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Lotus-Fords dominate Lady Wigram Trophy race

Photos from Saturday's 1969 Lady Wigram Trophy: Graham Hill passing Piers Courage's Brabham-Ford to take second place, and winner Jochen Rindt at speed in his Lotus-Ford.

Photos

  • Lotus-Fords dominate Lady Wigram Trophy race. Top: the world champion, G. Hill (No. 3), passing the Brabham-Ford of P. Courage to take over second place during Saturday's race. Hill held second to the finish, and Courage finished fourth behind C. Amon (Ferrari Dino V6). Bottom: the winner, the Austrian driver J. Rindt, at speed in his Lotus-Ford.
race report

May in fine ride to win title

Manurewa road racer L. May on his 500cc Norton narrowly beat W. G. Molloy, leader of the Spanish Bultaco team, to win the New Zealand 500cc and open airfield championships at Wigram, averaging almost 80 mph for 11 laps. Molloy, a former Huntly coalminer rated among the world's leading riders, had earlier won the 350cc airfield championship on a Bultaco. Third in the open race was Landrebe of Dunedin on a Matchless.

New Zealand 350cc airfield championship (11 laps, 25 miles)

1W. G. Molloy (Huntly)Bultaco 35019:35.6
2T. Discombe (Hamilton)AJS 350
3L. May (Manurewa)AJS 350

New Zealand 500cc and open airfield championship (11 laps, 25 miles)

1L. May (Manurewa)Norton 50019:08.2
2W. G. Molloy (Huntly)Bultaco 350
3Landrebe (Dunedin)Matchless 49619:55.8
4T. Discombe (Hamilton)AJS 350
5Scobie (Hamilton)Matchless 50020:50.5

Lap times

  • W. G. Molloy (Bultaco 350): 113.6 mph top speed
  • L. May (Norton 500): 105.8 mph top speed
  • Perry (Suzuki 250): 108 mph top speed

Facts

  • L. May won the 1969 New Zealand open airfield motor-cycle championship at Wigram on a 500 Norton in 19min 8.2sec, an average of almost 80 mph over 11 laps.
  • W. G. Molloy of Huntly won the 1969 NZ 350cc airfield championship at Wigram on a Bultaco in 19min 35.6sec.
  • Molloy was timed through the back-straight speed trap at 113.6 mph in the open race.
  • The Wigram motor-cycle races counted for the New Zealand road race championship and the Rothmans series.
race report

Saloon car excitement

D. Simpson of Auckland (Ford Escort twin cam) won both Group 5 saloon heats and was second in the free-formula race at Wigram. Simpson's first win came after S. Black's Chevrolet Camaro spun backwards through the bales and I. W. Dawson's Mustang crashed into it, with a short fire. Australian B. Foley's Mini Cooper S was an impressive second despite a blown head gasket, and P. Fahey's Mustang won the free-formula race by about 23 seconds.

Saloon cars, Group 5 (heat 1, 7 laps, 16 miles)

1D. Simpson (Auckland)Ford Escort12:08.3
2B. Foley (Australia)Mini Cooper S
3B. McLeanFord Lotus Cortina
4L. NeilsonMini Cooper S
5A. PrattleyMini Cooper S12:44.6

Saloon cars, Group 5 (heat 2, 7 laps, 16 miles)

1D. Simpson (Auckland)Ford Escort12:27.7
2L. NeilsonMini Cooper S12:36.5
3J. RichardsFord Escort
4B. McLeanFord Lotus Cortina
5A. PrattleyMini Cooper13:19.2

Free formula saloon car race (9 laps, 20 miles)

1P. FaheyFord Mustang15:07.4
2D. SimpsonFord Escort15:30.3
3N. DoyleAnglia Corvette15:41.4
4J. CarneyFord Escort
5L. NeilsonMini Cooper S16:01.6

Facts

  • In the first 1969 Wigram Group 5 saloon heat, S. Black's Camaro spun backwards through the straw bales and I. W. Dawson's Mustang hit it; a small fire in the bales was quickly put out and both cars were extensively damaged.
  • D. Simpson of Auckland won both Group 5 saloon races at the 1969 Lady Wigram meeting.
  • P. Fahey won the free formula saloon race by about 23 seconds in his Ford Mustang.
race report

Murdoch wins

W. Murdoch (Brabham) won the Motor Racing Club championship for single-seaters and NZ-built specials, leading from the start. Barry Keen retired and K. Cameron's Lotus 1500 relegated G. Baker to third before L. Tosh got through to hold third. There was a crash in which a Lotus 1500 hit drums and bales on the loop, though the driver was not injured.

