Thackwell: More in life than F1 By Lindsay Kerr Expatriate New Zealand racing driver Mike Thackwell, in Christchurch for Sunday's Mita Copiers Lady Wigram Trophy Race, was recently describec by an English motor racing journalist as an "enigmatic Kiwi whose eccentric approach to the sport still bars his way to a decent formula I drive." Thackwell, 25, considers such a judgement has been arrived at through ignorance and by some one who fails to look at the broader spectrum of life beyond motor racing. After leaving New Zealand at the age of 7, the Palmerston North-born driver lived in Perth before going to England. At 15 he was driving formula Ford and at 16 he competed in 31 races before stepping up to formula 3. From that time his successes were regular and he has never had to look for work as a racing driver. A brilliant championship win in the European formula 2 championship in 1984 and a series of one-off formula 1 drives served to confirm that his future as a racing driver was secure, pernaps even in formula "At that time I was no different to most other serious racing drivers. Formula 1 mas the only thing 1 wanted to do and then become world champion," explained Thackwell." "Then I was involved in a serious accident which forced me to have some time off to recuperate. It was then that i began to think about what I was doing." "It wasn't until I went to formula 1 that I realised what it really meant. "You sign a contract something I have never done, I have only had agreements - and it says you will do oaly certain things and you won't do other things. "I would rather do things my way - arter all at the end of the day Im driving these things, and it's my life I am giving." "What the formula 1 contracts are all about is being paid a lot of money to shut up and sit down. "It is such a commercial sport at that level, and that's fine as it helps to maxe the world go round. "If you want to play that game, then it's up to the individual." "I still like motor racing and that's what I still want to do, but there are other things in life that 1 want to do as well. Somehow many members of the British media cannot accept that," Thackwell says. His drive in the Mita Copiers Grand Prix series came about Mike Thackwell through his Australian involvement and the work he has done for the Rait factory in Engiand. This organisation is owned and run by Ron Tauranac, an expatriate Australian. Under the banner of "Ralt Australia," Thackwell has come to New Zealand to drive for the team owner Graham Watson, who like Thackwell, was born in : Palmerston North. In the series to date, Thackwell maintains a Slim four-point margin over American driver Davy Jones. Although plagued with mechanical problems in the races at Manfella, Thackwell makes excuses for his loss to Jones at the New Zealand Grand Prix. lans for tnis yeai fist involve driving for Mercedes, racing group C sports cars for the sporting arm of the organisation and doing test work for the facогу. Such work is familiar to Thackwell. who in recent years has worked for Honda in Japan and for the Ralt organisation. This is what he likes best and if he had a contract to drive in formula 1, such activities probably would have to stop. 16-1-87 AUSTRALIAv NEW ZEALAND THE GIANT CLASH OF SPORTS SEDANS ARA - Motor Racing JANUARY 18th 1987 AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND REPCO TORANA (2) Vs STARLET OLDS, RX7 VB, CAPRI VB (2) CAPRI V8 CORTINA V8 RX7 SS (3) COMMODORE VE DISCOUNT TICKETS OBNZ TRAVEL ORON RUTHERFORD CARS @GARY COCKRAM CHERRONS MOTORS WILL BE SOLD AT Cathedrai Square Manchester Street Rangiora