29-1-93 26-2-93 Behind s EWS from the Peter Jackson series has tended to dominate this column recently, but for those not interested in circuit racing, please try to bear with me for one more week. As usual, there were numerous behind-the-scenes dramas at Wigram, many of which Will remain untold. I was surprised at the number of competitors who managed to "find" the unyielding marker tyres during practice with dire consequences. Our best wishes go, particularly, to James Daniels for a full recovery from his unfortunate accident. • The wild rumcar of the week was that American Scott Lagasse's Pontiac Firebird, which scooped all three TraNZam races at Wigram, will remain in New Zealand after the Peter Jackson series. Even more exciting was the story that it would be staying in Christchurch. • The bad-luck story of the Wigram weekend concerns Wayne Jones, of Timaru, whose Mazda RX3 was severely damaged after a stub axle failure on his trailer caused it to fall off. Hard luck indeed, just when Wayne was getting the car among the big boys. •Don Grindley and Terry Brown are to form a driving partnership in Brown's Group A Commodore for the forthcoming South Island endurance races. Grindley, still recovering from his shunt on Wigram practice day, reckons that this will be the first time he has been chosen for a "works" drive. 5 An American PR woman, Marianne Nichols, was at wigram as a guest of Motor Race New Zealand and will be working hard to promote our series on her returr to the United States. cenes at RACING with JOHN HAWKINS • What fantastic racing from the Mini 7 fraternity at Wigram. To my mind, the races for this class stole the show during what was a very good day's racing in general. • Apologies to the classic car and bike racers for not being able to record their placings in our sports results. The reason being that no official results for these races are supplied by the organisers. • The high standard of OSCA racing this season continues to lure back former competitors. Mike Johnston, of Ashburton, is another driver showing interest in a return to the sport. He would like to come back with a space-frame car using something other than a V8 engine. • Great to see Greg Lancaster's Volvo running so reliably at the Wigram meeting in the capable hands of Matthew Cronin. • Mike and Judy Fitzgerald yorked wonders in getting their Capri Chev out for Wigram, but unfortunately, the car would not run cleanly on its new fuel injection. Back on the familiar carb for the second race, the car suffered a suspected dropped valve and had to be put on the trailer. E Far from being disappointed that he was slightly off the frontrunning pace at Wigram, Kieran Wills said that he was pleased with the Mazda RX8's general performance and that he had never expected it to be right up with the space-frame cars on the airfield circuit's sweeping curves. Wigram 12 - 2-93 I Final points in the Peter Jackson Formula Atlantic series gave Craig Baird the win with 213, from Stuart Crow, 210; Charles Nearburg, 199; and Jos Verstappen, 185. Points in the Aztec TraNZam GTO category saw Kayne Scott, 229, head off Kieran Wills, 177; Don Grindley, 120; and Wayne Huxford, 83. The Dunlop New Zealand Formula Ford Championship was won by Ashley Stichbury with 410 points, last year's winner, Garry Croft, finished second with 386, and Russell Ingall, who did not contest the first two rounds, placed third with 360. In the Peter Jackson Formula Ford points Ingall top scored with 360 to the 281 of Croft and the 251 of Stichbury: Christchurch drivers were successful in the national Magix Mini 7 championship with South Island title holder Robin Wilkinson adding the New Zealand crown with a tally of 109, With Jeff Brook on 109. and Jason Giblett with 94. • Motorsport New Zealand boss lan Gamble says he considers the recently completed Peter Jackson International Series to have been a step in the right direction, with spectator attendances up at all circuits. He is, however, open to suggestions on how the series might be improved and is considering a number of options. He also says that talk of a Queenstown street race is grossly premature and that the main project is now to set up a two-race winter endurance series for production cars, possibly with around in each island.