17-9-73 GRAEME LAWRENCE NOT ABLE TO RACE One of the most di today is the 1971 Tasma The survivor of the 104-milesan-hour 1972 New Zealand Grand Prix race crash, which Bryan Faloon lost bis life, Lawrence was hoping to make his return singleseater race uriving in the mine teenth international Lady Wigram Trophy event on Saturday alternoon. However, when I telephoned him at his Hamilton home this morning he told he that there was no way that he could be in Christchurch and ready to drive in the trophy race. "This is a tremendous disappointment for me, because I had set my heart on driving at Wigram, " he said. NEW CAR "Although I've never had a great deal of luck there, it's a terrine circuit and the entry for Saturday is very competitive, so it should be a very AT WIGRAM By PETER GREENSLADE sappointed drivers in Nev an champion Graeme Law; Graeme Lawrence close and fast race; " he said. "I'd dearly like to see it, but we will be flat out "Preparing the new car by then. former champion-class road racing cyclist and exponent on the trampoline, Lawrence has made a fetish of physical fitness and there is no doubt that his excellent physical condition played a large part in his recovery from the grievous injuries he received in the crash. "The car is due to arrive here tomorrow but there will be a lot of work to complete on it before it is race-ready, so Wigram is now out of the question." he said. MAY MISS TERETONGA "It's even doubtful if we will be prepared in time for the final New Zealand Tos. man round at Teretonga Park, but I'll definitely be doing all the Australian races. "Because of the crash last rear 1 guess more people will be taking an interest in my return than have even followed my career in the past, so I'm not taking chances. Everystart." must be right before thing I i Lealand motor racing rence. In the meantime, while Lawrence awaits the arrival of his new racing car, members of the Tasman motor racing "circus" are preparing their Wigram hopes in garages scat- Itered about Christchurch. Although most cars came through the Levin International race last Saturday without too much damage, some of the Wigram contenders have a lot of work to do. The . Australian Max Stewart, who crashed his Lola T330 : in the second lap at Levin, 1s replacing a front suspension unit that was badly damaged. However, this is a comparatively minor task. STRONGER JOINTS New Zealand Grand Prix winner, John McCormack, of Adelaide, is fitting new and stronger rear suspension rose joints on bis Elfin Repeo, as the joints he used at Levin cracked during the qualitying session American Sam Posey biew up the engine in his Surtees TS11B at Levin, but, as he has three other Bartz-Chevrolet engines with him, he really has no problems. The Australian Gold Star champion, Frank Natch, returned to Sydney after Levin but will be back here in plenty of time to check over his Matich A50, which is fitted with the new 490 brake horsepower Australian-built Repco V8 engine which helped him to pole position in the Grand Prix and fastest lap at Levin. Another Sydney visitor this week is the North Island driver Baron Robertson. He is having the engine in his March 722 rebuilt by the Australian tuning wizard and engine construcfor Merv Waggott. Robertson expects to reach the city by tomorrow night. Top Aust. driver late entry The Canadian-born 4. on the programme, , where he will be con-t "He will not be competing Moñat, Australia's leading saloon-car driver, is all the top men in the Bank tralian championship saloon New Zealand drivers. But it a last-minute entry for of New South Wales cham-! series.: will give them an opportunity the 25-mile open saloon pionships series, the leading However, as soon as the to measure their strength race at the Lady drivers in the Castrol GTX Wigram meeting is over, he against the leading Wigram Trophy meeting series, and the points leaders! will fly home to compete in Australian. ¡in the Ace Osca open saloon the race. "He told me tonight he did on Saturday. car series. the president of the Motor not think that he could math Moffat is due in Christ- Raçing Club incorporated (vir our top championship drivers, Moffat will drive a Ford church this evening and his J. A. Brewer) said last night but somebow I feel that be Falcon GTHO which has been car has arrived already. To that as far as the club was was playing himself down, built and prepared for 'rac-race at Wigram on Saturday|concerned "we are most ex- said Mr Brewer. ing by the Australian Ford he has forsaken his oppor-cited that Moffat is prepared! Company. tunity of starting from theito race here against all our In the 25-mile invitation front of the grid at Calder top saloon-car drivers in all race, which will be the last|Raceway Australia, onl categories.