19-9-87 WUGAR Avon City Ford VHS Paul Radisich (Ralt RT4) leads the field as he accelerates out of the hairpin bend in the early stages of the 30-lap Lady Wigram Trophy race at R.N.Z.A.F. base, Wigram, yesterday. Close behind is Mike Thackwell in a similar car. Radisich won the race from • Thackwell. Report, page 17. Wigram Trophy to R BY JOEN HAWKINS The 23-year-old New Zealana Internadonal driver, Paul Radisich, led start to finish in winning the Lady Wigram Trophy race yesterday. Radisica beat his compatriot, Mike Thackwell, in Both the Trophy race and pretiminary event but the two second placings тете enouga lo give Thackwell the Mita Co DiETS SeTieS FIEL Thactwell was never able to challenge Radisich for the lead and although el one stage be narrowed the gap dows froas 4.5s to able lo respond, despite problers selectag firs star. Te expacts chalsage from the Astrican driver, Davy Jones, failed to matertalise, as arer a spin at Polytech corner be played & subdued role, running seventh and out of the points: unt the Englishman, Calvin Fist, retired to the pits after 21 laps. Fish and the veteran New Zealander, Ken Smith, had provided the only real excitement in the race as they fought a spirited battle for third place beniad Radisich and Thackwell. This lasted untIl the thirteent isp, when Smith began to gain the upper band and edged From ten on there wes virually no place chang mg Radisica Beading home Thackwell afay ats late race charge, with Smith some 15s back in third ahead of the American, Dave Kudrave, the Australian, David Brabham, and Jotes. The race was note worthy for the rellability of the cars, with only Fish of the il runners failing to mate the finish. Radisich dominated the Formula Pacific preliminary event, grabbing the lead from pole position and opezing an early buffer over Thackwell, who in tum beaded Jones st the end of the first lap. As Radisich continued edge clear. Tony George spun by the . Bangars on lap two and: Smith and Kudrave begas a duel watch was to last adisich for almost the duration of the race. On the seventh at the 20 laps Jones retired with clutch failure and the Smith-Kudrave battle as sumed more importance as they moved into third and fourth places. On lap 12, as Radisich maintained & 4s lead over Thackwell, Kudrave swept past Smith to briefly snatch third onty to be repassed under braidng • for the hatrpin. Radisica str seconds. cleor of Thachwell wille Smith gradually pulled elear of Kudrave. Farther back a mistale by Brabiar two ber trot home aloned to tate fifth place. Australians too hardy at By JOHN HAWKINS The return of the big saloon cars had the crowd on its toes at Wigram yesterday when, in spite of two narrow wins by Trevor Crowe, New Zealand were de feated, 81-64, in the inaugural Handy Hire New Zealand Australia Sports Sedan Challenge. Vehicle reliability was the downfall of the New Zealand team. At the start of the first race Christchurch's Steve Vigurs (Commodere Chey) and the Sydney driver, Laurie Attard (Capri V6 turbo) made contact and both cars careered off the circuit. Ian Munt for New Zealand and Bill Attard, Australia, were both badly delayed. Bob Tindall held the lead for Australia with his big Torana Chev at the end of the first lap from Crowe, the Aucklander, Brett Willis, John Osborne and John Fisher. The New Zealand team appeared well placed, especially when Crowe displaced Tindall on lap three. On the fifth of the eight laps things began to go wrong for New Zealand. Osborne, who bad moved up to third, spun off the track and Willis retired his Commodore with serious engine damage. Lap after lap Tindall's massive V8 engine would outpower Crowe's smaller V8 on the long straight but through brilliant car control Crowe just pipped Tincall on the line with Rob Kennard third, for New Zealand. With Fisher out with a locked diff, however, the reliable Australian cars scooped plenty of points with Greg Crick (Mazda) leading home Des Wall (Torana) and Keith Carling (Mazda) for fourth position. In the second race lindall held the lead across the line for six of the eight laps, but Crowe gave an indication of his potential with a stupendous last lap, snatching victory from Tindail's grasp. Wigram Kennard drove the race of his life to stay! with the front two during the eariy part of the race, eventually falling back but nevertheless gaining a fine third placing for the New Zealand team. Once again though the majority of the Australian cars finished in healthier condition with Carling fourth ahead of Crick, Fisher, Wall, VI gurs and Bill Attard. Results: Total cover OSCA race.— I. Crowe (Christchurch, Toyota Starlet V8) 1, R. Kennard (Christchurch, Ford Cortina) Munt (Christchurch, Capri V8) 3. Avon City Ford motorcraft Formula Ford championship.- Heat one: S. Higgins (Palmerston North, Van Dieman) 1, G. Campbell (Auckland, Van Dieman) 2, S. Rich ards (Hamilton, Van Dieman) 3. Heat two: Higgins I, R Lester (Palmerston North, Van Dieman) 2, G. Campbel! South Island production saloons.- F. Ryon (Otago, Mitsubishi Cordia) 1, N. Agas (Christchurch, Mitsubishi Cor dia) 2, B. McFarlane (Dunedin, Mitsubishi Cordia) 3. Mita Copiers Lady Wigran Tropby preliminary.- Radisich (N.Z., Rait RT1) I M. Thackwell (N.Z. Ralt: RT4) 2, K. Smith (N.Z. Ral RT4) 3. BMC Transmission Services Mini 7.— Heat one: S. Jones (Christchurch) I, G. Brewer (Christcharch) 2, R. wilkin-. son (Christchurch) 3. Heat . J. Hamiltom AGC Ford Laser championship.— i Harter (Palmerston North) Stares (Palmerston Northu 2, S. Taylor (Hamilton) 3 Handy Hire Australia New Zealand sport sedan challenge.— Heat оде: - 1: Crowe (N.Z.., Toyota Stariet V8) 1, B. Tindall (Australia Holden Torana) 2, R. Kegnard (N.Z., Ford Cortina) .33 Mita Copiers Lady Wigram Trophy race- P. Radisich (N.Z., Ralt RT4) I, Thactwell (N.Zu, Ralt RT4) 2 K. Smith (N.Z., Ralt RT4) 3 D. Kudrave (U.S.A., Ratt RT4) 4, D. Brabham LAUS tralia, Rait RT4) 5, D. Jones (U.S.A., Ralt RT4) 6. Quinns Fashion Trophy ladies race.— J. Steere (Fen rari) 1, M. Jeffrey (Corolla; 2, L Pollock (Mitsubishi) 3 Time, $:29.20. Sports Sedans. - Heat Crowe, 1; Tindall, 2; Kennars,