Thrill first The drivers in the Lady Wigram Trophy races Sundaw will obviously not have time to munch apples as they drive - as one early Wigram driver, George Smith, used to - but he racing back in Wigram's early days was still very willing. There were overseas stars in the field of 22 for the first Wigram race, in 1949, but it was still excling, with the lead changing several times as New Zealand's top drivers battled with their cars and each other in the first New Zealand championship road race. the first race, which was 105 miles long, was eventually won by Morrie Proctor (Wellington) in his potent little Brook-R lands Riley at an average speed of 65.67 m.p.h. The early battle was between Ron Roycroft (Auckiana. turbocharged Austin Duck) Hec Green (Christchurch, Wolseley Special), and the crowd, estimated at between 20.000 to 30,000, was entertained by some fine driving. "The Press" report of the race said: "The spectacular feature of thrilling race was the duel for lap after lap between R. J. Roycroft in the tiny blue Austin and H. Green the red Wolseley Special. Down the straights they raced wheel to wheel, and at the corners they jockeyed for position, first one then the other taking the lead. It was brilliant driving by both men, and the crowd "showed its preciation. Green led for 1l of the 50 laps and Roycrott for six, but then both the cars developed engine problems and had to pull into the pits for repairs. Frank Bennett (Christchurch) took over the lead his invicta, his brakes failed and he was being hauled in two drivers, Procior and Don Ransley Christchurch, (Ransley Riley 6/15). Ransley lost his chance to win when he had a horrific spin on Hangar Bend and then had to pit with worn-out front Че had started race on brand-new Dunlops but this one was worn right down to the canvas. Proctor soon wiped out Bennett's two-lap lead and had closed right up on the big four litre and a half Le Mans Invicta, which ing action seen in. • race at Wigram practice, but was very difficult to manage without brakes. Proctor sped past Bennett to win by 26 seconds and Ransley, after a 40second pit-stop for a new tyre, came home third, 14 seconds behind bennett. Mrs Sybil Lupp. of Dunedin. the only woman in the race, received a special mention for the fine style she showed in her V.G. Mrs Lupp finished fifth, behind Green and ahead of Roycroft. Roycrott took handicap honours, ahead of Proctor. Many of the 24 starters in the first race will be seen again at wigram • 3t the week-end, in the classic cars parade. Proctor's Brooklands Riley will take pride of place. The car is now owned by Lindsay Wogan and develops 85 h.p. from its 1089 cu cm four-cylinder motor. The Ransley Riley. now owned by Bruce Winder, will also appear, and will probably be driven at the week-end by its old owner, Don Ransie!. The Riley has softer suspension than • the Brooklands Morrie Proctor ... winner of the first Wigran race, in 1949. Rile!, and is less puterful, in spite of its 1760 cu cm motor. Hec Green will also feature in Sunday's parade, dirving the last car he built, and another driver in the first Wigram race, Sybil Lupp (Dunedin), will drive M.G.T.F., now owned by Peter Croft. special will also appear. driven by Donald Suckling. The car IS nOW owned by Bill Clark, and was second in the 1951 Lace. A car that will be remembered by many peopie is the 1960 Lotus 20B that was brought to New Zealand by Jim Palmer and owner. Chris Read, of Dunedin. Another exciting example of that era which will appear ai Wigram this * ear the Cooper Climax in which Jack Brabham won the 1960 race. The Cooper wil! be driven by Lyn Neilson Dunedin. Ron Roycroft will drive raced by him on most These cars wwil! be Gavin Bain's 1953 Ferrari New Zealand circuits in joined on Saturday by a Nille Miglia. Roycroft ev- 1962/63. The car then saw number of other classic entually W0n at Wigram many • more races in the cars for a race, in which in 1903, In an Alta komeo. hands of severa drivers. sume of the excitement of Ihe late George Smith's The Lotus will be driven the early Wigram races famous old "Gee Cee Ess" at Wigram by its present should be recaptured. AC.3 Carlos Pace (Surtees TS9B) about to lap Carlos Reutemann (Brabhan BT37) in the 1972 Brands Hatch Vietory Race on his way to second behind Jean-Pierre Beltoise (BRN P180). George Begg. of Christchurch, noü