29-11-84 Ross aims to be a higher Cheever Ross Cheever ... first time in Formula Pacific. By LINDSAY KEAH Little more than two years ago, Ross Cheever did not kow how to change gears in an ordinary street motor-car. But the 21-year-old brother of Formula One star Eddie Cheever, is a quick learner, and he is seen by some critics in Burope as a potential star. The Italian-born American comes to New Zealand after achieving considerable success in the recently completed British Formula Three championship. Over the closing stages he made his mark with three wins. On Sunday he takes his place in the feid for the Lady wıgram Irophy. Or that form, and given the undoubted quality of his Ralt R14 car. Cheever vies with another American, Davy Jones, for favourit- Ism. Sunday's races will see Cheever driving a Formula Pacific car for the first time. The difference between what be has been driving in Britain and the Pacific cars will take some adjustment with more horsepower and wider wheels to contend with. But these factors together with foreign circuit do not deter him. "I am here to learn. Sure it would be nice to win but I cannot expect miracles first up," he said. Cheevers' early life saw hir win a tennis scholarship to the United States and at the age of 12 he left school in Italy and moved to the Harry Hopman Tennis School in Florida. Five years later he decided to throw this in. "I knew I wasn't going to get into the top stream of players so I decided to have a go at motor racing." he said. "I had wanted to race karts before going to the States but Dad wouldn't let me." After a course at the Henry Morrogh racing school in Italy, where be started not even knowing how to change gear (in America every car he drove had automatic transmission) he was satisfied he could have a go at serious motor racing. His end-of-school report from Morrogh indicated he had consistently produced fast lap times and had demonstrated natural ability and co-ordination. ... His first competitive drive was in 1982 where he was to have a season in rormula Ford. In only his second outing in the ford he achieved his first vietory. His attitude towards his career sees him on a strict diet with regular exercise. "You get only one chance to prove yourself when you're near the top in this sport and 1 must therefore work hard all the time to eliminate mistakes." The fact that his brother has reached the top Formula in motor racing does not bring any additional pressure on the younger Cheever. "I admire my brother for what he has done, but! he is Eddie doing his thing! and I am Ross doing mine." His goal at any one time is the immediate future: Although he has his next European season organised, his present goal is the New Zealand series. "It is a long-termn thing for me. racing cars is everything. If I achieve nothing else in New Zealand I must come away having advanced my racecraft. Throughout the series Cheever will be driving the latest Ralt RT4 for the • Sydney-based Graham: Watson team. His partner in the series is another ' promising young driver, Davy Jones, who made a great impact during the last New Zealand series. 30-11-84 Rising stars at W By LINDSAY KERR Three up-and-coming young drivers, two Americans and one New Zealander, will face the experience of two Kiwi veterans in what promises to be exciting • clashes in Sunday's Lady Wigram Tro phy motor race. Representing youth are the Americans, Davy Jones and Ross Cheever, and the promising young Kiwi driver, Paul Radisich. Aucklanders Dave McMillan and Ken Smith, veterans of many tough races in the past, may be the toughest opponents the youngsters face in a field expected to see 14 cars line up in the two 24-lap Formula Pacific events. Potential Jones, 20, and Cheever, Zi, are showing tront-rank potential,. with Jones returning to the fields he conquered last year when he won four of six events to finish second in the series. Radisich, 21, has made an impact in Britain atter racing in Formula Three events there. MeMillan and Smith have both been driving for many years. McMillan, winner of the Lady Wigram Trophy in 1979 and 1980, also won the North American Formula Atlantic Championship in 1982. Smith, also a past Wigram winner, was igram racing before Jones, Radisich and Cheever were born. He hold the Wigram lap record for Pacific cars with a time of 70.01sec. American Tom Blackaller could be a threat. His success in Formula Atlantic in North America over the past season would suggest he is a main contender. Popular The long 3.44km • Wigram circuit should also produce some excellent support racing with the popular Arbuckles OSCA series seeing 11 V8's entered. Trevor Crowe (Starlet V8), Avon Hyde (Commodore V8) and John Osborne (V8) have all raced in close company at the opening meetings and are all keen on emerging as winner at Wigram. Twenty-six cars have entered the two rounds of the national motocraft Formula Ford series where local driver John Crawiord will be determined to win the dash to the flag and help erase the memory of disqualification at the two rounds at Tere tonga raceway last Sun-. day. Crawford who finished second in the champion ship last season has his eye set on a win this season so he can represent New Zealand at the International Formula Ford festival in England. 30-11-84 Freeth the man to beat A field of more than 50 will take the starters flag for the Motor-cycle Challenge at the Lady Wigram meeting on Sunday. Two six-lap races will be held and judging by the entries to date, production road machines will dominate. The outright-win favourite is Roger Freeth on his CRC Suzuki 1100 formula one racer, a machine that can top 260kmh at Wigram and on which Freeth has been dominant in recent years. Freeth will face stiff competition from fellow Aucklander Norris Farrow, riding a similar machine. The battle for minor placings in the formula one class promises to be exciting. Leading the strong contingent of production bikes will be Trev Kirby, a 20year veteran of Wigram who starts as a favourite on his new Suzuki GSX 1135. Kirby will use his extra horsepower and knowledge of the track to try to head off expatriot Terry Paviell, who has gained acclaim in Australia and Britain. Paviell will ride a Yamaha RZ500, the same machine that won • the Australian Castrol six hour event and which he campaigned along with Marty Dock at the New Zealand event only to fall victim to the strong winds that took a heavy • toll at the Manfeild track. The formula two class, for less powerful machines, will provide a large field and potentially many tussles. Rob Lewis, 18, is showing he means business on: fast Yamaha XJ600. But Neil Smith (Blenhiem), if racing the Yamaha TZ250 production racer he has campaigned recently, may be the man to beat Lewis. Local rider Marty Dock proved last year that trace knowledge and audacity can relegate favourites to minor places. The ciass that may pro vide the closest racing is the production 250s. The new tandem-twin Kawasaki KR250S wit make its Wigram debut in pursuit of the established. Yamaha RZ250s and the Suzuki RG250s. Grant Ramage (Timaru) : on the KR250 and Steve, Paviell, Terry's younger! brother, on the RZ250, and Grant . Ramage's brother, i Alan who. on the new fourstroke Suzuki GSX400R$ will all be worth watching" All the Japanese makers will be represented but; much attention will centre on the exotic BMW K100 ridden in the Castrol six-! hour, and on the • fast Ducati Pantah, ridden by Lindsay Williamson. The event has possibly the best selction of bikes seen at Wigram for many years. Close racing should be the order of the day. ..