Motor Racing Club championship (11 laps, 25 miles)

1W. MurdochBrabham 150018:14.4
2K. CameronLotus 150018:20.9
3L. ToshBegg Daimler18:28.9
4G. BakerLotus 150018:31.5
5StuartCorvette18:45.7

Lap times

  • W. Murdoch (Brabham 1500): 1:36.5 fastest race lap
race report

Sports-car race to B. Hawes

Timaru driver B. Hawes won the Wigram sports-car race in his Begg Corvette despite strong pressure from J. Boyd's Stanton Corvette. G. Harvey's Elfin Corvette spun twice on the first lap and recovered to third. Hawes recorded the fastest lap and a new record. Hogan beat Froggatt by 0.8 sec for sixth.

Sports-car race (11 laps, 25 miles)

1B. Hawes (Timaru)Begg Corvette16:34.9
2J. BoydStanton Corvette16:41.3
3G. HarveyElfin Corvette
4J. F. ArmstrongLotus Climax10 laps
5G. WilliamsU210 laps
6W. Hogan
7P. E. Froggatt

Lap times

  • B. Hawes (Begg Corvette): 1:29.4 fastest race lap

Facts

  • Before the 1969 Wigram sports-car race Hawes had been worried about crankcase pressurisation blowing out oil, but the Begg Corvette performed excellently.
Read the OCR text
20-1-69 LOTUS-FORDS DOMINATE LADY WIGRAM TROPHY RACE.—TOP: The world champion, G. Hill (No. 3), passing the Brabham-Ford of P. Courage to take over second place during Saturday's race. Hill held second place to the finish, and Courage finished fourth behind C. Amon (Ferrari Dino V6). BOTTON: The winner, the Austrian driver, J. Rindt, at speed in his Lotus-Ford. May In Fine Ride To Win Title The talented Manurewa i among inemseives for while was the and second en te class: Results were road racer, o. L. May, turned before making his bid for soccleary ichristcaurchssi on of the finest perform- front. third. Race 111 laps. 25 miles having at the engla First take starters):ances his career to nar- May on his 350 c.c. road rowly beat the leader of in tise int of the escape •the ¡ the tirst lap pace with the in- back straight when spanish Bultaco team, credible his Bultaco. wore mile little 250 c.c. Suzuki •Bultaco siezed practise 19:33.6. W. G. Molloy. in the of G. (suckland) right оп combe 350 Was slow one ree line richened his fuel and (Hamilton). A.J.S. event for the New Zealand tail the second lap was 19:37.6. 2; 500 c.c. and However, 3D a Gibb Lanuremal open motor-cycie Perry went to the front and to ine finished with the honour of 350 A.J.S., 'Christairfield championships at the surprise of everybody being the fastest light-weight church), 350 A.J.S.. D. Wigram on Saturday. Wyle ceeded to slowly pull away from being timed through the speed (Christchurch), 350 B.S.A • 5: P. His winning time on his big May and the national 350 trap in the back straight at (Auckland). 250 Bul. 500 Norton was an champion, I. Discombe tHami: I08.] miles an hour. taco, standing 19min 8.2sec, терге- tom). In the big capacity race. May New Zealand 350| senting an average speed of However, Wine расе finally led the way. Molloy wasi Championship -Molloy Dis-! almost 80 miles an nour for the proved too much for the Jap- away and at the endi combe 2, May 3 Il laps. Molloy, a former Huntly anese two-stroke and 00 the second lap was more than Airfield coalminer nOW rated as one fifth lap Perry retired with 100 behind 1D second New Zealand 250 CRichards the world's leading riders, бл- BIS points disintegrated. Dis- place. He He slowly whittled this (Auckland), 250 19: 33. ished exactiy second behind combe took over the lead and and for Williams (Auckland). the stanter experimental hald it fot three laps before - treeves. 20:17, K. Mccleary air-cooled 350 c.c. Bultaco. Holloy fnally asserted his auth- round nose Down (Christchurch), Bultaco, 20:32. Third place went to for- ority. Molloy who has fel back straight. Mollov tras 3. mer New Iste ibe fan! spares for his machine went no timed at. 113.6 miles hour- Second Race +11 laps, 25 team captain, Landrebe faster than he needed to win. eight miles an bour better than! miles. 