Puke cone s Imag S nattered At Wigram by Peter Greenslade Although the 100 miles an hour lap did not come up in the Lady Wigram Trophy or preliminary heats of Christchurch last Saturday, dim Clark and Jackie Stewart effecfively demolished the exclusive reputation of the New Zealand Grand Prix circuit at Pukekohe during the Friday training sessions. No. 1 B.R.M. driver Stew- mula cars were losing up to art was first to break the 5 miles an hour. The wind had swung lo the barrier, putting in four "above more favourable north-west the hundred" laps, his best quarter as the cars lineu up being 100.24 miles an hour. trophy race. But by Clark in the crisp-sounding then the power-driving wig- Lolus-Climax then went out ram circuit was slicked with and put in a few more laps rubber and oil droppings. above the "ton" finally return- and stewart out of the race in the things turned with ing 101.2 miles an hout professing himself quite sat-fifth lap and Jack Brabham Scotland's Jin Clark (left), the Lady Wigram Irophy race winner, apologises to Jackie isfied. slowed overheating Stewart for a mishap that put Stewart out of last Saturday's race. A marker lyre spun In there in his lightweight up from the rear of Clark's Lotus, shattered Stewart's windscreen, burst an oll pipe, and no: real pal reason tor reason trophy Repco-Brabham V8, there was struck Steward a glancing blow on the head. The incident occurred at the control tower race drivers hurry hurry Clark Hone during training. The and he wisely elected to for- bend during the fifth lap. Stewart was unhurt. much Motor Club, with the get the comparatively small self-effacingly entrants and beer, in the shape of the nificently) of conserv- agreed that he could have drivers, starting ge positons on ing his car had decided to favour quicker if he had for the Australian gone much the basis of performance of section of the Tasman series. been pushed. rather than rather a flying marker, kicked £400 remains in the illusory practice times which, up by a rear wheel of Clark's Motor Club's coffers loo often, have put fast men Lotus, had not dramatically for another year. The sum on the back of starting grids. blasted Stewart out the has been built up over several All the same, when training race, the story might have years Manchesler ended for the day, most folk been different. See firm Lia. and depending on were forecasting the € 400 Both drivers admitted after- the it might well have side prize for the 100 miles wards •that they wore just reached £500 by Wigram 1968. an hour race lap would go warming to their work One thing certain, early on race day. those early laps. given reasonable racing con- They did not take into Stewart said he had quite a ditions, it will be collected by account the weatherman. In lot in hand, but was still someone next year. the morning following, a sizing up the situation when All this makes one wonder strong north-easterly wind had he was eliminated. the New Zealand intercars struggling on the back Clark, Who coasted home national Grand Prix organisastraight. The 1.5-litre cars 16.9sec ahead of No. 2 B.R.M. tion has done the wisest thing were up to 10 miles an hour team Attwood in Pukekohe to a and the Tasman for who, incidentally, drove mog-100 miles an hour circuit. good promotion It was a good promotional him it it had struck lower. rivers had the edge on the gimmick while it lasted. But However, the Motor Racing rest of the field with the ex-: it did not last long and the club is never slow to heed the really track is not nearly the one it utterances informed over superb when he was the testing Elbow seas drivers and, no doubt, will realised that B.R.M.'s fortunes and fast Loop formed a parti serious consideration rested in his hands of it. Stewart's criticisms when Hulme does not receive the World champion Jack Brabhan watches a mechanic Now, with Wigram in the to prepares for year's credit he deserves in his own Inspect the badly over-heated engine of his Repco-Brabhans class indications meeting. country. that the Southland Sports Car is proved to be the case ai He drove superbly in the V8 after a pit stop during the Lady Wigram Trophy race Club's Teretonga Park circuit Pukekohe and Levin Clark Grand Prix in a borrowed car- last Saturday. Brabham pulled in after twenty-four laps, will provide laps in the high and Stewart were out on their and then at Wigram he showed and continued after losing about ten laps. He finally 908, speed for speed's sake own at Wigram. himself the egual of the world finished in thirteenth place. Brabham had the fastest lap may not be sufficient to drag Brabham showed the stuff champion by returning an the patrons through the gates. which he is made in the identical qualifying time of the day min 25sec, averaging 97.41 miles an hour. Wigram, although aero- preliminary heat when he amin 23.8secand this with an drome circuit and with some muscled Clark out of second older and heavy car, Levis bisedeathe, but aly are so many drivers it ional shortcomings. is still regarded spot, but in the race itnelf he The 1966 national champion a chance of taking the national as the best in the did not constitute much of a Jim Palmer did not have much brought home his Brabham- titles, that the South country by Ford in sixth place and the • majority of the overseas threat. of a Wigram day. broken points Canterbury Car Club's Timaru One must never under-esti- crankshaft put him out. picked up 10 valuable drivers. in both the Gold Star and New Trophy next Saturday will be is true that Stewart mate the world champion. He But before he went he showed naturally rather upset about is certainly not nearly such a that he measure of Zealand Racing Drivers' Club's a most important race. his dramatic departure, idy diver as Cank or Stev. the Alec had en meing Te on series.. For the first time there are some misgivings. He art, but manages to retrieve men Frank Gardner and Kevin This means that he is well half-a-dozen drivers all with elt that the water-filled drums himself from seemingly impos- Bartlett by leading them h in the running for the cham- chance of carrying the used to mark the course in sible situations. somely in his 2.5 Repco-Brab- pionships this year After Wig- titles. some places are hazardous Neither his car nor team- ham-Climax, that ram hé and. Dennis Marwood Timaru, next Saturday, could and pointed out that the sec- mate Hulme's heavier Formula probably not as good as the had 20 points each. prove to be the most importtion of tyre used as a marker 1-based machine handled similar ones the Australians To-day's Teretonga Park In- ant meeting of the season-at that eliminated from well as Lotus drove. ternational meeting could help least as far as New Zealanders could well have Killed and .r.M. Nevertheless, bots Wigram leaves the 1.5-litrel sort things out more, but there are concerned. Masterton's Andy Buchanan swings his 250LM Ferrari into the loop during the Motor Racing Club's championships for sports cars and specials at the Lady Wigram Trophy meeting last Saturday. Buchanan easily won the 11 lap race, covering the 25 miles in 17 min 56.2sec, with a fastest lap of min 36sec.