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race report · The Press

Clark wins Wigram, collects side prize

About 30,000 people saw Jim Clark win his third Lady Wigram Trophy (after 1965 and 1967) at just under 103 mph in the Gold Leaf Team Lotus-Cosworth-Ford V8, finishing 7.7 sec ahead of Chris Amon's Ferrari V6. Clark collected the $1000 side prize for a 100 mph lap on his second lap (101.22 mph). Only Clark and Amon went the full 44 laps. Amon set the first absolute lap record of 1:19.6 (104.02 mph), later equalled by Clark. Bolton crashed through a hangar door and Lawrence spun on lap one; Gardner retired with a blown head gasket.

Lady Wigram Trophy (44 laps, 101.2 miles)

1J. Clark (Scotland)Lotus-Ford V859:10.8
2C. Amon (New Zealand)Ferrari V659:18.5
3D. Hulme (New Zealand)Brabham-Ford 1.6-litre59:25.1
4P. Courage (Britain)McLaren-Ford 1.6-litre59:32.1
5B. McLaren (New Zealand)BRM V1260:21.8
6P. Rodriguez (Mexico)BRM V8 2.060:23.6
7J. Palmer (New Zealand)McLaren-Ford 1.6-litre
8R. Levis (New Zealand)Brabham-Ford 1.5-litre
DNFF. Gardner (Australia)Brabham-Alfa Romeo 2.5
DNFPaul Bolton (Australia)Brabham-Climax 2.5
DNFGraeme Lawrence (Wanganui)Brabham-Ford 1.5

First preliminary for Lady Wigram Trophy (11 laps, 25 miles)

1R. LevisRepco Brabham 1.5-litre16:21.5
2B. StoneBrabham-Ford16:21.6
3K. J. SmithLotus 41B16:34.4
4D. OxtonBrabham-Ford
5G. McRaeBrabham
6D. MacdonaldBrabham

Second preliminary for Lady Wigram Trophy (11 laps)

1J. ClarkLotus-Ford V814:55.3
2C. AmonFerrari V614:56.3
3F. GardnerBrabham-Alfa Romeo15:10.2
4D. HulmeBrabham-Ford
5P. CourageMcLaren-Ford
6P. RodriguezBRM V8

Motor Racing Club Championship (11 laps)

1B. KeenBegg-Ford
2R. RutherfordLotus 2318:08.4
3L. J. ToshBegg-Daimler18:21.6
4N. F. StuartStuart-Corvette
5G. J. BakerLotus
6R. WestLotus Super 7

Sports cars over 1500cc (11 laps)

1A. A. BuchananElfin16:47.8
2G. MardonStanton-Corvette16:50.6
3B. HawesBegg-Corvette17:23
4J. ArmstrongLotus
5W. CollinsLotus Ford GT
6N. DoyleAnglia-Corvette

Saloons up to 1300cc (11 laps)

1A. N. Hyslop (Hastings)Austin Cooper17:37.9
2R. StewartAustin Cooper S17:38.4
3W. KettelwellMorris Cooper17:50
4L. NeilsonAustin Cooper
5B. BenzieMorris Cooper S
6R. AndersonAustin Cooper

Saloons over 1300cc (11 laps)

1P. FaheyFord Mustang16:45.4
2F. BryanFord Mustang17:48
3R. CoppinsFord Mustang17:48.8
4J. WardLotus Cortina
5B. PhillipsLotus Cortina
6E. LattaTriumph 2000

Saloon car final (9 laps)

1F. Bryan (Auckland)Ford Mustang15:25.3
2N. Doyle (Ashburton)Anglia-Corvette
3G. Sprague (Timaru)Anglia 1600
4L. NeilsonAustin Cooper
5R. B. LangleyAustin Cooper
6J. RichardsAnglia

Lap times

  • Chris Amon (Ferrari V6): 1:19.6 lap record
  • Jim Clark (Lotus-Ford V8): 1:19.6 lap record
  • Jim Clark (Lotus-Ford V8): 101.22 mph fastest race lap
  • Roly Levis (Repco Brabham 1.5-litre): 1:26.8 fastest race lap
  • Jim Clark (Lotus-Ford V8): 1:20.1 fastest race lap
  • Chris Amon (Ferrari V6): 1:20.1 fastest race lap
  • R. Rutherford (Lotus 23): 1:35.7 fastest race lap
  • R. Stewart (Austin Cooper S): 1:43.1 fastest race lap
  • P. Fahey (Ford Mustang): 1:37.8 fastest race lap

