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Season 1973

Results · 1973

Lady Wigram Trophy 1973: Graham McRae (McRae GM1-Chevrolet), Tasman Series.

Wigram · Lady Wigram Trophy meeting · 20 January 1973

Shell Race of the Year, Wanganui · 15 laps

PosDriverCarTimeSource
1John Boote (Christchurch)Suzuki 500 twin17 Jan 1973
2Ron Grant (USA)Suzuki 750 lost his brakes on lap nine after taking the lead17 Jan 1973
4Ginger MolloyYamaha17 Jan 1973

Castrol GTX championship, Groups 2 and 3 (15 laps) · 15 laps

PosDriverCarTimeSource
1Robbie Francevic (Auckland)Mazda RX223:50.820 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
2Reg Cook (Manurewa)Ford Escort2sec behind20 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
3D. Cook (Wellington)Ford Escort24:01.822 Jan 1973
4A. R. Carter (Auckland)Chrysler Charger fastest of the bigger cars20 Jan 1973
5T. Warren (Auckland)Valiant Pacer20 Jan 1973
6Jim Richards (Auckland)Ford Capri20 Jan 1973
11Paul Curin (Auckland)Ford Escort 11th overall; leads Group 3 points20 Jan 1973

Ace-Osca saloon car championship · 8 laps

PosDriverCarTimeSource
1S. K. HaigFord Mustang20 Jan 1973
1Kevin Haig (Dunedin)Ford Mustang11:29.822 Jan 1973
2Bruce JennerChevrolet Camaro11:36.120 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
3John ArmstrongMustang11:39.020 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
4Paul KirkVauxhall Viva Buick first Group B driver home20 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
5Trevor CroweChevrolet Corolla20 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
6R. A. SylvesterHolden Monaro20 Jan 1973
6SilvesterHolden Monaro22 Jan 1973

Castrol GTX championship, Group 1 (15 laps) · 15 laps

PosDriverCarTimeSource
1Ron Rutherford (Christchurch)Chrysler Charger22:17.920 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
2Rod Coppins (Auckland)Chrysler Charger22:18.520 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
3N. Neilson (Auckland)Chrysler Charger22:19.920 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
4R. D. McCallum (Auckland)Holden Torana20 Jan 1973
5D. S. Callaway (Christchurch)Holden Torana20 Jan 1973
6Bob Homewood (Auckland)Holden Torana20 Jan 1973
DNFLeo Leonard (Timaru)Chrysler Charger tyre blow-out on lap 520 Jan 1973

Motor-cycles 250-750cc racing class

PosDriverCarTimeSource
1Ron Grant (USA)750cc Suzuki three-cylinder20 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
2John Boote (Christchurch)500cc Suzuki twinlength of the straight behind20 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
3Jim Landrebe350cc Yamaha22 Jan 1973
4Dale Wylie500cc Suzuki22 Jan 1973
5Ray Dumpleton (Auckland)350cc Yamaha 350cc Tourist Trophy winner at Pukekohe20 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
6Owen Galbraith (Christchurch)750cc Kawasaki20 Jan 1973
6Trevor Discombe250cc Yamaha22 Jan 1973

Lady Wigram Trophy · 47 laps

PosDriverCarTimeSource
1Graham McRaeMcRae GM1114.277 mph average record race average; $300020 Jan 1973, 20 Jan 1973 +2
2Warwick Brown (Sydney)Lola T30027.8sec behind20 Jan 1973, 20 Jan 1973 +1
3Steve Thompson (England)Chevron B2433.5sec behind Brown20 Jan 1973, 20 Jan 1973 +1
4Frank Matich (Australia)Repco Matich A5046 laps20 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
5David Oxton (Auckland)Begg FM546 laps20 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
6Dexter Dunlop (Wellington)McRae GM1a further lap back20 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
7Kevin Bartlett (Australia)Lola T30043 laps stopped 12 laps with a misfire22 Jan 1973
8Frank Radisich (Auckland)McLaren Repco22 Jan 1973
9Neil Doyle (Ashburton)Begg FM242 laps22 Jan 1973
10Noritake Takahara (Japan)Brabham BT3642 laps last classified finisher22 Jan 1973
DNFMax Stewart (Australia)Lola T330 led 35 laps; balance weight holed the sump20 Jan 1973, 22 Jan 1973
DNFEvan Noyes (USA)McRae GM1 clutch burned out after 10 laps22 Jan 1973
DNFGarry Pedersen (Auckland)Begg FM4 pulled out after 37 laps22 Jan 1973
DNFSam Posey (USA)Surtees TS11B several pit stops then retired22 Jan 1973
DNFJohn McCormack (Australia)Elfin Repco gearbox trouble22 Jan 1973
DNFAlan Rollinson (England)McRae GM1 overheating engine after 11 laps22 Jan 1973

Production motor-cycle race

PosDriverCarTimeSource
1Owen Galbraith (Christchurch)750cc Norjo Kawasaki ran away with the race20 Jan 1973
2John Boote (Christchurch)500cc Suzuki twin20 Jan 1973
DNFDale Wylie (Christchurch)Norton high-speed misfire20 Jan 1973

Bank of New South Wales championship (10 laps, 22 miles) · 10 laps

PosDriverCarTimeSource
1Rod Coppins (Papakura)Pontiac Firebird13:54.322 Jan 1973
2Paul Fahey (Christchurch)Ford Mustang14:22.322 Jan 1973
3Rod Collingwood (Auckland)Escort FVC14:27.222 Jan 1973

Invitation saloon race (10 laps, 22 miles) · 10 laps

PosDriverCarTimeSource
1Arthur Moffatt (Australia)Ford Falcon GTHO22 Jan 1973
2John ArmstrongFord Mustang22 Jan 1973
3Rod CollingwoodFord Escort FVC22 Jan 1973

