RADIOALON 11/26 Excit ing acti To many of the spectactors Radio Avon- Wigram day the interest will be in many of the saloon car classes that invariably provide close and exciting action from flag fall. This year full fields will line up for further rounds of the 1985-86 OSCA, Pre- 65, and Select Auto Mini 7 championships. Added to these are a round of the new national 2.5 GT series, a race for women drivers, a round of the New Zealand touring car championship for group A cars, the "AGC Ford Laser championship and the "Motorcraft" Formula Ford championship. OSCA needs no introduction to South Island motor racing enthusiasts and a repeat of last season's battle between revor Crowe (Toyota Starlet V8), Avon Hyde (Commodore V8) and John Osborne (Capri V8) looks to be in store. This year Crowe has a new car, as has Osborne, in the form of a Mazda RY, but still with the power of a Chev V8 motor. 16-1 - 86 TROPHY / MEETING on from saloons The field will contain other throbbing and quick -powered units with Steve Vigurs, Ian Munt, Rob Kennard and John Fisher also driving in the line-up. Last year group A touring cars captured the imagination of the Australians and this trend carried on here for the first three rounds of the New Zealand touring car championships. At the time of writing. however, it appears that the full fields that have taken part in the previous three meetings will not be present at Wigram. primarily because of the wetlington street race that will follow the following Sunday. The championship. however, is a close one and confirmed leading entries include Trevor Crowe (Archibalds BMW 635). David Oxton (Ford Dealer Team Sierra). Granam Bowkett (Commodore). and Wayne Anderson (Pinepac Mustang). with former world champion Denny Hulme a possible entry in his Commodore. The Ray Parke Autos Pre-65 championship has been dominated this season Russell by the V8 Falcons of Russell Gutschlag and Grant Milligan with the incredibly quick 105E Anglia of Warren Good and the AP5 Valiant of Mike Small never far away. With the long Wigram circuit calling for the correct choice of the big gear and differential ratios. the outcome of the encounter for the 30 or so Pre-65 cars can only be guessed at. Mini 7 racing has been in existence for many years in the North Island and when the class was introduced to South Island tracks last season many critics believed it would never take off. These people have been proved wrong with a field of around 20 expected to take to the grid on Sunday. Leaders To date the championship is being led by the experienced Allan Milligan. He is followed by Warner Collins, Stephen Jones, Robin Herron and Peter Black. Whatever the outcome at Wigram, the racing will be very close because all cars are powered by identical 850cc engines The 2.5 GT saloon car series is a carry on from the former Shellsport championship. This class catered for cars up to 2 litres with mild modifications. The new clas allows for an increase in cubic capa city to 2.5 litres and the introduction of fuel induetion. The Shelisport series was renowned for marty close battles and this is again the case in the new class with many of the same participants being on centre stage. Sponsored by Tootal Cool Wool, the 10-round series which carries a total purse of $40,000 is being led by Geoff Burrowes (Mazda RX7) with another, Keiren Wills, in secord place. The Motorcraft Formula Ford championship has invariably produced a fiel in excess of 20 cars for the national championship and this season is no exception. The four rounds to date have produced some brill ant racing between North Island drivers Craig Cole man (Van Dieman), Glen Clark (Reynard); Steve Richards (Reynard) arfa the young Ashburton driver Andrew • McElrea. who drives the 1985 chara pionship-winning car John Crawford (also ja Reynard). On his home patch McElrea will feel much more at home and if he is to win this year's championship he will need to take maximum points. Philip Buteher (Valous and Peter MeEwen (Van Diemen), from Christ church, will also be keen fo give Wigram their best shot in front of their home crowd. The women's race is ap innovation. Sponsored by Quinns Fashions of Meri vale, the race is expectes to produce a fiela of fo who will race over 10 lans with the prize for the winner being a $204g wardrobe and $1000 cash to the owner of the car.