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news · The Press

Mayor meets racing drivers

At the annual mayoral reception for Lady Wigram Trophy drivers, Kevin Bartlett said Wigram was probably the best track they would race on in New Zealand and hoped Christchurch could secure the 1974 NZ Grand Prix during the Commonwealth Games. Mayor N. G. Pickering said the Wigram race had become as much part of New Zealand life as a rugby test.

Facts

  • The annual mayoral reception for Wigram drivers had been held since 1950.
  • Christchurch and Invercargill were the only two cities recognising motor racing on a civic basis, said the Mayor in 1973.
  • Drivers expressed dissatisfaction with circuit conditions at Pukekohe's 1973 NZ Grand Prix.

Photos

  • Australian racing drivers Kevin Bartlett and Max Stewart relate race-day experiences at the mayoral reception for drivers taking part in Saturday's Lady Wigram Trophy race.
news · The Press

Appeal to Wigram patrons

Motor Racing Club secretary G. F. Sheppard appealed to spectators to respect RNZAF property, keep litter down, avoid broken glass and follow directions. Advance ticket sales pointed to a large crowd, and traffic should leave by the entry gates. A parking and exit plan was published.

Facts

  • Wigram is an operational military base and the home of many Air Force families, so some areas are out of bounds to spectators.
Read the OCR text
18-1-73 18 - 1-73 19-1-73 Mayor meets racing men .. And then I ing the hairpin ar made to the lef drivers Kevin Bar relate race day er! N. (r. Pickering) day for drivers tati Wigra struch this oil patch enternd the car started to swing Australian racing Hett fetty and Mas Stewart at a mavoral tercotion ng part in Saturday's Lady a Trophr race. NZ Grand Prix should be here The hope venue for next was expressed at a mayoral re drivers • that Christehurch will be the year's New Zealand Grand Prix by international racing drivers eception today. Speaking on behalf of drivers who are here for Saturday's Lady Wigram Trophy race, Australian Kevin Bartlett said: "Your track is probably the best one we'll race on in New Zealand and I hope the Motor Racing Club (organisers of the Wigram race) can snare the Grand Prix for Christchurch during the Commonwealth ¡ Games next year." Some dissatisfaction with circuit conditions was expressed by competitors in the New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe a fortnight ago. PART OF LIFE Welcoming the visiting i drivers today, the Mayor (Mr IN.. G. Pickering said the ¡Lady Wigram Trophy race had become "as much a part of the New Zealand way of life las a rugby test against the Springboks or British Isles. "Years ago, New Zealand was a country with a rugby: and cricket complex, but fortunately today we recognise that any well organised and highly competitive sport iS good for society generally." Mr Pickering said he understood Christchurch and In- •vercargil} were the only two cities to recognise motor rac- 'ing "on a civic basis." and he hoped the situation could be corrected The motor club president 'Mr J. Brewer' said the an- ¡ nual mayoral reception for the drivers. held since 1950. had i played no small part in motor ¡racing attaining its present status. Appeal to Wigram patrons MIDDLE LINCOLN CITY BOUND TRAFFIC EXITS. ROAD PARKING AREA OUT OF. OUT OF BOUNDS BOUNDS RACING CIRCUIT PARKING AREA PARKING SOUTH BOUND OUT OF BOUNDS AREA TRAFFIG WIGRAM EXIT STATION ROAD MAIN ENTRANCE SPRINGS Railway SOUTH ROAD ROAD DOTTED LINE: FEDESTRIANS ONLY ACCESS WAY PARKING, EXIT PLAN An. appeal. to. international Lady Wigram Trophy race patrons to respect Royal New Zealand Air Force pro- •perty, keep litter to a mini- ..mum and follow the direc- ..tions of traffic officers, police, marshalls and Air Force staff assisting toraorrow was made today by the secretary of the Motor Racing club, (Mr G. F. Sheppard). "Wigram is an operational military base, as well as the home of many air force families, and for this rea son certain areas are out: of bounds to the public," said Mr Sheppard. "The club hopes that the pub. lic will be cooperative and respect property and privacy. "While it would be quite unrealistic to expect people to leave no litter, a little care everyone's part make things much easier. "Broken glass is a hazard on an aerodrome and we would particulariy ask patrons to be careful with bottles." Vr Sheppard said that advance grandstand and other ticket sales indicated large crowd at the meeting, but no trouble was expected handling the traffic. "There is almost inevitably some congestion at the end of the meeting but if people leave by the gates through which they entered, they should get away without undue waits." MI Sheppard said cars retur-: ning to the city should leave! by one of the two exits on! the eastern side of the airheld, leading on to Middle Lincoln Rd, or by the south-' ern exit. Southbound traffic should leave by the station's main exit. Patrons in southern parking areas can use the southern exit and turn left, to join Middle Lincoln Rd, or right, to join Springs Rd.

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