24-1-90 Come on feel the noise. ONE JACKSON PETER JACKSON INTERNATIONAL SERIES The tensier. Action. Excitement Feer t a in one great weekend of Gates Open: 7.30am both days. family entertainme?t. At the Pete Jacksor. Internatiora! Motor Faring Series at Ruapuna Park. Hasxetts Rd. Christchurcn Track action siarts 10.00am Saturday. 10.30am Suncay 3e there as the top Formuia Pacific racing tears ec batte. Ard Prices deekend Entry Adults Premiums Spectators Area S20 dent miss tre rca" of the Hanseils Sun Vailey Trancersa bors and ict Standard $16 ciass New Zealanc Formuia One Motor Cycle Racing Children 5-:3 $5 Pre-Sales: S3 discount off ali adult passes purchased betore Friday 25 january Dit pass . $5 at Carthy Motors GM. 167 Si Asaph St: Cockram Nissan, enr Nianchester & Daty car pass S2 Moorhouse Ave: Ilam Toyota. 247 Riccarton Rd; Rangiora Toyota, Rangiora. Family Dass - .: =. "er: $32 TOYOTA ONE SUN VALLEY 9 5:8. HaIT MACE ==. BIA:20 COODAYEAR J0B Noedhem G5031D Hot rod driver challenge to By JOHN HAWKINS An interesting aspect of this year's Peter Jackson international motor racing series has been the appearance by an English driver, Rod Birley, who has contested the Hansells Sun Vailey Thunder saloon races. Birley, a former Eng lish hot rod (speedway saloon) champion, has carved a successtul career for himself in the English version of Thunder saloons. Although his Cosworth powered Mitsubishi Starion is disadvantaged by the New Zealand regulations, his performances have been interesting to monitor. Birley was originally attracted to the New Zealand series after visiting as a spectator two years N.Z. ago. He says that it has taken iwo years to put together a deal to contest the series, and that racing here will serve as valuable development mileage for his new car which he will use to contest the British series which begins in March. While he has found his car "outclassed" by the New Zealand opposition, Birley has enjoyed his racing here and particularly the friendships he made during the series. The Mitsubishi's main area of disadvantage is in weight. Birley's car weighs in at around 1100kg as required by the British regulations, while its New Zealand rivals are usually about 950kg. Another area where the regulations between the iwo countries differ is in chassis design. New Zealand has recentiy moved to allow specially Constructed space irame chassis, similar to those ar racers ROD BIRLEY used in the United States, While these are outlawed in Britain. Birley says that he feels it was a mistake to allow space frame cars to contest the New Zealand races. because this type of chassis and the iechnology that it will eventually entail, will eventually price a lot of competitors out of the class. This happened in Britain before space frames were discarded. Birley says that makes sense for the BritiSh and New Zealand regulations to be more closely aligned, as a number of British drivers could be attracted to the New Zealand series. The dates are more compatable than with the Americans, whose own domestic series begins in February. He feels that the long established O.S.C.A. regulations. used successfully in the South Island for many seasons, could well provide a starting point to draft common regula- Biriey will have the opportunity to study some of the O.S.C.A. machinery at close quariers when he contests the Sun Valley Thunder saloon races at Ruaduna this week-end.