3-2-79 KIWIS DRIVING TO THE TOP Dave McMillan, who won both the Wigram motor-racing events to end the Formula Pacific series, knows where he wants to go - to the top. He has his sights on the big time. But he wants good wins to get him there. McMillan, 32. hopes these two Wigram wins will be of help. He has never wanted to do anything but race cars since leaving school at 16. He was born in Hamilton. and, soon as he was working he joined the Ivan Segedin's Motordrome racing team which launched Howden Ganley and Dennis Marwood in the sixties. In 1965. Melillan assisted Graeme Lawrence as mechanic. Lairrence now around the racing circuits as a dealer in tyres built up a good reputation in this country and Australia as a thorough and consistent driver. But Meltillan. looking for bigger things. went to United States in 1969 to join the Freci Opert team. rose in two rears to head engineer responsible for the team's racing. CHANGE But the do-it-himself bug became tio great. So in 1971. he gut behind the wheel and took a Titan Formula Ford to sixth place in the New Zealand FF championship. Later he rejoined the Opert team on the Southcast Asian circult. The next veer he won the championship and was named driver o: the vear. In 1973. he continued with Dete Dave's eyes on the stakes Opert, winning the US. FF championship and was also named the Australasian man of the future. Was this prophetic? In between winning the Ne: Zealand championship again, McMillan prepared and managed the car for Grant Walker which won New Zealand FF races. In 1975-76 he returned! regularly to the (S and picked up his Ralt RTI for the Formula Pacific and Peter Stuyvesant mectings. the 1976-77 season McMillan finished equal first Nev Zealander and sivh overall in the Sturesant series and won the Zealand gold star. Last season he contimuca to drive his Ralt on the less Zealand circuit but was also co-driver on the Australian saloon car cireuit, finishing sixth in the tough Bathurst 500. He also drove in the Super Vee race in the L.S. finishing second from 52 Last year be was named. in the L.S., Rookie of the Year. So McMillan came to the latest Formula Pacific series • He was quietly confident of success from the beginning. He had built up several seasons of experience and he had new engines for the Ralt. McMillan said in December: "We're beiter organised and better equipped than in the past." He said his support crew CULAAD Dave McMillan off to greater honours? was tops. He had Garry Pederson and Murra! MeLaren as mechanics. Pederson was responside for engine performance and he brought his experience as racing driver: MeLaren was responsible for preparation of the car, particulariy suspension. He had worked as mechanic with Jim Richards and with Formula Atlantic in America and Can- So Wellian was ready for the Formula Pacific season. He wanted so much to win to try his luck in America for the Formula Atlantic or Super Vee. He had many sponsors for the Formula Pacific series but he was pushed off the track in the first two Bay Park races. Then the car had overheating problems which put him out twice at Datalinho His luck seemed to be out. But then he took thira tvice at Manfeild and then third twice at Teretonga. He amassed 58 points before he arrived at Wigram for the final two races. Any hope of taking the series was gone for the Italian. visitor Teo Fabi had 128 points with Brett Riley. the Kiwi racing out of Britain, 124. A win in the two Wigram races was worth 40 to McMillan. So a win in the series was out of the question. But the man determined to go further in the motor racing game was not giving in. The rest is history. He dashed into an early lead in each heat. held off Fabi's challenge. and finally von with plenty of track to spare. AMUSED Several observers thought at Wigram last year, setting a lap record time in Imin 10.8sec. But McMillan found this amusing. commenting: *1 simply drive according to the conditions. If I can get through by cupping the corners ill do it. His style lowered the lap record to 1min 10.7sec. His race average speed was 172. IHkph. He was praised from all quarters for his effortless driving and Murray Taylor, manager of the March-Teo Fabi team. was ready to say: "It's great. It's great that a Kiwi won. too." So lickillan. with Amerca in his signts again. may e oli to bigger things - 1 he can find the all-important sponsors needed to keep those racing cars on the track.