17-1-67 OTHER EVENTS POPULAR Although the 100 mile international Lad of the attention at the Motor Racing Club's a particular importance as far as most of the N The point is that the saloon and sports car races count towards the championships conducted by the New Zea- ¡and Racing Drivers' Club and : these titles are highly regarded not only in New Zealand, but also overseas. Saloon car racing is, without: shadow of doubt, the most popular form of racing in this country. There are two cate. gories-All-comers and Group In the All-comer category, just about anything goes. Inese cars are specially constructed and are often fitted with en- (gines which have no relation- (ship whatsoever with the original car. For example there are Anglias racing fitted with Cherrolet Corvette V8 engines and la wide variety of the smaller ¡ popular English bodies fitted with Lotus twin-camshaft engines, as well as Minis which have been "souped-up" and ligthned to turn them into competitive speedsters. This season the All-corner series is very close indeed with drivers such as Paul Fahey (Ford Mustang), Robbie Franicevic (7 litre Ford Fairlane) and Jack Nazer (Lotus- Anglia) all in the running. along with some others, for the national title. The Group 2 saloons bear! a much closer resemblance to street cars. Modifications permitted are strictly limited to certain factory optional equipment obtainable by the ordinary motorist and entrants rely upon speed mainly through fine tuning and careful machining and balancing of standard components. y Wigram Trophy race tends to attract most nual meeting, the supporting events are of ew Zealand drivers are concerned. This category is also very open this season with the Hastings sheepfarmer Angus Hyslop well in the running for! premier honours in his S-type Mini-Cooper, however there are many others who still! bave a chance of taking the title. Sports car racing has been! in the doldrums for some sea-l sons now, but there has been a revival of interest this year fand there has already been some very close racing. Among the men to watch are Andrew Buchanan, eurrently leading the category in Scuderia Veloce's 250LM Ferrari, former Christchurch speedway star Geoft Mardon, Johnnie Riley, who races a Lotus-19 replica and the current national champion Jim Boyd who drives the Lycoming Special. Saloon car racing is most popular with drivers and fans alike in New Zealand. Here a Mini leads a tightly packed bunch including a Lotus Cortina and Neil Doyle's Corvette-engined Anglia through one of the fastest Wigram bends. Previous Wigram Event Winners THE Canterbury Car Club was responsible for establishing motor racing at Wigram when it conducted New Zealand's first long-distance race in 1949. Subsequently, the meeting was taken over by the Motor Racing Club, which was formed specifically for the promotion of international motor racing. Over the years just about! In the race itser he won at 1953 (Distance 50.78 miles)- 1959 (Distance 150.236 miles) laps. Circuit slightly altered to every driver of any conse an average speed of 97.27 miles an hour and set an oti- R. Roycroft, Alfa Romeo P3, -R. Flockhart, England, 2.3 miles a lap)-Winner B. : quence has raced at wigram. i 38min 40sec; 78.8 m.p.h B.R.M. Ihr 4lmin Asec; 89.19 McLaren, 25 