Prospect Of Spectacular Racing In Gold Star Events At Wai mate

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30976, 4 February 1966, Page 11

Prospect Of Spectacular Racing In Gold Star Events At Wai mate

r pHE absence of overseas

competitors will detract nothing from tomorrow’s “Waimate 50” Gold Star road race, which promises to produce a magnificent struggle between New Zealand’s leading single seater cars and the extremely powerful homebuilt sports specials of J. Boyd (Papatoetoe) and G. Mardon (Christchurch). With 10 one-and-a-half litre cars competing in the main race, the prospects of a repetition of the processions so prevalent in the international events are virtually non-exist-ent. The two 2500 c.c. cars entered by J. Riley (Papatoetoe) and I. W. Dawson (Manurewa) may have a slight edge on the others but it should not be very pronounced on such a tight circuit as Waimate.

Dawson will undoubtedly be the strongest candidate for major honours if he can get his Repco Brabham ready in time. Unfortunately, he was involved in a three-car crash with R. Attwood and S. Martin at Teretonga last weekend and the damage to his car may prevent him taking his place on the starting grid. This leaves Riley with a wonderful chance of winning his second Waimate 50 in succession. He will drive a 2500 c.c. Lotus. Another doubtful starter is the Putaruru driver, R. A. Levis, who won the one-and-a-half litre national championship race at Teretonga in his Brabham. He has entered for the event but is at present negotiating a trip to Australia. The third and fourth placed drivers in last Saturday’s one-and-a-half litre championship race, D. Hollier (Taihape) and P. C. Gillum (Christchurch), are definite starters. Both are capable of finishing well up in the money in their immaculately pre-

pared cars. Hollier will be driving his well proved Lotus 208 while Gillum will once again be at the wheel of his Cooper Ford. G. H. Lawrence (Wanganui) is another talented driver who could do well. He will be driving a 1500 c.c. Brabham. Other well known names among the one-and-a-half litre field include K. Sager (Auckland, Repco Brabham), K. Smith (Auck-

land, Lotus), R. Rhodes (Christchurch, Lotus) and R. W. Thackwell (Papakura, Brabham). The single-seaters can be relied on to take a major share of the prize money but the clash between Boyd and Mardon in their giant sports specials may provide even more interest for many enthusiasts. The 5360 c.c. Corvette motor is capable of propelling Mardon’s Stanton Special at speeds of more than 140 m.p.h. and if the proper gear ratios are fitted its terrific acceleration could make it more than a match for many of the factory built single-seaters.

Although unable to match Mardon’s top speed, Boyd was able to get in front of Mardon in the sports cars and specials race at Wigram. At Teretonga they won one race each. Whether the tight Waimate circuit is more suitable to one car than the other will not matter. The difference will be fractional; a close battle is inevitable. Neither driver has entered for the race for New Zealand built specials and racing cars, both preferring to concentrate on the main race. Nevertheless, they will meet twice. Both have entered for the sports car race in which points for the New Zealand sports car drivers’ award will be at stake.

Their strongest rival in this event will come from the St. Andrew’s driver, B. E. Porter. He has been performing particularly well in his 1960 c.c. Lotus Climax and could provide the more

The Test

The practical driving test is still not difficult enough. The complete lack of skill many new drivers show is disturbing, and it is little wonder such inexperienced drivers are so often involved in accidents. A knowledge of the laws is only part of road safety. A large amount of skill and practical ability is also vital. A person could know the traffic regulations by heart, but be totally unfit to drive. Bad Parking I recently saw an obviously new and inexperienced driver —a girl—trying to park a car at New Brighton. It was a Saturday, and parking spaces were rare. She found a spot that was large enough to take the medium-sized car she was driving. She broke the cardinal rule of parking,

powerful sports specials- with a strong challenge. Saloon car racing is always a great attraction and the competition at Waimate should prove no exception. The D.R. Filter Trophy race for the larger cars will be a great spectacle. I. Segedin (Hamilton) in his 4700 c.c. Ford Mustang will be the main contender for the trophy, although he may encounter difficulty in overcoming the challenge of R. Coppins’s hybrid Zephyr Corvette. At 5400 c.c., this is the most powerful car in the field. There will be special interest in the performance of L. W. Neilson’s Mark 111 Zephyr, powered by a 5000 c.c. Corvette motor. At Wigram it was rather unstable but since then minor changes have worked wonders and the car should be fully competitive. There are other combinations which will arouse con-

siderable interest as well. F. Radisich will be racing a Humber with a 3800 c.c. Jaguar engine. N. Doyle has entered an Anglia powered by a 4800 c.c. Corvette motor, J. Miller will be driving a 4600 c.c. Cortina, K. V. Berry’ has a 2365 c.c. motor in his Volkswagen and R. A. Silvester has an old model Chevrolet coupe with a 5000 c.c. Corvette motor fitted. The Waimate Publicans’ saloon car race for smaller capacity cars should be even closer. Such, well known drivers as K. Grant (Lower Hutt), a former saloon car champion, P. Fahey (Manurewa), the present holder of the national title, D. A. Simpson (Auckland), a leading contender for this year’s award, and the outstanding Christchurch driver, J. Mullins, have entered. Another Christchurch driver, W. Collins, has been showing very promising form in his 1498 c.c. Morris Minor and could well join these top drivers in their battle for major honours.