16-1-73 LADU NTERNATIONAL U GRAM TROP PACE VETERAN OF TRACK TO LEAD MGS Before the flag mares away thefinels tuned machines for the 19tn International Lady Wigram Trophy Race on Saturday spectators will hear again the engine note of a car first heard on the Wigram circuit in 1949. The timber-framed Fire. wheeled NIGs nOT oFTed by members of the MGT Register of the MG Car Club will take the starting grid and drive the circuit chauffeuring the drivers of the main race Leading what will be possibly the largest gathering of old MGs ever seen in lew Zealand is a which took the grid for the first Wigram race in 1919. This J type, now more than 40 years old, is owned by Geoff Owen and is stil being raced today. A number of MG TCs Fill also take the grid. It was in this model that Sybil Lupp became a legend throughout New Zea land. She brought her TC bome well placed in the first Wigram race and a year later in 1950, her supercharged TC took second place in the Trophy race. Lapping the 2.116 mile course in 1.47 minutes, her supercharged midget registered 71.19 miles an hour. Denis Hulme, now patron of the MGCC started his racing in MIGs. Sereral TF models similar to his will also be seen on the track this year. The MGT Register wishes drivers and spectafors on Saturday a great day of racing in the true spirit of the MIG motto - "Safely Fast." World-class field vying A field featuring racing driver and raci record-breaking 19th Saturday afternoon. For them it coud prove to be the most crucial round in the 1973 New Zealand-Australia eight-race Tasman Cup series, for the 2.13-mile aerodrome circuit is by far the fastest used in the series. Last year the front runners were hitting speeds up to 180 miles an hour through the traps on the long back straight, and the 1971 and 1972 Tasman champion Graham McRae won the 47-lap race at an average speed of 112.92 miles an hour in his Leda GAIl. Fastest lap The fastest lap was shared by Michae and the current Australian Gold Star champion, Frank Matich (Repco Matich A50!. Both put in a lap at 115.35 miles an hour, a speed that represents a time of 66.6sec. Wigram will provide the drivers with their first chance in this series to test their skill and cars on a power driving circuit, for the revised Pukekohe circuit, on which the dew Zealand Grand Prix was held on January 6, is now very much on a par with the Levin circuit, as far as speed is concerned. On the basis of past performances, MIcRae and Matich look the most likely prospects for a Wigram win, for honours By PETER GREENSLADE virtually every world cl ing car will line up for w International Lady Wig other drivers in the field, among them the New Zealand Grand Prix winner, John McCormack •Elfin Repco!, who will certainly force a cracking pace and, provided the race is run on a dry track, new race and lap records will be the order of the day. In the interests of safety, the circuit has been slightly modified since last year. The pits, which have been located on the start-finish straight since the first meeting was held on the circuit in 1949, have been relocated on the hard-standing and well ciear of the track itself. just beyond Hangar Bend, the corner that leads out of the start-finish straight. Clear run Although Hangar Bend will be a little more acute than it has been in the past. there is plenty of room at this particular point to enable drivers to "iron out" the corner, so I doubt if it ill be slower Moreover. with the startfinish straight clear of cars parked or moring in or out of the pits, drivers will have a clear run up to Hangar Bend at all times. The field is truly international, England. the United States, Canada. Japan, Australia, and New Zealand being represented. Tho nf pare lass Formula A-5000 hat promises to be a ram Trophy race on entered is also wider than it has been in the past and in- cludes at least one example from every European, Australian, and New Zealand manufacturer building Formula A-5000 cars today. Thrills aplenty Although the trophy race will be the feature event on the programme, the supporting events, which include two motor-cycle races, should provide thrills aplentr. Wigram patrons will see all the leading saloon car drivers in the country in action inchampionship rounds of the Bank of New South Wales. Castrol GTX. and ACE-OSCA saloon series. The final event on the programme, an invitation race for the fastest saloon drivers in each category, should bring the day to an exciting climax. This will be the first occasion on which the GTX production saloons have raced at Wigram With record entries for all categories of racing. plus almost everyone who is anyone in motor-cycle racing entered in the two-wbeeler events, the 19th International Lady Wigram Trophy race meeting promises to be one of fierce comnotitine and yarned hagalling SPECTATOR BARRIERY ESCAPE ROUTE! The KEY Hairpir M -FLAG MARSHAL. MT TOILET-MEN. WT - TOILET-WOMEN. R -FULL REFRESHMENTS. AMI-AMBULANCE INSIDE CIRCUIT. AMZ-AMBULANCE OUTSIDE CIRCUIT-TRAVELLING. Vickerys + -HOSPITAL. Fi -FIRE TENDER. RO WT Mains Straight NO SPECTATORS PERMITTED ON INSIDE OF CIRCUIT Road * Club COMPETITORS' CUrrE Control CORTAOLTOMER Tower ENTRANCE LAPSCCRIG ANO PUBLIS яно TIMING STAMD LADDRESS 80X Bend M AM1 MI SPECTA 6*+ FT BARRIER S START• MT - FINISH Ro wi grondstand The plan of the Wigram circuit (2.13 miles). The pits have been position in the front straight to a site opposite the Air F Bomb-Bay - • M Back Straight SPECTATOR BARRIER n shifted from their original Foree hangars. WHEEL HAS TURNED THE FULL CIRCLE' Although New Zealanders rank among the leading drivers in Grand Pris racing in the world today, the strength of motor racing in New Zealand and Australia can best be judged by the fact that a number of cars, designed and constructed by New Zealanders and Australians, will be contesting the 19th International Lady Wiggram Trophy on Saturday. This is the view of Mr J. A. Brewer, president of the Motor Racing Club. which promotes the trophy race meeting. "If one looks back over the history of Wigram - a span of some 24 years - it seems to me that the wheel has turned full circle," said Mr Brewer. "In the early days the field what, for lack of a better description, could be called "backyard specials.' "However, as the international flavour at Wigram became stronger, factorybuilt British racing cars began a period of domination. "In the last few years the situation has changed, probably through the initiative of Jack Brabham and the late Bruce McLaren. who set up their own racing car design and construction businesses in Britain, said Mr Brewer. •The fall-out has been much greater than anyone could have envisaged a few jears ago. "Wellington's Graham lIcRae. who built a succession of very successtul racing cars in this country. is ing designer-constructordriver and British based. "Much closer to home there is the Adelaide-based Elfin enterprise, while in Sydney there is Frank Matich. "One need say no more than that Matich won the 1972 Australian Gold Star series with his Repco Matich A50 and LOW John McCormack has won the New Zealand Grant Prix with his works Elfin Repco. "In both instances, much of the credit must go to Repeo Engine Derelopments Ltd, a member of the Australian Repco Group, which provided Grand Prix racing engines which helped Brabham and our own Denis Hulme to World Drivers' Championship wins a few years ago," continued Mr Prater "In New Zealand, George Begg, of Drummond in Southland, has emerged as a designer-constructor who need bow to no one in the highly competitive field of motor racing. "His cars are typical of the professionalism that now pervades the New Zealand and Australian racing scene. "In thanking all those people and organisations that make the meeting possible. may I remind patrons that we all are, to all intents and purposes. the guests of the Air Force. Please respect its property, follow the directions of officials and drive carefully to and from the circuit and, I am sure, we will all have a most enjoyable day of motor rac ino"