Facts

  • Jim Clark won his third Lady Wigram Trophy (1965, 1967, 1968) on 20 January 1968, in 59min 10.8sec at a record average of 102.6 mph.
  • Chris Amon was the first to set the absolute Wigram lap record in the 1968 race, 1min 19.6sec (104.02 mph), which Clark equalled; the previous record was Jackie Stewart's from 1967.
  • The $1000 side prize from Manchester Car Sales was won on Clark's second lap, at 101.22 mph, before the race had run three minutes.
  • About 30,000 people attended the 1968 Lady Wigram Trophy meeting.
  • Tasman points after Wigram 1968: Amon 24, Courage 13, Clark 9, Palmer 7, Gardner 6, Hulme 4, Levis 3, Dawson and McLaren 2 each, Stone and Rodriguez 1 each.
  • Clark's Lotus raced in Gold Leaf Team Lotus colours at the 1968 Lady Wigram Trophy.
race report · The Press

Saloon races

The 1968 Wigram saloon races featured fierce Mini competition and the overpowering speed of the Ford Mustangs. Angus Hyslop (Austin Cooper) won the under-1300cc race, passing R. J. Stewart, who twice took an escape road. Paul Fahey's Mustang led the over-1300cc race, Collins' Ford Lotus Cortina locked its gearbox and spun, and Frank Bryan's Mustang won the final from Neil Doyle's Anglia-Corvette.

Lap times

  • R. Stewart (Austin Cooper S): 1:43.1 fastest race lap
  • A. N. Hyslop (Austin Cooper): 1:44.1 other
race report · The Press

Motor-cyclist's three titles

Lloyd May of Manurewa won the NZ 350cc, 500cc and open airfield motor-cycle championships at Wigram, taking the main 25-mile race on his Norton in 19min 59sec (75.96 mph) from Brian Scobie. Christchurch rider Sonny Clarke won the first race on a 500 Matchless G50 under the mistaken impression it was for the 500cc title, then withdrew from the second with power loss. C. Kingston (Tauranga, Suzuki) won the 250cc airfield title, with McCleary's Bultaco setting the fastest 250cc lap of 1:51.6.

Motor-cycle race 1, open (11 laps, 25 miles)

1R. Clarke (Christchurch)500cc Matchless G5020:04.8
2L. May (Manurewa)350cc AJS20:10.8
3T. Discombe (Hamilton)350cc AJS20:16.4
4D. Mortimer500cc Matchless20:24.2
5B. Adams (Frankton)500cc Norton

Motor-cycle race 2, open NZ airfield championship (11 laps, 25 miles)

1L. May (Manurewa)500cc Norton19:59
2B. Scobie (Hamilton)Norton20:09.6
3B. Adams (Frankton)Norton
4R. P. Ingram (Invercargill)500cc Norton

250cc airfield championship

1C. Kingston (Tauranga)250cc Suzuki20:55.2
2K. McCleary (Christchurch)250cc Bultaco

