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Scan of the clipping page, 24 January 1979
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Nearly all series cars UK-made

All Formula Pacific cars in the 1979 series bar one were British-made; the exception was the New Zealand-built Cuda by Jim and Ross Stone. The piece covers March, Chevron, Ralt and Lyncar makes.

Facts

  • The Cuda, built by Jim and Ross Stone, was the only New Zealand-built car for Formula Pacific in 1979.
  • Keke Rosberg won the 1978 series in a Chevron.
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Escortsport

A new Escortsport series for standard Ford Escort Sport models debuted at Wigram on Sunday 1979, with $500 prize money and 11 expected entries, including a husband and wife in separate cars.

Facts

  • Escortsport, a new race series for standard Ford Escort Sports, debuted at Wigram in 1979 with $500 prize money.
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Fabi looks like winning series

Profiles of the main Formula Pacific contenders before the 1979 Wigram round. With two of ten races left, Teo Fabi led on 128 points ahead of Brett Riley 124, Larry Perkins 116, Eje Elgh 90, John Smith 82, Jeff Wood 80, Dave McMillan 58 and Ken Smith 34. Fabi drove a March, Riley a March 78B, Perkins a March 77B, and McMillan a Ralt.

Facts

  • Before the 1979 Wigram round, Teo Fabi led the Formula Pacific series on 128 points with two of ten races to go.
  • Larry Perkins won the European F3 championship in 1975.

Photos

  • Teo Fabi, Steve Millen, Dave McMillan and Larry Perkins, series contenders.
Read the OCR text
24-1-79 OR SAMMOL Nearly all series cars UK-made All the cars except one in the Formula Pacific series are British-made. The odd one out is the New Zealand-made Cuda, built by Jim and Ross Stone. This is the only car in New Zealand built for this formula. Jim Stone was associated 'ESCORT A new motor race series will be seea at Wigram on Sunday. with the McLaren stable for a number of years, so it is not surprising find a similarity to the McLaren M23 in his own design. March cars have become their Populat since making debut 1970 the hands of such drivers as Jackie Stewart and Chris 'SPORT It is called "Escortsport," and as the name implies, is for Ford Escort Sport models. The rules are simple: you can only race a standard car for the $500 prize money. Because this form of racing is relatively cheap, and parts are easy to obtain, 11 entries are expected to turn on the action at Wigram. This event has even attracted husband and wife team - in separate cars. But so far the setup has not done much for equality: Ray Williams zon one event and his wife, Elvie. came third. Other entries include: John Armstrong (Dunedin), who used to race a Lotus 11; Jody McNamara (Auckland; Kent Baigent (Auckland': Murray Taylor (United Kingdom), former "Star" герогет, manager for the March team. and motoring writer, and former Motor Racing Club president Ron Rutherford's son. Mark. Amon. This company is reputed to be the largest manufacturer of formula cars in the world. Chevron cars are built in the north of England. and have been established for many years as very competitive racing cars. Keke Rosberg won the series last year in such a car Ralt cars have become well known in Formula 2, Formula 3, and Pacific motor racing. Australian Larry Perkins mon the European F3 series driving one of these cars in 1970 into The Lyncar came prominence when Formula Atlantic started in Britain. One of these ears , won the British series in the bands of John Nicholson. Fabi teld Teo Fal Notwithstanding accidents or iliness, it looks as though another overseas driver will romp home with "our" series again this rear. Like Keke Rosberg last year, Teo Fabi looks like winning the series with a British-built Chevron and with a Chevron Fabi is driving a March. With two of the ten races remaining. Fabi is leading with 128 points. Brett Riley has 124. Larry Perkins 116, Eje Elgh 90, John Smith 82, Jeff Wood 80, Dave MoVillan 58 and Ken Smith 34. Dave McMiD an (Ralt), started nis career as a mechanie for Graeme Lawrence, and has worked for overseas teams, including Fred Opert. He has been an instructor looks like winning Stere Villen Date MeMillan at a racing drivers school and has raced Formula Ford, Formula Vee and Formula Atlantic (Pacific here) in the United States and Can- ada. Stere ¡Cherron' has raced stock stock cars, production cars and rally cars. In 1975 he finished second to Mike Marshall in the Heatway rally. He nas also driven Formula Fords and showed great potential in an old Chevron when F5000 cars were raced in the series. In 1977 he won the Bay Park round of the series. • Larry Perkins {Mareh 77B), was a popular - and very competitive-driver last year in the series, in whico he came second. He won Australia's Formula Vee in 1970, Formula Ford the following year and Formula Two in 1972. In Europe he joined Chris Amon in 1974, but the Fl project received a setback through lack of money. In 1975 he won the Euro pean is championship ana the following rear stepped into F1 driving an Ensign. He drove for Surtees during 1977. Brett Riley, an Aucklander, has been entered as a L.K. driver in a March 7TB. He has raced Formula Ford, Formula Three and Pacific, and has had experience racing overseas. He won the Donnington Park race, which gave him $2000, plus a Silverstone win. These British successes helped him a great deal in his climb to even • better motor racing prospects. This young driver's ambition is to win the Pacific series. Teo Fabi (March 78-79) the man of the series so fa This little known Italia driver shot to prominence the start of the series. Other definite entries a Eje Eigh from Swed series Larry Perkins (March 782B); Jeff Foots, C.S. • March 78BI; Joan ar. Smith from Australia i Palt ian RT1) ;, Ross Stone IZ. at ‹ Cuda). Two oiner possible entries те: are Dare Oxton ¡ChestcE: ten and Ken Smith.

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