22-9-86 Racing's a family affair for Lesters By Linda Powell The "macho" image of motor-car racing has been tossed out by the Lester tamily ot Palmerston North. Debbie Lester. 22. is on the road to success currently second in the National Formuia Vee championships - and younger sister Rachel 15 keen to follow her tracks. Racing is a family affair for the family who have a travelling "roadshow" of two Formula Fords and a Formula Vee painted in bright red CRC sponsorship colours. The Lesters were in Christchurch for the Lady Wigram Trophy meeting. where Debbie drove Rover Vitesse in the women's race. She took the $1500 wardrobe prize. from a i5see handicap. and atter a speciacular zig-zag in the home straight. Rub Lester. 50. is well known in racing circles for his success 25 the 1985 Furmula V'ee champion. a title he aiso won in 1979 after a late start in moior sport Lester. the promoter for Palmerston North's Manfeild Autocourse. started racing at the "ripe oid age oi 39 Intolerant of adminisirators who "don't know where the sweat and adrenalin comes from. " Lester jumped ai the chance to race. His time in a trial run was good atter a fourth place in his first season. he took the title in 1979. Racing is like a "Chinese chess game., according io Lester. "You don't necessarily have to be the quickest. just get the best pussible position in the last lap He is proud of Debt tho he says is a "natur with a great deal of pote "He'd never activel encourage her in race she's Just doing exactl what she wants to do." Coaching from her father is a bonus for Detbie who drove her first Formula Vee only last October. Lack of funds stopped her making an earlier debut. She returned to New Zealand from an overseas trip and a bottle of Portugese port later. her father's retirement was conhrmed and his $6500 Formula f'ee car was hers. The young sales representative tor the familt s- veterinary supplies business has set her sights nigh. "At first 1 thougnt 1 would be good to be ith or 8tn this season. but now I'm running second I want to win. Male drivers tended to take the "she's on!: a woman* attitude. experiing her te move aside. she said "The secret is don't give war - I make them all go around Aggressive In Debbie's first race she ald give war but eriticism trom her tather - "if you might as tele ou et the car and go and play golf" - saw a change of attitude. She won the next race. and has been driving aggressively ever since. Despite her love of speed. Debbie's nerves tie her in knots before each race. get reall! nervous. feel sick in the stomach and wonder it it's all really Picture BI!! MONi The Lesters (from left): Debbie. Wendy. Wendy. Rob. Rachel and Richard beside the victorious Rover Vitesse. worth it... But once in t cockpit with all my lami and triends watching its unreal Debbir looks forward to seeing more women on the tracks. About 40 per cent of spectators at meetings are women vet they're there because their boytriends are interested. she said. Motor sport racing had done a 'fine job" of persuading women they could not participate. said Rob Lester the vice president of New Zealand's motor racing parent body MANZ. The macho male image' had done the damage he said. "A lot of the driving is a matter of balance and judgement skills and I don t believe women are any less endowed - in some cases they're better equipped." "There's nothing sexist in this. it's just a matter of naving the opportunity The Quinn's Fashion Cup on Sunday was the women s race held at a national level in New Zea- lanu it the race encouraged more women to take up motor racing it would have been a good thing. said Lester. "There's no reason why women can't participate in large numbers and better the men." Richard Lester. 24. is also a keen racer in the Formula Ford. He schularship while still at school and was given a Formula Vee car to race ior a rear. Seven vears jater he is still on the circuits but is holding out his season for the arrival of his new Reynard FF84 from England Wendy Lester has bern dragged into ine racing worid the family enthusiasm -- er join them or be on ur She admits to getting terribly nervous before her childrens racing events and remembers vividiv her husband's cartwheeling crash in Levin some years ago. Fortunately: he was not injured know I shouldn't worry as the cars are well built and well maintained. but there's always the unexpected. she says. Parhel (17) claims she couldnt help but get the racing bug growing up in the world of motor racing. Aggression may not be a strong point but she is adament her first drive will have her "hooked" too. 26-1-86 MacPh For the benefit of those motor racing followers who wish to bring their records on the New Zealand Formula Pacific (or Mondial) international series up to date, the latest winner of the series was Californian Jeff Mac- Pherson (Ralt RT4). He scored 58 points from the customary four meetings at Baypark, Mount Maunganui, the New Zealand erson tops list Grand Prix at Pukekone, the Manfeild International at Feilding and the Lady Wigram Trophy. Headed by MacPherson on 58 points, the score sheet reads: Ross Cheever, 33; Paul Radisich, 32, Ted Prappas, 22; Ken Smith, 18; Cary Bren, 15; Brett Riley, 12; Dave McMillan, four; and Bob Creasy, Steve Bren and Peter Haskett, each. With the exception of Haskett, who drove a Chevron B32, all drove Ralt RT4S. For those who have been following the Lady Wigram Trophy race over the years and keep complete results for comparative purposes, a 20 lap preliminary and a 30 lap trophy race were held on the 3.43 kilometre airfield circuit this year. MacPherson WOL the preliminary in 23min 16.46s, for an average speed of 176.73km/h. The remaining five pointsscoring places went to Radisich (23min 37.20s), Smith (23min 43.77s), Сагу ren (23min 45.47s), Riley (23min 45.95s) and McMillan who completed 19 of the 20 laps. MacPherson made the fastest lap in 68.59s (180.026km/h) and that is the fastest race lap ever achieved by a Formula Pacific car at Wigram. The Lady Wigram Trophy, raced over 30 laps, was won by Mac- Pherson in 35min 01.1Is (176.19km/h) and he was followed home by Radisich (35min 14.95s), Riley (35min 17.82s), Smith (35min 44.47S), McMillan (35min 57.25s) and Heskett who completed 28 of the 30 laps. MacPherson made the fastest lap in 69.12s. 785