Dramatic accident in Ruapuna race

Press, 23 April 1979, Page 3

Dramatic accident in Ruapuna race

By ’

THEO VAN DONGEN

Peter Moore, driving an Escort 1300, yesterday joined the select -‘Over she goes Trev” club when he rolled his rally car in the first car race of the afternoon at the Ruapuna circuit. The spectacular accident came in the sixth lap of the 10 lap race for rally cars, when Moore lay in sixth position. As he came out of the 3ZM corner he managed to flip his car until it came ta rest on three wheels — the fourth, the right rear, continued down the main straight. Moore was uninjured and the race continued, with Ross Jeffreys taking the chequered flag with his Mazda RX3 pouring smoke from its right rear wheel. Jeffreys led from the start and was followed home by Murray Crampton (Escort 2000) and Peter Merrifield (Datsun 1200).

Further excitement for the crowd of about 1500 was provided by the three Open Saloon Car Association races.

Grant Aitken (Datsun 1200) won the first O.S.C.A. race, for the smaller rars, leading from start to finish. The second O.S.C.A. race featured the hard-charging trio of Inky Tulloch (Chev. Capin 5700 cu.cm), lan Munt (Ford Capri 5700 cu.cm) and Barry Vuyk (Sunbeam BDA 1600 cu.cm.). Vuyk was the first to thunder intrt the Castrol bend a» the end of the mam

straight, with about a dozen deafening machines hard on his bumper. He managed to hold the lead in his little Sunbeam until the seventh lap of the eight lap race, when Munt’s and Tulloch’s big Capris overhauled him. In the final lap Vuyk managed to slip pass Munt and fly down to the chequered flag sandwiched between the two big boys. Tulloch had an amazing finish to snatch victory from Munt after their eight-lap duel. In the same race J. Osborne (Camaro) was holding a good second place until an abrupt withdrawal in the sixth lap. Dave Waldron (Escort 2000 cu cm) also struck trouble in the next lap when he spun out in the esses after breaking a front suspension pin. The final O.S.C.A. race, over 15 laps, also featured the Tulloch-Munt duel, with the addition of the Cortina Chev of Rod McElrea who had come fifth in the previous race. Vuyk's Sunbeam was unable to compete. Munt led narrowly from Tulloch for 12 laps with McElrea dropping back a second or so each lap in third position. In the thirteenth lap Tulloch made his move and his throaty-voiced black Capri slipped past Munt to take the lead to the flag. The South Island production saloons also provided exciting, close racing, with

Barry Lloyd in his Ford XAGT 5000 cu cm winning both races decisively. The Torana XLJI of Gary Jenkins, i and the Chrysler Charger I E 49 were always within striking distance had Lloyd) made a mistake. The two races were the final in the series, and Lloyd was presented with the trophy for the 0-6000 cu cm class. Barry Dryden (Datsun 120 SSS) came top in his class, the under 2000 cu cm. Brett Grindlay received the best up-and-coming driver award. Two stock car races provided good entertainment for the crowd as the battered machines did their best to emulate the performance of the racing cars, often at considerable risk to straining engines and tyres. Results: Kallj’ cars heat one: R Jeffreys (Mazda RX3) 1, M. Crampton (Escort 2000) 2, P. Merrifield (Datsun 1200) 3. Libre heat one: J Pascoe (Titan) 1, D. Elvy (Lotus) 2, R. Noble (Begg) 3. Production saloons heat one: B. Lloyd (Ford XAGT) 1. G. Jenkins (Torana XUI) 2, G. Duff (Charger E49> 3.

O.S.C.A. A B Hass: I. Tulloch (Chev. Caprit 1, B. Vuvk (Sun beam BDA) 2. I. Munt (Capri) 3. Rally cars heat two: M. Bone 'Datsun 1200. 1. D. Grindley (Mazda RX3t 2, B. Murland (Datsun 1200: 3.

; Libre heat two: R. Xoble (Begg FM3i 1, D. Eivy (Lotus Ford) 2, J Pascoe (Titan) 3. Production saloons heat two: B. Lloyd (Ford XAGT) 1, G. Duff (Chrysler E 49) 2, G. Jenkins (Torana XUb 3. O.S.C.A. final: I. Tulloch (Chev. ! Caprit 1, I. Munt (Ford Caprit 2, ;R. McElrea (Cortina Chev.) 3.