High speeds likely on new track

Press, 14 February 1986, Page 8

High speeds likely on new track

A varied programme of 19 action-packed events is in prospect at the Canterbury Car Club’s Avon City Ford National Race Meeting, to be held at Ruapuna Park this Sunday.

As well as the usual events for the 0.5.C.A., South Island Formula Ford, Mini 7, S.I.P.S. and Street Saloon classes, national championship rounds will be run for the Tootal Coolwools 2.5 litre G.T. and A.G.C. Laser Sport classes.

Sunday’s meeting will be only the second to be held on the club’s newly extended circuit, and with the opening meeting in November having , been run in wet conditions, lap records are sure to fall, given fine weather this Sunday.

Although the wet track kept speeds relatively low

in November, drivers were unanimous in their praise for the altered circuit. For many, Sunday’s meeting should provide their first opportunity to get to grips with the new circuit in dry conditions and some excellent racing should result.

One driver who will be particularly keen to do well on Sunday will be the O.S.C/A. champion, Trevor Crowe. Crowe debuted his new Starlet V 8 at the November meeting and found it well suited to the new circuit, winning the O.S.C.A. final. Crowe’s defence of his O.S.C.A. title has suffered as a consequence of his group A commitments with the Archibalds BMW this season. Crowe is the first to admit that his O.S.C.A. campaign has been somewhat half-

hearted while he has concentrated his efforts on Group A. With Avon Hyde having taken over the mantle of top O.S.C.A. driver in his absense however, Crowe will be keen to reassert his authority at Ruapuna on Sunday. Apart from Crowe and Hyde, who has the P.D.L/ Clyde Collins Commodore circulating quicker than ever this season, other drivers likely to be on the front running pace should include lan Munt and John Fisher, Capri Chevs; John Osborne, Mazda Chev; Rob Kennard and Rod McElrea, Cortina VBs and Steve Vigurs, Celeste Chev. Without a doubt, the faster growing class in the South Island motor sport this season has been the select Autos uto Warranty Mini 7 category. Large fields of these

evenly matched little machines have been in evidence with seasoned campaigners such as Warner Collins and Alan Milligan being strongly challenged by several newcomers including Steve Jones and Peter Black. The Mini 7s are likely to provide some of the closest racing on Sunday..

The Tootal Coolwool 2.5 litre G.T. class is new to the national championship trail this season. To date the category has been dominated by the spectacular Mazda RX7s of the Aucklanders, Keiran Wills and Geoff Burrows. These two drivers are likely to continue their seaon-long battle at Ruapuna on Sunday, although the rapid Nissan of Phil Henley could upset predictions. The Street Saloon class

is another to have been experiencing record entries this season. Formally known as Clubmans, this class is open to road-going vehicles on street tyres and a wide variety of cars have been evident at recent meetings. With capacity fields expected, the scratch races for the BNZ Street Saloons will be a lap scorer’s nightmare, with the circuit looking akin to a high speed traffic jam in the opening laps.

The Avon City Ford South Island Formula Ford and Sports car events will provide some variety from the plethora of saloon based classes. Ashburton’s Andrew McElrea has a handy lead in the South Island championship points table and looks likely to retain his title, but he was strongly challenged at the November meeting. The new track proved conducive to close Formula Ford racing in November and a repetition of this is likely at Sundays meeting. The meeting which will include two events for motor-cycles, will get under way with the first race at 12 noon.