30 starters!: ‹Dunedin), on a 496 c.c. Lyster Discombe Enished well up UR d May's best-but it made no dif- New Zealand Open Airfield Matchless. Recently returned ' second place with May ference Auckiander held Champtonship.-L. 'Manufroin two years' racing Afterwards. Holloy had to his lead to the finish writh rewa' 500 Norion). 19:8.2 al) Europe. he gave a workmanlike make some temporary repairs mpeccable display Third place G. ¡Huntly) 330 Bultaco pertormance but appeared to to cracked crankcase with went to Landrebe who Landrebe ‹ Dune. 2C5 of hIs old forceful- fibre-glass and in the 500 C.C. Discombe two laps from the fin- din! Lister Matchless 1e33 and ореп race was reluctant Ish 19:$5.8. 3: T. Discontoe 'Hamil- Earlier the dav Mollov to push the machine t00 hard Points were both 350 A.J.S. 13:48 4: coasted to an etortless win The 250 SCituckiand, title went to P. races for the New vew Zealand road Scobie • Hamilton: 500 Matchi.he i1 lap 350 c.c. airfield cham- L. Richards on race championship and the less. 20:50.5: Williams sAuck- Pionship on the Bultaco in 19min , Bultaco He was sixth over all, Rothmans series. Richardsiland). 250 Greeres. 35.6sec. After 5101 start he behind the two promising Christ- leads the class of both: Zealand 500 Tras content to sit back in the, church 350 riders. D series. Molloy the 350 c.c. class: championship. Say i, aroire s fed and let tha Cibis zad T Saloon Car Exc The saloons provided their usual excitement at Wigram, and the Auckland driver. D. Simpson (Ford Mascot twin cam), was the man of the day. winning both group five races and finishing second in the free-formula event. Simpson's first rictory was a surprise He W25 third tiVO laps from the end. behind s. Black 1 Chevrolet Camaro) and T. DaRson • Ford Mustangi. gho were having a tremendous battle. Then on the fart curve Into the pit straight the big Camaro spun. disappearing backwards Through the bales. Dawson about 30 vards behind. found his line blocked hale ficked 011 the track sy the departing Camaro, and his Mustang hit 11 and disappcared through the gap left by Black. The Mustang hit the Camaro. and a fire started in the bales from someone s not exhaust. However. the blazc mas quickly extinguished, and both cars. extensively damaged were All tins excitement ieft Simp- SOn a clear leader from the remarkablc Mıni Cooper S of. the lustralian drive B. Foles:: who finished a good second int spite of a blown head-gasket. R. Stewart ni Cooper) did! not compete because of a broben ming chain. and B. McLean battle with J Richards in I similar car and managed 10 bold him off to the end in one of the best performances kenned! has vel given. With the two big cars out for the das, the second saloon heat was an easy win for Simpson. who finished comfortably ahead . of Neilson. Richards gave Veilson a challenge carly the гасе. then lost his place to cLean on the fifth of the seven ¡laps. He managed to recapture • the position before the end 1. Carney (Escor"p. R. Jack• "Mini) and fnught all the way. finishing in that order. P. Fahes made hIts only • appearance of the day the free-formula гасе which. Vitth the other two big cars out, was obriously gift for his tang. He ran away from the • • rest • of the feld and anished • about 23 seconds ahead of ! Simpson over the nine laps. But the race was full of Incldent. B. Foley in the Mini was third the first lap but, dipped bon nd osprague IAnglas I. Doyle rAngila Corvette on the next lap. Fi.. Silvester i Chevrolel Corvette coupe) came next. the third lap sprague