Tasman Formula introduced in 1964: before that NZ internationals such as the Lady Wigram Trophy were open to any car size and fuel. In 1963 NZ and Australian bodies and promoters agreed on single-seater open-wheel cars with engines up to 2500cc running on aviation-grade fuel to match local drivers more evenly with visitors.

Facts

  • The Tasman Formula began in 1964 and limited engines to 2500cc, single-seater open-wheel cars and aviation-grade pump fuel.
preview

World champion made contest terrific race

Preview of the motor-cycle events at the 1966 Wigram meeting, led by Hugh Anderson, multiple world champion, whose Senior TT ride at Pukekohe (recovering from 20th place on a 125cc Suzuki) nearly overshadowed the car race. He would again meet Neville Landreth, Tommy McCleary (Manx Norton) and Kevin McCleary (Silverstone Greeves with Alpha gearbox), with Hubbard, Damiano and Farnham also named. Every Wigram event carried an NZ airfield title.

Facts

  • Hugh Anderson recovered from twentieth place after a first-lap spill in the wet at the hairpin to finish close to Neville Landreth in the Senior TT at Pukekohe in January 1966.
  • Every event at Wigram's January 1966 meeting carried a New Zealand airfield championship title.
Read the OCR text
18-1-66 President's Message By Mr J. A. Brewer, President of the Motor Racing Club SATURDAT sees the twelfth international Lady Wigram Trophy and supporting events and I feel sure that the line-up of star international drivers together with the best New Zealand has produced will provide once again exciting, close. and interesting motor racing in the true sporting tradition. This will be the seven- the famous Indianapolis Spencer Martin, who will be, ieenth motor racing to be 500-mile race. seen in action both in thei •held at Wigram and, once At the same time it is feature race and saloon car! with great pleasure that we events. , again, our day is made It is a particular pieasure i possible through the good welcome to Christchurch for › offices of the Air Depart- the first time the complete for the club to introduce to? i ment and the wholehearted B.R.M. racing team under Christchurch Hugh Ander- • assistance of the Command- the managership of Mr Tim son, the world champion! ing Officer and staff of the Parnell. whose late father motor-cyclist who has done? , R.N.Z.A.F. Station. Wigram. will be so well remembered so much over the last lew y by Wigram patrons as a fine vears to put New Zealand on y I believe I am safe in the world's motor-cycling , saying that there is no racing motorist and clever team manager. map with his brilliant + vother international maotor The B.R.M. drivers. performances on, small-! trace in the world quite like capacity machines. ¡ Wigram, and the : club is Jackie Stewart. who Once again. the cream of ‹ deeply gratetul to the Air finished third in last year's Force and the hundreds of worid championship series. taking part in the racing? willing volunteers who, rear and Richard Attwood are and with new cars and news › after year, make it possible both newcomers to wigram. faces, the local entry in all • for the Motor Racing Club who. I am sure, will give a events has never been i to stage this unique event. very good account of them- better. Over the years we have selves with the V8 B.R.M.s. New Zealanders are? , been very fortunate in being From Australia we wel- making their mark in thei vable to attract to the meei- come back Mr Alec Mildren international motor racing! ing most of the world's and his very fine driver sphere and they certainly, , motor-racing stars-among Frank Gardner. who • them a number of worid finished