Motor-cycles production race

PosDriverCarTimeSource
1Owen Galbraith (Christchurch)750cc Kawasaki22 Jan 1973
2Joe Lett (Wanganui)750cc Norton22 Jan 1973
3John Boote (Christchurch)500cc Suzuki22 Jan 1973
4Ron Grant (USA)750cc Norton22 Jan 1973
5Gavin Keats750cc Norton22 Jan 1973
6Simon Burton750cc Honda22 Jan 1973

Reports: Blaze in racing car at Wigram · McRae close to last year's fastest time at Wigram · McRae fastest in qualifying trials · Overseas entries hope at Wigram · 19th International Lady Wigram Trophy Race: grandstand seats · Falcon may race at Wigram · 19th International Lady Wigram Trophy Race: concession tickets · Veteran of track to lead MGs · World-class field vying for honours · Wheel has turned the full circle · 19th International Lady Wigram Trophy Race programme · Graham McRae heads list of champions

Levin · Rothmans International, Levin · 13 January 1973

Rothmans International (Tasman round, 63 laps) · 63 laps

PosDriverCarTimeSource
1Graham McRaeMcRae GM1 Bartz-Chevrolet winner, $3000 cheque19 Jan 1973
2Frank Matich (Australia)Repco Matich A50 set 43.8sec lap record, $200019 Jan 1973
3Warwick Brown (Australia)Lola T30019 Jan 1973

Reports: Wigram a tougher event for McRae · South Island success at Levin · Tasman hat-trick on the cards for Graham McRae

The 1973 clippings

Veteran of track to lead MGsBefore the 19th Lady Wigram Trophy race, members of the MG Car Club's MGT Register will lead the field round…
19th International Lady Wigram Trophy Race programmeAdvertised timetable and spectator information for the 19th International Lady Wigram Trophy meeting, round…
Graham McRae heads list of championsField guide to the 19th Lady Wigram Trophy race.
...and you're in the driver's seat
American and New Zealander are likely to continue 150mph duelPreview of the Wigram motor-cycle races: American Ron Grant (water-cooled 750cc Suzuki) and Huntly's Ginger…
Graeme Lawrence not able to race at Wigram1971 Tasman champion Graeme Lawrence, survivor of the 1972 NZ Grand Prix crash in which Bryan Faloon died,…
19th International Lady Wigram Trophy RaceHeading fragment from a Motor Racing Club (Inc) promotional piece for the 19th International Lady Wigram…
Six nations represented in Wigram classicPreview of the 19th International Lady Wigram Trophy race (47 laps, 100 miles), with drivers from six…
Local championProfile of 26-year-old David Oxton, the national Gold Star champion, who will drive the Begg FM5 in the 19th…
English driverProfile of Englishman Alan Rollinson, second in the New Zealand Grand Prix, who is out to win the 1973…
Saloons should provide much excitementPreview of the saloon car events at the 1973 Lady Wigram meeting, in which Castrol GTX, Bank of New South…
Lady Wigram entriesList of the 20 drivers and cars entered for the 19th International Lady Wigram Trophy Race, with race…
Fourth motor-cycle title likely for GrantOn the strength of three wins on the summer circuit (Bay Park Raceway, Mount Maunganui, Pukekohe, and…
Top overseas ridersPhoto of American Ron Grant (Suzuki 750) being chased by Englishman C.
Mayor meets racing driversAt the annual mayoral reception for Lady Wigram Trophy drivers, Kevin Bartlett said Wigram was probably the…
Tasman hat-trick on the cards for Graham McRaeLooking back at Graham McRae's dominant win in the 75-mile Rothmans International at Levin, the article says…
Blaze in racing car at WigramPhoto captions from Lady Wigram Trophy practice: a fire extinguisher is used on a blaze in Baron Robertson's…
McRae close to last year's fastest time at WigramIn the preliminary practice session for the 19th Lady Wigram Trophy, Graham McRae was unofficially timed at…
McRae fastest in qualifying trialsGraham McRae finished Friday's Lady Wigram Trophy qualifying with a lap of 117.969 mph (about 65.0sec) on…
Francevic's Mazda hits 118mph for winRobbie Francevic's rotary Mazda RX2 won the Castrol GTX Group 2 and 3 saloon race, the first event at the…
Into first bend at WigramPhoto captions: the field takes the first bend at the start of the Ace-Osca saloon championship at the Lady…
McRae beats class field into the groundGraham McRae won the 19th International Lady Wigram Trophy at a record average of 114.277 mph, 27.8sec ahead…
Aussie champ Moffat shows them the wayAustralian saloon champion Allan Moffat won the fast invitation saloon race at the 1973 Lady Wigram Trophy…
Another one for McRaePhoto page of the 1973 Lady Wigram Trophy: McRae telling the story of his win, lapping Frank Radisich, the…
McRae wins exciting race for Lady Wigram TrophyGraham McRae won his third successive Lady Wigram Trophy in a record 52min 33.8sec (114.277 mph), after a…
Wigram crashPhoto of a rider thrown from his machine in the 750cc motor-cycle race at Wigram on Saturday while avoiding…
Wigram: good moments and badPhoto captions from the 1973 Lady Wigram meeting: Max Stewart led for nearly three-quarters of the trophy…
Stewart's oil leakPhoto captions: Max Stewart stands beside his Lola T330 in the pits after pulling out of the Lady Wigram…
Tasman racing series is still wide open after WigramDespite McRae's 11-point lead after winning the Lady Wigram Trophy, the Tasman series was still open because…
Top motor race may come to WigramChristchurch Mayor N. G. Pickering and Motor Racing Club patron Mr J. Mathison favour holding the 1974 New…