30-1-89 Ch equered panese o flag river CO By Lindsay Kerr After a dramatic Lady Wigram Trophy race, where the lead changed hands tbree ti result which found the Japanese driver, Hiro Matsushita, in the winner's cirele. motor racing on the air- During the 40 years of . the 30 laps bad run, while beaten him home. I didn't lenging Hall had to contend with position and field circuit, drivers of give up though and I even headed him across the line. the experienced New Zea- tought of giving it a real An expatriate Christmany nationalities have land driver and winner of shot on the last lap." WOn the main race, but the church resident now from Matsushita is i first race in 1976, Ken the United States, Steve the Smith. The supporting ' races from Japan. Dyamand bought his Smith hounded Hall for were highlighted by Wayne unpressive Chev Corvette The series leader in the the remaining laps, once Huxford s two wins in the Peter Jackson inter- into third place after clawgetting the better of him competitive Hanselis Sun ing his way from last piace national Formula Pacific but then made an Valley Sports Sedan Chamseries, Dean Hall, of the uncharacteristic mistake pionship and the close rac- following a spin on the United States, took an with a gear change and the ing in the Agip Oils South first lap. early lead fror the winner American Island Mini 7 series and Avon Hyde won a thrillthe first heat, Paul again. At the end only the Motocraft Formula ing first race for the Mini Radishich, but this was , 0.54sec separated them. Ford Championship. 7s but it was only achieved short-lived and before lap For the talented Mat- on a final sprint to the line one bad ended Radisich sushita the moment Huxford with his Chev following race-long he was in command and pal- Capri had to come from struggle with John Hamiling away. receive the chequered flag behind to beat champion ton, Peter_Black, Robin Hall, , who had not fin- was one of delight." It was Roger Freeth. with Wilkinson, Jeff Brook and perfect but the last 10 laps ished the first heat follow- were so hard," he said. "It Rover-powered Starlet in Ray Watson. ing an accident with his was hard to pass Dean, but heat one but it was a win • The excitement of the team-mate and fellow I like to drive in traffic made a little easy by race was blunted by a countryman Mark Smith, more than being on, my Freeth's demise with a spectacular accident was finding the going diffi- own." broken axle. involving Doug Drake. He cult with suspension Radisich conceded that Christchurch rolled his car on one of the driver repairs to his car giving his chances of retaining his John Osborne looked to faster parts of the circuit too much oversteer. Benson and Hedges title have second place, but his and was taken to hospital With Radisich clearing had all but gone. engine let go in the final with facial injuries and away at will Hall came "I was pulling away at lap. concussion. under pressure from Mat- Isec a lap but I was not Mark Pederson and sustita: On lap y the driving too hard." he said. In race two Huxford never Mike Davidson scored Japanese driver put his "Everything to that let Freeth get into a chalnose in front, but Hall point had been great. struck back. Hopefully we can piece Engine failure together a motor before Guard on pitch next weekend." On lap 12, Radisich's • The crowd's favourite Security guards are engine gave up and Hall was Smith. keeping a 24-hour watch could no longer find any "It was hard work, prob- On the Lancaster Park answer to the determined ably the hardest race 1 cricket pitch after three Matsushita. bave been in for years, ," holes were dug in it before From that point Mat- said the veteran. "When I the Pakistan-Canterbury sushita had the race to did get by i: couldat match which began on himself but Hall, on lap 14, believe it when I missed a Saturday. had to surrender to Mark gear. I thought that if I The pitch was damaged Smith. Smith went in pur- could have held the advan- four years ago when Pakissuit of Matsushita but tage into the Control tan was last in Christfailed to drag hir in after Tower area I could have church imes, it was a fitting hard-earned victories in the two Formula Ford races, with the lead changing more than one occasion each time out. Highlights For the big crowd the undoubted highlight was the performance in race two of loca. drivers Chris Hyde and Grant Milligan. They helped each other to the best resuits of their careers at this level, coming home fourth and fifth respectively. The margin at the end was oniy 16sec. Robbie Francevic with his Ford Sierra held too many guns tor nis nvals in the New Zealand Touring Car championship while in the Shell Production Car championship David Slater, the series leader and rally driver Ray WilsoD shared wins apiece. Both drivres were at the wheels of Ford Laser TX3i Turbas. Tyre holds for Hiro to win Picture: Don Scott T MOORE -Panasonia Japanese driver -Hiro Matsushita heads to victory in the Lady Wigram Trophy race at the airfield circuit yesterday. Matsushita had a badly dented rim on his front right wheel.