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Rosberg confident

Keke Rosberg, leading the 1978 Peter Stuyvesant Formula Pacific series, said he was confident of winning at Wigram despite engine troubles. His Fred Opert team had to choose between engines after the usual 'Old Smoker' engine was found to have a cracked block. His appeal against a one-minute penalty for jumping the start at Teretonga was dismissed.

Facts

  • Keke Rosberg's appeal against a one-minute penalty for jumping the start at Teretonga was dismissed in January 1978.
  • The Opert team's engine 'Old Smoker', used to win at Bay Park, Pukekohe and Teretonga, was found to have a cracked block before the 1978 Wigram race.
  • Rosberg's Wigram car was to get the next-best engine, which had bent some valve springs at Manfeild, with the spare car's engine as back-up.
news

Crash budget

Auckland driver Brett Riley, who broke his right leg and ankle in a last-lap crash at Teretonga in the 1978 series, said he hesitated before switching on his March's fire extinguisher because it would cost about $100 to refill. His team manager Graeme Powell criticised how Riley was removed from the crumpled car.

Facts

  • Brett Riley crashed on the last lap at Teretonga in January 1978, breaking his right leg and ankle.

Photos

  • Dave McMillan (New Zealand), in his Ralt RT1, leads Bobby Rahal (United States) in a Chevron B39 into the Dunlop Curve in the second heat of the third round of the Peter Stuyvesant series for Formula Pacific cars at Manfeild.
Read the OCR text
Rosberg confident Kete Rost allowed, but will certainy be *any he can win me racer enterer and scrutineered. Wigram on Sundsy sut this sart of effort does the peel was dismissed row, and the Peter Stuyve the Stuyvestant on Thirsday and, according sant series, but he said yes- series, for Rosberg and the to the Opert" team-manager, sandy tea the races told people wet be upset and demen the whole thing is ping be tough. Rosberg's appeal: agamst "We were most impressed "They've all been tough the one-minute penalty in bý how we ering was posed on him at Teretonga handed be said yesterday. races so far and sure, every. for jumping the start is un-l"It was a very fair hearing. body has & chance of beating me. But that's before the race. When the race starts no-one can beat me." Rosberg spent: yesterday Crash budget afternoon relaxing • Deside swimming pool of his replenist the extinguishing hotel. He was not aware of chances of doing well in Systems the. difficult: decisions: his the: Peter Stuyvesant The manage of Riley's team manager had to make team, Mr Graeme Powell, about the engines for motor-racing series ended of Christchureb, criticised Wigram races but insisted: in & bank at Tererongà the way Rlley was taken that his team would do the last Sunday, risked his life from the crampled car. best they could for him. to save his team $100. "They didn't check to "I've got a big advantage Riley's right leg see i be had any spinal at Wigram," he said. "I can ankle were broken in the injuries before lifting him go quickly last-lap crash but he best- out and it took an awfully after a few laps, but it takes tated before switching on long time lar the rescue most of the others & long fire-extinguishing peopie to do anything" he time to settle down. No one. system of his March : has the chance to test before Even when he got to bank coming hospital Riley practice tomorrow was gomg to be bad but 1 can be fastest stil seen to save money. although it hurt when the The doctor suggested cutnothing goes wrong." front of the car crumpled ting his racing overalls to The Fred Opert over my legs I was still extract his injured leg, but working hard to make sure thinking dollars and cents. Riley declined. Rosberg will have a I didn't want to use the "Those overalls eost me which is capable of winning. extinguisher if I didn't "" he said. The engine which was used have to. a lot of money new lea The young o win at Bay Park, Puke. Riley said he watched lander, who won a race a kohe and Teretonga-knowI carefully for any sign of Manfelid and as "Old Smoker" because it an explosion third when be crashed at blew oil smoke and appeared been". more Teretongs, will watch the in imminent danger of blow. likely. If the car had ex- races at Wigran ing up-was found to have ploded it is unlikely that row. He expects to be able a cracked block and cannot Riley could have worked again in be used. the extinguisher in time to weeks, and will return to The nest best engine bent save himself. Europe soon for, be hopes, some vaive springs at Man- It costs about $100 20 a season in Formula Twa according to the team's head mechanic, Dick Bennetts, it has bad "barmonics"-something is quite right with it This engine will be fitted to Rosberg's car. If it does not perform well the engine from the spare car, not used so far during the series and last run in Mexico vember, wil be fitted. The spare car itseif will be fitted with the engine "bad harmonics" and will be prepared for qualified separatelv, if this is 28-9-78 Dave MeMillan (New Zealand), in his Ralt RT1, leads Bobby Rahal (United States) in a Chevron B39, inte the Dunlop Curve in the second heat of the third round of the Peter Stuyvesant series for Formula Pacific cars at Manfeild.

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