24-1-90 The start new Lady Wigr am era? A question to be answered in two years will decide whether the running oi this weekend's Lady Wigram Trophy meeting at Ruapuna raceway instead of the traditional Wigram airfield will be the start of a new era or just another minor hiecup in a piece of motorsport history. Since the Lady Wigram began in 1949, only once has the Motor Racing Club's contribution to the country's annual international racing extravaganza been interrupted - in 1955. when the track was being resuriaced. This is the same reasor why the 1990 and 1991 meetings will not be held on the airfield circuit the only operational airfield in the world that still allows motor racing. However the future of running on the 3.44km track must be in doubt. It is a costly time-consuming exercise to transform the runways into a racing track , Ruapuna nas the facilities permanently in place. History Wigram has plenty of history and always seems to bring out excellent motor racing; Ruapuna cannot claim to get the best resuits each time. But it is many years since Ruapuna hosted a meeting of this stature and with it the country's besi competitors in each class as well as overseas competitors. It is true the Formula Pacific cars with only a dozen in the field can look a little tame at Wigram but the prospect of this number on the smaller Ruapuna track is exciting. On one occasion in the late 1970s four Formula Pacifics ran, showing excitement can be guaranteed even with a small munber. Ruapuna gives a clear view of the track from most vantage points and spectators are close enough to the track to add an extra dimension. A lot of work has gone into Ruapuna recently to bring it up to scratch. Such work should be rewarded with an excellent meeting from all classes of racing. Heading the hill mill ho Motors port by Lindsay Kerr un den 91 unden RADAR the Formula Pacifies with the Peter Jackson championship still wide open. The prospect of Ken Smith, who raced on the rack in its eariy days. loing battle with Paul Radisich - the rising star of New Zealand single racing - Craig Baird and American Robbie Gro!! should be compuisory viewing. Should such a contest fail to materialise the scrap to be the first Pait driver home will compen sate. This occurred in the New Zealand Grand Prix when Richard Lester and Barrie Tomlinson fought an epic battle. Regrettably fur those who rather he rosin Barrie Tomlinson with his Ralt RT4 television this scrap was largely ignored. Also in the hunt for the Rait race will be lan Macdonald, Steve Richards the much improved Dean Cockerton and Heather Spurle. Lester is no siranger to Formula Pacifics, making the step up three years ago after a moderately successful career in Formula Ford. Tomlinson had been something of a sensa. tion in the class. After his career in Formula Ford. which like Lester's was only moderately successfu he started his Formula Pacific career this season. First up at Wellington he beat all the other Ralt runners nome. With the Sunday he has demonstrated he has a real liking for the faster single seater cars The Pacifics should not let the side down nor should the thunder saloons which return to Ruapuna for another round of the New Zealand championships and the Jur Valley series. Last time Rodger Freeth (Starlet Rover). Brett Willis (Mazda Chev) and local drivers John Osborne (Mazda Chey) and Don Grindley (Mazda Buick) provided two excellent races. This time they will be joined by the defending champion. Wayne Huxford (Capri Chev, the winner of the -2 Drie Kayne Scott in his ex Paul Newman racing Nissan 300ZX Vt and Kerin Wills iviazda Chev). Also slotted will be further rounds of the Motocraft Formula Ford championship. Castroi New Zealand production cars. Agip Oils South island Mini 7 championship and the Ray Parke Autos Pre-'65 saloon championship. The North Island rounds of the Formula Ford championship have seen South Island drivers to the fore. in particular Paul Larsen who with his Swift FB89 already has the series by the throat, with Andy McElrea and Grant Milligan in their Van alan carmina nut The trophy winners 1949: Morris Procter 1969: Jochen Rindt (Riley Nine). (Lotus Ford). 