22 - 4 - 94 Action from the start of a Lady Wigram Trophy race in 1964. In front, from left, are John Youl (Cooper-Climax), who finished fourth; Denis Hulme (Brabham-Climax), third; Bruce McLaren (Cooper- Climax), the winner; and Jack Brabham (Brabham-Climax). End of an era evokes fond motor racing memories by John Hawkins The recent announcement by The Motor Racing Club that it I would not apply for a date for next year's international series seems to have brought to an end a long and distinguished era of motor racing at the RNZAF Base Wigram. The first two motor race meetings at Wigram were run by the Canterbury Car Club. In 1948, disenchanted by competing at a number of makeshift venues, club members set out to organise a big race on roads in the Harewood area. The late threat of an injunction by a resident with a property adjacent to the proposed track thwarted those plans. A deputation, including the renowned Pat Hoare, approached the Prime Minister of the time, the Rt Hon Peter Fraser, who suggested Wigram as a possibility. There were then only two weeks unti the proposed race date but, with the co-operation of the RNZAF, the event went ahead on February 26, 1949. The meeting was a success, attracting about 20,000 people. Only one race was held on the day, the ivew Lealand Road Racing Championship, neid over 105 miles, or 50 laps of the circuit. The winner was Morrie Procter, driving a Riley 9. His average speed for the race was calculated at 106.46kmh. The Motor Racing Club was formed and organised the 1951 meeting. In 1952 a club member, H D Christie, who later organised the big international air race, persuaded Lady Wigram that a trophy be awarded in her name to the winner of the big race. This added prestige and more international drivers were attracted to Wigram. Stalwart club members agree that the appearance in 1954 of the British BRM V16, driven by Ken Wharton, was the biggest ever spectator attraction. The BRM was spectacularly fast, but failed in the race. Wharton, who was later killed in a crash at Ardmore, pushed the car home, and the race was won by Peter Whitehead. It was a later BRM, that driven by Scotland's Ron Flockhart which older club members re member as featuring in perhaps the most exciting of all Lady Wigram Trophy races. In 1959 Flockhart and the Australian, Jack Brabham, who was to win that year's world championship, fought a classic duei. Brabham planned to outmanoeuvre his rival on the last lap. When the moment came, however, a back marker was in the way and Brabham could only watch while Flockhart swept past the chequered flag