fourth in last year's Saturday. + champions-and this year it race. An added Australian , is with the greatest pleasure attraction. marking a first- I thank the public of Christ- ¡that we welcome back Jim time appearance here also. church for its patronage • Clark, the 1965 world is the presence of one of and assistance over ener ¡ champion, who won at Australia's foremost racing vears and may i wish com- Wigram last year and went teams - Scuderia Veloce - petitors and onlookers alike ion to take the Tasman conducted by Mr David an enjoyable day's outing on ¡ Championship as well as Mckay. The driver Saturday. WIGRAM FASTEST COURSE THE Canterbury Car racing at Wigram distance race in 1949. by the Motor Racing C promotion of internatior Club was responsible for establishing motor when it conducted New Zealand's first long- Subsequently: the meeting was taken over lub, which was formed specifically for the nal motor racing at Wigram. Although the circuit 1951 ' Distance 101.57 miles Has slightly lengthened by the introduction of the Loop for the 1961 race Wigram still re- L. Moore, Alfa Romeo P3 1hr 27min 41sec: 69.5 m.p.h. Fastest lap: L. Moore, Alfa Romeo P3: G. Smith, Gee Cee mains Ner Zealand's Ess min 42sec: 74.6 m.p.h fastest course. Last vear the winner, Jim Clark, and New Zealander Bruce McLaren lapped the 2.3-mile circuit in' 1min 25.9sec— an average speed of: • 1952 ‹ Distance 50.78 miles) -L. Moore, Alfa Romeo P3, 39min 4sec: 76.3 m.p.h. Fastest lap: L. Moore, Alfa Roimeo P3, Imin 31sec: 81.04 m.p.h 1953 ' Distance 50,78 miles).. 'R. Roycroft. Alfa Romeo P3, 96.39 miles an hour-to 38min 40sec; 78.8 m.p.h. create the first lap record for the lengthened course. Clarke drove a 2.5 Lotus-Climax and McLaren a 2.5 Cooper- Climax. Saturdar's meeting, will be the twelfth inter-i national motor - racing fixture to be held in Christchurch. The following are the previous Wigram winners. Also listed are the holders of the fastest lap over the years: 1949 Distance 105.8 miles!- N. Proctor, Rey 9 Brook- „lands), ihr 35min 56sec: 66.17 m.p.h. Fastest lap: F. Bennett, 'Invita, Imin 52sec: 68 m.p.h. 1950 (Distance 105.8 miles)-' H. Green, Wolseley Special.. 1hr 30min Sisec: 69.79 m.p.h. Fastest lap: G. Cogland. Australia. N.G. I.G. Supercharged, Imin 40sec: 76.2| m.p.h. 1954 ' Distance 99.5 miles!— uP. Whitehead, England, Ferrari, 1hr 9min 51.3sec. 85.46 m.p.h. Fastest lap: K. Wharton, England, B.R.M., 1min 23.5sec; 89.37 m.p.h. In 1954 the hairpin at end of the back straight was not used. making Flap distance 2.073 miles. 1955. No meeting because of aerodrome sealing. • 1956 | Distance 150.236 miles) -P. Whitehead, Engiand, Ferirari, 1hr 48min 8sec; 83.46 m.p.h. Fastest lap: P. Whitehead, Ferrari, Imin 29.5sec: 85.11 m.p.h. 1957 (Distance 150.236 miles) -P. Whitehead, England, Ferrari. Ibr 50min 8sec: 81.84 m.p.h. Fastest lap. P. Whitehead. Ferrari. Imin 30.6sec: 84.08 m.p.h. • 1958 I Distance 150.236 miles -A. Scott-Brown, England. Lister-Jaguar, Ihr 48min 33.4sec: 83.80 m.p.n. Fastest lap: A. Scott-Brown, Lister-Ja uar, 1min 27.50sec, 87.06 m.p.h. 1959 ' Distance 150.236 miles -R Fiockhart, Engiana. 'B.R.M.. Ihr 41min Isec: 89.19 n.p.h. Fastest lap: R. Flo art, B.R.V., Imin 22.2s • 92.67 m.ph 1960 (Distance 150.236 miles) 3. Brabham. Cooper-Climax, 1hr 40min 42sec. Fastest lap: J. Brabham, Cooper-Climax, imin 20.8sec: 94.28 m.p.h. 1961 : Distance reduced to 99.452 miles because of rain! -. Brabham, 2490 c.c. Cooper Climax, 77min 18.5sec. Fastest lap: J. Brabham, imin 33sec; 81.90 m.p.h. 1962 ¡Distance 71 laps. 150.236 miles)-S. Moss, 2.5 Lotus-Climax, 96min 38.7sec. Fastest Lap: S. Moss and J. Surtees 'Lola-Climax', 1mmn 20.Isec; 95 m.p.h. 1963 ‹Distance 71 laps, 150.236 miles/—B. Melaren. 