Lap times

  • K. McCleary (250cc Bultaco): 1:51.6 fastest race lap

Facts

  • Lloyd May won the NZ 350cc, 500cc and open airfield motor-cycle championships at Wigram on 20 January 1968; the next round was at Teretonga the following Saturday.
  • Brian Scobie, nearing the end of a long career that included an Isle of Man TT trip as NZ team captain, finished second to May.
Read the OCR text
22-1-68 Clark Wins Wigram, Collects Side Prize ABOUT 30,000 people were on hand to see Scotsman Jim Clark win his third international Lady Wigram Trophy race on Saturday at a searing pace of fractionally less than 103 miles an hour in the Gold Leaf Team Lotus-Cosworth-Ford V8. Clark gained the narrowest of advantages over Ferrari V6 driver Chris Amon from the drop of the fiag and had Amon right on his heels until the pair had covered twenty-five the forty-four laps, then he managed to open up a slight lead and finally came home 7.7sec ahead of Amon. The pace was a scorcher from the start for there was $1000 at stake to go to the first driver in the race to lap the circuit at 100 miles an hour or more. The Lotus Ford 18 driver collected the prize, donated Manchester Car Sales, Ltd., before the race had been running three Ininutes. He turned in his second lap at an arerage speed of 101.22 miles an hour. Amon, who was only feet benind him, could have been only fractionally slower. Amon and Clark were the only ones to go the full distance. The next four in line, Denis. Fulme (Brabham EVA). Piers Courage ·1.6 vicLaren-Ford), Bruce McLaren (B.R.M. VI2) and Pedro Rodriguez (BR. v8): were flagged of having completed forty-three of the fort.tour laps. • Top resident driver Jim Palmer (1.6 MeLaren-Ford) ran out forty-one laps tor seventn place and finished a lap ahead of Roly Levis (1.5 Brabham-i it ord) Red Dawson 82.5 Brabham-Climax) and Bill Stone ; (1.5 Brabham-Ford). Eliminated in the first lap mere Australian Paul Bolton ›and leading New Zealand 1.5l litre driver Graeme Lawrence. Retired Bolton's 2.5 Brabham-Climax sput and crashed through a hangar. door just bevond the control tower and simultaneously Lawrence spun to the infield. Bolton was subsequentis taken to hospital for a rou-. tine check nd Lawrence escaped unscathed. Most notable retirement was that of Frank Gardiner, whose 2.5 Brabham-Alfa Romeo blew cylinder-head gasket When holding fifth place after seven At that stage the race pat- I tern was set with Clark and Amon outstripping, Huime. who was closely attended by Courage, and Roririguez and Melaren next, followd by Pal- › mer. Rodriguez lost his place to McLaren when he made a very short pit stop to have a stick-! ing throttle slide freed. Although Clark collected the $1000 side prize. the honour of' being first to set the absolute ilap record went to Amon Who turned in a time of lmin 19.6sec-an average of 104.02 miles an • hour-fairly eariv In the race. Clark subsequently returned the same figure. The previous record was 97.11 miles an hour, set by Jackie Stewart (B.R.M, T8) last year. Clark who won the race in 1965 and again last year, scored nine points in this year's Tas-. man Championship series yes-: terday to put hini on the lad-. der for the first time. Amon has 24 points, Courage: 13. Then comes Clark with nine •and he followed by Palmer (7), Gardner (6), Hulme (4),: Levis (3), Dawson and McLaren (2 each) and Stone and Rod- (riguez (i each). The final saloon car race on: • the programme was won by: Aucklander Frank Bryan in his: *fustang after Ashburton driver -Neil Doyle (Angiia-Corvette) • had thrown out a strong challenge earis in the race. Doyle finished sécond, With Timaru s Gary Sprague (Anglia 1600) • good third. The final motorcycle race • provided Manurewa rider Lord lav with a win on his torton from Brian Seohie. who was similarls mounted. International Lady Wigranz • Trophy Race (4t laps). 101.5 miles.—J Clark (Scotland) Lotus Ford T'S. 50min 10.Ssec. 1: C. Amon (New Zealand), Ferarri V6. 59min 18.Jsec. 2; D. Hulme Zealand). 1.6 Brabham Ford. 43 laps. 3; F. Courage (England). 1.6 Me- 'Laren laps, B. Me- Laren Few Zealand 2: B.R.1 V12. 43 laps. 5: P Rodriguez 2.0 B.R.J. 13 laps Cheat * Arraren ога. Mexico Je ScLaren Ford, Palmer (ler laps. R. Levis freew Zealand). Brabham Ford, 40 laps. . Fastest lap: Clark and Amon, inıin 19.6sec (104.02 miles an hour-record). Rothmans Saioon сат тасе over 1300 с.c.: P. Fahey (Ford Mustang). Ifmin 45.4sec, I: P Bryan (Ford Mustang). 