1-2-77 5-2-77 ROSBERG Last Friday, Smith gave top motor racer Keke Rosberg his first taste of jetboating. "He was quite impressed," said Smith. "He said it was the nearest thing to formula 5000 racing he'd struck." LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Beer-swilling 1o Sir - What was probably the last motor racing to be seen at Wigram was unfortunately marred by the grossiy inconsiderate benavlour of a dozen or so louts who, in consuming the contents of two kegs, umpteen dozen cans if any interest in the day's events. Three litter bags were des troyed, reasonable requests by officials brought abuse and only the intervention of a small law force was eñieetive in granting us temporary relief. One wonders how many vehicles this group was in so-called control of after the meeting. Incidentally, I have one of the offending figures on film not as a souvenir, but as a reminder that my slight physique is still something to be thankful for. - IRATE SPECTACTOR. 2-2-77 uts ruined day 8-8-77 Official passes Wigram Wigram airbase has not lost the annual Lady Wigram Trophy car race after all. The Motor Racing Club las been given permission to use the track again next year and possibly in the future, after a satisfactory report on it to the Federation Internationale Automobile by a visiting official. However, Mr Jean Corsmit told the FIA, motorracing's governing body, that some modifications were necessary to improve safety. Water-filled drums will not be permitted next year, and more scraper tyres will have to be placed in potentially dangerous places. - A proper safety fence on the pit straight will also have to be built by the MRC. "We've got a permit to run one international race each year at Wigram, and it looks as though it'll be che MIRC president (Mr Ror Rutherford). • at Wig ee 29-10-77 ti.: Reprieve ram for Wigram Motor-racing at Wigram has been given a reprieve. Last year it was feared that the racing circuit could be elosed because of tough safety legisiation. But the promoters have been the go-ahead for given next year if they comply with certain conditions. One of these will be the temporary construction of a one metre high wall along the pit area. It will have to be built shorty before the meeting, and demolished afterwards. Wigram is the only operational airfield ased for motor-racing left in the worid, although disused airfields in the United Kingdom have long been popular as race cireuits. As Wigram is operational, it is only available for a limited time for transfoxmation into a motor-racing circuit. And although there is plenty of run-off for competing cars, crash harriers are purely femрогату. Until the coming meeting. protection of the pis area was nil. Whether the organisers can continue se maintain increasing calls for motorracing circuit safety throughout the world is a matter that will have to be ré-evaimated frem year to year. A start has been made on the improvemeats at Baapura racing circuit, but there are to pians to boid next year's Wigram racing Siere. -1 -- Watch out for motor racing whizz kid Steve Emson — he could be another Denny Hulme. hopeful is going places fast. 20-year-old Aucklander In the Lady Wigram Tro- For this unassuming racing and rallying cireles. race, and got a third placing in two races. race meeting, he gained a first place. he had In the second his first phy Race last Sunday he the took ninth place, out of a Driving a Fiat. 128, youngster won 11 out of 16 field oi 17 starters. races in the 19741975 Castrol It was his first single-sea- GTX series. ter race, and he had bought Steve then stepped up to his Formula Pacifie Modus a Datsun, where ne took a oniy a week before the big number of places. race. Apart from the shorter "I just had time to give it track races, the young a run at Bay Park before driver also excelled in long coming to Christchurch," he distance racing. told me. Steve Emson also tried his "At first, I thought the hand at rallying, taking drivers in the race were class wins, and high placheroes, but now I realise ings. He was third IN his that they are just humans, class in the 1975 Marlboro like me rally championship He did express some mis- But it is on the race track givings about entering a that the young. driver has race against so many sea- really excelled: he holds soned drivers. But the result trach records on four New proved any qualms quite un Zealand circuits, gained founded. while driving a Datsun. Steve Emson races for MODEST pleasure. although he was Even so, the young driver excited about "being in the was refreshingly modest money" after his Wigram about his placing against the placing (he made $400) tough opposition "I don't hate any circuit had a bit of trouble although I do think the holding the car on the cor danger sometimes," he exners: think there was plained on practice day. something wrong with one of But on race day. there the wheels. explained the would have been few spectayoungster after the race. tors who knew that the "At times, I had my arms driver in car No. 3 had first crossed up to control the sat in the single seater only car. a week ago. Steve has had racing And there жона have his blood as far back as he been even less who SUS Steve Emson is enthusiastic about his placing at can remember. His father, pected he has only just Wigram. Ralph, was well known in climbed out of his teens. SOL EASTER TOLD EASTERN 700L 64. Steve Empson at speed during his Datsun racing days.