2.7 Cooper-Climax, 1hr 36min 04sec. equais 93.823 m.p.h. Fastest lap: J. Brabham, 2.7 , Brabham-Climax, Imin 3sec: 97.63 m.p.h. 1964 Distance 101.2 miles. 44 laps. Circuit slightiy altered to 2.3 miles a lap)-Winner B. McLaren, 2.5 Cooper- Climax, thr 5min 0.8sec; 92.47 m.p.h. Fastest lap: B. McLaren. Imin 26.9sec; 95.28 m.p.h. 1965 ' Distance 101.2 miles, 44 laps'-J. Ciark, 2.5 Lotus- Climax. 1hr 4min 19.3sec: 94.22 m.p.h. Fastest lap: J.' Clark and B. McLaren (2.5 Cooper-Climax), Imin 25.9sec; : 96.39 m.p.k. N.Z. LADY WIGRAM 1966 Limit on Size Until the introduction of the •Tasman Formula in 1964, New Zealand's international motor races, such as the Lady Wig. ram Trophy, were open to cars of any size, type, and engine capacity and entrants could also use any fuel they preferred. However, in 1963 the bodies controlling New Zealand and Australiar. motor sport and the promoters of international events decided that the time had arrived when drivers in both countries should be matched more evenly against each other as well as those from the Northern Hemisphere Broadly speaking, the Tasinan Formula sets out t. at the cars themselves must be single-seater. open-wheeled racers. The engines must not • have a capacity of more than 2500 c.c. and they rust min on fuel no better than ariation gasoline. World Made Champion Contest Terrific Race DESCE OBED by one spectator as thigreatest race on the programme. the Senior Tourist Trophy motor-cycle event at Pukekohe almost overshadowed the big car event with world champion Jim Clark. Gaham Hill. and Jackie Stewart as entrants. Hugh Anderson. multiple world title winner. was responsible for a terrific race that showcased the considerable talent of the Ohinewai champion. Slithering up after a cross-up in the wet at the hairpin on the first lap, Anderson poled the 125 c.e. Suzuki back to the vertical and took off. Down to twentieth place in a big field of 500 c.c. and 350 c.c. machines. Anderson gave the rest a mighty start. Magnificent Ride But at the checkered flag he had picked up the field with a magnificent ride and was within shouting distance of Neville Landrebe, of Dunedin as the pair rocketed across the line. •Both men will be racing at Wigram on Saturday. in an almost capacity field, Anderson will have to make a good start to get a good position in the early laps of the motor-cycle ev nts. Every event at Wigram will be carry. ing a New Zealand airfield title and Anderson will be opposed by some very fine rid- , ers. Landrebe will again clash with Anderson and another starter will be Christchurch rider Tommy McClears. Jun. He could have the legs of Landrebe at Wigram and with his Manx Norton these could provide a feature race within the race. Another McCleary. Kevin, will be up on his torrid Silverstone Greeves and will make Anderson s task in winning the 250 c.c. title a heavy one. Fastest After a winter of rebuilding and careful reconstruction with the installation of an ¡Alpha multi-speed gearbox, ¡the Greeves is now potentially the fastest light-weight in New Zealand and Kevin Me- Cleary is just the lad to re- ¡ peat his fantastic ride in last year's Wigram feature when he lapped almost the entire field, in a vain chase after the leaders, following a poor I start. Johnny Hubbard, Don Damiano and voung Fanham are three rea! speedsters who will give punch to the two wheeler events. Wigram this Saturday will be a goiden day for motori ercle racing enthusiasts.

Summaries and tables are machine-read from the scan and may contain errors: the scan is the record.