International Motor Racing Described To Rotary

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 60, 3 August 1965, Page 9

International Motor Racing Described To Rotary

International motor-rac-ing represented an investment of many miilions of pounds, Mr R. Grierson told the Taupo Rotary Club on Thursday night. A motor-dealer in Auckland for the past 40 years, Mr Grierson won the Australasian beach-racing championship five times in his competitive career and, nowadays, he is a director of the New Zealand Grand Prix Motor-Racing Association. Illustrating his point of the huge investment in motor -racing, Mr Grierson said new racing circuits laid down in Australia had cost £2 million each. A Coventry Climax engine for Grand Prix cars was currently worth £6000 and an engine overhaul after a Grand Prix event cost £800. A Grand Prix car was worth at least a five-figure sum. An international driver of the class of Clark, Brabham, Surtees or Hill received from the owner of the car at least £1000 a raee to take his seat in the vehicle. At least a similar amount would be paid by oil companies and manufacturers of component parts. A driver such as Jim Clark would have no difficulty in grossing between £50,000 and £60,000 annually. Mr Grierson briefly described racing circuits which he had visited overseas. Oulton Park, in Cheshire, England, 2.76 miles in length, was a simulated Grand Prix circuit built in the grounds of a manor. Enclosed by a high brick wall, it was an excellent driver's circuit but unattractive for spectators because the cars were seldom seen. Another English circuit, at Goodwood, was a private track. In motor-racing it occupied a similar position to Ascot in horse-rac-ing. It was fashionable to attend. It was a 2.4 miles

long road circuit converted from a fbrmer airstrip. The Spa circuit was part of the Belgian road system. It was one of the fastest circuits in Europe, 8.76 miles in length, with two hairpin bends and five right-angle corners. Despite the corners, average speeds were in the vicinity of 110 m.p.h. Superb crowd facilities were provided by the Belgian Government. The Monaco Grand Prix was easily the most colourful motor race in the world. Raced through the streets of Monte Carlo, the 1.9-mile circuit included three hairpin bends and eight rightangle corners. Cars averaged 70 m.p.h. on a circuit which was a superb test of driving skill. Monza, in Italy, was developed from a Milan motordrome and had an element of danger. Another fast road circuit was Rheims, in France. The famous Nurburgring circuit in Germany was a magnificent test of driving ability. The circuit ran for 14 miles through the German mountains and, despite its difficulties, cars averaged 116 m.p.h. Le Mans was a fantastic place on the occasion of the annual 24-hour event. More than half a million spectators attended from Wednesday until after the event had ended on Sunday. Every conceivable amenity was provided for the spectators. Mr Grierson also mentioned the Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Aintree circuits in Britain. "And our own track at Pukekohe compares more than favourably with any of them," Mr Grierson said.