21-9-82 Transformation In sir hours on the after- Roon and evening of January 22 Wigram air base will be transformed into Wigram motor racing circuit. Between 60 and 70 people will converge on the airfield with trucks loaded with 400 scraper tyres, broadcasting equipment, marquees, timber, and a mass of other items required for the huge transformation. - On the Sunday after the racing, everything must revert to official R.N.Z.A.F. smartness, with not & speck of litter to be seen. This means a small army of children to clear away ibe rubbish carelessly strewn about the place by many scruffy members of the public. The organisers are naturally concerned about al this extra work, and appeal to people to take away all their lifter with them or put it in bins. The circuit will be much the same as last year, bat with the addition of aD extra infield spectator area opposite the pits. "This is the safest part of the circait," says Motor Racing Club president Don McKay. "The view from here will be excellent, and we expect this position to be very popular. Although sale, there will still be plenty of protection for the spectators in this action area, close to the feverish activity of the pit lane. Huge scraper tyres from Twizel and other eartawork areas will be used for the crash protection around the circuis. These are owned by the club, and stored for the rest of the year. As in previous years, it will pay to buy sickeis beforehand as you will save $2 on each one. At $10 presold, the infield tickets are twice the price of the otbers. But for children the prices are only $3 and $2. A family ticket (parents and two children) will cost $10. Mr Mckay says one of the big draws - apart from the Formula Pacific races, will be the sports saloons, with prize money of $1500 per race. "The money will be quite a big carrot, and the drivers will be all out to win it. Trevor Crowe, in his Toyota Starlet V8 will be out to take the honours, and he will be a hard man to beat," be says. It is expected 20 or more drivers will line up in their Camaros, Fords, and other big-engined cars to contest this popular series. Another popular event will be the race for pre- 1965 cars. Formed Timaru, the Pre-65 Club is quickly gaming in popular. ity around the country I because of the number of ! cars of this era available at relatively cheap prices. The Cars are spectacuiar to watch as they are on nartow tyres, requiring great skill to drive at speed. pristine Jaguars, Fords, Singers and the like squealing their skinny treads off around a race circuis is quite some spectacle. It may seem a little gentee! and quiet after the roar of the big saloons, and the scream of the singleseaters, but it is very real motor racing nevertheless. Many of these cars were raced in their era, and have been restored meticulously over the years. But this does not deter owners of less pristine examples from taking part in the excite ment. Such is the enthusiasm for this type of racing that up. to entries are expected te be hurtied around the fast airfield circuit. Datsun A sopsisticated new Das. san hes been balt for the circuit by Shelisport Championship titlebolder Reg Coot of Aackland. Cook, who has never fir ished lower than second in a saloon car championship, w competing in the $18,000 : national sports sedan series being run in conjunction with the Aurora AFX Formula Pacific championship. His versatile new Datsun Bluebird four-door sedan has been built with both the sports sedan and Shellsport classes in mind, and has provided a striking contrast to the numerous V8-engined saloons entered for the four-round championship. Cook's six-cylinder 2.8 litre Bluebird comes with a 5-speed transmission, and four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with four-pot calipers. Suspension jollows the standard form of the 1.6 litre production Datsun Bluebird Gs, with a sold rear axle and coil springs. It has been modified to racing standards, but still complies with Shelisport rules. Cook has adapted the car so that by installing the 2 litre 230 bhp four cylinder single overhead camshaft Datsun engine the Bluebird can run in Shellsport races. The Bluebird answers a challenge for Cook who has long been regarded as a small car driver, despite his experience in a 5-litre For- built by Cook mula 5000 - single-seater racing car. Some people ink you haven't, proved yourself. until you drive a big car. Ice Been has shown that I can handle the posner of a large veniche, and because of the Shellsport appucation, it is a dualpurpose machine,". says Cook "We have a competitive team.: Shellsport racing taught me a lot 'and matured as a driver,' " be sayE Cook hords saloon records at New Zealand circuits for several classes, including one litres. 1.3 litre, Shellsport and Castrol GTX production. * Winner of the Shellsport Championship on four occasions, 34 year-old Cook is a company manager operating his own engine building and tune shop based at Manurewa. For the talented driver, the Bluebird assault on New, Zealand circuits is merely another chapter in a long racing history that includes nearly 240 victories. •Reg Cook describes this season in a manner which confirms he has no desire to give up racing yet: "This is the first year of my last 10 years in motor racing." LADY WIGRAM TROPHY MEETING SATURDAY JAN 23rd (PRACTICE DAY) SUNDAY JAN 24th (RACE DAY) R.N.Z.A.F. STATION WIGRAM AURORA: AX Formula Ford comeback Formula Ford has been the groaning for many of the top drivers in the world, and is now starting to get a hold again in New Zealand. At one stage, fields were very sparse, and in the South Island the numbers thad falien so low that levents were not competi- (tive. All that has changed now, and full grids are being seen around the country in what is surely one of the closest formulas of racing around. The cars may seem comparatively small, but they are certainly far from siow. Power is quite startling for anyone not used to this kind of acceleration, and it takes quite some expertise. to trive these cars well. Fron inside, they are comparatively quiet, and very comfortable, with an almost prode position for the driver. Steering is very precise and the stubby little steering wheels do not require much movement. Suspension is remarkably good and any bumps seem to be very adequately smoothed out. As with Formula Pactic, specifications ar closely controlled, with a consequence that many of the cars have a sameness about them. But they still look like the real thing in a smaller form, and provide superb competition. Also, the Fords are rela-! tively cheap to run and buy.! You could pick one up for around the $6000 mark, and, even cheaper in some cases. Picture: A striking contrast in racing cars. Modera Formula Ford on the left and historic Cooper 500 on the right.