17min 48sec. 2: R. Coppins (Ford Mustang, 17min 48.Ssec, Ward (Lotus Cortina), 18min 20sec. Phillips (Lotus • Cortina). 1Smin 42.4sec, 5: E. Lataa (Triumph 2000) 6. Rothmans Saloon • Car Final. F Dover Forde testang 6. Doyle (Corvette), Sprague (Anglia), 3: L. Neilson (Austin Cooper), 4; A. •Hyslop : (Austin Cooper). 5; J. Richards (Anglia). Winner's time : 15min 25.3sec. First Motor-cycle Race - S. Clarke (vorton). 1: L. Mar (A.J.S.), 2; T. Discombe (A.J.S.), 3. Second Motor-ccle Race-L. May Scoble (Norton), Adanis (forton). 3. Saloon Races The main features of the saloon-car races at Wigram on Saturday were the ferce competition among the minis, and the orerpowering speed of the l'ord mustangs. Some events seemed to lack a little of their usual excitement, although there was some fine driving. A. N. Hyslop, of Hastings (Austin Cooper), had a good win in the race for saloons under 1300 taking the lead on the third lap and holding it to the end. Ri J. Stewart (Austin Cooper S) held the lead first time round, with Hyslop and W. H. Kettelwell (MOrTiS Cooper S) in close pursuit. But Stewart took the escape road on the back of the circuit and came back in fourth position, while Kettelwell took the lead ahead of Hyslop. On the second Stewart was third ahead of L. Neilson (Austin S), then Neilson dropped to third and Hyslop took the lead abead of Stewart. Stewart chased Byslop hard for a lap, but then fell back to be pursued by Nellsor On the ninth and tenth laps he again challenged Eyslop, but failed to catch him by second. Stewart set the fastest laD of 4å. Isec, compared with Hyslop's Imin 44.Isec. In the closing stages Betteiwell passed Nellson finish third. and B. Benzie (Cooper S) passed B. Anderson (Cooper S) | fifth. • Fahey led the over-1300 c.e. saloon race in bis Ford Mustang from the start. I. W. Dawson retired his Mustang after the warm-up lap when it started expensive engine noises, which left, only the Mustangs of Mustans to challenge Fahey. Ford Lotus CT put uP staying Collins in the 1498 fourth behind until the eighth lap, when his gear-box locked and he spun into the bales. G. Sprague (Anglia) 8is0 did well in spite of clutch trouble, took over fourth place when Collins went Coppins was second for the frst I7e laps, then Bryan took over his place and held it, Coppins finishing third. J. Ward. and ¡ Lawrence, both Lotus A cos: tinas, had a good battle until! Lawrence had to retire. winners had lapped the last two cars at the end. Only Mustang, that Bryan, turned out for the saloon! race inal. stayed front all the way, in spite of splendid efforts Doyle (Anglia Corvette). Doyle drove an ex. cellent race, and deserved his second place. G. Sprague, who had fitted a new clutch, held s good third all the way. The of Neilson, R. Langley and Kettel well fought for fifth place Behind Stewart, then fourth arter Stewart spun near the loop and retired. Nellson took fourth ahead of Langley and A. Murray (Sabre GT) held sixth until he did a magalcent spin on the pit straight. THE PRESS, MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 1968. 13 Motor-cyclist's Three Titles The talented rider, May, brilliantly won the New Zealand 350c.c., 500c.c. and open motor-cycle airfeld championships, which were held in conjunction with the international car race meeting at Wigram on Saturday. In doiag 80 he scored maximum points towards the - New Zealand 350 c.c. and 500 c.c readracing championships and will ¡have a good ehance ef winning at least pnę bf them if he does well in the next round at feretonga next Saturday. Jay's winning time on his big ManT Norton In the main 25 mile race for the 500 c.c. and open titles was 19 minutes 59 seconds-an average speed of 75,96 miles an ou No ether rider braze 20 minutes for the :11 laps. B. Scoble (Hamilton) now nearing the end of an illustrii auş career which included trip to the Isle of Man I.I. as New Zealand team eastain, Fas la comfortable second in 20 min 9.6sec. He was a constant threat to May until past the hali-way mark, but ever the final laps he eased slightly. The only airfeld championship whịch May did not wịn was the 1250 c.e. class, for which he was ¡not eligible. This went to the Tauranga rider, C. Kingston, ricipg a beautifully prepared fc.c. Suzuki twin began life ag an ordipary road шаchine. The New Zealand light-weight road racing champion, УсСіеагу (Christchurch). who won the 150 c.c. ciass last season, made an exceptionally poor start ОД his Spanish watercooled Bultaco and although ne made up a lot of ground unable to catch the class leader before the finish. However. he recorded the fastest lap by a 250 c.c. machine at imin 51.6sec—about 74 miles an gour. For several riders it was a day and frustra. to apparent tion. Clarke, the Christchurch rider who won the New Zealand senior grand prix last Easter and was a favourite for bath 500 c.c. and 350c.c. titles, won the first 25-mile race under , the mistaken impression that he was racing for the 500 ç.c. chạmpionship. He rode his 500 c.c. G50 Matchless to win easing up from May. However, the only titles at (stake in this Face were in the 250 c.c. and 350 e.