14-1-75 LADY WIGRAM TROPHY RACE MEETING SUN JAN 19 There'll be total motor racing excitement for. everyone... Formula Fords, Saloons, Motor Cycles, Vintage Cars and those superquick Formula 5000 machines! GRANDSTAND SEATS: $4.00 (bookings at DIC) CONCESSION TICKETS: $2.50 lavailable at any Bank of NSW branch/ 15- 1-75 McRae out of Wigram race (By RUSSELL JONES) Graham Mickae has trala, but only for the New withdrawn from the Zealand section of ine series, Peter Stuyresant motor- and the sponsorship is not racing series because he very substantial. This has given rise to is shot of moe, and speculation that he has arwill miss ranged to sell his car after the races here and not com- Wigram Irophy race on pete in Australia. Sunday. McRae, who won the Tas- Outspoken driver man serise in 1971, 1972 and Known as "Cassius" Mc- 1973, did not finish in either Rae for his outspoken comof the first two rounds this ments on his own abilities as year, at Pukekone and Levin. la driver, he has never been Last year; he was ciearly popular with promoters or Ithe fastest driver in the sponsors, but when in win- Murdoch's reward breakdowns but was beset with punctures of the spectators. ning form has been the toast and retired from most of the He has consistently refused The Southland driver, Jim Tasman because Australian eight races. ito accept guarantees Murdoch, has won a trip to promoters refused. a prize- New offer? minimura earnings — and the Australia after his brilliant money known" drantee for the "un- conditions that go with them second placing in the New driver. The Australian and New Zealand Grand Prix at Puke- But his sixth placing at Zealand promoters were conkohe last Sunday. Levin and his second at Puke- ferring last evening to see He will now race in the kohe have made the 28-year- if they could ofter Nickae a four Australian rounds of thelold New Zealander become guarantee of enough money Peter Stuyvesant series. one of the brighest prospects to compete in at least the Murdoch had not pianned tor the $112,000 senes. ov next two rounds. to take his New Zealano- the Austraians are keer ti McRae is sponsored by the built Begg O18 across thelhave him. ¡Commercial Bank of Aus-l Car for Oxton The winner of the New Zea- ¡land driver's championship MeRAE ¡last year, David Oxton (AuCE. (land), will now be driving at -believing that he can earn Wigram. Oxton did not com- more by winning all the pete in either the P.O.S.B. races. championship at the end of This worked when he was ¡last year or the first two winning, , but last year it cost Stuyvesant 'him $34,000 to compete in series because he did not the series and he received have a suitable cat. in prize and The Australian driver, Man only $24,000 starting money. Stewart, has asked Oxton to This year, he has already drive his second-string Lola spent $15,000 on flying, his T330. Stewart. is campaign- spares and crew from ing the latest model Lola, the 'the the United States to New (T400, but the older 1350 IS Zealand still very competitive. 15-1-75 McRa WELLINGTON (PA). - Former Tasman champion Graham McRae is still in doubt for the rest of this sear's series. Soon after the news broke resterday that the threetime Tasman champion was pulling out because of financial difficuities, motorracing officials and business interests had made moves to keep him in the series. "I can't really comment further at this stage," VIc- Rae said today. He indicated that if "every- e may race thing comes right" he TrilE be racing at Wigram • this weekend and possibly at Teretonga in the final New Zealand round of the Peter Stuyvesant series. • Although he had received sponsorship this vear from the CBA Bank-which was "tremendous"-HeRae said he had spent about $18.000 on the series so far and "hadn't got a cent back." A split rocker nut forced retirement at Levin. and he withdrew from the New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe last Sundar when he could not get traction on the damp track. "Last vear I lost more than $18.000 doing the eightrace series. I just can't continue to lose mones • like that." MeRae had originally asked race organisers for $1000 appearance mones but this was turned down. "This was rather uniair, considering the big money ther are paring Chris Amon and were prepared to pay ai Unser, " he said.