21-1-81 0920-g Reunion for Oxton team This year's international series will see something of a reunion for the Oxton team. Dick Bennets, 33. who worked with the team in the early 1970s and during the series last year, will again be lending a hand with preparation of the Oxton single seater. It is a busman's holiday for Dick. Last year he handled the preparation of former world champion, Niki Lauda's Project BMW MI coupe which won the European Procar championship. Originally an engine reconditioner in Dunedin, Dick went to Auckland in 1970 and worked with Ray Stone and Denis Marwood at Performance Developments Ltd, also looking after Marwood's racing Chev Camaro. Dick became friendly with David Oxton after meeting him at the Auckland Car Club and. in 1972. accompanied David to represent New Zealand at the world Formula Ford final at Brands Hatch. The pair continued to campaign the Merlyn Formula Ford in Britain. and when David returned to New Zealand for the 1973 Tasman series, Dick remained in the UK working for Racing Services Lia. preparing engines tor racing saloons like Dave Brodie's successiul Escort. He is perhaps best known locally for his work with the all-conquering Fred Opert equipe, preparing the Cherrons with which Keke Rosberg was so successful. On the international scene. he has worked with the March Formula Two team. and with the Lauda Procar. "Dick is known in racing as a man who works on the job until he gets everything 100 per cent right. even if it takes until three in the morning." says David Oxton. The experience David and Dick have had working together will also prove valuable to the team this season. The rapport between driver and chief mechanic is the key to extricating the ultimate performance from a car. To a spectator, a car lapping two tenths of a second slower than another might not seem that critical a gap. But a consistent two tenths slower means being a second down every five laps. and on a circuit where cars are lapping at around 60 seconds. being a second down is a critical gap. TAIT HECTRON CS/1 5th Ro The drivers who never OOK back One year it was pit lane satety, this year it was lack of entries and lack of money that jeopardised the famous airfield motor racing at Wigram. Only a few weeks ago the message was that the race would be off. There had been few acceptances from overseas. and no "name" drivers. Nov: it is definitely on in a big way. Unlike overseas. Where local heroes on the race track are given star treatment. we tend to think only the overseas drivers are deserving of such hero wor- ship. This is a pity as indications are that local drivers have plenty of winning flair, as the series so far has shown. Last rear'a winner. Dave McMillan has come home from the C.S. to defend his title. He is now living overseas, where he is having success in various forms of racing. He is at the whee! of a Ralt. Another local boy - Rob Wilson - has come all the way trom the iK. where he races British Formula Three. He was fifth in the series last year, driving a Ralt. In New Zealand he is driving a March 80A. which includes improvements gleaned from the Formula Atlantic Series in the US The siay-at-homes include the popular and ronsistent Dave Oxton. Charger, Steven Milien, and tenacious Ken Smith With this line-up. the overseas drivers from Holland, England and Australia may return with a different view of the far away Kiwi racing drivers who get the down-play treatment their own country. LADY WIGRAM Motor Recing ound 1981 AURORA A.F.X. F.I.A. PACIFIC MOTOR RACING CHAMPIONSHIP Many times the visitors have gone back home with the series under their flag. as a step up to the big time. Who could forget the fiery Finn. Keke Rosberg. of suspension-bashing fame" The tiny tyro zapped away with the series in 1978 and is now up with the "big boys™ Formula One. However. his charging technique has no endeared the people who spend big money on the cars. In 1979 Teo Fabi took the series winnings back to Italy. but he has not made it to F1. Last year Dave WeMlilian won the series. Many previous overseas drivers said they would be back again. but few have returned during the past few years • Rosberg' said he would be back. but reckoned 30 or 35 cars . were needed on the fast. open circuit to prevent a " procession And Bobby Rahal said more money was required to attract overseas drivers In 1978. he said up to Sonof would be required. Even without this. he said he would be back Where are the: ali? John Smith was a Australia. He said h tew overseas drivers à fast driver. and is popular driver when he enjoyed racing in this cou cho kent his oromire to cr apable of mising it wi entrants. •as las: here from :!. and is une of the e back o race. He is he besi ot the other