5-6-79 'Shotgu "Shotgun" Charlie MeIver, the scourge of burglars, has died at the age of 74. Mr Meiver, of 98 Borren St, Rakaia, collapsed and died at the wheel of his car in Rakaia on Sanday. The car left the road and rolled over. He got his name "Shotgun" Charlie for his habit of defending his Midway Service Station in the Main North Road against burglars Dy carrying a loaded shotgun in the late fifties and early sixties. He mas not afraid to use the weapon either. Besides rounding up a number of burglars at gunpoint, sIr Mciter gate one burglar who would not surrender backside-full of pellets. "I kidded the doctor inte ietting me have a look at the result. The shot made a real pattern," he recalled later. n' Charlie dies A demonstration by "Shotgun" Charlie Melver in his gun-toting days. 17-11-79 Wigram' in Pacitic event Next year's Lady Wigram Trophy Race will also count as a round towards the new Pacific Region Championships. There will be two rounds in New Zealand. at Pukekohe on January 12 - the New Zealand Grand Prix and at Wigram on January 27. Two rounds will be run in Australia and one possibly in Malaysia in the first season of this new international championship. Starting in November 1980, the next running of this championship will feature rounds Japan. Macua. Malaysia. Australia ana New Lealand. The championship will be for Pacific cars such as New Zealand has run in the Gold Star and international series for the past three seasons. There has been a big increase in interest for the international series with two Pukka works entries from the March factory: with drivers Mike Thackwell and Andrea De Cesaris. Thackwell has been a top driver in the ultra competitive Formula three races in England and Europe driving a works March. He has been a consistent winner and is tipped to go far. De Cesaris has been a controversial figure in this vears Vanderwell Formula Three series, as with true Italian excitable, temper ament he has been involved in several shunts while trying to force his way past other cars. He has six out right wins to his credit and was runner up to South American Chico Serna. Inshman Eddie Jordan is this years Formula Atlantic (the equivalent of our Pacific class) champion in Ireland. He has been a top runner in Formula Three this season also, and is expected to do well here in New Zealand, driving March. lan Flux is another F3 anver from the English circuits. He became teammate to Brett Riley in the Unipart team when Nigel Mansell had a difference of opinion on the circuit with the fiery De Cesaris and ended up in hospital. Deschbed as a competent and experienced driver, he is expected to dnive another of the all conquering March cars which have dominated F3 in Europe this year. Another expected entry is Tom Gloy, who won at Wigram in Alan, Mccails Tui in 1976. Tom won the North American Championships for Formula Atlantic this year and is a popular and highly competitive driver. He will be driving another March. Australian Andrew thiedecke, who had a bad smash, breaking a leg in the early rounds of the last international series will be back anving a new Australian built car, a Gal- Evergreen and highly competitive Larry Perkins is expected to be back. driving a March again. Remember his coming 10gether with Fabi at the hairpin at last year's Wigram. John Smith has indicated his willingness to cross the Tasman for another shot at better places in this years semes. The New Zealand contingent will be led by last vear's Lady Wigram Trophy winner Dave McMillen, driving his 3year-oid March which he had updated to the latest specs. He is back fresh from a season of Super Vee in America where he has been a top runner. Ken Smith. with last years championship-winning March, is back from winning some of the Malaysian races, where he has been a top competitor for vears. Dave Onion will be back again in his Cherron. which he has updated, and is experted to be right in there where the battle is hottest. Steve Millen has been keeping his plans quiet. but is expected to announce his plan of attack on this years senes soon. Grant Campbell. former Formula Ford champion will be back as will Hugh Owen, a very popular competitor from Blenheim, who is a true enthusiast for the fun of racing. Mike Finch. last season's Formula Champion, will be out with a new car also: • Former Gold Star Champion Ross Sione has his car for sale as he has just started in a new garage venture with his brother Kevin, but could be back if the car duasn'i sell 15-12-79 Desiree for Wigram For the first time in the history of motor racing in New Zealand, a woman driver will ake part in the international series next Desiree Wilson, a South African, will drive a March car owned by Colin Giltrap. The entry was confirmed today with the organisers. who said Mrs Wilson will be "quite a draw." . She will be driving at Wigram on January 27-