Cooper-Climas, cial lap record of 94.41 miles Among the "greats" have an hour his - 1.9 litre 1954 (Distance 99.5 miles)- m.p.n Fastest lap: . Flock-thr 5min O.8sec; 9247 m.p.h. been such drivers as Stirling B.R.M. P. Whitenead, England, Fer- hart, B.R.M., Imin 22,2sec; 92.67 m.p.h. Fastest lap: B. McLen, Imin Moss, Jack Brabham, Jim The following are the pre rari, 1hr 9min 51.3sec, 85.46 26.9sec; 95.28 m.p.h. vious Wigram winners. Also mph Fastest lap: B. Whar- 1960 (Distance 150.236 miles) 1965 (Distance 101.2 miles, Clark, John Surtees, and the listes are the holders of the ton, England, BBM., Imin J. Brabham. Cooper-Climax 44 laps)—J. Clark, 2.5 Lotus- New Zealanders Bruce Mc-i fastest lap over the years: 23.5sec; 89.37 m.p.h. In 1954 the Ibr 40min 42sec. Fastest lap:| Climax, Ihr Amin 19.3sec; 99.22 Laren and Denis Huime. hairpin at end of the back J. Brabham, Cooper-Climax 1949 (Distance 105.8 miles)- m.p.h. Fastest lap: J. Clark Until the New Zealand straight was not used, making imin 20.8sec, 94.28 mp.h. M. Proctor, Biley 9 (Brook- lap distance 2.073 miles. Land B. McLaren (2.5 Cooper- Grand Prix: was won by lands), Ihr 35min 56sec; 66.17 56sec; 1961" (Distance reduced to B.R.M. driver Jackie Stewart m.p.h. Fastest lap: F. Ben- 1955. No meeting because of i99.452 miles because of ram) Climax), Imin 25.9sec; 96.39 at an average speed of nearly nett, Invieta, Imin 52sec; 68 aerodrome sealing. -J. Brabham, 2490 c.c. Cooper m.p.h. 101 miles an hour on the m.p.h 1956 (Distance 150.236 miles) Climax, 77min 18.5sec. Fastest 1966 (Distance 101.2 miles, 44 revised Pukekohe circuit on lap: J. Brabham, Imin 33sec; laps)-J. Stewart, 19 BRM., 1950 (Distance 105..8 miles). -P. Whitehead, England, Fer- 81.90 m.p.h: Ihr 3min 44.1sec; 97.27 m.p.b. January 7, this year, Wigram H. Green, Wolseley Special, rari, 1hr 48min 8sec; 83.46 1962 (Distance 71 laps, Fastest lap: J. Stewart, Imin was New Zealand's fastest cir-Ihr 30min 57sec; 69.79 m.p.M. m.p.h. Fastest lap: P. White- 125sec; 97.41 mn.p.h. Fastest lap: G. Cogland, Aus- head, Ferrari, Imin 29.5sec; 150.236 miles)-S. Moss, 2.5 cuit. i tralia, M.G. T.G. Super- Lotus Climas, 96min 38.7sec. 85.11 m.p.h. Soon charged, Imin 40sec; 76.2 Fastest Lap: S. Moss and J. :m.p.h. 1957 (Distance 150.236 miles) —P. Whitehead, England, Fer- Surtees (Lola-Climax), 1min Last year in the training 1951 (Distance 101.57 miles) 20.1sec; 95 m.p.h. rari, 1hr 50min 8sec; 81.84 sessions Stewart lapped 2.25-L. Moore, Alfa Romeo P3, 1963 (Distance 71 laps, m.p.h. Fastest lap, P. Whitemile course at 98.8 miles an 1hr 27min 4lsec; 69.5 mp.h. head, Ferrari, Imin 30.6sec; 150.236 miles)-B. McLaren, hour and said afterwards that Fastest lap: I. Moore, Alfa 8408 m.p.b. 2.7 Cooper-Climax, Ihr 36min he believed the 100-mile-ar- Romeo P3; G. Smith, Gee Cee 0.4sec, equals 93.823 m.p.h. hour lap would come up in Ess., Imin 42sec; 74.6 m.p.h. 1958 (Distance 150.236 miles) Fastest lap: B. McLaren, linin the near future. -A. Scott-Brown, England, Brabham-Climas, Imin 3sec; 1952 (Distance 50.78 miles) Lister-Jaguar, Ihr 48min 33.4 97.63 m.p.h. -L. Moore, Alfa Romeo P3, sec; 83.80 mp.h. Fastest lap:| 1964 (Distance 1012 miles, 44 39min 4sec; 76.3 m.p.h. Fast- A. Scott-Brown, Lister-Jaguar,| fest lan: I. Moore. Alfa Romeo| imin 27.50sec. 87.06 mn h