Wigı am not safe en OU on says Ros oer Wigram is a "very dangerous" cireuit, in spite of new safef; precautions for this year's motor race. That's the opinion of top driver Keke Rosberg and a British racing expert, Dr Joe Ehrlich. ''The safety ineffective, Mecautions Look at that motor-cyclist in are said Dr practice-he went right Attendances at the Peter Ehrlich, a racing car con- through." Slyvesant Serles at Wigram structor, today. "It is very A motor-cyclist was taken were down on last vear. dangerous. to hospital on Saturday alter The treasurer of the Motor And Rosberg. eliminated colliding with a fence in Racing Cheb (Mr Gordon from the second leg yester- practice. Sheppard) said today that day after a collision, said it Rosberg said he did not about 8000 lo 9000 peopie was not up to the highest in the limits of money avail- attended. salety standards. *this is about 1000 less ant Hero able here and the time avail- than last year," he said. "You would not get Form- able, he was sure the Wig* ula One drivers on this cir- However, Mr Steppard ram officials did all they said attendances were down cuit," said the Finnish cotild. driver. throughout the series. 00 Even in the event of a He attributed the drop in "If you come off the track technical failure, a driver to it could attendance increased in some places, should have a chance to sur-. mean swish and youl could prices (from $3 (o 55): very vive, he said. But at Wigram hot weather, and the dominposett lose your neck on a fence. he did not. alion of the series by Keke He thought the heavy Rosberg. scraper tyres, more that the "People knew which were placed in poten- series was just about sent tial danger spots this year, up by • the time Wigram should be removed. Although came around," he said. they weigh a • tonne each, Mr Sheppard also said it they still moved if hit. was suspected that a great And the spectators should had got be moved 100m back, he many people without paying. said. PROBLEM "But that is always the problem with arheld cir- said Rosberg, who cuts, does not like driving on them because they lack features. "You have to get the people close so chance to sce.", hey have i Rosberg also believes the back straight, bordered by a wire fence, is a danger point. driver could be decapitated and spectators killed if he went off the track there. De Chrlich was particularly crilical of the tenporary concrete "wall," which was erreted as prolection for pit crews. consisted of concrete slabs, resting against wooden suppolis. "If a car hit the wall, it would probably lly apart, seattering debris all over the place, " he said. Dr Chrlich said it would he a relatively simple matter to erect temporary metal barriers as used overseas, by merely drilling holes in the aspnait, and then plugging them up with cork when they are not. being used. 'Then cars would just slide along them, rather than smash through," he explained. ''They do it at Monaco, so hero, sure it could be done I am The constructor was also critical of the fire safety standards on the circuit. He said there was not enough rquipment and he saw none of the tire marshalls in prolective suits. "I am also unhappy with the refuelling arrange ments." he said: "There should be a separate place for this - not in the mail pit area." The Motor Racing Club which handles the event it Wigram has been very conscious of the safety question in recent years. For the 1977 race, the water filled drums of the past were replaced by ene huge scraper tyres 1or lne first time. • The club's secretary (Mr Ton Strachan) said today the club had a • licence for the event and had spent a large amount on safety precaltions this year. "We think Wigram has a good track safely record, and as far as I know there has been no fatality since if was first used for a race in 1949. Purchasing all the tyres had entailed a large (Xpense, and when someone hit one last year "he stopped in a hurry. although the tyre moved a little way. The club purchased prem cast concrete partitions and timber to contruct a concrete safety wall on the pil straight. If someone hit it, it would really only be a glancing blow. he said. The back straight fence was intended as a cateh fence. It was not intended for anyone to go through. Mr Strachan said be hoped Wigram would be a race venue again next year. an saw no reason why v would not be. And as Rosberg himsel said today: '"The safety standards of all the New Zealand circuits are quite poor compared with European circuits. They are very very old here, and there is not the money. Koke Rosberg... critical of Wigram safely. Noise from party Sir - Last weekend was very noisy for many peopie in Christehurch due to the motor racinhis discernible at Wigram. The noise many miles from the circuit and for some in the immediate vicinity a nightmare. At least one is forewarned and there is the opportunity to get away from it for the day. Not so with the neighbourhood party which can become an intrusion into the home of every nearby family. Such an event shattered our usually peaceful area on Saturday night and continued on non-stop untit 330am o11 Sunday. To whom does one complain in the carly hours of amplified musle that would not disgrace a fairground. Surely there is some way open to decent people lo stem this outrage of compicte insensitivity to the feelings of others. No conmunily should have lo tolerate such a cacophony of sound at any time of the day night. - BRYNDWR RESIDENT.