nn the drøe60ad$ wl ha ddd ot Dåoma chic w0ol 091 11 Hailwood to ride A.J.S. By ROD DEN Mike Hailwood, wide!s regarded as the greatest motor-cycle road racer of all ume, will ride 7R A.J.S. in the historic motor-cycle race at Wigram. I promises to be a memorabie occasion for motor-cycle enthusiasts, expected to turn up in their thousands to see the "master" in action. Also making a rare appearance in the same race will be the only New Zealand rider to have won a world motor-cycling championship, Hugh Anderson, of Ohinewai. Anderson, who won four world championships as a works rider for Suzuki in the 50 and 125 Cu cm classes, will ride a 1960 350 Manx Norton in Sunday's six-lap race *Mike the Bike," as Hailwood has alwais been known, has won 10 world road-racing championships and had a record 13 VICtories in the testing Isia 11iD n British Norions, Italian IV Agustas, and Japanese ondas are legendary. Twelve years re lade what he thougit ias his final racing ppearance in the Isle of Ian races. gaining his afterwards he retired from motor-cycie racing to concentrate on grand prix car-racing. He established himself among the top drivers in the world. although, by his own high standards, his Successes were modest. Finally. a serious crash forced him io retire.. He chose New Zealand to settle down in and has been living in Auckland for some years. Ever since his decision to concentrate cars, Hailwood has been showered with lucrative offers to return to motor-cycles. resisted them all until last year, when he succumbed io ihe idea of making one iast appearance in his old stamping ground, the Isle of lian records that Hails boũ made fairytale retaril, winning the Furmula One I.T. at record speed on an dot cu CIE snuci binc Ł tkan However, having proved to himself that he could ride as well as ever. ever at the age of 39, Hailwood has since made a number of racing appearances. He has also indicated that he night make one "final" appearance in the Isle of Man next June and races such as that at Wigram help hin keep in racing The A.J.S. he will ride is orned by George Begg, of Christchurch. He has nad it compleiel! rebuilt fur the occasion Anderson, a rider of exceptional abiliry, won both the world 50 and 125 championships in 1963. The following year he won the 50 cu cm championship and in 1965 regained the 125 crown. His ciassic tussle with another top New Zealand rider. Ginger Molos (Buliaco 350), ai Wigram in 1966 will long be remembered. Anderson arta UZE derson was mounted on a factory Buliaco. 25-1-79 Spectacular® One of the supporting races that will be eager!! awaited on Sunday is the Escort Sports. Although the class was introduced only this season, it is already a crowd favourite in the Norih Isiand, as the racing is so close and ex- Citing. All driver needs to race is a factory Ford Escort Sport 1600. No modifications are allowed. so the cars' performances are very even, with suspen- SI01 adjustment and engine-tuning often the only thing giving one driver a slight edge over another. The racing was so desperate a: the start of the season that race siewards had to reprimand drivers. telling them in "cool it, neing done to cars. as so much damage was The secret of successful Escort Sport driving seems be. & smooth driving style, causing as littie tyre-scrub "as possible. and one man who has this down to a fine art is ! Ray Williams, of Auckland. Williams has a handy lead in the championship over fellow Aucklander Graham Bowkett and the two drivers will continue their January-long rivalry ai Wigram. Ray Williams has the uitimate in understanding wives — his spouse, Eivie. also races a Sport, and is so fast that she holds the lap record at Pukekohe. Two other drivers worth watching on Sunday are Kevin VicNamara (Aucálandi and John Armstrong. Sports the Dunedin drive: Was prominent OvE: ths last two seasons in a lo. rana XUl. The young Christchure? driver, Mark: Ruthertord, has not contesied пал: Sport races but is quick y learning to hold his in the tough class and wi! be worth watching Sunday. A feature of Escori Sport racing has bees the performance of the Far:ous invited caesar drivers in the "hote:action" magazine car. At each championship round a different celebrity is invited to race the car and at • Wigram Tea Fabi's March team boss. Murra v Taylor. will iest his ski! and couraze in the Motnractinr" car