24-1-81 McMillan opts for older car Title-holder Dave MeMillan is expected to drive his five-year-old Ralt RTI in tomorrow's Aurora AFX Lady Wigram Trophy race. Fastest time in unofficial practice today was recorded by David Oxion in a Ford-powered Ralt RT$. Oxton was considerably quicker than the rest of the field recording a time of almost .75sec faster than Australian John Smith and McMillan. Oxton said the car was performing extremely well. although there were a couple of problems with the suspension still to be sorted out. MeMilian drove both cars in unofficial practice this morning and opted for the older RT1 rather than his new Datsun-powered Ralt RT4 towards the end of the i practice. He said after he was! disappointed with the new car's performance and wouid opt for the Rait in which he won the New Zealand Grand Prix. Aucklander Steve Millen recorded a time Isec slower than Oston, although he was confident he could qually for front row position in practice this afternoon. Adrian Reynard had an excursion into a safety tyre this morning breaking the wishbone on his New Zealand-built Cuda 5. His crew expecting to finish repairs in time for practice. A siong easterly wind at Wigram caused drivers problems this morning. particularly in the long back straight. .! NISSAN 3 Rupert the pink Panther made the motor racing big time todav. Rupert has crewed in the passenger seat several times this season for Aucklander Dare McMilian in production car races in the North Island Today he tried the cockpit of McMillan's Ralt RTI as last Ladi Wigram Trophy w prepared meeti Runert was tickied piak teel of ung seater Formula Pacific car. but he will have to hand it cack to MeMilian for the race tomorrow. the fine e in the Pacific Basin series Fas test Wig ram e to Oxton Wigram lived up to its reputation as a car-breaking circuit this afternoon as Formula Pacific drivers battled a strong cross.. wind trying for good times for tomorrow's race. Dave Oxion made fastest time of 1.11.1 in his Ralt RT4 on the first practice session. with Steve Millen and Rob Wilson only second behind. Dave Mcmillan was just a fraction Stower, behind Australian Charlie O Brien. The blustery session was filled with mechanical ills and wild spins, as drivers new to this very fast airfield circuit found out just how demanding it is. John Smith clipped a massive scraper tyre on a corner, which ripped off his front wheel and made a mess of his suspension. "The tyre shouldn't be there, " he said afterwards. "A hay bale would be much better. By late afternoon he and his mechanics were working flat-out trying to get the car back into shape for the second practice session. Englishman Adrian Reynard was having misfiring problems with his Cuda, a New Zealand-made car. "We just can't seem to cure it," he said later. Dave McMillan had an exciting moment in his 'second' car when the seat mountings broke at speed. and he was left hanging onto the wheel for support. And that was not his only probiem: he has been waiting for an exhaust for his new Ralt. with a Japanese motor, but it has not yet arrived from Japan. so he has ordered one to be made up locally. "I would like to get into that car tomorrow. he said Steve Millen joined the rants of the spinners when he 70omed off into the infield, and newcomer Tom Donovan admitted six spins as he was "driving just too fast" He also hau gear problems when a split pin came adrift. Other drivers were having wing-setting problems, and Ken Smith reported terrible handling problers. Dave Oxton said his Rait RT 4 was running very well, apart from requiring some air-flow modification. Some fine tuning had also been done on other aspects of the car... Grant Campbell, an Auckland accountant, had fitted a new engine to his Chevron yesterday because the old one had covered 1200km, which is consid ered high for racing motor. He ran the engine in at Ruapuna..