20-1-73 Francevic's Mazda hits 118mph for win Robbie Francevic's giant-killing Mazda provided the action for early arrivals at the Lady Wigram Trophy meeting today with a sensational first event win. The small rotary-engine Japanese car held off much bigger machinery to put Aucklander Francevic higher on the points ladder for Group 2 cars in the Castrol GTX championship. But Reg Cook, the Auckland Escort driver, was never more than a few yards behind in today's 15-lapper and still leads on Group 2 points. He has 48 - four more than Francevie. With the flying Mazda RX2 touching 118 • miles an hour down the long Wigram back straight and Cook's Escort snapping at its heels, these two were the early crowdpleasers. CROWD Early this afternoon spectators continued to pour into the in-field circuit officials estimated the attendance was: sightly better than last year. The president of the Motori Racing Club. Mr Jack Brewer, said indications were that the crowd could be the best for ive rears. Today's overcast conditions! with a light wind were ideal! on the exposed airfield where: January sunshine can be try-i ing for both competitors and spectators. some trouble was expert-, enced with the track surface breaking up and loosened! fragments of seal smashed • the windscreens of four com- [peting saloon cars. The race programme was put slightly behind schedule as track attendants cleaned up the shattered glass. TOOK LEAD Cook was first into the pit bend at the start of the GTX championship event for Group 2 and 3 saloons, but Francevic took the front on lap one and stayed there, finishing 2sec ahead. Alan Carter's Chrysler Charger was the fastest of the bigger cars, but in spite of a determined bid throughout the race, could not hold off Wel lington's Dick Cook (Escort) for third place. Tony Warren, also from Auckland, was always among the leading bunch in his (Valiant pacer and after some close tussles with Dick Cook, came home fiftn. The 15-lap event soon became a race witnin a race and Pith little more than half the distance run, the front bunch had lapped the slower cars. GROUP 3 Paul Curin. from Auckland, drove his Escort into eleventh place overall which was sufficient to keep him in the lead on Group 3 points. Results: Castrol GTX championship, ¡Groups 2 and 3 (15 laps)-R. (Erancevic Auckland, Mazda) 23:50.8, 1; R. Cook (Manurewa, Escort) 2; R. Cook (Wellington, Escort) 3; A. R. Carter (Auckland, Charger) 4; T. Warren (Auckland, Pacer) 15; J. Richards (Auckland, Capri) 6. Points position in the Castrol GIX championship: Group 2 — R. Cook 48, R. Francevic 44, J. Richards 28%2, and A. Carter 20. Group 3 - T. Curin 40, P. Ross 31, R. Knaggs 30'z, Sellens 26'2, and R. Emson 15. SPUN OUT Kevin Haig won the Ace- Osca saloon car event after. his closest competitor, Clyde Collins, spun out in the fourth nap. Collins in his Cortina Mus-• tang took the lead in the first lap and was pulling • away !from the field when he spun out going , into the hairpin. Haig in his Ford Mustang then took over the lead and was never challenged. Bruce Jenner gained a comfortable second place in his Chevrolet Camaro. However there was quite a tussle for the minor placings between John Armstrong Mustang), Paul Kirk (Vauxhall Viva Buick!, Trevor Crowe 'Chevrolet Corolla! and Ron Silvester ‹ Holden Monaro). These four changed positions continually throughout the race with Armstrong , finally coming through for third place. Kirk filled fourth place and was the first Group B driver home. Resuits: Ace Osca saloon car championship-S. K. Haig (Ford Mustang), 1: Bruce Jenner (Chev Camaro). 2; J. V. Armstrong (Mustang), 3: P. A. B. 4 T. Cure Ver Coria: 5: R. A. Sylvester (Holden Monaro), 6. SURPRISE Christchurch driver Ron! Rutherford brought his Chry- I sler Charger into a surprise i win in the Castrol GTX championship event for Group 1 cars. Rutherford's win in the 15-lap race came after the demise oi the overall championship leader, Timaru's Leo Leonara, whose Charger was eliminated after a tyre blow-out on the fifth lap. This means that Leonard loses his overall lead to Auckland's Reg Cook, who is eight points ahead after his second placing in his earlier event today. Results: Castrol GTX championship, Group 1 (15 laps).-R. Rutherford Christchurch, Chrysler Charger) 22:17.9, 1; R. Coppins (Auckland, Charger) 2; Neilson (Auckland, Charger) 3; R. D. McCallum (Auckland, Torana) 4; D. S. Callaway! (Christenurch, Torana) 5; B. Homewood (Auckland, Torana) Group 1 points: L. Leonard 40, K. Anderson 22. R. Coppins! 17, R. Rutherford 13. AMERICAN RIDER HAS EASY WIN American Ron Grant followed up his North Island series wins with a virtually undisputed in the Suzuki Centre's 750cc motor-cycle race at Wigram today. Again following the pattern of the North Island races, he was chased throughout event by young Christchurch racer John Boote. And again Boote's 500cc Suzuki twin was no real match for the factory 750cc • three cylinder racer of Grant. Boote, Suzuki Centre racer, rode a steady 10 laps for his second placing, the length the start-finish straight behind Grant. bathe with christchurch elter. after racelong national Dale Wylie, was Watson's motor-cycle rider Jim Landrebe, of Dunedin. Landrebe was on 350cc Yamsel and Wylie on a 500cc Suzuki. Aucklander Ray Dumpleton, winner of the 350cc Tourist! Trophy at Pukekohe two weeks ago. filled fifth placing on his 350cc Yamaha. with o. Galbraithe. of Christchurch, sixth' on a 750cc Kawasaki. RIGHT: Auchlander Frank Radisich warms up for the big race. (Report, back page.) 23 Man in boot bid fails There was at least one man who was finding it hard to stand up straight at Wigram today. He spent more than 90 minutes curled up in a car boot jun a futile attempt to avoid the :$2.50 admission charge. A marshal's dog started sniffing around the boot of the car and the marshal assumed somebody was hidden in it. Approaching the driver he asked: "Are you going to pay for the person in the boot?" "There's nobody in the boot," replied the driver. Other officials gathered around and a policeman was called. More denials followed The car was shifted several times but track officials kept it under close surveillance. Finally, when police were calied in the non-paying customer ¡emerged from his hour and a half's confinement and gladly paid his admission fee.