22-1-72 Classy McRae fipped to retain Tasman fifle If the Winfield else, it did demonst be the man to beat NicRae was fastest qualifier and the early leader until he struck an oil patch and skated off the frack, resuming behind a couple of the smartest boys in the business, FraRE Matich *ho completed an Australian Grand Prix "double" late_last year, and Frank Gardner, the current European Formula 5000 champion. In spite of his off-course escursion, McRae was back in front almost in less time that it takes to record the fact on paper by the simple expedient of taking first Gardner and then Matich on one of the trickiest sections of the tight circuit. In regaining the lead so smartly, Mcfae not only showed he is a first-class driver but also that his car By PETER GREENSLADE 1972 Tasman International at Levin last Saturday proved nothing rate that Graham McRae, the winner in his Leda GMI, is going to in this year's Tasman motor-racing championship series. is one out of the bos from McRae eam, probably as- tiesis of the late Bruce a road-hoiding and handi- sociated with the Leda out- MeLaren, the gifted young ing viewpoint. fit and Len Terry. Last year, he For • She This Leda GM1 is similar man who andoubtedly did Tasman series in a shee in many respects to the much more than any other string budget with current Formula 1 BRM New Zealander to put the McRae-modified McLaren cars and looks the sort of country on the international M10B. thing • that has been de- motor-racing map and This year, he is using a signed with the idea of whose company and team car that is very touch his facking on a 3-litre For- is certainly one of the best can brainchild in that the mula 1 engine (say a Cos- known and most successful basic design is his, with Forti-Ford V8). today. some polish added by Len McRae is not the shy and • But I have the feeling Terry, one of the cleverer retiring type, but, generally that McRae has what it British racing car design- speaking, his actions mateh takes to become just as ers. his words. well known and successful • couple of years ago l He has matured consid- as Mclaren, for he has said I would eat my type- erably in the past couple of similar qualities — ingewriter if MeRae did not seasons of European racing nuity, driving and mecnaniend up in a Formula 1 and is rather more circum- cal expertise, and, perhaps. Grand Prix team within spect when it comes to most important of all, guts. three or four years. public utterances. Levin proved all that and Now I have a sneaking But a ratber more benign it is my guess that these suspicion that when "Cas- outlook has not taken the qualities will show up with sius," as he is known in the edge off his determination. a certain monotonous regubusiness, moves into For- almost every respect larity before this Tasman mula 1 it will be in the he is the complete anti- series ends. LADY WI CHRISTCHURCH (PA).—Graham McRae won the Lady Wigram Trophy race from start to finish this afterneon in his Leda G.M.l at an average speed of 112.93 m.p.h. for a race time for the 47 laps of the 2.13 mile circuit of 53min : 11.6sec. Second home, and the only man not lapped by MeRae was England's Mike Hail wood (Surtees : T.S.8) whose race time was : 5-min 6.6sec Third, fourth and fifth on 16 laps were Australian Kevin Partlett (7Icf aren 3110B), American Evan Noyes (cLaren 1118) and New Zealander David Oxton (Begg F.1.1). The Auckland driver, Frank Radisich, drove 45 laps to be sixth in his McLaren M10B. MeRae's fastest lap was 66.6sec, an average speed of 115.135 m.p.h. His win today puts him in . the lead in the Tasman championship with 18 points after three rounds, tivo • of which he has won. Hailwood, who has scored in all three races so far, is next with 16 points. SPILLS There were plenty of thrills and spills curly in the day. In the first motor eyele practice session two riders came to grief. Shortly afterwards two young men on a motor cycle were knocked off it by a wire rope, apparently in the course bfficial duties at the circuit. All four were from Christchurch. One of the four men was admitted to Christchurch Hospital with moderately serious internal injuries. The condition of Michael Harris reported this afternoon to be fairly confortable Also admitted to the hospital was Michael James Sinclair. However; his head injuries were reported to be not serious. Burry Wylie. who had superficial abrasions. and Dennis Raymond. who had bruising. mere treated and discharged. In the first round of the open saloon car championchin ing in all directions right GRAHAM MERAE GRAN TO from the drop of the flag. Four cars ended up against a course barrier in the loop, and others spun off the track subsequentiy. but evervone finished in the best of haolth It was A. Dickie all the way. in the open saloon race. The Hawarden driver surged to the • front in his Anglia Corvette right from the start and did not look like being beaten. finished overall winner and also ciass winner. Christchurch driver Ron McPhail (Lotus Farina) and Dunedin's Lyn Veilson (Austin Cooper) had a tremendous tussle for second place, running wheel to wheel all the way. McPhail was second and winner of the Class section. Christchurch motor cycle international Dale Wylie had a win in the first 500cc motor-cycle race after Huntly's Ginger Mollov had to pull out when he was leading by 6sec. Molloy took the lead from the start on • his big three cylinder 500cc Kawasaki racer. Wylie moved to sccond in the first lap on his 500cc. Suzuki. Geoff Perry, Auckland riding a 250cc Suzuki with a damaged gearbox, had trouble on the line and got away a lap late. Halfway through the race, when he was chasing Mo- I TRO MCRI loy, but still Austir Perry tried to go inside the Kawasaki on a tight corner. The machines collided. weither came down but Wolloy hurt his ankle, and he pulled cut scon afterwards. Wylie, then in the lead, had to contend with Hamilton's! Trevor Discombe (350cc Yamaha), who slipped past with three laps to go. They went to the line with Discombe just half a motorcycle length behind. In third place was Dunedin's Jim Landrehe and Dick Waterer, of Auckland, was fourth. Both rode 350cc Yamahas. Pesults:-. Formula Libre and Formula Ford Pederson (luckland Cemeo 7min Mcintyre (Wellingion. 19.35. Wilmac Fiate 2i D. P. E. harris ekst not obert Robert- Harris (Hustings. Johnson Bogg) 5. first heat sit cop Champions fret lind. Fora 1 Auckland. Mustang), bmin 59.01se(). 1: R. • Coppins Gisberne. Chev. Comaro) 2; D. Manwood (duckland, Camaro) 3: 1. Dawson (Auckland, CamarO) 4 Richards (Auckland, Ford Escort T.C.) 5. Scond beat 15 laps). - Fahey. 1: Coppins 2: Matwood) {Auckland. Ford Escort T.C.) 4; Richards Open Saloon STachampion. ships Dickle first heat (8 laps). -A (Hawarden. Anglia Cor- • A. MIc- Phail Phall Chris fused. Farina) 2; L. W. Neilson (Dunedin, PHY in Cooper) son, A40 Farina) • (Dunedin, Ford Prefect) 5.