1950: Hec Green (Welse- 1970: Frank Matich ley Special). (MeLaren Chev). 1951: Les Moore (Alia 1971: Graeme McRae Romeo). (Leda Chev). 1952: Les Moore (Alfa 1973: Graeme McRae Romeo). (Mcfae Chev). 1953: Ron Roycroft (Alfa 1974: John McCormack Romeo). (Elfin dolden). 1954: Peter Whitehead 1975: Graham MeRae (Ferrari). (MeRae Chev). 1955: No race. 1976: Ken Smith (Lola 1956: Peter Whitehead Chev). (Ferrari). 1971: Tom Gloy (Tui 1957: Peter Whitehead BH3). (Ferrari). 1978: Larry Perkins 1958: Archie Scott. (Ralt RTI). Brown (Lister Jag- 1979: Dave McMillan шаг). (Ralt RT1). 1959: Rod Flocknart 1980: Dave McMillan (BRM). (Ralt RTI). 1960: Jack Brabham 1981: David Oxton (Ralt (Cooper Climax). RT4). 1961: Jack Brabham 1982: Roberto Moreno (Cooper Climax). (Ralt RT4). 1962: Stirling Moss 1983: Allen Berg (Rait (Lotus Climax). RT1). 1963: Bruce McLaren 1984: Davy Jones (Ralt (Cooper Climax). RT4). 1964: Bruce McLaren 1981 (Dec): Ross (Cooper Climax). Cheever (Ralt RT4). 1965: Jim Clark (Lotus 1986: Jeff Macpherson Climax). (Ralt RT 1). 1966: Jackie Stewart 1987: Paul Radisich (BRM). (Rait RT4). 1967: Jim Ciark (Lotes 1988: Dean Hall (Swift Climax). DB4). 1968: Jim Clark (Lotas 1989: Hiro Matsushita 00723 Ford). (Swift DB4). Owen brothers have a point to prove one of the highlights of the television coverage from iast week's Vew Zealand Grand Prix meeting was ihe performance of Blenheim driver Hugh Owen in his Mitsubishi Galant VR4. In a class dominated by the Ford Laser TX3:s. the mere nature of production cars does not warrant too much excitement iet alone a one-marque domination. Owen however ably demenstrated what motor racing is all about. Using the cars four wheel drive to its maximum and also using his own • considerable experience from the track and from rallying, he chimed in with a handy second and third placing and in doing so provided excellent television. The car. being of standard production (Group N), will also be used by both Hugh and his brother Lloyd in the forthcoming rally season. The Owen brothers are well known in motorsport scene. Both nave driven Formula Fords and Hugh spent some time with a Formula Pacific. They have had many raily successes, first with a Ford Escort PS 1800 and then a Group B Opel Manta. The present car arrived in the middle of last year. Its first competition outing came at the South Canterbury Car Club's spring rally in October. In this event Lloyd seemed to have the event sewn up until two punctures on the last stage. Hugh will again drive the car Ruapuna this weekend in another round of the Castrol New Zealand Production car championship. PICTURED: The Owen brothers' racing and rally car, seen on its first outing in October. Ralt driver's raffle BUT SERIOUSLY Pro Calins Little-known driver Dean Cockerton will be running at Ruapuna this weekend with the name of entertainer Phil Collins emblazed on his Ralt RI4 Formula Pacific car. Cockerton promoted a raffle at $250 per ticket, the winner obtaining the naming rights to his car for the season. Aldous Creative Enterprises won and immediately gave WEA Records the unique privilege. Needless to say Cockerton was delighted to have WEA as part of his team. "We have completely rebuilt the car during the winter and now with the funds from the raffle we have been able to launch a truly professional effort in the series. " After a one-off drive in Graeme Lawrence's Ralt in the 1989 Grand Prix, I was convinced that Formula Pacific was to be the next step in my career and that I can be competitive." Cockerton's team is made up of family and friends, not uncommon in motorsport. Their high standard of workmanship and presentation will go a long way to help. PICTURED: Dean Cockerton seated in his Rait