ę. classes. The 350 c.c. Aw.S. waich his spon SOt, the former grand pris champien, T. B. McCleary, jun., had prepared for this race, mas left sitting {n the • pits and Clarke did not defend the 350 c.c. title he mon last season. In the 500 c.c. title race Clarke started brilliantly and after round was 50 yards elear of Kay. But his motor then began to lose power and he later withdrew from the race. Results.:- First Motor-cycle Race (11 laps, 25 miles, starters).=Open: R. Clarke (Christchureh), 500 ç.c. Matchless, 20:4.8, I; May (Manurewa) 350 c.c. A.J,Ş, 20: 10.8, 2; "T. Discombe (Hamil 350 c.c. A.J,S., 28;16.4, 3; D. Mortimer amito 3, 500 c.. Matchlets Metissa, 28:24.2, 4; B. Açams (Frankton), 500 c.C. Norton, 5. Bad e.e. alyfeld chasi- Dişeombe (Hamilton) 2, zuki, 8. 250 e.t. airfield championship: C. Kingston (Tauraaga), 20:55.2, 1; К. McCleary (Christchurch), 250 c.c. Bultaco, 21: 4, 2. Second Motor-eyele Race 111 laps, 25 miles, stafters).- Ореп New Zealand airfield championship: L. May (Manurewa), 50Q c.ç. Norton, 19;8, 1; B. Scobie C.C. Nortop, 20: 8.6, 9.6, 210%. к. (Frankton), є.e. Norten, 3: R. P. Ідятат! (Invercarsil!, 500 c.e. Norton, 4; C. Kingston (Tau- (ang, 250 c.c. Suzuk e.c. New Zealand airfeld cham- Iponship: May 1, Scebte 2, Adams WIGRAM RESULTS Detailed resuits of events at Wigram on Saturday are:- First Preliminary Race for Lady Wigram Trophy Race.—(11 laps, 25 miles): R. Levis (Repco Brabham 1.5-litre), 16min 21.5 sec, I; Stone (Brabham ford). 16:21.6, 2; K. J. Smith (Lotus 41B), 16:34.4, 3; B. CIton (Brabham Ford). LuC- Rae (Brabham), 5; 5 D. Macdonald (Brabham), 6.- Fastest lap: Levis, 1:26.8. Second Preliminary Race FOT Main Bace.—(11 laps): J. Ciark (Lotus Ford V8), 14:55.3, 1; C. Amon (Ferrari V-6), 14:56.3, 2; F. Gardner (Brabham Alfa Romeo), 15:10.2, 3: D. Hulme (Brabham Ford), P. Courage (Mc- Laren Ford), 5; P. Bodriguez (B.R:M. V-8), 6. Fastest •lap: Clark and Amon, 1:20.1. Motor Racing Club Championship.-(11 laps): Keen ford Be LOS 2380, 15: 08 2E. (Lotus 18:08.4, J. Tosh (Begg Daimler), 18:21.6, 3; N. F. Stuart (Stuart Corvette) G. J. Baker (Lotus). 5; R. West (Lotus Super 7). one lap back, 6. Fastest lap: Ruther• ford, 1:35.7. Sports Cars Over 1500 c.c.- ‹11 laps): A. A. Buchanan (Elfin), 16:47.8. 1: G. Mardon (Stanton Corvette), 16:50.6. 2: B. Hawes "Begg Corvette). 17:23. 3; J. W. {Lo. (US 15), 10 laps, 4; W. (Lotus Ford GT). 10 laps. N. Doyle (Angila Corvette), 10 laps, 6. Saloons Up To 1300 c.c-(11 laps): A N. Hyslop (Austin 17:37.9, 1: R. Stewart " ousen cooper): (Austin 17:38.4. 2: W. Kettelwel (Moris Cooper). 17:50, 3; Neilson (Austin Cooper), Is. Benzie (SoFTis ( Cooper), 5: R. Anderson (AUstin Сооре), 6. Fastest lap: Stewart, 1:43.I. Saloons Over 1300 c.c.-(11 laps): P. Fahes (Ford Mustang). 16.45.4, 1; P. Bryan (Mustang), 17:48. 2: R. Coppins (Mustang). 17:48.8, 3: J. Ward (Lotus Cortina). 4; B. Phillips (Lotus Cortina), 5: E. Latta fTriumph 2000). 8. Fastesi lap: Faney, 1:37.8. Lady Wigram Trophy Race.- (44 laps, 101.2 miles): J. Clars, Scotland, (Lotus Ford V-8). 59:10.8 (record), 1: C. Amon: New (Ferrari V-6). 59:18.5. 2; D. Zealand falme, New Zezland, (Brabham Ford I.B-litre), 59:25.1, 43_ laps, 3: P. Courage, Britain Ford 1.6-litre), 59:32.1, 43 laps, 4; B. MeLaTeR, New Zealand, (B.8.M. V-12), 60:23.6, 43 laps, 5; P. (B.R.M. 7-8), Boriguezes laps McLaren' 60:21.8. Mexico 8: J. Palmer, New Zealand, Ford 1.6-litIe), 59:30.8, 41 laps, 7; R. Levis, New (Brabham Ford 1.5-litre), 8. Fastest lap: Clark and Amon, :19.6 (record). Race average: 102.6 m.p.h. irecord). Saloon Car Final.-(nine laps): F. Bryan (Mustang), 1; N. Doyle (Anglia Corpette), 2; G. Sprague (Angila), P. Neilson fAustin Соорет), 4; B. B. Langley (Austin Cooper), J; J. Riehards (Anglia), 6. Time, 15:25.8.

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