broke an axle, spun. and went out. Silvester moved to fourth ahead of Foler. who was pursued by Carney in the Escort. . otus Cortina, drove a дос ce to hold off tie fast L. Neilson and take th12 ace. Further bark .J. ord Escort) had •ace-inr Murdoch Wins The Motor Racing Cluh championship event for single-seaters and for New Zealand-built specials resulted in a fine Will for w. Murdoch (Brabham -500› who took first place at the start and never lost it B. B. Keen + Begg) held second spot the frst time around. but then retired, and k. Cameron • Lotus 1501) soon relegated G. Baker iLotus 1500) to third spot. Baken then had four-lap battle writh L. Tosh ‹ Begg Daimler), and on the ninth lap Tosh got through in hold third place until the end. Baker anished fourth. There were several spins. many retirements. and опе major coming togetner. which resulted Liparts ‹ Lotus 15001 hitting the drums and cales on the loop and extens. iveiy damaging the front of his сат. He was not injured. Results:- Notor Racing Club Championship 111 laps. 25 miles) Murdoch • Brabham 1301). 18: 14.4. 1 K. Cameron i Lotus' 1500) 18:20.9. Daimler). 18: 28.9. G. Baker • Lotus 1500). 18:31.5 4: Stuart Stuart Corvette: 18 45.7 5. Fastest lap: Murdoch, 1:36.5 Sports C To B. The Timaru driver. B. Hawes, had a clear win in the sports-car race at Wigram on Saturday in spite of a strong challenge throughout by J Soyd in the Stanton Corvette. Before ihe : ition of his engine. which was • been worried race Hawes had i about the condblowing out some because of crankcase pressurisation, but the гасе both Hames and ; the car performed excellently. Bord kept up the pursuit all , the war. but lacked the power to catch the Begg Corvette. : Harves in the Elfn Corvette had been espected to make 'strong challenge for first place. but he spun twice on the first lap. which dropped him to third place almost 50 seconds behind Hawes and well beyond striking distance. J. I5. Armstrong Lotus) was good third for the first three laps and was able to hold off Wilhams ‹U2) until the end. bul he lost third place Harre on the fourth lap. r.. • W. Hogan and P. E. Froggett. also in had a race-long battle for sisth place, Hogan eventually coming out on top by only .8sec. race Hawes put 'In one the fastest of the race and a new record. citement On the fifth lap Silvester's pressure on Doyle began to tell. and the Anglia-Corvette SOON spun out. But on the nest lap Silvester's differential cried enough, and he joined the spec. tators. That put Dovie back in third place, ahead of Foley. On the eighth lap Foley's car suddenly spurted smoke, and he t00 was side-lined. That left Carney fourth ahead of Neil. SON and R. McPhail • Lotus • Farina). Results:- First heat (ог group Eve saloons (i iaps, 16 miles): D. • Simpson • Ford Escorti 12min 8. Ssec. I; B. Foley i Mint Cooper 5) 12:37 McLean ¡Ford Lotus Cortina) 12:30.4, 3: L. Neilson (Mini Cooper S) 12:31.5. 4: A. Prattley i Mini Coopers) • 12:44.6 Second heat for group five saloons laps. 16 milest: D. S2365002 12:27.7 I: L. Neilson. 12:36.5. J. Richards ¡Ford Escort) 12:52.4. 3: B. McLean Cortina! 12:34.4, 4: Prattley Cooper, 13: 19.2 5. Fastest lap: Simpson. I:44.S. Free formula saloon race laps. 20 miles): P. Fahey 1 Ford Mustang) 15:07.4. 4: D. Simpson. 23:30.3. 2: *. Doyle rAngha Corrette) 10:41.4. s: J. Carney Ford Escort) 15:31.S. ÷: L. Celison. 16:01.6, 5. Fastest lap: Fahe!. 1'39 ar Race Hawes Sports-car Race 111 laps 25 miles)-B Hawes • Besa-lor. rette). 16.34.9. 1: Bord • Stanton Corvette) 16.41.3 ( Harter Eifn Corvente) 1.53 .F. Armstrong ¡ Lotus Climas), 10 laps, 4: G. Williams (L2). 10 laps. 5. Fastest lap: Harres: 1:29.4

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