HALL JAN 23rd LGR ... u AM 21-1-82 TRO PHY ME SATURDAY (PRACTICE DAY) JAN 24th SUNDAY (RACE DAY) Tension will be high Tension will be high on Sunday when 21 drivers Graham Watson left for line up for the last round of the Aurora AFX Australla about 10 years Formula Pacific Series at Wigram. ago, and is now returning as They are:- Car No. Driver Sponsor/Entrant Car a representative of that Town/Country country in a Ralt. He used 1 Dave McMillan (Auckland) Citizen Watches/Pan Am Ralt RTI to race Minis here. 2 Charlie O'Bried (Australia) C. O Brien Ralt RT4 Robert Handford (Aus- 3 Mike Rosen (USA) 2-2 Wider; Rentokil Ralt RT4 1 Robert Handford (Australia) R. Handford Rait RT$ tralia) comes from Queens- 5 Larry Perkins (Australia) S. Rajah Ralt RT4 land. and used to drive 6 Eric Morgan (Ml Albert) CRC/Maddrens Joinery/ Ralt RT: Formula Fords. He is driv- L.L.S./Shell ing an ex-Perkins car. 7 Steve Millen (Browns Bay) Tullen/Radio Hauraki! Ralt RT4 Hertz/LEP/BP Ron Barnacle (Australia) • 8 Roberto Moreno (Brazil) Goold Motor Sport Ltd. Ralt RT4 is also a FF man with little 9 Graham Watson (Australia) G. W. Motor Racing Ltd. Ralt RT4 experience of the more 10 Ron Barnacle (Australia) NISSALOO Garage Equip, Rait RT1 11 Ken Smith (Manurewa) Travelodge March 79B powerful Pacific cars. He is 12 Tom Donovan (Wellington) Odlins Group Odlins 5 a 30-year-old advertising 17 Robbie Hislop (Mt. Albert) F B Ice Cream/Plus Oil March 74B representative. 18 David Oxton (Auckland) Ralt RT4 Locally, the best known : 19 Grant Campbell (Auckland) Percy Honda Chev B39 : 21 Steve Cameron (Manurewa) Derek Little & Associates Cuda drivers are David Oxton, : 22 Robin Irving (Glenfield) R. Irving Modus Dave McMillan, Steve Mil- : 34 Bryan Hartley (P. Nth) Brendon Pacific Cher B34 len and Ken Smith. 37 John Briggs (USA) J. D. Briggs March Chris Read (Dunedin) Chris Read Oxton dominated the Chev B29 Ross Cameron (Dunedin) Ross Cameron March 77B event last year, and is expected to be right up tling for $5000 on this very The drivers will be bat- Formula Ford, and by the among the leaders this following year was number time. fast circuit, which usually one works driver for Van Dave McMillan, who provides plenty of thrills. Diemen, based in Norfolk, spends a great deal of his Although the event does England He had 14 mins time in the USA these days have a certain international out of 32 races. is dependent on the Datsun flavour about it, the Last year the 21-year-old engines he will be using. overseas drivers are little tested a Lotus, and scored a These are still generally an known here. And there will F3 win after only three unknown factor in this form 1 not be quite the same mana races. of racing. about the racing that there Mike Rosen, from the Popular Ken Smith is one was in those early days of USA comes from a wealthy of the older, but more the event. Nevertheless, the background, and is just 23. approachable drivers, who racing is sure to be very close. But he has not grown up has a good talent, and races Brazilian Roberto with a small steering whee! for the sheer fun of it. between his hands, having Even with his limited Moreno has already made a only raced for about 18 experience, he qualified fast name for himself in FP months. Like many other ninth in a Ralt at Long racis, and is well rated in drivers, he started in For- beach, Just one place F3 racing in Britain. Like mula Ford and came behind long-time racer many other car racers, he second in his third race. Dave McMillan, of New started in karts, and gradu- He drove so well that he Zealand ated more powertul was soon in the seat of a Rosen has also raced machines. He bought his Formula Atlantic (Pacific Supervees (Volkswagen first kart from no less a here), where he tested with motor), and is expected to driver than Nelson Picquet. Tom Gloy in a Ralt RT1. concentrate on this class of In 1979, Moreno went in • racing when he returns 3. home. Another American, John Briggs, 30, has been on tne circuits for some time, specialising in F5000 (now defunct hero and recently replaced in Australia). He has experience in Formula Atlantic so is expected to be very competitive here. Larry perkins, from Ausiralla, 15 back again, alter a break. He is a popular and amiable driver, not prone to the prima donna actions of some drivers who believe they are a group of untouchables. He has been involved in racing tor some time, with plenty of experience in the class he will be contesting at Wigram. Charlie O'Brien is back, and it is hoped he will not be involved in any entanglements this time at Wigram. The Australian driver is a typical aggressive roughneck, with a more charging style than one with finesse. Steve Millen has turned his back on the bad accident he was involved in during a previous series, and expected to make a good showing on the fast Wigram circuit. Eric Morgan is coming along nicely, and could turn on a surprise at the weekend. Grant Campbell, _ Tom Donovan and Robin Irving have been seen in action before, but we will also be seeing Bryan Hartley, Steve Cameron, Ross Cameron, and Chris Read. R.N.Z.A.F. WIGRAM STATION Formula Pacific - specific rules TING AUROI Formula Pacific (Atlantic overseas) was introduced to New Zealand in 1971, and looks set to remain for a wiile yet. It replacęd the biggerengined F 5000, which has also been dropped by the Australians. RAAX • Picture: Datsun's new 1600cc. ¡ Formula Pacific engine being prepared for Dave McMillan by Cook motor racing mechanies. Outwardly, they look little different from the glamour f 1 cars with their wide, slick tyres, "wings" and sleek bodywork, but the rules are very precise. The regulations specify: - • Minimum weight of 450 kg. ® Wheels 330mm. • Maximum width of vebiele: 2000mm. • Maximum cylinders: 4. • Capacity: 1600cc. Engines are usually tte popular Ford BDA, but others can be used. Brakes must have a twin circuit, and the car must have protection for the driver's feet. Other regulations relate to a rear red warning light, exhaust Pipes, head res traits, circuit breaker, saiety belts, fuel and an oil catchine device. Even weight distribution is closely controlled. One important safety point is tha t the driver must be able to get in or out of the cockpit in a maximum of 5 seconds.